How to Find Best Cell Phone Service Provider

Questions have been asked on how to find the *best* service provider for cell phone service. I answered that hubbers question and then decided to write a hub on it.

It won't be long but I believe it makes a lot of sense so I'm flogging it out here :} (BTW - when are the hubpage peeps going to give us smiley faces to use?)

So...How do you find the *best* service provider for youir brand new shiney cell phone? If you didn't get locked into a 10 year contract (lol) for buying your cell phone at a 90% discount. Yes, that is how they Always grab you! They get you to sign on that dotted line via the oldest marketing trick there is - the bait and switcharoo....or...pay less now and we will s**** you with the contract fees!

Yes oh yes, you Will end up paying Far far More for that cell phone via a 3 year contract than the phone would have cost you up front - even at 800$ and I'm going to show you!

Here is part of the answer I posted to that question on service plans.

ANSWER:

Never buy into a contract! Go pre-paid. Why?

1. You only pay for what you use!
2. There are no extra charges or service fees.
3. You are untraceable! (awesome feature!)
4. Never be stuck with a contract!
5. Never be stuck with a service plan you didn't understand in the first place as you didn't read the teeny-weeny fineprint (who does?)
6. The cost is far less
7. There are often free calling features
8. Even if you are out of minutes - 911 still works
9. Many (most)  offer you FREE texting!
10. No credit check!  Ergo, no snooping.
    
    

Some prepaids show the caller ID number too. The incoming calers number is displayed on mine. I currently use telephone cards at random and simply input the card numbers to activate. I have yet to find one that does Not allow me to text for free OR not show me who is calling.

I am sure many of you will not agree but the fact is that if you get an $800.00 phone for say $100.00 on a 3 year contract you are roughly paying $1978.20 for your phone and service without options!!  (Based on the Bell user fee).

Prepaid - Buy a decent phone on ebay for 50 bucks (or you probably already have a cell phone) and the medium user fee = $720.00 for THREE YEARS!  Personally, I use my daughters phones when she upgrades.  I don't care how *KEWL* the phone is, I merely want it to work!

Note:  None of the above include Internet service.