vB Easy Archive - Can I Replace My Cell On Monthly With Cheap Prepaid?

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Can I Replace My Cell On Monthly With Cheap Prepaid?
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Posted by: bhp

My mom's Razr2 cell has lost both its internal and external display. I suspect it can be fixed but not sure how much it'll cost. We're 21 months into a 3 yr contract so one option is to check for HUP. However, I don't want to upgrade until the new GSM phones are available.

Can I purchase a brand new prepaid Bell phone for $50 and use it on the monthly plan? If so, what's the best way in doing so? Do I need to activate the prepaid phone first or simply open the box and find the new ESN number?

Posted by: kav2001c

Prepaid must be activated first so factor in the $50 costs for that

If only until Nov to get HSPA phone why not just grab a cheap used phone?

Posted by: bhp

Quote:

Originally Posted by kav2001c

Prepaid must be activated first so factor in the $50 costs for that

If only until Nov to get HSPA phone why not just grab a cheap used phone?

Actually, I just picked up a Bell Samsung M230 Phoenix Prepaid Cell Phone for $30 at Bestbuy.ca. Are you saying I need to activate first, then transfer ESN? Are there activation fees?

Posted by: kav2001c

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhp

Actually, I just picked up a Bell Samsung M230 Phoenix Prepaid Cell Phone for $30 at Bestbuy.ca. Are you saying I need to activate first, then transfer ESN? Are there activation fees?

Yup
$35 ACT fee + $15 startup credit (though total might be differant at BB?)
Thats where I got the $50 from

Posted by: SuperCM

Cellarama has an LG 5550 for just $57.

Posted by: Copacetic

Quote:

Originally Posted by kav2001c

Yup
$35 ACT fee + $15 startup credit (though total might be differant at BB?)
Thats where I got the $50 from

No, the price he paid at BestBuy includes those.

He just calls in and its active with $15 worth of time on the PrePaid account.

Then he just has to switch the phones between the new PrePaid and his existing PostPaid account.

Posted by: scouzer

Try just doing the ESN switch on Bell.ca before doing anything else. Worst case it'll reject you, best case it'll work. I've done it in the past with a Futureshop phone... if it works, it's free.

Posted by: bhp

Thanks to everyone for your input. I tried going in online to do the switch myself. However, the website asks that I select a new plan as my current one doesn't exist, at least that's what it says.

My current plan has the SAF waived so I wasn't going to mess with it. Anyhow, popped into a Wireless Wave and they simply switched the ESN and programmed my Samsung, he was shocked that it costs only $30, brand new.

I didn't have to activate on prepaid either, just took the new cell from the box, popped in the battery and the guy used his bar code device and scanned the ESN. I told him I was on a corp plan and he even waived his fee. It only took him a few minutes.

Posted by: patdaman

Bell should be like Sprint/ Nextel and allow people to port to Pre Paid with no Cancellation fee.