Does anyone know if you are allowed to trade in prepaid phones?

Question

I want to switch from cingular to virgin mobile.aslo do you get charged for cancelling your acount..Also do you know which carrier that offers the best prepaid services?

Answer 1

no. prepaid phones aren't usually elgiable for any kind of trade-in deal. when you stop using them you give them to a friend, recycle them, or you can sell them used.

The reason is, when you buy a prepaid phone, you're in reality paying full retail for the phone, so you technically own it outright, and companies aren't interested in getting it back..unlike with a contract when you trade in, they can recoup some of the losses (provided you haven't finished your contract period). Big companies subsudize phones...buying them for much more than they give them to you for and make that money back with your monthly fees. When you trade a phone in, they usually send it back, get it refurbished, and then re-sell it....usually in online deals.

The magic of prepaid phones is, there is no contract. So, if you're on the Cingular KIC (or GoPhone), you aren't going to be charged to cancel your service..however, if you want to port your cell number to Virgin Mobile, you'll need to keep the Cingular account active, otherwise the number goes back into the pool..yes, by FCC law you are able to transfer a prepaid number. I had a Cingular GoPhone and ported the number over to Sprint easily.

I currently have Virgin Mobile..and with thier addition of a monthly hybrid plan, they top my list as the best value for prepaid wireless. Cingular/AT&T were first with the monthly option, and while it is good, the Virgin Mobile options are much cheaper. Provided your signal holds out, you should be happy.