topic Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP in Get Support

Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

vacek — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 15:43:26 GMT

My wife and I both have PM accounts and are very happy with them.

I now have a need to activate a 3rd iPhone I have here, for the sole purpose of us having a phone for babysitters to use, on the rare occasion we have one looking after our daughter.

Looking for an ultra cheap solution so we have a phone here, with like 50 minutes monthly (dont need SMS, data, etc .....)

I know I can cobble together some 3rd party solution via WiFi, but really like the phone to be activated and have no hang ups making phone calls.

Any and all thoughts welcomed.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

Jb456 — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 00:50:01 GMT

Cheapest plan is the $15 plan. $13 with autopay. Plus 250mb data bonus with autopay

Unlimited incoming calls. 100 outgoing minutes. Unlimited text

You can buy 500 Canada wide extra minutes for $5 as an addon which rolls over each 30 days until used up.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

gblackma — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 00:49:27 GMT

@vacek the cheapest option here is the $15 plan. 100 Canada wide minutes with unlimited texting. You can also use the $5, 500 minute add on.

@vacek wrote:
My wife and I both have PM accounts and are very happy with them.

I now have a need to activate a 3rd iPhone I have here, for the sole purpose of us having a phone for babysitters to user, on the rare occasion we have one looking after our daughter.

Looking for an ultra cheap solution so we have a phone here, with like 50 minutes monthly (dont need SMS, data, etc .....)

I know I can cobble together some 3rd party solution via WiFi, but really like the phone to be activated and have no hang ups making phone calls.

Any and all thoughts welcomed.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

ddeep91 — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 00:50:39 GMT

With PM the option would be 15$ plan with 100mins , unlimited incoming, and 250mb data with autopay.

Other option i got my mom was 25$ speakout phone plan from 7-11.

Its pay per use mins which works out for her and the 25$ lasts 365days or until its all used up.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 00:51:38 GMT

There used to be a $10 plan here with 50 total minutes, 50 outgoing texts.

I'm not sure how one would go about handing an account over to someone else but maybe someone here would be willing to.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

Jb456 — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 00:54:17 GMT

@vacek

Also don't forget to use your referral code. So new account will get a $10 sign up bonus and you will earn $1 off per 30 days as a reward.

If you don't have a sim yet

You could try Walmart they may give one free if you activate it in store.

If you want $5 add-on for 500 minutes.. it's a two step process. Guide below.

Guide click here

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

darlicious — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 01:04:04 GMT

@vacek The only option at the moment is @Jb456 suggestion of the $15 plan unless you luck out and see commentary of someone wanting to leave public mobile or upgrade from the former $10 50/50 plan. But if you can wait out another week or two for a flash sale to come up or a bonus referral credit promotion the credit you can recieve for activating then will help bring the averaged monthly bill for the third phone down to around $10 per month. Already at $13 with Auto pay....if you count the $1 referral reward you will recieve makes it $12 a free SIM card will bring it to about $11 for the first year. So getting a free month credit will bring it to under $10.(Even if you have to activate it at $25 to qualify for a free month credit) switching it the following month to the $15 will net you the extra credit and drop it below $9 a month averaged over a year....when loyalty kicks in for an additional $1 off per month. By the time your child wants a phone it'll be $8 a month!

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

Korth — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 01:33:14 GMT

Lucky has a $15 plan with similar provisions. Immediately cheaper because you can grab a Lucky SIM for $4 at Dollarama.

But PM's $15 plan with AutoPay and Referral will come out ahead (after Referral credit is given) and continue to cost you less (after Rewards break even the SIM+plan costs on second billing cycle). And it's strictly prepaid calling/data, your babysitter won't be able to surprise you with the added costs of "Service Pass" overages. And PM applies no charges for Suspension or Reactivation, so you can allow the service to lapse for long periods when you won't need babysitters (just not so long that the account is Terminated).

It's so cheap that you could even buy phone service for your babysitter on a continuing basis, lol.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

will13am — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 01:26:19 GMT

I would think that pay as you go type format would be a better fit. This service is prepaid which is like postpaid without the overage concerns.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

sunflowershine — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 02:22:43 GMT

@vacek Actually you can think about having Speakout (7 Eleven) that is using Rogers network. You can buy of $35 of prepaid voucher (free SIM card before March 3). That $35 will be good for a year. 911 free will be deducted each month. $0.25 per minute. It is a good deal for low usage.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

DOA — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 02:55:10 GMT

Sunflowershine wins this one.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

iPhoneUser — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 02:57:55 GMT

@sunflowershine wrote:
@vacek Actually you can think about having Speakout (7 Eleven) that is using Rogers network. You can buy of $35 of prepaid voucher (free SIM card before March 3). That $35 will be good for a year. 911 free will be deducted each month. $0.25 per minute. It is a good deal for low usage.

I agree the best bet is $35 for a year. Just keep in mind that Speakout and the Petro Canada plans piggy back off of Rogers. You may want to verify Rogers' recepiton in your area.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

scorpio17 — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 03:29:09 GMT

0.25c * 50 minutes = 12.5$ / month. Also 35$ / year ~= 3$ / month. $1.25 - 911 fee. 12.5+3+1.25 = 16.75$

I think even PM 15$ (13$ with autopay) plan is better and it is not the cheapest option.

@sunflowershine wrote:
@vacek Actually you can think about having Speakout (7 Eleven) that is using Rogers network. You can buy of $35 of prepaid voucher (free SIM card before March 3). That $35 will be good for a year. 911 free will be deducted each month. $0.25 per minute. It is a good deal for low usage.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

iPhoneUser — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 03:33:24 GMT

@scorpio17 wrote:
0.25c * 50 minutes = 12.5$ / month. Also 35$ / year ~= 3$ / month. $1.25 - 911 fee. 12.5+3+1.25 = 16.75$
I think even PM 15$ plan is better and it is not the cheapest option.

So the question is value wise Speak Out vs Public Mobile. How often is the baby sitter employed? Does the employer not have a land line? Back in the 70's a baby sitter would NOT take the children out of the house. Annnnd what baby sitter, today, does not have their own phone?

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

Korth — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 03:38:29 GMT

An extra phone can be used for other things, not just assigned to a babysitter.

Can always be handy if you entertain visitors from other countries, if you need a backup phone, if you set up a Find My Device group on all your phones, if there are times you want your child to carry a phone.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

iPhoneUser — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 03:41:28 GMT

Yes that is what I was trying to qualify for the "baby sitter". My past post was for a baby sitter only.

To your extent PM would be better to control. $15 - $2 minus any other rewards.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

darlicious — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 05:02:24 GMT

I agree....not having to worry about pay per use and the option to use it for more than an emergency contact public mobile comes out on top. The speak out phone costs $4.75 a month just to sit there and do nothing. $7.25 more per month and public mobile has many more features that can be used. Free incoming calls, 100 minutes of outgoing with the $5/500 min add on available and this is without any promotion to help reduce the cost.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

CannonFodder — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 04:38:43 GMT

@iPhoneUser wrote:
. Annnnd what baby sitter, today, does not have their own phone?

My thoughts exactly - how many kids these days, over the age of 12, DO NOT have a phone of their own!?

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

wetcoaster — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 05:01:19 GMT

@darlicious wrote:
I agree....not having to really about pay per use and the option to use it for more than an emergency contact public mobile comes out on top. The speak out phone costs $4.75 @a month just to sit there and do nothing. $7.25 more per month and public mobile has many more features that can be used. Free incoming calls, 100 minutes of outgoing with the $5/500 min add on available and this is without any promotion to help reduce the cost.

But if the phone just sits there for 365 days ready to be used in an emergency (ie we are comparing apples and apples in terms of usage pattern) (12.166 x $13) - $10 referral bonus = $148.16 + tax for the first year with Public Mobile.

Going for the Public Mobile $10 plan when it was offered, was a solid choice for minimal to very light talk usage. Alas, my time machine is not working today.

Also, as additional info, because I'm not sure where your $4.75 come from, ... The service fee at SpeakOut is $1.25/month or $15/365days. As long as you are toping up before the expiry date the remainder (with the smallest top up, $25 that would be $10 if the phone was just staying in a drawer) of your current cycle is carried over.

Re: Looking for a second line ... CHEAP

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 05:09:45 GMT

@wetcoaster

My brain hurts. 🙂