Paying ahead

[nagyi]

I hardly use my cell phone.  I keep it for emergencies only. I just want to pay once and then forget about cell phone payments for at east a year (OK 360 days). Therefore, $15 + 13% HST = $16.95. If I make a single payments of $203.40 (12 X $16.95) on my account, will that cover me for 360 (12 X 30 ) days of cell phone coverage as long as I don't exceed 100 minutes talk time per each 30 day period and don't use any data? And no, I don't want to surrender my bank account or credit card information.
Will I still get the annoying/confusing messages every 30 days about my account being low or about to expire or "payment received?"

[dabr]

@nagyi   I just looked at FM prepaid annual plans again and see that there are actually two plans available, $99/yr and also $129/yr.   Looking at the details of those plans, I'm quite confused as to what the difference is, other than that one is being billed as Talk/Text ($99) and the other mentions Nationwide Talk/Text ($129).  However, in the details of both plans, it mentions Canada wide calling and global texting/mms.  Must be some detail there that I'm obviously missing.  There is also the option to add data to these plans (1GB/$15), however, the data is only valid for 30 days unlike PM's add-on data which is non expiring.  

If you're a long term customer with PM (activated prior to Jan. 25/2022), then you would also have the $2 autopay discount (if autopay is enabled) and, perhaps, some loyalty rewards too which would reduce your annual bill, hopefully.

edit:  for clarification FM also offer one with 5GB data, plus talk/text for $179/yr

[nagyi]

Thanks for this! Canada-wide is actually $129 and the fact that there's no data would be just good news for me because I don't use anything that requires a data connection. The problem with FM is that I have a couple of questions. but they won't talk to me. But that's not exactly a new phenomenon and it's OK. I'll just stay with a PM account and pay ahead. Also don't care about any upcoming "deals" or losing money if I change my mind about the service. I just don't want to think about my cell phone service for a while and just use it (about 10 minutes of voice and maybe 10-15 texts per month.  In Hungary I can do that for the equivalent of about $58 per year). Thanks again!

[nagyi]

Thank you to everyone who replied to this post/question! I didn't know that I could "mute" messages from 611. I think that's the way to go, for me at least. Re. Freedom Mobile - I can't get straight answers from them regarding several questions I have about their service so I think I'll skip them, but thanks for the suggestion.

Just to clarify, since I do in fact have a life and have other more productive activities than looking after the status of cell phone service, I just want to use what little of it I need (I never use data), I just want to pay and then forget about it for at least a year. I don't care about any "deals" that can be had or may come up in the future - I don't want to think about them either - and I don't care that I might lose a couple of dollars if I change my mind and give up my PM account.

Thanks again to everyone!

[dabr · Accepted solution]

@nagyi   It'd be cheaper for you to go with Freedom Mobile's $99/annual plan with unlimited talk/text, although no data. 

As mentioned depositing $200+ into the account could be costly if you decided to change providers.   You could also make a payment twice a year instead.

[softech]

@nagyi   for the "annoying/confusing" message, you can just click "Mute notification" for 611 or you can add 611 to the contact and change it to silent notification.   This way, it won't "beep" often. 

 But please do not block it, some messages are useful and you don't want to miss.

[Meow]

Yes, you can load as much as you want. I doubt PM will have a promo for existing customers offering lower Plan than $15.

You do not have to worry about 100 minutes and 250MB as service will just stop (not being able to call out or browse) when you reach that limit. It will recharge on next renewal.

And yes, you will still receive messages from 611 that your Plan is due for renewal, have payments ready, Plan has been renewed, etc.

I would suggest to register any valid credit card and activate autopay to get $2 off if you are old customer.

Mind you, if you change your mind regarding PM service (cancel service, port out), you will not be able to get refund.

[dust2dust]

A problem with doing that is the future possibility of you seeing a great deal (cheaper for low usage deal) and wanting to switch over to it. Or you die. It would keep pointlessly renewing. Of course you're dead so what do you care then but still. And then giving the company some interest free money that they get to enjoy as it dwindles down. You would lose this money by policy.

As for registering a card of some sort, you could use a prepaid refillable type card and not worry about your primary major credit card.

[JL9]

That will work, it will just cover the renewal with the available balance you have, you won't have to do anything else other then dealing with the texts about upcoming payment and thank you for your payment. Also if you choose to purchase any add ons you will have to top up for the renewals

[RossN]

@nagyi hello you can pay ahead if you wish just remember you are on a 30 cycle when paying unfortunately you can’t get away from those messages , some are useful ex cc needs update but you should be able to put them on silent mode

[Dunkman]

@nagyi 

Yes, you can load up as much available funds as you want.  You will not be overcharge even if you use up your minutes or data.  The talk or data will just stop working if you used up earlier.  

Unfortunately, you will still get the monthly warning texts about payment date, payment details afterwards.