They can flash over the network. Whole process took about 30 minutes! Super easy! I'm a happy camper!! Beigephone.com

This thread brings to the forefront something I have been wanting to do for a while. I am on Verizon with one smartphone and three basic phones. 2 gig of data for the smartphone and all phones sharing 1200 minutes (never come close to that) with unlimited text. This is so irritating. No matter which route I choose - different plans, Verizon PP, it all leads to the same place. I swear they have this crap down to a science!

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I tried to sign up with PP through Beigephone last night and it charged for two mos, but had no itemization or explanation of the charges, so I didn't pay. I submitted a question through their template and haven't heard back yet.

I am posting a heads up that while Straight Talk customer service via phone is manned by people who do not speak English, their support via FaceBook is excellent. If you have an issue, such as porting a phone number, best to go on FaceBook. I have used that a few times with great results.
I have been on ST for 5 years and happy.

Ok, I went with Page Plus via Beigephone after I was able to talk to someone at BP who explained it was just a co-incidence that the double billing amount happened to be their activation fee and the monthly fee, which were both $39.95. So I downgraded to the $29.95/mo plan, since it's the same data as the $39.95/mo plan and I'll still never come close to using that many minutes and texts.

I signed up last night, got a few verification emails today and then got a message that my balance is low - $1.63 and I have to replenish to keep from getting shut off. WTF? I've made one phone call today and only used Internet on Wi-Fi. Of course, they're closed now, so I can't do anything until Monday. I'm not impressed so far.

Sorry to hear you've had issues! I've been with them now for 10 months and had no issues! You can text to 7243 type in BAL and it will give you your current balance. PS mine always show I have a balance of like $1.92.

And now my phone is shut off. I got an email this morning saying my order has been declined. Of course, there's no way to reach them today and I won't be able to use my phone to call them tomorrow when they are open again.

I always contact them via the computer. Use their message service.

They responded yesterday in the morning, needing more info to process my order. No more responses after that, not by email, not on FB, not by message template.

At this point, I'm tempted to add more minutes to my plan, so I can at least call them tomorrow and fight this out. I can't use the office phone, since all those calls are recorded. We don't even get Wi-Fi in the office, so my iPhone will be totally useless until this is fixed.

Ok, PP doesn't do SIM cards and I'm thinking of getting an unlocked GSM phone. ST seems like the way to go now. I can't find any mention on their site of whose network they use. They say you need an AT&T or T-Mobile-compatible phone. But I thought they used Verizon's network. AT&T and T-Mobile don't work where I live. Which is it?

Uses the "Pre-paid" or Tier 3 Verizon network.

Does Straight Talk use the Verizon network?

Anyone using a prepaid phone plan?
 

From what I'm finding that's true but not the whole story:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TracFone_Wireless

Verizon (and Sprint) for CDMA (which is kinda worthless IMHO) and AT&T / T-Mobile for GSM.

You really, really, really want GSM if you even think you might ever use your phone overseas or you want some sort of resale value to your handsets.

VHS : beta :: GSM : CDMA

Or if you prefer:

Metric : Imperial :: GSM : CDMA

Yeah, but AT&T does not work in my house at all.

Have you tried T-Mobile? They have a prepaid plan you could experiment with which might help... They're kind of iffy / spotty but if you happen to get lucky that should give you ST capability...

TM sucks where I live. I have to have Verizon's network. It's a must where I live.

Have never used anything else than prepaid. My wife has a triple-flatrate for 10 Euros per month (unlimited calls within the carrier, unlimited SMS, 300MB data more then enough for her, t-mobile) for her iPhone 5S. My son has an iPhone 5 but no flats yet (WLAN at home), uses about 5 Euro/month (prepaid t-mobile) for calls and SMS. I myself top up 15 Euro for my old Samsung every 2-3 months (t-mobile), no flats/data, WLAN at home and at work.
My daugther has an old phone but never uses it (still too young), t-mobile.

I would NEVER sign for a plan.

any updates on plans? My Verizon contract is ending soon and I want to cut down on the $115/month bills. Can't use ATT, terrible service around me.

Still loving Straight Talk, though I use the AT&T sim card. Couple co-workers use the T-Mobile sim and they like it too.