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US Cellular Talk Tracker Prepaid Service
Editor Rating
Overview
US Cellular is a big name cell phone carrier serving 26 states that also entered the prepaid cell phone market with the launch of Talk Tracker.
US Cellular was founded in 1983 and is based in Chicago Illinois.
Pros: Since Talk Tracker is provided by US Cellular, calls occur on their national network. The service supports modern features and you can activate any compatible cell phone; you do not need to purchase their phones.
Cons: US Cellular is a regional provider, so they don't have service in all areask.
Detailed Provider Information
Plans: U.S. Cellular offers both monthly and pay-as-you-go plans. All of the monthly plans include free incoming calls and free night minutes starting at 9 p.m. The 45 dollar plan comes with 350 anytime minutes, and overage minutes are 15 cents each. The 60 dollar plan comes with 600 minutes plus unlimited weekend minutes, and overage minutes are 10 cents each. Finally, the 80 dollar plan comes with 1,000 anytime minutes plus unlimited weekend minutes, and overage minutes are 10 cents each. There are two pay-as-you-go plans. The first has a monthly access charge of 6 dollars and costs 15 cents per minute. The second has a monthly access charge of 10 dollars and costs 10 cents per minute.
Customer Service: Customer care is available airtime free from your cell phone, via email or by calling their toll free customer service number.
Credit Check: None
Contract: None
Payment Options: You can r efill your account at US Cellular retail stores (there is a 5 dollar minimum on refills). You can also automatically refill your account from credit card, debit card or checking account by calling customer service. Refills can also be done via Western Union stores.
Text and Picture Messaging: Incoming text messages are free for both the monthly plans and pay-as-you-go plans. A la carte outgoing text messages are 25 cents each. There are also three text messaging packages: $4.95 for 250 messages, $9.95 for 750 messages, and $14.95 for unlimited messages. Picture messaging is not available.
Data Plans: US Cellular does not offer mobile web access at this time.
Downloadables: Downloadable ringtones available only on the Kyocera KX-9b phone.
International Calling: U.S. Cellular does offer international calling capabilities. Calls to Mexico and Canada are charged at 50 cents per minute. Calls to other international destinations start at $1.25 per minute. You'll want to call customer service to find out the rates to the destination country you plan to call before placing calls.
Roaming Charges: Calls made from outside your service plan area are charged at 69 cents per minute.
Calling Features: Voicemail, caller ID, 3 way calling and call waiting are offered with all of US Cellular's prepaid plans.
Activation Fee: There is a 30 dollar one time fee to activate your U.S. Cellular prepaid service. This fee is included in their starter packages (which vary in price and depending on your area). You can also activate US Cellular service on any cell phone compatible with the US Cellular network for the 30 dollar activation fee.
Nationwide Long Distance: All US Cellular prepaid plans include nationwide long distance. Calls made to destinations within the United States are treated as regular calls.
411 Calls: Directory assistance is available for a cost of $1.50 per call.
Earliest Minute Expiration: There are no pay by the minute plans with US Cellular. All minutes expire at the end of the monthly billing cycle for your chosen plan. Unused minutes do not rollover.
911 Calls: Yes
Phones: It appears that U.S. Cellular has many phone models listed under their prepaid section. Most are very basic models which are best used for just talking and texting. They do have a number of higher end phones for their postpaid service, which can be purchased at full price and activated on a prepaid plan. However, full retail price can get very expensive, which may deter some cost-conscious shoppers.
Some Available Cell Models:
Samsung u340 (shown)
Samsung Spex R210
Samsung R311 Axle
Keyocera Neo E1100
Coverage Map: US Cellular Talk Tracker Prepaid Coverage Map
Latest News: News about U.S. Cellular prepaid.
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US Cellular Prepaid
havent had a single problem or a single dropped call and thats
5
US Cellular Prepaid
I had it 2 months, crappy signals, none out of town and cost
2
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Bry
2009/10/10 |
I had it 2 months, crappy signals, none out of town and cost too much. I switched to Net10 NO ROAMING charges, a straight 10 cent per min, $30 for 300 min card and good for 60 days and great prices on phones. You can get a Straight Talk Phone only at Walmart $30-$100 and pay $30 a month for 1000 minutes of talk, text, or 30mb of data but unused mins don't rollover and it uses Verizon and Altells Networks. Still a great deal if you talk or text alot.
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US Cellular Prepaid
Nothing BUT problems! I did a lot of research before buying
1
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kristina
2009/09/30 |
Nothing BUT problems! I did a lot of research before buying a prepaid cell for our family - and although no prepaid plan got great reviews, US Cellular seemed better than most. What a mistake! For us, it was supposed to be an extra phone just for the kids to take to practices, etc. so I only needed minimal minutes and no text. Before ordering, I verified the information I had found on the web with a "customer service" rep. I specifically asked if everything could be done online, and I was told it could. Turns out NOTHING can be done on line (except ordering the phone.) For everything else (and there were a LOT of problems in just the 3 months I used it), they told me I would have to go to a US Cellular store. The nearest one was in another state (about 1 hr, 40 min round trip - to take care of a phone we hardly ever used.) First, I couldn't pay my bill w/o showing ID (at a customer service center), also the screen went out after 1.5 months and they wouldn't fix it w/o a $60 deposit (a fact they didn't tell me until I went to a US Cellular store), and less than half my calls actually went through. There were even more problems, but that's the basics. Another frustrating thing is that I almost always got conflicting info from different people when I called. Most of them were very polite, and understood how terrible this was, but they could do nothing about it. When I finally got through to a manager, she was very rude and didn't even take the time to listen to me. Basically, I ended up paying well over $100 (for phone, activation fee, monthly bill) and probably only got 15-20 minutes of use from it. Plus a heap 'o frustation.
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US Cellular Prepaid
YOU CAN NOW HAVE PAY AS YOU GO WITH US CELLULAR. VERY REASONABLY
5
US Cellular Prepaid
The prices of the phones even if insured are not much of a deal.
3
US Cellular Prepaid
U.S. Cellular service is good, but be sure you pay on time for
2
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NCMTN
2009/06/17 |
U.S. Cellular service is good, but be sure you pay on time for your monthly prepaid service. My renewal date for the month was the 29th. I couldn't pay until the 23rd of the following month, and was making calls. Then, on the 29th, my service stopped. After already paying 60 bucks, I was told that because I didn't wait until my service date of the 29th, they had "pro-rated" my payment, and I would have to pay another 48 bucks. I don't think so!
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US Cellular Prepaid
is very good wen u talk a alot but sumtimes dey do get over on
3
US Cellular Prepaid
i think prepaid phones are good to because there easy to use
3
US Cellular Prepaid
i love my free incomin i can talk all dame day bout these lame
5
US Cellular Prepaid
I just want my ringtones and picture mess...............
3
US Cellular Prepaid
i love US cellulars pre paid monthly plans! and i always seem
3
US Cellular Prepaid
i like the phone service but do not like i can not download ringtones
3
US Cellular Prepaid
This for people that don't have 100 bucks to spend on a phone
5
US Cellular Prepaid
I regards to the statement that says that US Cellular does not
5
US Cellular Prepaid
the monthly pre-paid deals are GREAT!!u can get a plan w/out
4
US Cellular Prepaid
it sucks
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harry
2009/02/20 |
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US Cellular Prepaid
Listen, I really like the service and all...but there are a hew
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Chrystyna H.
2009/01/12 |
Listen, I really like the service and all...but there are a hew changes that I would make. I would first allow the prepaid customers to have picture messaging and ringtones...because we pay more than contract customers for the amt. of minutes that we receive.. and i feel that since we are paing more for less, we should have the option to pay additional or have you guys add it to one of the plans so that we can get pic messaging.. you guys also need to provide better plans for the money we spend, because there are only 600 for like 60 bucks, and thats alot in comparison to what the contract holders get for like 40. I think it would be the wise thing to do considering that other companies will soon have plans developed that will be available all over the place, and that they will only be charging like 30 bucks a month for pretty much unlimited everything including text, with the option to add internet and pics for a low cost...and uless you guys do something about your current plans, youre going to lose a ton of customers.... just a suggestion...
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US Cellular Prepaid
I think every plan should Have free nights and weekends, and
1
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Cordell
2009/01/07 |
I think every plan should Have free nights and weekends, and we should have picture mail. I used to love U. S. Cellular but now u all have turned your back on your customers and don't really care what we think. Its all about money now, huh? Don't forget thats the same way companies think before they fail! You need to lower your prices. Go ahead do what the other companies are scared to do..... Be fair to your customers. If your fair you'll get a lot more customers, and you don't have to be a afraid of losing profit over fair prices. If something doesn't change, You'll lose an Incredibly Massive amount of loyal customers!
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US Cellular Prepaid
Works great I think anyone that dislikes the features should
5
US Cellular Prepaid
u.s.cellular prepaid is the best now they got the 65dollor ulimited
5
US Cellular Prepaid
i just found out about he prepaid plan from us cellular. i will
5
US Cellular Prepaid
I like every thing about my phone, but what i don't like is not
5
US Cellular Prepaid
I like the fact that i can have a cell phone with my credit!
3
US Cellular Prepaid
I just picked up a prepay phone from my local U.S. Cellular,
4
US Cellular Prepaid
Just cuz we have pre paid phones doesnt mean we shouldnt be allowed
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someone
2008/08/22 |
Just cuz we have pre paid phones doesnt mean we shouldnt be allowed to get ringtones... the ringtines that come on the phone are stupid. sorry. but besides that i like the phone.
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US Cellular Prepaid
I think U.S. Cellular rocks it's the best service I've seen yet
5
US Cellular Prepaid
This really is a good service! I have had it for a while so
3
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Matt
2008/04/07 |
This really is a good service! I have had it for a while so I still have the benefits of being grandfathered into the old plan rates. I pay $45 for 500 minutes with free nights and weekends, and pay $10 for 750 outgoing text messages. I always keep a positive balance of $25 in case I have to make a roaming call. Phone selection is a bit limited for TT, but if you really want that Razor, or Blackberry... You can still have one with TT, but you will pay full price for those phones as they are not part of the TT Plan phone selection. Coverage area is great, Minimal dropped calls, Better than most other non-contract/pre-paid plans. US Cellular does need to allow for use of the easy edge feature on TT, even if it means paying from the phones balance as you do for roaming. People like to change their wallpapers and ringtones every now and then. C'mon US cellular. You fix that one fault, and this will be a perfect plan!
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US Cellular Prepaid
The ux3300 LGi s a nice phone I like the voice dialing, but I
3
US Cellular Prepaid
would be nice to roll over minutes and have them offer something
3
US Cellular Prepaid
i've been on the talktracker plan for over five years.because
3
US Cellular Prepaid
i love my blackberry 8703e.i believe it's one of the best phones
5
US Cellular Prepaid
i love the but we needs some ringtones im bout to die without
5
US Cellular Prepaid
Best Pre-Paid Ever!
5
US Cellular Prepaid
i need ring tones, i don't like the fact that we can only record
3
US Cellular Prepaid
i think that the prepaid wireess plan is great for kids but it
5
US Cellular Prepaid
i hate that u cant get ringtones n how u dnt have picture messaging
5
US Cellular Prepaid
I've had Talk Tracker for a year and a half, i like the free
3
US Cellular Prepaid
I think the concept of the prepaid service is good. No contract
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Deonna
2007/12/01 |
I think the concept of the prepaid service is good. No contract no problems. Wrong! The min. suck they dont roll over so to me you loose out. you dont get easyedge so u cant download ringtones and the free nights and weekends start to late.
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US Cellular Prepaid
i hate the fact we only have three phones to choose from can
1
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Marquis
2007/11/22 |
i hate the fact we only have three phones to choose from can we atleast get a flip phone with the caller id on the front. we don't have blue tooth, we can't download ringtones, everytime i dial out it tells me my account balance no one wants to hear that. and for $48.48 (the 45 dollar plan) we can't get free weekends i could go buy a ez link prepaid and get free nights and weekends. but if you look into this maybe you would attract more customers it just a thought
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US Cellular Prepaid
I love it!!! It's the first phone that i have go service like
5
US Cellular Prepaid
I love US Cellular service. I must agree it would be nice to
4
US Cellular Prepaid
I have USCellular on the regular plan did not even know there
3
US Cellular Prepaid
my point is that i like the plan long as i can talk on it is
5
US Cellular Prepaid
These are some good plans, but they have some rip off parts.
3
US Cellular Prepaid
we need to be able to add ring tones thats the only thing i hate
3
US Cellular Prepaid
It's cool i got free nights at 7pm but the only thing i dont
3
US Cellular Prepaid
I love my us cellular talk tracker phone i just wish that you
3
US Cellular Prepaid
I LIKE MY PLAN ...IM ON SS AND IT MAKES IT EASY TO PAY AND NOT
5
US Cellular Prepaid
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Erica U
2007/08/26 |
Hate that i cant get ringtones the ones i have are killing me!!!
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