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Have all pay per use plans been discontinued?
As an expat living outside of the US for nearly 10 years, I've used and loved having AT&T PREPAID service. It easily allowed me to switch SIM cards and instantly have phone service when traveling back to the US. When aboard I would always keep my plan set to $2 per day (a pay per use plan). This allow me to keep my balance and not pay for US phone service when aboard. For short visits, I would just leave the plan at $2 per day. For longer trip to the US, I would switch to a monthly plan. After leaving the US, I would switch back to $2 per day until my next trip.
Before my latest trip to the US in April I switched to $30 monthly plan. After my trip I no longer had the option of switching back to $2 per day. I'm not enrolled in autopay but still had $30 deducted from my account in May. (I now see this in the fine print of the plan details.)
Have all pay per use plans been discontinued forever? If so, is there any other option I could use to put my account on "hold" while overseas?
What happens if I let my balance expire? Would I loss my account and phone number? Would the account be waiting for me to make a payment when I want to start using it again? Would I be charged for unpaid months (despite not using any service those months)?
I'm not interested in paying $360 per year ($30 monthly) to have phone service for the 8 or so weeks I might be in the US each year.
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formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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113.3K Messages
1 year ago
Yes, in january.
If you don't use up your balance, you do lose it. If you are on paper you can keep it, at least as far as we know for now. If you switch off pay-per-use you cannot get it back but it will allow you to use up your balance in a timely manner.
(edited)
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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64.6K Messages
1 year ago
All pay per use plans were discontinued in January. No one knows if it’s forever.
Not really.
A prepaid account is automatically closed if the account balance is $0 for more than 60 days after service expires.
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JefferMC
ACE - Expert
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33.5K Messages
1 year ago
Voice to text is, er, interesting some time.
I think you said "pay per use and wish". But if not, can I have Ham and Turkey?
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formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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113.3K Messages
1 year ago
@JefferMC
It's this guy...
😂
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sarbuthn
New Member
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1 Message
1 year ago
hi expatuser, I'm in the same boat as you. I've had my AT&T prepaid number for over 20 years while I've lived overseas and have always diligently loaded $100 per year to keep it active, and would just leave it at the 25 cent per minute plan until I visited the US, when would opt for a unlimited plan. Well, I just learned that my account has been closed (no real explanation from AT&T since my $100 credit should have lasted until December 2022) and my numbers (mine and my wife's) have been recycled. Hmm.
But on the bright side, I've just discovered Tello (MVNO on T-Mobile). For $5/month I have a basic plan with US number on an eSIM in my iPhone, and it even works abroad (via wifi calling) so I can receive calls and, more importantly, text messages. When I visit the US I can change the plan to an unlimited voice/text/data plan, then revert to the basic $5/month plan when I go 'home'. My advice to you is ditch AT&T for Tello.
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expatuser
New Member
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2 Messages
1 year ago
Hello Sarbuthn.
Thank you for this recommendation. I'll certainly look in to Tello. I've looked at multiple US carries and $5 a month is cheaper than anywhere else I've seen.
My AT&T number hasn't been recycled yet. I'm planning to transfer it to Google voice; after nearly 10 years on AT&T, I don't want to lose my number. I am so sorry to hear that you and your wife lost your numbers after 20 years; that must be incredibly frustrating. I know I would be.
Thanks again for recommending Tello!
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