LRW
Newbie
Posts: 23
Registered: 12-7-2007
Location: Washington
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Telcel Quandry
Even tho my Verizon phone was promised to work in Baja last Fall...it didn't. So today I purchased a Telcel phone w/ came with some Amigo <g>
minutes. Unfortunately, nobody spoke English..and I can't figure out if the minutes expire in a certain timeframe if not used...let alone the other
ins / outs of the plan. I did not sign up for a monthly plan. It appears too that one is paying 3 pesos for a one minute local call. Does this
sound right? Alot diff from my $30/month for 500 minutes in USA...ah, monopolies.
I figured someone else had asked this along the way, but doing a quick search couldn't find anything. Didn't really want to have to get a phone, but
traveling thru Baja for several months per year, wanted the security that a phone can bring when one breaks down.
Would greatly appreciate your input..
Liane
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3288
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
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We have a Telcel phone. It works great but I am a bit language challenged also. What we have learned is this: You don't have a contract, you buy the
cards for whatever amount you want to charge it with. You have 2 months to use your time. After 2 months the time expires but it is still in the
phone, you have to buy some more time to use it. I don't know about the smaller denomination cards but if you buy a 500 peso card you get 900 pesos
credit. I always get a 500 peso card.
Example: I left Baja with 200 pesos still on the phone. When I returned my 2 months had expired. I tried to use the phone but the message said I
didn't have enough time for this call (or any call for that matter). I bought a 500 peso card and checked my balance which was then 1100 pesos.
You can call the states and talk for 20 minutes for 20 pesos. I think long distance is charged in 20 minute blocks. I think its a little less for
local calls.
I'm not sure how incoming calls are charged, if at all, but I recieve calls from the US as well as locally. and I seem to be able to do a lot of
talking for 50 bucks. It seems to cost more if you make calls from the mainland but it does work over there. It doesn't work at all once you cross the
border. You have to use the phone to add time so you can't add time unless you are in Mexico but there is a Telcel office on every corner it seems.
It is cheaper to use than my US cell phone and I think it is a good value.......I think...
I hope I haven't confused you with the facts....as I believe them to be....I really need to learn to speak Spanish....dt
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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Infortunately, there seems to be another deadline at which time they deactivate your "card" and phone number. After not using our phone for around 6
months each year, we are required to buy another card for $10 with a new phone number each year. We lose any minutes we have.
Also, buy the $500 pesos cards and they give you $900 or $1,000 pesos of value as a bonus.
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jamesdbeckjr
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 2-23-2006
Location: La Ventana/sisters,oregon
Member Is Offline
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once por veinte
Believe you use 11 pesos for 20 minutes or less to US or Canada. You need to call customer service,ask for and English speaker and register for that
plan or you will use up your pesos very rapidly as a friend did over the holidays. The phone has improved my wife's attitude in Mexico a lot.
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LRW
Newbie
Posts: 23
Registered: 12-7-2007
Location: Washington
Member Is Offline
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Telcel Quandry
<<You can call the states and talk for 20 minutes for 20 pesos>>
Now I am thoroughly confused. We were given 100 pesos on our phone per month for the next 3 months. Rate quoted us was local call at 3.48p / minute.
Long distance to USA at 17 p / minute. ($1.70!) and Long distance Mexico at 6.64/ minute.
Also...in Mexico do we pay for incoming calls as well as outgoing? Could folks call us from the US and we avoid paying?
Liane
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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On our Movistar phone, we can make calls to the US for about 20 pesos for 20 minutes
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by LRW
Also...in Mexico do we pay for incoming calls as well as outgoing? Could folks call us from the US and we avoid paying?
Liane |
I believe there is a charge to your Mexican cell phone for receiving calls.... likely less than for making them.
Nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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makana.gabriel
Nomad
Posts: 115
Registered: 1-10-2008
Location: Honolulu
Member Is Offline
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telcel
You can also just find an HSBC atm machine and purchase airtime for as little as 30 pesos to 200 pesos.
FAITH sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible!
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LarryK
Junior Nomad
Posts: 99
Registered: 8-26-2003
Member Is Offline
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You can have your TelCel phone set up for English. Much easier to keep track of information.
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amir
Senior Nomad
Posts: 559
Registered: 5-4-2007
Location: Todos Santos, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: chiropractic
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No charge for incoming calls if the caller puts a "1" AFTER the country code.
Without this extra "1" both parties pay for the call. With the "1" the caller pays, but also they get added a surcharge by the US phone company, which
then gets transferred to Telcel. In other words, Telcel makes money either way.
I was not aware that Telcel offers the 20 minute package to the US.
If they do, CaboRon will let us know, I hope...
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LRW
Newbie
Posts: 23
Registered: 12-7-2007
Location: Washington
Member Is Offline
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telcel quandry
<<There is no charge for incomming calls in Mexico (just like Europe). >>
I thought that too..until we left Loreto and went to LaPaz this week. Friend phoned me, talked 2.5 minutes. I was charged 18 pesos. Found a college
kid in LaPaz who said that 'once you leave your area code' you pay either way..incoming / outgoing. Geez....
Called usatelcel.com and they are a company who can add minutes to your phone while in the States, but they couldn't answer any of my plan questions.
I see alot of Mexicanos with cell phone and can't imagine them paying .35cents / minute. Is there something else out there I wasn't offered? The
only other plan mentioned to me was every call is 5.5 pesos but you can talk up to 20 minutes for local calls. So confusing...
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