How to Track Minutes Used on a Prepaid Cell Phone

Prepaid cell phone usage is very popular with many people. You don't have to fulfill a contract and you update minutes on a regular basis. The hitch, according to some people, is knowing how many minutes you have used. Follow these steps to take care of that problem.

Things You'll Need

• Prepaid cell phone

Instructions

1. Read the literature that comes with your prepaid cell phone plan. The information there will explain how to track the minutes you have used.

2. Choose the option on your phone that allows you to see how many (paid for) minutes you have left. This may show automatically as you use the phone.

3. Purchase new airtime and your receipt shows how many minutes you now have. Once you do this, the new number showing on your phone includes the newly purchased minutes.

4. Find out how many prepaid cell phone minutes you have used by calling on your cell phone: #646# for Verizon and Mobile, *646# for AT&T and Cingular, and #4 for Sprint.

5. Check online by going to your supplier's website. Log in and give your cell number. View the information given on the screen. The data matching your phone number shows your usage total.

6. Track new minutes as you buy them. Add newly purchased minutes to existing minutes to get your total. This process continues until you no longer buy new minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep track of your minutes. When you have used all of them, the phone will shut off, often in mid-conversation.

• If you do not make a payment (purchase new minutes) at a due date, the minutes that you already have will end.

Resources

• Website gives pertinent information on each plan.
• The Simple Dollar has an informational article on prepaid cell phone usage.