Assurance Wireless, a cell phone service from Virgin Mobile that provides a free cell phone service to eligible low-income customers, increased its core voice plan from 200 to 250 free voice minutes per month. They are now offering customers the ability to increase to a total of 500 monthly minutes for $5 or a total of 1,000 monthly minutes and 1,000 text messages for $20.
To learn more about Assurance Wireless, including eligibility requirements, please call 1-888-898-4888, or visit www.assurancewireless.com Information is available in English and Spanish.
In addition to providing a free handset, voice mail account and call waiting, Assurance Wireless also features caller ID and access to 911 in case of an emergency.
The core offer remains the same: 250 minutes of free talk time, a free phone with the ability to buy additional minutes or texts at 10 cents each. The $5 Talk offer increases the amount of minutes available each month to 500. The $20 Talk & Text offer increases the minutes to 1,000 and adds 1,000 text messages.
The new offers include a Service Protector feature, which ensures that the basic 250 free minutes are guaranteed each month a customer is eligible, even if a customer cannot pay the additional dollars during a particular month. These new offers are available to all Assurance Wireless customers.
"During these tough economic times, customers have to make difficult decisions on how to spend their money, but wireless communications has become a necessity for people for a variety of reasons," said Grace Boehm, director for Assurance Wireless. "Assurance Wireless wants to help our subscribers by providing a variety of options beyond our basic offer."
Cell phones are no longer a luxury. Assurance Wireless commissioned a survey to learn how and when Americans use their cell phones. The survey revealed that adults, regardless of household incomes (ranging from below $25,000 to more than $75,000), are equally as likely to use their mobile phones for employment searches. Eight of 10 Americans reported feeling dependent on their cell phones and using their mobile phones to stay in contact with family and seek help in case of emergencies.*
On all Assurance Wireless' plans, customers who need more minutes can pay for additional 10-cent-per-minute domestic calling, 10-cent text, email or instant messages (sent or received), international calling at competitive rates, and more.
Although eligibility varies by state, customers eligible for Assurance Wireless generally include those who participate in Medicaid, Food Stamps/SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA/TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), or the National School Lunch Program's Free Lunch Program. Customers may also qualify based on low household income.
Assurance Wireless is currently available in Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, with more states expected to be added each month.
Do NOT use assurance wireless. It is not worth the headache of having to deal with Virgin Mobile. Their phone is junk, any money you might put on the phone slowly disappears. BTW, I never go online with it but where is my money going? I don't text, or receive any messages. Then dealing with VM is difficult. They are rude to the customers and you can't find anyone who speaks English. They tell you one thing, and do another. Go with safelink. Less time offered but anything is better than VM.
i like vm and am glad that i have this cell phone service because with out it i can't afford a cell phone. and this is the only phone i have, in case of emergency and i can talk to my sis who doesn't live up here. tks.