DO YOU HAVE AN OBAMAPHONE and CAN YOU GIVE A THUMBS UP OR DOWN? ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU SIGN!

WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE WHAT WE CALL AN "OBAMAPHONE."

The phones are from a lot of different places and with different plans.  For instance we hear of 250 - 500 - and even 1000 MINUTES.   BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPANIES OFFERING UNLIMITED MINUTES AND TEXTS.

What is your experience with the OBAMAPHONE?  IS IT HELPING YOU?  Do you recommend a certain company or provider or store?

HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK before you walk away without reading the fine print.

1) DO YOU HAVE A WALK IN STORE - BRICK AND MORTAR STORE - THAT I CAN GO TO IF I DON'T WANT TO SIGN UP OR TAKE A PHONE WITH ME TODAY?  Can I pick up a phone there or will it have to be mailed?  Can it be mailed to a post office box?

2) WHAT IF I WANT INTERNET TOO?  IS THERE A PHONE I CAN HAVE FOR FREE OR BUY?  HOW MUCH FOR THE PHONE AND HOW MUCH A MONTH FOR THE INTERNET MINUTES?  CAREFUL - THIS CAN BE TRICKY -  because you may find that the fee for having internet means the phone is not a better deal than you can find with a prepaid carrier elsewhere.

3) WHAT IF I GET THE PHONE and it turns out that the service is poor.  Like if I only get one bar or there are missing messages and texts?  DO I HAVE TO KEEP THE PHONE ANY CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME?  CAN I RETURN IT TO YOU and TRY OUT ANOTHER OBAMAPHONE CARRIER?

*We know someone who has two OBAMAPHONES?

4) WHAT IF I WANT A FREE LANDLINE INSTEAD?  (We know that you have a choice of either a landline or a cell phone, but that the cell phone carriers seem to be out all over signing people up and having them walk away with a phone.  Some of these people appear to be on commission and some of them failed to answer these questions, sticking with a sales spiel.  So we are not sure they will answer this question honesty, or even know the answer.

5) Do you have TOLL FREE CUSTOMER SERVICE if there are problems or more questions?

6) WHAT COMPANY CARRIES Your calls?  Get this we already found one carrier that says they work off Sprint and another that says they work of T-Mobil... If your current phone doesn't function well on these carriers, look for an Obama phone that works off a different carrier.

7) DO YOU HAVE INFOMATION I CAN READ that comes with the phone?  I want to read it /take it with me before I sign up.  (Avoid any carrier that sets up tables at the Social Services office, at the bus terminal, at a shelter or rehab that DOES NOT PROVIDE THE CONTRACT printed up.)

FREE CELL PHONES FOR THE HOMELESS - WHY THIS WORKS FOR US

Reading over many articles about the FREE LINELINE CELL PHONE for homeless and low income individuals,  we saw on several sites that not homeless people were pretty ignorant about why homeless people would even need cell phones!  We're also concerned that there may be high charges for going over your minutes having gotten by barely with about 300 minutes a month ourselves.  (One call easily takes 15 minutes, and if you're calling a busy number, the HOLD TIME can eat those minutes up fast!)

We can't recommend any particular cell phone provider but if you want to tell us about a good or bad experience with one, please leave a COMMENT!

So here is our list!

1) Because working phone booths are hard to find and you can't get a return phone call on them and you probably can't loiter near a phone booth.

2) Because free phone service lets people who've been paying for phones and service use that money for something else they need.

3) Because a homeless person with a cell phone can call 911 if they need help - police - ambulance - just like most people who are not homeless can.

4) Because you can communicate with places and people that may help you, such as Social Services, Shelters, and Employers. 

5) Overall with a phone you're less isolated and more connected as a human being.

6) Cell Phones allow you to connect with people who would be LONG DISTANCE calls otherwise, like your family or old friends, maybe people who can help you or take you in.

7) They work when it comes to passing as not homeless!