Cell phones in CR

herefinally · Feb 22, 2005

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Recent relocation brings me to beautiful CR. One thing I need to get hold of<o

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quickly is a cell, something that has proved more difficult than I would have <o

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Ian

DimeBag · Feb 22, 2005

Here,

Got friends in the area? You will need to get ahold of a used line, should be easier since kids are losing their jobs left and right here since this industry is a seasonal job for some. Be careful and post the price they are asking here before paying it, as you may get hit by what is known here as "the gringo tax". And when in doubt ask Jake he might be able to help.

Dime

wheres my parlay?

da1ghost · Feb 23, 2005

Easy to get, costs about 20 000 colones for your line, and that will give you international dailing and all. Callthis guy, his name is Deimer and speaks little english, 358-3129. If you have any problems calling him you can always get ahold of me at 827-7014.

AdamSelene · Feb 23, 2005

Why bother renting or buying a used line/phone? Been there done that, not worth it.

Just take a Tica friend (or Tico) to the mall, stop by any of a dozen shops and buy a phone with line. They'll need a copy of her cedula and a copy of a utility bill. The most basic model phone will cost you $100-150, the one-time line fee is about $50, monthly base fee is around $12. The line will be in her name but you just give the phone number at any bank or servi mas to pay the monthly bill.

GSM service is spotty, but so is TDMA service. Have some friends over to the house and see which one works better, and check around the office.

wolfie_cr · Feb 23, 2005

I "think" that ICE just ran out of lines of either technology.

If they still do have them Adam's plan is reasonable (the one that could get screwed on that deal is the CR guy is you don't pay your line.....but for you the exposure is limited to the amount you pay to the CR'ican)

AdamSelene · Feb 23, 2005

I believe cell retailers keep a stock of lines, and the just give the paperwork to ICE afterwards. (They must, you can generally walk away with a working phone). In that case you can go to several retailers and see which have lines ready to go.

In any case, I thought it was only GSM lines that ICE had run out of, you should still be able to find TDMA lines anywhere.

Don't go out and "buy" or lease a line/phone from someone. One day your phone will stop working because the guy decided to sell the line to another sucker; and you can't get the line transfered into your name to prevent that (ICE doesn't allow lines to be "sold" and in any case you'd need a cedula).

wolfie_cr · Feb 23, 2005

they ran out of both
http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2005/febrero/08/pais2.html

da1ghost · Feb 23, 2005

yeah they did run out of both, but Adam is right....some shops stocked up on lines....the guy's number I gave is one of them who has stocked up. Don't go out and pay more than 20 000 colones or $50, if you are paying more than that for a line, you are getting ripped off.