www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Does anyone know what it would cost to replace an ICE sim card for the legitimate owner?

I have the opportunity to rent a sim card during my next trip. We have agreed on a $5 per day rental which I think is very good price but this guy wants a $300 deposit which seems a little excessive. I want to counter offer him a reasonable price like what it would cost him to replace it.

Of course I have every intention of giving it back but you know s**t happens like ticos don’t show up to pick it up the day you are leaving.

Thanks in advance

In that case, offer him ¢400 for bus fare, because that's all he'll spend to replace his chip. Unless something has changed in the past 18 months, there is no charge for a new chip. However, when going to replace a chip, you have to bring your account current (pay everything you owe) before they will issue you a new chip. I did this with my woman last year when we left her cell in a taxi.

The only time you pay for a chip is when you first open an account. I think it's ¢12,500 ($25 a couple years ago).

IMO, anything over $25 deposit for only a sim card is a rip-off. If you rented a phone that's another story. You will most likely not get it back. He'll have some excuse why he doesn't have it. He'll ask you to give him a couple days knowing full well that you are leaving Costa Rica that day.

What's involved in renting a SIM card or getting a cell phone account down in SJ? In DR you can buy the darn things on the street as you're driving in from the airport.

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mh

Orange

Thanks for the info man.

The 12500 colones charge is in line with the going rate for sim cards in other countries, but you never know with ICE that’s why I asked.

This deal had a bad smell from the beginning but now it really stinks.

Forget opening an account, you need residency to do that. And I don't know if they have any open lines right now anyway, they are always running out of them. Irish Drifter would know this since he lives there.

To rent a sim card only or phone w/ card, you have a couple of options:

1. This place rents sim card and phones w/ card for $10/day. There is a deposit required also. Check the site.
www.cellulartelephonerentals.com

2. Most rent-a-cars rent phones when you rent a car from them for like $5/day. Most don't rent cars, but it''s an option.

3. You can rent from a person who has an account. The rate is negotiable. Some kind of deposit will probably be required also.

My wife still has a cell account there even though she's been in the US for over a year. We are thinking about renting it out.

Orange is correct in that replacing a sims chip does not cost anything.

The guy is charging you the 300$ deposit because he will have to pay the phone bill and someone could run up a big bill in a month. I assume the chip is set up to make and receive international calls.

I do not think a 300$ deposit is excessive.

If the phone is set to make international calls, then yes, a larger deposit would be required.

But if it's local only, then $300 is excessive.

Thanks for the info, Orange. I'll check out the rental place.

mh

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mh

Soon the day will come to CR where you can buy a prepaid SIM and use it in your own unlocked cellphone.