www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I am having trouble getting a cellphone line from ICE. I have two Ticos tring to help me,but it will be a while until some lines open up. The new lines won't become available for months. What a pain in the ass!!! Perhaps someone on here is leaving CR and would like to sell their phone with a line. Maybe someone has two lines and only needs one. I am told that I should buy the newer kind with a chip because the older ones will be obsolete in another two years.

I saw a few on craigslist, check costa rica / electroinics.

VB:
The answer is easy.
With a TICA everything is for sale, and most have cell phones.
A trip to the DR should solve your problem.
I think you know how to get there!

_________________
It is cheaper to pay now and get it over with.
It is also easier to get them to leave.

I would not buy a phone line from a Tica. Whenever she gets hungry she can just shut it off and have you pay her to turn it back on.

I know a guy who sells lines. He has GSM (the chip type) available, but he is a little expensive. You'll pay about $250 for the chip, however he if anything happens to the line, he will replace it, so it's worth it to me and he's pretty reliable.

However, if you can legally get a line (you have residency or a corporation) then maybe it's better to get a cheaper TDMA phone (the old kind) and then resell it once you get your "real" liine. You can find $200 tdma phones with lines pretty easily, i also know a few places that sell those.

Buying a line from a local:

- My maid sez, "sure, I have an extra line that I don't use because there is a past due bill. Just pay the past due amount and I will give you the line." SO I pay her the $60,000c past due.

- The maid informs me, after I pay the bill, that it is an old line and that I will need an old phone. Now I can't use my GSM unlocked razor and must buy a POS Nokia: $30,000c

- Get the phone from the maid and all is good except the brick is a PITA to carry and the coverage sucks. Then I start getting calls for "Lupe". WTF???? The maid's name is Dora.

- Get the phone on Dec 1 and by mid December I get a message from ICE saying that I need to pay the November bill: $16,000c WTF???

- The maid comes to clean and my novia confronts her about "Lupe" and the past due amount: "You are angry? Why you angry? Hey, no problem, you pay me nothing." And she leaves. Three days later, no phone service and she is free to resell the line to the next victim.

Lesson expense: $90,000c and I have a nearly-new genuine POS Nokia phone for sale if anyone is interested.

_________________
"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

Yeah, you have to deal with reputable people.. you'll pay more, but you'll be less likely to get screwed on the deal.

Phones in CR????
ICE talk about muy tico

Brother Vegas Bob and others--The 2 best discussions on this subject especially the celtrek.com option are:
www.costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=23735 and
www.costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=25573
Neither directly answers your question directly but the latter gives a range of options, courtesy natch of Brother Prolijo. Hope this helps. Incidentally, is there any more word on ICE offering a pre-paid cell phone option this year?

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Thanks to brother Easy (probably same person others suggested) I have a phone. It cost a little more,but I don't have the worry of a "previous owner" cancelling the line or running up charges. It's a new line with a new line. If it works out as well as I expect,I will report on the company that sells it.

Funniest thing i've read in a long time. "Lupe"?? hahha

Sorry about the bullshit you went through though.

Luis

Hey VB, can you give a little more intel on this? I would also like to get a phone, and every avenue I've gone down has failed...

Pac,
I think you ought to be commended for helping out your poor maid and paying off her cell phone debt.

QBF.....His name is Michael and his number is 8362-1153. His website is michael@buynowcr.com

So far I've had no problems. He will be advertising here on CRT shortly.

ICE is now offering prepaid lines. Prepago . They started it about a week ago and then they had 40,000 lines. My friend who is a resident got one. 9 bucks for the chip and the prepaid cards come in 2500, 5000, and 10,000 colones.

You have to be a citizen, resident or own a corp to get one but this way would eliminate some of the problems with getting a traditional line from someone else.

Zman, aside from the residency requirement, do you know if there are any other caveats like a cell phone recipt, etc? Can anyone stroll into a shop and buy a SIM sin preguntas?

I'll be in CR in about 3 weeks and I would like to get a SIM to use in my unlocked GSM, CR compatable cell phone. I could have an amiga make the purchase if they don't sell out before I get there!

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western