Lime questions

[pamc12345]

I bought a phone from the Lime counter at the Mega Mart the last time that I was in Jamaica. (May) I will be going again in a few weeks. I am assuming that I will need to get a new sim card when I get there. Is this right? The last time, they asked what "plan" I wanted. I really didn't know what to tell them. I need mostly minutes to call home to the US, and maybe a few local minutes. Do I have to designate international and local minutes separately? What should I tell them to get the best bang for my buck?

[Melody]

Go online to Lime Jamaica. You can top up via a link there. (the link takes you to a different site called something like eztopuponline where you register with a username and password) I'm sure your sim will still work. I emailed them and they answered that with the different stages of not using it, it would be able to be activated over 6 months later. Others on the board indicated they topped up online almost a year later and it worked. You want their talkez plan, which is now standard. Look under their prepaid phone tab, it explains how you can check to make sure that's activated on your sim. With talkez, calls home are 3 cents a minute as well as to either digicel or Lime cells. I think it's about 8 cents a minute to local Jamaican landlines. Texts, home or local are about 6 cents. You can talk a lot for a $5 US top up. No need to get an international plan unless you will be talking for HOURS.

I bought a Lime phone at Megamart last November. Topped up online before I went in April and just topped up $5 a few weeks ago and will probably top up another $5 (for good measure) in about a week, as I'll be back to Negril in 15 days.

I think your minutes expire in 30 days (if you don't top up) but your sim doesn't.

[pamc12345]

Thanks for the info Melody. So you know how I can check for sure to see if my sim is still active?

[Melody]

Not sure. I would charge the phone, turn it on...maybe try calling or texting to see if it works. You won't have any minutes but expect is would ring or you would receive a text. You could also search the Lime site for info. I'm so sure its active, I'd just topup $5...you'll receive a text confirmation when it goes through.

[pamc12345]

Thank you Melody! It worked. One less stop I have to make when I land!

[IRIEchic]

I bought a phone from the Lime counter at the Mega Mart the last time that I was in Jamaica. (May) I will be going again in a few weeks. I am assuming that I will need to get a new sim card when I get there. Is this right? The last time, they asked what "plan" I wanted. I really didn't know what to tell them. I need mostly minutes to call home to the US, and maybe a few local minutes. Do I have to designate international and local minutes separately? What should I tell them to get the best bang for my buck?

Hi Pam if you don't mind me asking how much did you pay for your phone at Mega Mart?
I just posted in another thread that I was quoted US$30 to use a phone for 4days so after reading this thread it makes sense to buy a phone and reuse at my visits...and I already have an acct with Ezetop so it all works! lol

Thank you Melody for all the good info I was taking notes...!

[rjonsun]

Today we took our year old phone down to the Lime store. When we bought it last year it was a "buy one get one" sim card. The second unused sim card was was still good. We bout 2000 J of minutes which will last us at least 3 weeks. The lady at the store was very helpfull. It is located up stairs at one of the plazas at the round about.
Regards,
Bob

[Melody]

Lime in Negril is upstairs from ValueMaster, in front (or behind) of the roundabout.

Last November, I got a great sale for the phone, sim & some phone credit, $999j! I think the cheapest phone & sim is around $25 usually. If you go on Lime Jamaica's website, you can click on the "phones" tab and it gives pics, descriptions and prices of their phones.

If you stop at Mega Mart, turn right when you enter, walk past the Scotia ATM towards the back wall and the Lime desk is there (that's where it was a year ago). We had to ask a store employee to send someone to the desk to help. Then easy peasy!

[Melody]

Thank you Melody! It worked. One less stop I have to make when I land!

Yay!!! So good to have your phone up and running when you land and one less thing on your "to do" list. When I went back the next trip after I bought it, the phone did some searching to get back onto the Lime network. I think I had to select "yes" or something to get it back in Jamaica land. It roams on Rogers when I'm home. I panicked for a few minutes thinking it didn't work, but when you press when prompted, it's good to go.

[pamc12345]

IRIEchic....I happen to still have my receipt from when I bought my phone in May at MegaMart. Sim was 257 J and phone was 2795 J . That included some minutes I believe. Can't remember exactly how many minutes it included, and don't quote me on that. I could have paid for minutes separately. I see here thay sometimes people pay less than that for phones. I just went with whatever the lady at the counter offered me. I had a driver and other people waiting. Wanted to get it done quick, which I did. Only took like 5 minutes to take care of. Still, that is only $30 and you will have the phone for the next time. And now, thanks to Melody, I know how to get minutes online, it is completely no stress!