this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2024
104 points (96.4% liked)

Privacy

31192 readers
507 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Related communities

Chat rooms

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Hello all, recently wanted to signup for temporary permanent legit emailmid in gmail. It was asking me Phone number in process, i tried to use multiple numbers from regular online resources ( more than 30) but nothing worked. I don't want to give my personal phone number in real life to someone's unless Its I want to.

How do I sign up services where phone number is required ? Is there throw away phone number I can get ? Is there way to skip it all together ( not on Gmail for sure ) Your help be appreciated.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] wreckedcarzz 15 points 7 months ago (3 children)

I use a 'burner' number with a prepaid provider that I pay $6 a month for, for all my "needs your phone number" bullshit. It's not a true burner since I'm holding it long-term, but it's a secondary number that I don't use unless I get a call or message on that number. Keeps my main/'real' number safe, from both data breaches and the weird manager at the pizza place or whatever.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 months ago

If you can get away with a non North American number, most countries will give you a SIM for free or next to nothing and you pay only once for pre-paid service, no monthly fee.

[–] highfiveconnoisseur 3 points 7 months ago (2 children)

What service do you use? Been thinking about doing the same sort of thing.

[–] wreckedcarzz 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Tello. $5 for baseline call service and minutes, unlimited text. $1 for some backup data if my primary carrier doesn't have service in an area. Runs on the t-mo network. Deprioritized to qci7 so data might not be reliable in areas where they have over-subscribed their towers, but that's only for data, so it's a footnote.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Same. Curious to hear of some options

[–] wreckedcarzz 2 points 7 months ago

See above comment =)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I use the cheapest Redpocket prepaid plan on ebay at it's $2.50/month so one time free $30 annually.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133196831828

[–] wreckedcarzz 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I used to use that RP plan, and for some reason I decided to switch... and then they took literally 4 months to get back with me with my porting information. I had to try information by other users on /r/nocontract to try and port away myself, which worked. Wouldn't you know it, the very next day, "oh no we are soooo sorry for the inconvenience, but I see you have ported away successfully" like yes mf what the actual shit were you doing for 120 days that you couldn't look up two values and email them back?

Tello's cs is actually quite good.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Why did you switch may I ask? You switched to tello? How you like it?

I haven't bad the need to switch my redpocket number so it's a non issue for me. It's cheap and it works unless you see another reason why I should make the switch. I'm open to hearing you out.

[–] wreckedcarzz 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It's been a couple years so I don't remember why I wanted out; it might have been concern about renewal, losing the number, or something like that, I just can't remember. But I've been happy with tello, and I remember I had to contact cs once a while back, they got back with me within the day, and I've needed no other help. The site is pretty user-friendly, even for porting in/out. Data allotments recently doubled with no charge, which is nice. The number I was assigned doesn't have any issues with spam, and the price has remained the same (for my plan selection), even when I've hopped around on other MVNOs the last few years. It's a pretty nice place for cell service, assuming your area/tower isn't strained for data bandwidth.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

Yeah just checked them out and I think I'll stick with RP. It's the cheapest you can get and it works. Tello's plan is a bit more expensive for less of what I'm getting

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

$6 a month is much more than my actual phone plan holy shit, that is a shit ton of money for such a subscription.

[–] wreckedcarzz 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

...its a full cell phone plan?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I mean, my full plan with more internet and minutes than I need is around $4. Paying $6 for something you don't even fully use is a ripoff.

[–] wreckedcarzz 2 points 7 months ago

You can technically get that here in the states, but it's veeeery limited: Redpocket, and a couple of by-the-minute recharge plans afaik. This $6 plan only supplies 300 minutes, and 1gb of data. The typical rate for most people's service is $50-$60 here ('unlimited* data, messages, and minutes'), with my main line costing $85 plus bs fees. $6 as a backup/secondary could be a rounding error.