SafeLink Wireless Provides Free Cell Phone Service To Low-Income Families in Georgia

To learn more, visit, www.safelink.com or call 1-800-SAFELINK (1-800-723-5465).

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now tonight's top stories and tomorrow
morning forecast in the first five
minutes
well if you watch television and we know
you do you may have seen commercials for
safelink wireless they offer free
services to people receiving food stamps
on Medicaid or people living in section
8 housing not a bad deal but was really
paying for it
that's the tough question consumer
investigator out of murphy is asking
safelink wireless presenting safely a
free government-supported cell phone
with free monthly minutes in a free
voicemail account this commercial
promises some of you a free cell phone
with three minutes you're likely
eligible if you receive food stamps or
Medicaid it sounds like a good deal but
is it too good to be true out of add-on
taping that that was a good idea
especially for all the people stay by
himself
safelink wireless provides eligible
low-income households 13 phone in 68
free minutes a month for one year
the deal is offered by a company called
tracfone there a prepaid cell phone
provider based in miami who's paying for
it
its a mix you have companies and you
have in other cases carriers that pass
off of the feet to the consumers so its
a mix
here's how it works each month you pay
universal fee on your cell phone bill
that money goes to the federal
government and then providers like
tracfone are able to access some of that
money for programs like safelink what's
the catch
there's no kak it is actually one of the
few things in the end and that we can
honestly say free does mean free the
phone is yours for free
the minutes are you rested to keep you
can choose to purchase phone additional
minutes if you want to travel may give
you a free phone but there's an
incentive they want you to buy
additional minutes which is money in
their pocket
having said that most cellphone
customers like the concept think it's
good especially to senior citizens
and people with disabilities and most of
the time people data getting food stamps
can afford other things
safelink wireless told me you should
check them to see if you qualify for the
program you might be surprised
also keep in mind after the first year
of free service they will reevaluate you
to see if you're still eligible
reporting in the studio at murphy CBS
atlanta news
alright we learned about this story from
a viewer just like you so if you have a
story idea let us know email us at news
at CBS atlanta com