DEAR SUN SPOTS: Regarding where to purchase TracFones (Feb. 24 Sun Spots), they can be purchased from QVC, where I get mine every year. It has 1,500 minutes with data and texting. — John, no town
ANSWER: Excellent! Thank you for the tip. I checked it out and there are many brands of TracFones to choose from that can be sent to you via free shipping. The site is https://www.qvc.com/.
DEAR SUN SPOTS: Do you have advice for the disposal of old cellphones? I don’t know if I can turn it on, but I would like to be sure there is none of my personal information on it. I hate to have it end up in a landfill if someone can get some use out of it. — No name, no town
ANSWER: Depending on what you have, you can dispose of it where you bought it. If you purchased your phone at a store such as Verizon or AT&T, etc., start with them. You can also check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s Electronics Donation and Recycling page https://www.epa.gov/recycle/electronics-donation-and-recycling) to learn about recycling or donating your cellphone in your area.
Staples is a retailer that accepts used electronics for recycling. The Auburn store is at 89 Union St. Contact the store first at 753-0779 to check out the procedure.
Lowe’s, Home Depot, and the Lewiston Solid Waste Facility also accept old cellphones. Check to see if your town’s solid waste facility accepts them.
Cell Phones for Soldiers (cellphonesforsoldiers.com) is an organization that can use your phone. Another one is the Coalition Against Domestic Violence (https://ncadv.org/donate-a-phone).
If you can turn your phone on and want to erase your data: for an iPhone, on your home screen, go to “Settings,” click “General,” scroll all the way down to the bottom and click “Reset,” click “Erase All Content and Settings,” click “Erase iPhone.”
For an Android phone, go into “Settings” and encrypt the data. Then do a factory reset by going to “Settings,” click “Backup and reset,” scroll all the way down and click “Factory data reset,” click “Reset device.”
On some phones, press the Menu button and tap “Settings.” Scroll down and click “Privacy,” click “Factory Data Reset.” Click “Erase Internal Storage” to erase all the data on the phone’s internal storage.
If you can’t turn the phone on, you should be able to go to the website for your device or carrier, log in to the account with your password and do everything from there, or contact customer support and someone can walk you through the process.
I’ve mentioned this many times in the column but some libraries have staff members who offer free tech support. And I’ll also say this again, having a tech-savvy teenager in your life is a godsend. I have a few and I don’t know where I’d be without them! I sure have learned a lot with their assistance and if any eye-rolling is involved, I just ignore it!
This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name. We won’t use it if you ask us not to. Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.
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