can i receive picture or multimedia messages if i do not pay for the monthly service?

You can receive picture messages on your Cricket phone even if you do not have picture messaging as a feature. If your phone does not support picture messages, you will get a text message with a link to a website (http://www.mycricket.com/mms) where you can view your message. However, in order to send picture messages or reply to messages you receive you must have a phone capable of picture messaging and be a picture messaging subscriber.