can i send a text message if i do not pay for the text messaging service?

You cannot send a text message if text messaging is not included in your monthly plan or added onto your monthly plan. However, anyone visiting the Cricket website can send a text message to any Cricket subscriber, using the Cricket subscriber's phone number. The sender does not need to be a Cricket customer to send the text message and the recipient does not have to be a subscriber to the text messaging service in order to receive the message.