Alltel Consumer Reviews - Page 3

MIDLAND, TEXAS -- I have been a customer of Alltel Wireless beginning in late 2000 under the Cellular One Co, which was taken over by Alltel. They have now been taken over by Verizon. Through my entire history with the company, I have never been late with a payment as it was set up from the beginning as an auto pay account. I have stuck to my plan minutes and never had over charges or complaints. In short, I have been an easy customer to have on their list. In late March, 2009, the company texted me that my plan minutes had been way overused. They then called me offering a larger plan.

On explaining to first one person on the phone then another, I went to the local office to straighten out the problem. March 20, 2009, I dealt with an associate at the local store who added a supplemental plan, at a cost, to my bill to handle overused data minutes and told me he couldn't do anything else until I had my bill. I never received a bill. April 17, they charged my account $392 more than my usual bill. I went back to the local office and was told there wasn't a supervisor present, the associate couldn't do anything but issue a credit which would take several days to weeks to reach me. I don't know about you but I don't have that kind of money just lying around.

I have talked to several people at the local office and by phone and have received nothing but run-around from all of them. A wireless company set up to take money from my account wirelessly will snail mail a refund when they get around to tending to that minor detail! Needless to say, I am not a satisfied customer nor will I be a customer one minute after my "contract" finishes. I wanted to send an email to the company about this treatment and what I intend to do.

Lo and behold, there is no such thing as contact information on their website. When the "Contact Us" button is clicked, you are routed to a log-in screen. OK fine, I logged in again and clicked the contact button again. Guess what, I was routed to the log-in screen. Totally unacceptable customer service!

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA -- I have been an Alltel prepaid wireless customer since November 2008, and after checking the balance on my account the other day, I noticed that the entire remaining balance of $27.15 was missing from my account. After calling Alltel customer service and waiting on hold for almost 20 minutes, I was told by a customer service representative that Alltel had "confiscated" my remaining balance because that I had what they considered to be "excessive use of roaming". It seems that I live just outside of an Alltel cell tower, and whenever I make or receive calls at my home, I am using another carrier's cell tower, and therefore considered to be "roaming"!

Since I was assured that my home was in Alltel's home service area when I established service, I asked that the amount that was "confiscated" be credited back into my account, but they told me that they couldn't do that. I then asked them to refund the amount in the form of a paper check, and they said that they couldn't do that either. It seems that the "confiscated" funds have been forfeited, and I will not be receiving one dime back from Alltel! They told me that if I want to continue to use my Alltel prepaid wireless service in the future, I will have to deposit more money into my account with no guarantee that this money won't also be "confiscated"!

Does Alltel Wireless think that I'm an idiot? NO WAY AM I GOING TO DEPOSIT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THIS ACCOUNT! I intend on porting my cell phone number to another wireless carrier so I can keep my number while ending my relationship with these deceitful thieves. I will also write a letter to the head honcho at Alltel Wireless detailing my recent experiences, and if they still refuse to give me my money back, I will file a case in my local small claims court. I'd like to advise anyone contemplating becoming a customer of this company to heed my advice: TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE. ALLTEL WIRELESS ARE A BUNCH OF TWO-BIT THIEVES!

OMAHA, NEBRASKA -- Only thing that comes to mind when I think of Alltel is negative things. They are the worst company I have ever had the misfortune dealing with. I have had to trade out my defective Samsung Hue about 5 times now. I go into the Alltel store at least once a week to try to get a new phone. The representative don't care about me or my problems, as long as they save themselves some money.

I first signed a 2 year contract with Alltel, and didn't have a single problem with them. But once I was going to sign another 2 year contract is when I ran into major problems. I signed the 2 year contract and got the Samsung Hue. I first had to trade it out because I could not hear anyone, but I was told there was too much "physical damage" on the phone to replace it under warranty. So I paid 100.00 To get the same model of phone.

Then the next 4 phones all pretty much do the same thing. The outside screen doesn't show up half the time. Phone power cycles constantly by itself. Phone is laggy and slow and sucks. The newest Hue I have which I activated yesterday has a big white mark on the inside screen and a white dot, and on half the outside screen is way dimmer than the other half, which is obviously a defect. When I went in to trade it once again, the manager said he "could not see it".

He then accused me of "trying to pull a fast one, to get a new phone". Outraged as you could imagine. So I simply asked if he just wanted me to wait until I ran into bigger problems with the phone, and he said yes "as long as we can re-produce the problem here in the store". I said "okay I will see you soon", and he replied with a smart ass attitude "I hope not, I hope this phone works great for you". Uhh...The phone is already defective 2 hours after I received it. Bottom line! Stay away from this company, you will hate it. The customer service is not there! They do not care about you, or your problems.

54937, WISCONSIN -- I have been with Alltel for 5 years now. I do have to say I had no issues with them until this past year. I purchased a Motorola Smart Q Oct. 3rd of 07. Signed a new 2 yr contract. Within one month of having this new phone, I started to experience nothing but problems. The phone would lock up, needed to take the battery out to reset the phone. Texting would stay all caps and I could not delete anything just keep texting. The phone would get stuck on dialing and never connect. I couldn't end the call either.

Again, needed to take battery out to reset. My screen would white out completely. Again, reset. Oh and the dropped calls!!! I have never had so many! Even in the city, not in "dead zones" where it doesn't matter who your carrier is there just isn't reception. I took my phone in after it completely died and would not turn on. It was under the one year manufacturer warranty. I sent the old one in and had the refurbished one sent to me in a couple of days. Not bad but of course it's not a new phone so there's the problem. I am now on my 4th phone in one year. They told me if this one has problems, they would replace with a brand new phone.

Needless to say, I have been having all the same issues as in the past. I went down and they made me call technical support and see if that would take care of the problem. Hello! Nothing is going to fix these phones! So I did what I had to.

They said if that didn't fix the problems, I would receive a new phone. Well it didn't fix it and my phone was in my pocket and a pressure point occurred on the display (a little black spot). They said it was now an insurance claim and I need to pay for a new phone!!! After 4 phones! Alltel sucks!! I will NEVER AGAIN go with Alltel! I have one year left on my contract. I will pay the $200 termination fee and go somewhere where the help actually helps you! Not rip you off!

ROGERS, ARKANSAS -- I just broke my contract with Alltel and been with them for many years. Switched from Verizon because Verizon was not here in the area, and I was told to go to Alltel. What a mistake I had made. Four phones even. Tried talking to them over the service plan and lied to after signing the agreement. Who reads these pages anyway? I trust people, what a mistake. Once they have your signature then no problem-solving, let alone talking to anyone for help. Ask for a supervisor and they're just as nasty when you wish to explain your situation or cell problems. You say fine, no service help then why continue to pay for nothing? Ruin your credit is the reply.

So be it. Use caution when dealing with these people as once they get your signature on their contract, then you're nobody for two years. Well, credit or not I am dumping them after over ten years plus. Hard decision for me as being with them so long and the holding times, as well as "please hold while I check your records" and you're dumped and have to start all over again.

Get the feeling that when they open my records, it states 'dump this one'. Cell has worked off and on and that's all of them even in the so-called service areas. "Maybe down for service. Call back in a couple hours", you know the excuses. Threats are lame as well. "It's your credit, wish to stop payment then we will ruin your credit for life." Yes, I even was told that I was rude when I asked them not to be so threatening and rude.

They hung up on me so many times and wonder if they use fake names as I call back and ask for Jerry, Cindy, Rob, Laural, Brenda and they are not at this station. "You must have been transferred to us and I am Bill, Dawn, John, Sue Ann etc", when you know there not even American in the first place as you're unable to understand them and they're in or from India. Those names I never could keep track of as trying to waste five minutes to understand them--even spelling--it is impossible the majority of the time.

Yes, I warn all never sign a contract with Alltel as they're the scum of the cell phone world. I now went to Cricket and so far after two months, they have been OK, but better than what I had for so many years and contracts. Yes, I get calls that I owe two thousand dollars etc. They have all sorts of late fees and charges when you sign a contract that they just don't care about service anymore.

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA -- When the military transferred my husband to another area I was forced to stay with my family. I had been with T-Mobile for years and never had any problems with them. I loved T-Mobile, however, I had NO service within 25 miles of my family's house. I broke my contract and went with Alltel. They were the only provider that had service where I was staying at. From the get go, it was horrible. I signed up for the circle plan and drove home to input my numbers online. I tried to register a new account and it wouldn't let me...

I called customer service and they said that it had been down for new registrations for two weeks (isn't this a major corporation?? and your website is down for new registrations for how long??) so they manually input my circle numbers. A few days later I checked my minutes and I had used something like 500 minutes which was impossible because I had never called anyone out of my circle. I called customer service and found out that they never input my numbers... So then they put them in again... Another couple days passed and the same thing... I was getting charged for minutes that were supposed to be on my circle.

I ended up getting a 300 dollar phone bill when my phone was supposed to be 59 dollars. Also, I was promised a military discount... I signed up for Alltel and bought my phones on an air force base and yet 2 months later they finally tell me that it has to be registered under a mil address. When I purchased my phones, I mailed one to my husband. When his ship pulled into Maine, he tried calling me and it said he was roaming… he called customer service and they told him that as long as the R was flashing, he was not roaming. So he used the phone only to find out later that we were charged for roaming.

2 months after signing our Alltel contract and after being on the phone with customer service about every 4 days to deal with billing issues that were never cleared up from the get go, I decided to pay the 400 dollars and break my contract... I had since moved to the new duty station where I had a choice of providers. I'm back with T-Mobile and I'm very happy. I had Alltel for 2 months and yet I'm still very happy to say that I paid 400 dollars to break a contract and dodge that bullet for 2 years. The phones are CRAP!

I do want to comment though that customer service was always very friendly. I think the hold times are horrible and I never got anything done talking to customer service(hint why I was on the phone with them every 4 or so days) but they were always pleasant… I never encountered a rude person when I called Alltel.

I lost a phone. My bad! I admit fault there. I pay insurance every month with my bill never late. My phone has never been disconnected. So why is it when I paid to have my phone replaced $95.00 with a police report that cost $25.00 that they did not tell me I needed when I lost my phone out of state.

I called them when I lost the phone, while I was out of state, to see if there was anything I needed to do. They said, "No come in and pay your $50.00 deductible and we will give you a new phone." I show up. They ask, "Where is the police report for the lost phone?" Police report? Why was that not mentioned when I was on the phone with your service company? "Oh, you were probably talking to someone new."

So after paying $25.00 to have a police report sent they charged me $95.00. I thought it would be $50.00. That is what my CONTRACT SAYS. The lady replied and I am not lying, "Oh, we changed that"??? How do you do that without my consent or knowledge? I am pretty sure a contract is a mutual agreement. Yeah I think so.

I get this new 120.00 phone for having insurance and I am looking at new ones in the store for less than that. Why do I pay insurance? How can they change my contract? 15 days later the phone breaks! It's OK though the phone has a ninety day warranty. My brand new phone gets shipped off. They give me a low grade loaner phone. Now I wait for my phone to be fixed and the problem is solved. NOPE! I wish this was LOL I swear!

They say, "You can keep the loaner phone. We are not going to try to fix your new phone because it has been discontinued." Why the hell did you sell it to me? Oh yeah, get it and me out of the store. Now I have invested 300.00 dollars in a phone that doesn't work nor can it be found by Nokia or Alltel! Any help please.

KANSAS -- I moved to an area for six months where Alltel was the one of two phone companies that provided service. From the begininning I was duped by this company. I told the salesman where I would be driving and he informed that Alltel gets perfect service in that area and if I purchased this certain plan than I'd never have roaming charges. He also said that I should buy a phone (rather than take the free one) because this phone was the best for the area I'd be driving in.

Over the next few months I received roaming charges on several bills only a 60 miles north of the town I purchased the plan in. I had the national plan and was being charged roaming for a location that was in my immediate region and area!

After having the service for 6 months I moved to a new area where the service was shady at best and I decided to terminate my contract. I understood about the $200 early shut off fee and was prepared to pay it. I called in August and had it service scheduled to be shut off August 31st. The customer service man told me I'd receive a final bill in September.

I wait until mid-October and receive a bill but it was service for the month of September and not a shut-off bill. I called the company and explained. They said the man must have put in the wrong date and I would have to pay the bill for September (even though I hadn't used it once, since I thought it was shut off!). I had to pay the bill for September and they said they would send me a final bill for shut-off fees.

I paid the shut-off bill the day after I received it and that same day I received a 'collection call' from the company. I explain to the lady that I had already paid it but it would take a few days to get through the mail to them. She talked to me as if I was a deviant and someone who wasn't going to pay the bill. After ten minutes of her treating my like this I asked to speak to her supervisor, I was on hold for 20 minutes before I decided that I wasn't wasting one more minute of my time with this company. I was very dissatisfied with the whole entire process, services provided and the customer care I didn't receive.

PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA -- We signed up as a family for five phones from Alltel Wireless, we have been a customer of theirs since they took over Cellular One (we were formally a Cellular One customer). The plan that we chose included a advertised "My Circle" in which you could go online and enter 10 numbers which you call frequently that would then not be charged minutes or money to call. We set up our "My Circle" with the ten numbers we call most frequently. This month we received a notice on our phone that our usage was extremely high, after calling Alltel we were told that we were $200 over our monthly usage and that our bill would be $357 this month.

We were concerned so we checked with customer service both at the local store and on the phone. When we looked on the internet to see our "my circle", the number that had been called to make our minutes go over was no longer listed on the web page. I asked customer service representative "Amanda" about this and she said "Alltel has nothing to do with My Circle, that is for the customer to keep track of on their own".

I then asked Amanda how I would know that they hadn't gone in and deleted our numbers or that there wasn't a computer glitch that had erased our number, Amanda told us that we would need to double check the list often to make sure that our numbers were still there. We were not told this was the case when signing up for service through their "my circle" promotion. I did cancel service with Alltel Wireless and Amanda did tell me that there would be a $200 per phone charge as well as the charges for our overage this month, which will be $1357.00. In my opinion Alltel broke their part of the contract by not adhering to the "my circle" promotion.

CONNECTICUT -- My husband and I moved from Utah to Connecticut in late October of 2006. We had been with Alltel for 14 months.
Once we moved to Connecticut our Alltel phones would not work. Calls were repeatedly dropped, we could not receive calls, voice mail would be received 3 to 4 hour after someone tried to call us. We reported the problem. They said they would look into it but nothing was done.

We called back a one-week later. We asked if we could be released from our contract because our phones no longer worked. They said the Technical Dept. would have to check things out and get back with us. We wanted to get out then before having to pay for another month. They lead us to believe that they would get the problem fixed and if they couldn't then they would let us out of our contract.

4 weeks later we still had not heard back and still could not use our phones. Turns out I was lied to. On 12-16-06, I called them again. My call was repeatedly dropped. I had to call back 6 times. I spent a total of 3 hours on the phone being passed from person to person. All they could say was "We are not authorized to cancel your contract. You have to pay $200.00 per phone to get out of your contract."

Why should I have to continue to pay for a service I can't use, plus pay $400.00 to get out of it! So now I am out $400.00 plus another $89.00 for an extra month's service I could not use. Even though the problem could not be fixed they would not let us out of our contract without paying $400.00. They did offer to sell us new more expensive phones that "€œmight" solve the problem. Goosh, I think I will pass...