Jitterbug - Page 2

WESTVILLE, ILLINOIS -- I saw Jitterbug advertised in AARP and it always says one doesn't need all that extra stuff, this and that and everything. It's bigger and easier to use and I like it better than a regular cellphone and the TracFone I had before. I'm not good at using the Jitterbug phone, though. I had to get somebody to get it started and I only use it when somebody calls me and if I have to call out. But the phone serves the purpose and it's good.

PHOENIX, OREGON -- Transcribed by: Keven

My3Cents Jitterbug: November 8 (2,3)

Toni: I was calling to see if you had a few minutes to tell me about your experience with Jitterbug.

Donna: It's been fine.

Toni: Before we begin, I do want to let you know that our call may be recorded. How did you first hear about Jitterbug?

Donna: Online.

Toni: What made you decide to get in contact with them in the first place?

Donna: I wanted to change plans because I liked the – what is it? The Star5 or whatever it is. The emergency part of it.

Toni: Did you use a different cellphone provider prior to having your Jitterbug?

Donna: Verizon.

Toni: How do you feel like your Jitterbug compares to your previous provider?

Donna: I didn't have any trouble with either one. I just liked Jitterbug's plan better.

Toni: So it just had an option for you that kind of better suited what you were looking for at this point?

Donna: Right.

Toni: Can you tell me about your experience interacting with the Jitterbug team?

Donna: I never talked to anybody. I just [unclear 0:01:35] online.

Toni: So you did the set up and everything just on your own?

Donna: Online. Yeah.

Toni: Do you have any other experiences or comments that you would like to share with Jitterbug?

Donna: No. It works well for me.

Toni: How would you rate your experience with Jitterbug on a scale of 1 to 5 stars where 5 stars means that you would recommend them to a friend and 1 star means you were very dissatisfied with the experience?

Donna: A 5. [unclear 0:02:07]

Toni: How would you summarize your experience with Jitterbug in just a couple of words?

Donna: A good plan.

Toni: Would it be okay if we posted some of your comments on our website to make your feedback available to Jitterbug?

Donna: I'd rather not have anything posted. Thank you.

Toni: We have an option of making it anonymous where it would just show the letter D and…

Donna: That would be fine.

Toni: Do you have an email address so that we can send you a one-time link once your review has been published so that you're able to see it?

Donna: No. That's okay. Thanks anyway.

Toni: As a reminder, this call may have been recorded.

VISALIA, CALIFORNIA -- I used AT&T before using Jitterbug, and the service was fine with both. But the cost is much more with AT&T and it's much more economical with the Jitterbug. Moreover, I do feel a little bit more confident with the 5Star. That medical alert button was not a basic feature, but an add-on. I can always do 911 to get emergency response, but the 5Star was a better feature.

The Jitterbug staff that I've dealt with have been excellent, wonderful, and very patient with me. Everybody that I've had contact with has actually gone way more and above what I had anticipated or even called about. They explained to me how to use the different features of the Jitterbug phone, including the camera and other things. They've been extremely helpful, and I appreciate that so much.

I feel rewarded in the customer service that I receive, and the functionality of the phone itself. Especially since I'm older and until recently I was completely computer-illiterate, but working with their service provider gave me the confidence to take a couple of computer classes. The only thing was when I initially signed up for the Jitterbug service, I failed to let them know that I was an AARP member, so I didn't get the discount for that. But aside from that, I would never go back to AT&T or any other cellphone provider because their service is not comparable to the service that I receive with Jitterbug.

I have recommended Jitterbug to friends of mine. I'm also a member of a minority group in my area, and a lot of the people in my ethnic group don't seem to use a cellphone, were truly unaware, or have been intimidated by the experience they had with other cellphone providers. So, I've explained to them how convenient and reasonably priced the Jitterbug phone is, and that the people there will help them and explain things to them, and so it's something that we're going to start using more.

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON -- I like having Jitterbug with me for emergencies and that is why I bought it. I have also used it for telephone calls when I am not home, but I normally don't use it. I just use it for the 5Star advantage of having it.

One other reason I got it is because it is simple and if I have my nose perfectly on this keyboard, I can read the numbers, because I can't see. The only thing that I did to make it easier for me was the little red dots I got from the Blind Society. You can put them on things if you can't see directions and dials, etcetera. So I put one on the 5 and that is my keystone key because everything else flows around the 5 and I can figure out where things are.

Also, their team has been very nice. Especially when I hit this stupid button at the wrong time. But they were very understanding and prompt. I have trouble seeing but I know where the button is located and I try very desperately not to hit it if I'm not needing it. So I told them I hit it by accident and they said, “Well, that's okay. Is there any way we can help you?”

There were also a few times that I hit it for information, not real emergencies, because I was confused about the use of the Jitterbug and what it would do and what it wouldn't do. And they were very helpful in getting me the information that I required so that I could use it.

One thing I don't like is the 'bing, bong, bong, bing' sound. But the last one that they offered me was the old-fashioned, 'Rrrinngg, rrrinngg' and that is comforting because I know what that is. Those little 'Bonk, bink, bink, bonk, bonk' doesn't mean anything to me at all. Overall, I was very satisfied with Jitterbug and I have recommended them to people.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS -- I worked at the hospital where they would see a lot of incidents where people would lay on the floor for two days because nobody could get a hold of them. So I always tell my girl friends (we're all 75) that they need to always have their cellphones on them in case something happens. And sure enough some of them have had experiences and they said "Thanks to you, you told us to keep our phones on, I was able to call 911 or call my kids".

I always have my cellphone in my pocket always. We had a landline phone at home but sometimes my husband likes to work on the yard so we got a Jitterbug. This way he knows in case he falls and I'm not here he can have his phone with him all the time. I also saw that it had that star button which he can just push in case something happens. One day, a couple of times by accident he pushed it and they called right away, which is good.

It's an issue to help others and ourselves. You never know when you're going to slip or fall and you should always have your phone in your pocket and that's what I do. I'm taking a shower, I go outside, my phone is in my pocket. So now if my husband is outside, I can leave and feel safe that in case anything happens he can call me or push the star button and get help.

He doesn't know how to use all these technology. On my other phone, I have all my contacts and on his phone, we just have my two sons, my daughter and my cell on there and that's all we need. I could have gotten Metro for the same amount $30 a month, but he doesn't use it for anything else other than for me to call him or him to call me if I'm not here or his kids or 911.

He's got a little case that he hangs around his neck or he'll put it in his pocket. The only thing I didn't like was that if he calls in on that number he gets charged, but he's got 200 minutes a month and can see how many he's used. We checked the bill the other day and it says he's only used the Jitterbug phone for two minutes because he only uses it for A to B or emergency. So I'm just going to ride it out, see how it pays off in the long run, but so far so good.

MINOR HILL, TENNESSEE -- My husband (before he passed away) decided that we needed cell phones in case we needed to call each other if one of us was going, so we got in contact with Jitterbug. Since having it, we had fewer worries. One time, we had a wreck and I was able to call the guy using my Jitterbug to tow us in and I was also able to call the police. Also, when my husband was sick, I was able to call some of our people and let them know how he was doing and how I was doing.

I wasn't spending much time at home to use my landline, so I used it quite a bit while he was sick. He passed away in October and I had already changed it over. I had it upgraded to a minute-to-minute and I don't even use it. I had 30 minutes and then they rolled it over to 60 minutes if I didn't use them. I went up to 300 and some minutes and got a big telephone bill. He wasn't using his phone so I changed mine over to it so I could have it while I was in town to call my people who are all out of state.

I've thought about cancelling it and getting something more simple just to have something if I need it or go back to just a certain number of minutes instead of having to pay $70 a month. We had both of the phones on the 30 minutes for $39 and something. Also, I can't get service on it where I live. All I can do is use it when I'm on the road going somewhere so I'm not sure if I need to keep it. Other than that, the Jitterbug team have all been nice enough. They've all been very helpful in helping me to set my account up.

SUN CITY WEST, ARIZONA -- I knew my lease was up on my other phone and when a friend of mine showed me a Jitterbug ad, I thought that it looks like a very good price and a simple thing to use. It just seems to be a good thing for me. Compared to Verizon, which was a lot more expensive, Jitterbug is economical and easy to use. I use it for long distance or if I'm in the car going some place and need to get a hold of somebody. It works fine for me and I would highly recommend it to people in my situation.

I found the Jitterbug Touch phone difficult to use and returned it, in its original packaging well within the 30-day time frame for a full refund, as their advertising promises. It was returned to me stating: "We are unable to process a refund due to the following reasons... EXTREME WEAR AND TEAR OVER PHONE SURFACES." I have had 3 people look at this phone and none of us can see evidence of any wear and tear at all, much less EXTREME wear and tear.. It looks pristine.

I emailed customer service asking that I be allowed to send my phone back for re-evaluation. I was told by the customer service representative that 2 people evaluate the phones before they are returned to consumers and mine would not be re-evaluated. I asked for the email address, and verification of name of the Head of Customer Service. I was not answered. The recourse that I seek is simple. I want a Department Head to look at the phone and tell me where the extreme wear and tear is.. Thank you.

SPRING HILL, TENNESSEE -- I got a Jitterbug for my dad. I ordered it online and got it in just a few days. My father is 82 years old. He used to have a flip phone before and he liked it. But, he could hardly find a flip phone. Jitterbug is simple and the buttons are bigger. He uses it for emergencies mostly. I know he likes having the phone with him. I'm satisfied with it and he is too. If somebody needs a phone and they don't like trying to figure out other phones and things like that, then Jitterbug would be a good phone, especially for the elderly.

LORAIN, OHIO -- My daughter told me that I gotta have a phone because I will never know if something happens when I go out. So, I changed over from Verizon because it was too expensive. Because I could not afford it, I would have to give it up. My sister-in-law changed her mother's Jitterbug phone to me. It is cheaper than my Verizon was.

I am old fashioned and I would rather talk on the phone so I got the flip phone. I use it for calling doctors. I can take it and I could recall back. However, if I sit in the middle of my couch in the living room, it loses frequency after a while. When I am on the phone, they tell me that they cannot hear me so I move. But I like my Jitterbug and I could see and still understand it for what I use it for. I get good service from them. The volume is good on it too. Plus, the phone is handy to take and to reach in my purse.