TracFone Consumer Reviews - Page 8

Early February 2011, I was in town to manage a variety of personal details and was expecting an important phone call from someone. The call was not received in a timely fashion, so had attempted to call him. Instead of a ringing phone or his voicemail, I get a recording stating the call cannot be completed at the time..." Why??? My phone had about 1,000 minutes and several weeks of service remaining on it and attempted to call several other parties - same response. So, I had a bank employee call the number on a business land line. She quoted a recording stating the number had been disconnected and is no longer in service.

Two phone calls to Net 10 and one return call from Net10 resulted in my ultimately calling *22890 to have my phone programmed for a new phone number - one that I found to be rather tricky to memorize. While I'm pleased to be able to use the 1,000 minutes, am still upset that the old number (which included 777 as a part of it) was disconnected in the first place. I sent an email to Net10, requesting an explanation as to why the old number was disconnected in the first place. A reply stated no reason for the disconnect but did say that a live conversation would be necessary.

Since Net10 had the number ported from AT&T to Verizon Wireless at its end of the system, the number was "eternally" gone, never to be restored on my account. Net 10's Customer Service may rank high for customer satisfaction but when you call, be sure you use a landline phone to call or call on a cell phone that has an unlimited minute plan.

I purchased 2 of the above telephones at Walmart for Christmas, especially because the ad said "Mobile Web Access" and "downloadable ringtones" and "64 polyphonic ringtones" which I took to mean 64 were available and I could download more using web access. After over 2 hours on the telephone with 3 different "technicians" (that have more problem reading the manual than I do, and kept regurgitating what they read rather than paying attention to the questions I asked), I discovered 2 things. First question was, manual says to get on WEP select "browser" then select "star browser". Because there is no "star browser", what do I do?

After over an hour of listening to the "technician" read the manual, I was told it would take 24-48 hours for specialists to discover the answer. Instead of waiting, I experimented and discovered how to do it without "star browser." Then I converted some bagpipes to WAV and sent it to my telephone (7 seconds, 56k). But even after using 7-8 minutes of time, I still could not download it.

Finally got a message that the file type was not supported. I emailed to ask what file types are supported and was told I must contact them by telephone. I did, and after another 20 minutes of them reading the manual to me (not giving any answers), I was finally told that the only ringtones supported by Tracfone are the ones they sell, no other file types are supported as downloads. I think this is a ripoff since I can't stand the modern music they offer at ridiculous prices. If I had known this phone would not support any downloads other than Tracfone, I never would have purchased it.

The screen on my existing TracFone cracked creating a huge black spot in the middle of my screen. It is impossible to see anything. I contacted TracFone hoping to get the same model as a replacement. They did not have the Motorola in stock and I was offered a LG. "Okay, are the SIM cards compatible", I asked? TracFone refuses to unlock their SIM cards so they can be used in another TracFone phones. What is the purpose of saving stuff to the SIM card when I am unable to transfer it to my new phone? Plus, I must return the broken phone, now TracFone has all my contact info to use as they choose. That is frightening!!

Their Customer Service is horrible at best. People are obviously reading off cue cards. There is no such thing as a "real" supervisor or "real" technical support. When I asked for such I got passed along like a bad cold, given the same rote memorization "..if you put the SIM card from one phone in another it will not work.. We will now activate your phone...". I expressed my deep disappointment in TracFone. I will use the minutes I have and no longer support TracFone.

It is very encouraging to read how the wireless market, is surging ahead at speeds that I doubt are really controllable. It's especially nice as I think certain spheres of our economy, are still battling with the restraining shackles of recession. This massive interest in cellular connectivity, has massively been encouraged by the emergence of smartphones. And with smartphones came the battle of speeds, and invariably the street fight for unlimited plans.

Amidst all this activity, only one company seems to have remembered that there are a lot more individuals, that are still trapped to budgetary constraints, than there are individuals who can afford unlimited plans, no matter how cheap, and affordable they are - Tracfone. Still, is the only prepaid wireless that affords me to furnish my family with basic mobile communication. If only because the handsets are cheap, and because the plans they offer, are small, and cheap.

When you know your parents do a lot of traveling, there is a certain degree of worry involved. Which is why coverage is of the most important factors for me when considering a cell phone. Tracfone has phenomenal coverage nationwide and at the same rate. With that in mind, it was just a case of deciding on the phone.

I came across the SVC (Senior Value Cellphone) quite by accident, but it's proven to be an excellent choice. The phone is a Samsung T155 and is really basic enough to not confuse those that are not comfortable with gadgets, but without doing away with too many features. The large text and bright screen help for those with visual impairment and it is also hearing aid compatible. As far as the menu goes, the navigation uses basic yes/no answers. Another great feature is the long battery life, which let's face it, is a plus when you're on the road a lot.

Besides the great coverage, the other bonuses of TracFone are the low monthly costs for those who don't use their phones a lot, not having a bill to decipher or pay, the ease of getting more minutes and not being tied to a contract.
I couldn't have picked a more reliable service and find TracFone to be the perfect option for my parents' needs.

Over a month ago, I bought an LG420G through Tracfone. In order to buy a phone, you first have to input the zip code where you'll be using the phone. You do that and the list of phones that get service in your area pop up. I did all that; the phone arrived, we spent time on the phone with Tracfone moving the phone number and remaining minutes from the old phone to the new. You all know the drill of talking with cell phone companies; it's extremely time consuming.

The next day I go to work and guess what? There's no service in my office which is 3 miles from my house and the battery subsequently went completely dead within 3 days. We called and complained about the battery, thinking it was mainly a battery issue; they sent a replacement battery. We never put in the new battery because a new phone arrived a day or two after that. Guess what? The new phone still had no service at my office, in my home town or at my husband's office.

We called and emailed repeatedly and they seemed to think it was not their problem or fault; that a cell tower was down or there was bad weather. But the weather was great and nobody else was experiencing problems. After reaching the point of wanting to rip my hair out, my husband called and talked to them for an hour and a half; he told them the situation was unacceptable and they agreed to send a new model phone not an LG but a Samsung. No phone has arrived.

MIAMI, FLORIDA -- If only there were negative rating numbers... Why do I feel like I'm dealing with a Third World Country? OH, because I AM! Right. For the last year, every time I added minutes to my phone, my credit card was charged, but the minutes were not added. I had to call Tracfone, was on the phone for at least an hour, and had to add 60+ code numbers into the phone. I tried to tell them the phone was defective. Finally, last week, they admitted there was something wrong with the phone (2-1/2 more hours that day). They assured me they would transfer my phone number to the new phone.

After 1-1/2 hours, my minutes were transferred (though one minute short), but my phone number was different. I accepted the new phone number to avoid having to deal with them anymore. Ah, but fate interjected! This afternoon, my expiration date suddenly changed to TODAY! Not 1/15/11 like it was earlier. Wow. Finally (something I should have done months ago), I called the “corporate” headquarters (where English clearly isn't their first language), but my problem was finally resolved (I hate to even say that). They were trying to be kind and extended my service to 4/5/11. I just hope I use up my minutes way before then so I can move on to AT&T!

The phone I ordered online did not work in my area. I called tech support and they sent me a different phone which I didn't ask for. I contacted them again and got the information to send both phones back and get my refund. Since then, I have not received my refund and have called them 4 times.

I keep getting the runaround. Ex. I get put on hold numerous times, have to retell my situation to someone different every time I call them, they have to check with their supervisor, and finally - they have me confused with someone else who supposedly has received a refund. They have told me the refund has been posted to my credit card account and to this day I haven't seen it there. I'm out 31.79 and TracFone has lost me as a customer.

I have never received my Safelink minutes automatically so I go into the prepaid menu and find that I have lost the add airtime menu so I call Safelink and the lines are too busy at the time. They tell me to call back later and then automatically disconnect the call. Once I finally do get through I spend 3 or more hours on hold then talk to a representative.

They take some info then tell me their supervisor will call me back at a different number (landline) in a few minutes because this issue can only be resolved in this manner (a week ago). I have yet to receive the phone call. I send them a e-mail. They tell to go into the code entry mode and put some codes in to get the perimeters numbers and contact them back at customer service but they don't give me a case number to use so the website tells me to call them back at 1-800-378-1684.

So there I am waiting on hold for about 3 hours 10 min. Just so they can tell me the same thing all over again!!! I think they should be sued for false advertisement!!! The federal government sponsors this service but they need to supervise Safelink and fix these problems.

Nice to know I'm not alone with Tracfone problems! Since Jan 11,2010 I've spent a total of 8 hours + on the phone (Skype) with Tracfone trying to get my two phones to work. We are in the USA for 3 months and I wanted local cells, especially to send and receive Canadian calls. My experience is just like many others on this forum; multiple calls to Tracfone with no results, on hold for 50 to 90 minutes, cut off or hang ups, unintelligible English, Tracfone numbers that won't work (Please call back later!) and having to repeat again and again the serial numbers and problems.

On the other hand, my sister in the USA has had a Tracfone for 2 years and is quite satisfied. She can call Canada with no problems, can make calls within Canada when visiting, and has never lost any minutes. Why I have a problem is beyond me, and apparently well beyond Tracfone. What a miserable company.