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TracFone

TracFone • Missing minutes • Activation problems • Can't get local number • Defective phone • Network problems • Lost the phone • Advertising, promotions • Rebate problems • Inside Trac --- News • TracFone Pays $50,000 for Violating Missouri's Do Not Call Law

It sounds simple enough. TracFone advertises itself as an easy-to-use prepaid cellular service. Just buy the minutes in advance and order more when you need them. But some customers say it's not that easy. Read a few of their reports and AT&T, Verizon and other big bullies don't look quite so fearsome.

Oh, and here's Tracfone's response:

Hello Tracfone customer my name is Elston and I am a Tracfone Employee and I am her to assist anyone that is having a problem with their phones. you can contact me at 1.800.626.4883 ext 6107 or by email elombillo@tracfone.com.

Jack of Ferndale, CA January 17, 2008

Jack of Ferndale CA (01/17/08)
Since l/07/2088 I have made 4 attempts to have my Tracfone activated. Each time I'm advised to wait 24 hours, or 15 minutes, but my phone is still inoperable. Our account with Tracfone shows I have Tracfone minutes, but for some reason they are not available to me.

None, other than frustration

Demetrios of Astoria, NY January 13, 2008

Demetrios of Astoria NY (01/13/08)
I purchased airtime over the phone (was traveling at that time) with my Amex card. After a few weeks I got a bill from Amex of 3000; someone gave up my card number and copied the card with a different name, but my card number below, and used the card a few miles from where the Tracfone company is! I only used this card for this transaction, so I know the Tracfone employees are involved. Consumers beware. By the way my phone number was double; someone else had the same number, and it was a big confusion! I will never never never--you know the rest!

George of Titusville, PA January 5, 2008

George of Titusville PA (01/05/08)
I had owned and used a cell phone from Tracfone for a couple of years and then purchased a new Model folding phone. When I called to activate I was told it would take 24 to 48 hours for the activation to be working. Each call I made to Tracfone was handled by some one different, and when I asked to speak to a supervisor I was put on hold every two to three minutes. All I have received after 10 days was a duplicate ordeal of the first day I called. Today I was told that it would be at least another 72 hours. If I did not have 150.00 invested in this phone company, I would have given up.

Denise of Morganton, NC December 15, 2007

Denise of Morganton NC (12/15/07)
I have had a Tracfone for several years for emergencies while traveling. The concept is perfect for me. But, there is a change in technology. The idea of dealing with their service depart. sends chills down my spine. You must plan on at least one hour and be in a very, very patient mood. In Sept of 2007, I bought, at a local Target, a new airtime card for 1 year of service and 400 minute of air time. This brings my available minutes to almost 1200 minutes. So I called to activate my new phone. 40 minutes. You have to wait for it to work. Days go by and still no service. I finally get my nerve up and call. It still doesn't work. I wait awhile, and call again.

Eventually, after talking to at least three people, someone finally tells me that the new Motorola doesn't work in my area, although they are still selling it in my area. They will send me a new phone, I must return the old phone. OK, I have to travel for Thanksgiving without a phone. Not something I'm comfortable with. I get the new one, and send back the old one. I called again today. Over an hour later, they tell me that they can't give me back the 1175 minutes they owe me without checking with their lawyers. I'll have to keep trying back - they can't contact me with the lawyers answer. 1175 minutes is a lot of money. Of course the receipt from Target has expired, the minutes are nonrefundable and I will travel for Christmas with no phone. I don't know about the others whose emails I read, but I'm going to cut my losses and go for another company. Of course, I'm in a target age group for Tracfone, 58. This is the age group where we don't want to be without a cell phone even though we might not need daily service. I also don't want to be terrified of calling my mobile phone provider because of the aggrivation. I won't go through it again.

Financial loss of 1175 minutes, cost of a new phone, at least 4 hours of lost time since mid-Sept. 2007.

Mary of Adams, WI December 14, 2007

Mary of Adams WI (12/14/07)
We bought a TracFone yesterday 12-13-07. We had it programed at the Wal-Mart in Lake Delton, WI. When we tried to use it it was programmed out of our district. I called the 800 number to get it straightened out. What a hassle. The person I was speaking to could not understand me and I could not understand him. I was so disgusted, I hung up. I called again later and got another foreigner. I asked for someone who could speak English that I could understand and was told that he was it. I asked where he was speaking from and he told me Columbia, Latin America. Well after a long and frustrating time, the first problem was cleared up. The other problem is that we purchased a card that was supposed to give us 150 bonus minutes, promotional code 53911. We did not get them and I would like to know why. Who do I call to find out how to get them added to the minutes already on my phone? Someone here in the USA, who speaks and understands English?

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