Jitterbug Flip

Jitterbug Flip

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Overall Rating1.0 out of 5
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About Jitterbug Flip

The Jitterbug Flip2 by Lively is a senior-friendly flip phone designed for ease of use. It features large buttons, a bright screen and a powerful speaker for clear communication. It has a built-in camera, voice typing and access to 5Star Urgent Response for emergency assistance.

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Nationwide service
    • No cancellation fees
    • Helpful caregiver app

    Cons

    • Not waterproof
    • Some complaints about connectivity and customer service

    Bottom Line

    The Jitterbug Flip has a large display that makes it easy to read, and the menu options are easy to understand. Other features include big buttons and a flashlight. Some recent reviews say it’s difficult to use or has connectivity problems. We like that there are no long-term contracts and you have the option to keep your existing number.

    Featured Reviews

    Verified
    Show Low, AZ

    … Much simpler than dialing 911… There are two things, however, that I would improve. The first is volume. For hard of hearing even the loudest is not that loud… Secondly, the Gam...

    Read full review
    Verified
    Amsterdam, NY

    I purchased this phone for my mom who is in memory care. It is easy to use and the buttons are larger than normal. She can call back a missed call easily but the call quality is t...

    Read full review
    jitterbug flip two phone
    Logo
    Jitterbug Flip2
    • 30-day trial period
    • Large screen and buttons
    • Regularly priced at $99.99

    What is Jitterbug Flip2?

    Jitterbug Flip2 is a phone designed for older adults. It comes with an urgent response button that instantly contacts emergency medical services for seniors’ health and safety.

    Available in graphite or red, the Jitterbug Flip2 phone weighs 4.7 ounces. The device is about 2 inches wide, 4 inches tall and less than 1 inch thick, with a 3.2-inch internal display and a 1.44-inch external display.

    It also has a camera, GPS, Bluetooth, speakerphone capabilities and hearing aid compatibility, plus 16 gigabytes of built-in memory storage — enough to store thousands of photos, contacts and text messages.

    Jitterbug Flip costs

    The Jitterbug Flip2 is regularly priced at $99.99. However, the company has frequent discounts — as of publishing, you can get one for $79.99.

    Additional monitoring plans

    At different monthly price points, Lively offers two additional services with the Jitterbug Flip: Nurse On-Call and Care Advocate.

    • Nurse On-Call lets you have remote conversations with a nurse or doctor from the comfort of your home. They can provide health advice and help refill prescriptions for common medications. The best part is that you don't need insurance or a co-pay to access this service.
    • Care Advocate offers a team of experts who can assist in creating a personalized health improvement plan. They can help you set goals and resolve any health-related issues. However, please note that they do not provide legal, financial or medical advice.
    Basic PackagePremium Package
    Starting monthly fee $24.99 $34.99
    Urgent response
    Lively Link app
    Nurse on-call
    Care advocate

    Jitterbug Flip caregiver tools

    With the Lively Link app, caregivers know immediately if the Jitterbug Flip2 is on and where it’s located. Caregivers are notified when the battery is low so they can remind their loved one to charge their device.

    The Lively Link app also sends notifications for certain actions, such as when the urgent response button is used. You can check in to see if appointments are being kept, if medication has been taken and more.

    How does Jitterbug Flip compare?

    Compare Jitterbug Flip with similarly rated medical alert companies.

    Jitterbug FlipJitterbug FlipADT Medical AlertADT Medical AlertLifelineLifelineMedical GuardianMedical GuardianLife Alert Emergency ResponseLife Alert Emergency Response
    Monitoring fees $19.99 per month $29.99 to $39.99 per month $29.95 to $58.95 per month $29.95 to $44.95 per month $49.95 to $69 per month
    Equipment cost $99.99 $0 $0 $0 to $199.95 Varies
    Activation fee $35 $0 $79 to $99 $0 $198
    Fall detection No Yes Yes Yes No
    Trial period 30 days No No No No
    Read Reviews Read Reviews Read Reviews Read Reviews Read Reviews

    Jitterbug Flip FAQ

    Who makes the Jitterbug Flip2 phone?

    The San Diego-based company Lively designed the Jitterbug Flip2 phone. As of the time of publication, it's the newest model of the company's easy-to-use phone for seniors.

    What is Lively?

    Lively (formerly GreatCall) is a company that specializes in electronic devices for senior citizens. The company also manufactures the Jitterbug Smart and Lively Mobile Plus, which are cellphones and medical alerts designed for older adults. In 2018 Lively merged with Best Buy Health Inc.

    Can I block calls on the Jitterbug Flip?

    You can block calls on Jitterbug Flip2.

    What is the return policy?

    You must return the Jitterbug Flip2 within 30 days to get a refund for the activation fee, first-month service charge and the cost of the device. Keep in mind that shipping charges aren’t refundable and restocking fees may apply.

    You can cancel Jitterbug Flip2 service at any time, but you will be responsible for charges and overages through the date of final billing.

    Does the Jitterbug Flip come with a warranty?

    Yes, Lively Flip comes with a one-year standard limited warranty.

    Does Jitterbug Flip make a good medical alert?

    Jitterbug Flip is not really a true medical alert system — it’s a flip phone designed with older adults in mind. The phone has big buttons and a large screen for easy navigation and dialing. All plans include an urgent response, which connects the user with a live agent in the event of an emergency. The product comes with a caregiver app and a partnership with Lyft.

    We’ve talked to more than 1,160 verified Jitterbug Flip customers since 2006. Some negative reviews mention billing and connectivity problems. Happy customers, like one in Missouri, have been pleased with Jitterbug Flip: “I like that it is easy to do what I wanna do on it. Plus, their buttons are bigger so it is easier to push.”

    Jitterbug Flip Reviews

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    Page 1 Reviews 0 - 10
    Customer Service

    Reviewed July 25, 2023

    Got the Jitterbug2 Flip Phone for my elderly aunt. Worked intermittently EXCEPT when at her apartment which is where I need it to work. Spent so much time on the phone with customer service trying to figure out why this was happening. Eventually was told perhaps their network wasn't compatible, etc. I am returning the phone and will find something else. This has been a very frustrating experience and I would NOT RECOMMEND buying this at all.

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    Response from Jitterbug Flip
    Hello Teresa,

    We are sorry to hear that your aunt did not have the best service at her location. Please call our Customer Service at, 1-800-733-6632, for further assistance regarding your request to cancel services. We apologize for the inconvenience.

    Customer ServiceSales & MarketingStaff

    Reviewed April 7, 2023

    I purchased 2 Jitterbug/Lively senior phones for my parents. The phones are garbage, customer service is rude and bothered if you ask for assistance. They are not senior friendly whatsoever. It’s a total scam and they have hidden charges/fees. I switched my parents to my Verizon phone plan and they have brand new iPhones that are easier to navigate, more affordable and customer service is extremely helpful. I wish I would’ve gone with adding them to my plan in the 1st place. Oh well, lesson learned for sure!

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    Response from Jitterbug Flip

    We're sorry for your recent experience and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please be advised that your feedback will be forwarded to our development team so we may improve our Customer Service and the experience we our providing to our customers.

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      Customer Service

      Reviewed Jan. 6, 2023

      I have had no service on my phone for four days. Here's the message at the top of the home page today: "As a result of recent network updates, select Jitterbug Flip devices may be unexpectedly displaying a “No service” message and customers may not be able to make or receive calls. We are working diligently to resolve the issue. If you or your loved one are in an emergency, contact 911 directly via another phone device. Jitterbug Flip2 phones are not affected." If the recent network updates resulted in no service then get somebody in there who can fix the problem. Working diligently means nothing to compensate for a screw up that has left customers with a dead phone and no idea when the company might get the problem resolved. According to other reviews, an "update issue" has been a repeated excuse used to address service issues.

      People who depend on their Lively phone in case of an emergency are told to use another phone. That is an inadequate and unacceptable retort for apparent incompetence. I have had a Jitterbug phone for several years. I found the original company offered great service. Then Great Call took over that became Lively and the service has gone from great to despicable. Forget about calling their customer service to wait and wait to finally be connected to someone who can only read you their prepared word salad non-responsive text. While traveling across country this past fall on I-40 I encountered three occasions where I had no service. The Bluetooth won't connect in my car. Perhaps they should change their name from Lively to Deadly. The customers deserve better. Time for a new phone.

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      Response from Jitterbug Flip

      Hello D, we are sorry to hear of your experience and appreciate your feedback. We would like to look into this further with you, please look for a private response from us.

      Customer Service

      Reviewed July 8, 2022

      Updated on 08/21/2022: I wrote a review on the Lively Jitterbug cell phone. After I left my contact info and account number with the company my phone became WORSE. It now freezes up and won't let me text or call all the time. The light that shows I have an incoming call or text stays on continuously and won't let me erase old ones or voicemails at all now. I can't open the back to remove battery without getting a tool to help. When I shut the phone, it starts ringing and sometimes the ring silences itself. This is the WORST cell phone I have ever owned and will be going to another company. Also, my monthly bill keeps getting higher each month and there is a high activation charge when you first use it that they don't tell you about. ($35.00)

      Original Review: My partner and I both purchased the Jitterbug flip phone for seniors. It is the WORST experience we both have had with cell phones EVER. Phone screen freezes up all the time and can't make calls or texts. Bad for emergencies and nerve wracking. Customer service real bad and cost MORE than they say it is.

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      Response from Jitterbug Flip

      Hello Jeannie, we are sorry to hear of your experience and appreciate your feedback. We would like to look into this further with you, please look for a private response from us.

      Customer ServiceSales & MarketingBilling

      Reviewed April 21, 2022

      I am once again wasting my time fighting with my credit card company about this ridiculous phone company. I canceled the phone service for my father. They kept charging him, anyway. They send threatening letters to my sister in Oregon (his address last year). When I call (again) to cancel (again) they keep me on the phone for hours and they say they’re going to cancel it, and then they don’t. Month after month. You can’t take auto pay off. I can’t get my credit card removed. I changed my credit card number and blocked the merchant and won my dispute ($247.42 on 12/29/21), only to have Lively recharge it again (3/4/22). I am spending a lot of time on the phone with my credit card company (who forgot to block them??) and I’m going to cancel that card now.

      Lively is a scam company at best. I’m sure many elderly people’s accounts are managed by a trust and just let this go by. My dad has been on my T-Mobile account for months and months, at half the price of this scam company. I finally got Lively’s email address by emailing one of their subsidiaries, who provided me with it. They try not to have any way you can write to them. I wrote to them and canceled (for the @fifth time), told them I’d been canceled and I would continue to be canceled. They ignored this, too. Never ever ever get hooked up with this company. I anticipate getting bills five years after my father is dead.

      I am now answering bogus phone calls waiting for my ridiculous anonymous credit card company to call me back from my advanced complaint (Fidelity 529 investment card). I’ve had this card for close to 30 years but it’s going to get cut in half as soon as this current dispute is once again paid back. I never would use Lively/Lively flip/Great Call, even if there were no other phone plans on the planet Earth.

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      Response from Jitterbug Flip

      Hello Carol, we are sorry to hear of your experience and appreciate your feedback. We would like to look into this further with you, please look for a private response from us.

      Customer ServiceTechSales & Marketing

      Reviewed March 8, 2022

      Rep lied about service and price, kept me on the phone for almost an hour giving me his (unwanted) life history and personal story. Told him we wanted only the cell phone service, definitely no texting, etc., was promised that's what we'd get for $14.95 per month for everything x2 phones. Being billed almost $50 after they put on all their unexplained charges and are charging us $.10 per unsolicited scam texts. We gave our numbers to no one else and their records prove we use the phones very little, only turned on when both not at home, once or twice a week at most.

      When I called to complain about being billed for texting we did not use some foreign female kept talking over me and telling me she was right and I was wrong and would not listen or help. Transferred to supervisor who at least was English-speaking and it was the same lies and run around, though he did finally say he would delete the text charges but insisted there is no way to block text calls like the phone calls can be blocked and there is nothing they can do, supposedly because the Feds will not allow them to do so. Lies and more lies.

      I'm too sick to even leave the house except by ambulance and my husband is afraid to not have cell phones so he can get hold of me when he has to go shopping, etc. If anybody can tell me about an actually good and honest affordable cell phone provider, please let me know. Two months has been too long with these cheats.

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      Response from Jitterbug Flip

      Hello, we apologize about your recent experience, and we appreciate your feedback. Please look for a private message from us so we can further assist you.

      Customer ServicePunctuality & SpeedStaff

      Reviewed Feb. 15, 2022

      Opened Lively Account for my mom, in July 2021. On 2/14 we decided to purchase a 2nd Lively phone for my dad and bring his number over from Verizon. 2/14 Call #1 - After holding for 20 min, explaining adding 2nd line to Lively acct, provided all the information, we were disconnected. Call #2 - Another 15 min wait time. Explained again what I wanted to do yet the rep ported my dad's number OVER my mom's #. She apologized and was submitting all the necessary documentation to correct. She informed me that I hadn't activated the new phone yet and I would need to do that, then they would be able to port the new # over to the new phone. She assured me we would NOT lose my mom's #.

      Call #3 - Activated new phone. Rep said to wait 30 minutes and then call back, once activated they can port the # over. Call #4 - Again 20 min wait time. RUDE rep - said nothing she can do, we would have to wait 1-3 days, etc. I asked to speak to supervisor, she told me supervisor will tell me the same thing and REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK TO SUPERVISOR. Ultimately she said Supervisor R. ** is walking over to customer service to make sure this is handled but I would still have to call back 2/15. 2/15 - Call #5 - 20 minute wait, lady was very nice, showed my mom's # back to her phone so it had been corrected. Now - we need to port my dad's # from Verizon to the new phone. She works on it a bit and said she made an error - apologized, she ported my dad's # OVER my mom's # again!! OMG - exact same thing as yesterday.

      She was very apologetic and assured me she was submitting everything to correct. I was on the call a long time while she was going this and she again assured me that someone would call me back within 4 hours. Call #6 -4 hours go by and no one calls me so I call back. 20 min wait, rep answers and I explain I'd like a Supervisor to ensure this is handled correct, wait another 15 min for Supervisor who hears me out, said he documented account but could not help me, he has to refer me to acct service where again I wait for 20 minutes to speak to another rep. Rep answers, I explain AGAIN... I told her PRIORITY #1 - We cannot lose my mom's number # as that is their primary # with all doctors, etc. She cannot tell me where that # is and cannot assure we will get it back, she asks to put me on hold while she contacts another team and disconnects.

      Call #7 - 15 minute hold. Rep reads notes, I explain RIORITY #1 - WE CANNOT LOSE MY MOM'S NUMBER # as that is their primary # with all doctors, etc. Rep is talking to her Supervisor, we get disconnected. Call #8 20 minute hold. Rep reads notes, I explain RIORITY #1 - We cannot lose my mom's number # as that is their primary # with all doctors, etc. Rep is talking to her Supervisor, we get disconnected.

      Call #9 20 minute hold. Rep reads notes, I explain PRIORITY #1 - We cannot lose my mom's number # as that is their primary # with all doctors, etc. Rep is talking to her Supervisor, said she sees previous notes and they are working to correct, give it 2-4 hours and if not corrected to call back. NO ABSOLUTELY NOT - please let me speak to a supervisor who can actually help me, we get disconnected - imagine that. Call #10 - I've been on hold for 33 minutes so far and still waiting! Truly been on the phone today 4 1/2 hours w/ Lively overall trying to get their error corrected!! UNACCEPTABLE! I've also filed a complaint with the FCC Ticket No. ** regarding porting problem.

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      Response from Jitterbug Flip

      Hi Rhonda, we apologize about your recent experience and we appreciate your feedback. Please look for a private message from us so we can further assist you.

      Punctuality & SpeedStaff

      Reviewed Feb. 13, 2022

      Too difficult to get help. Extremely long wait times. Getting operator for Lyft was impossible. Only reason not a 1 rating was the niceness of the beleaguered help staff. The scrolling was very cumbersome.

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      Response from Jitterbug Flip

      Hello Joseph, we apologize for your recent experience with the wait times. We appreciate your feedback and are working to add resources to support our customers. Please look for a private message from us so we can further assist you.

      Customer ServiceSales & MarketingStaff

      Reviewed Jan. 5, 2022

      They don't even get one star, they get zero. A scam company. The phone did not work, the customer service people could not make it work, there was no easy way to cancel, they charged my mother for a plan way higher than she ordered, and they hacked it immediately and someone else used it. They made the comment that we must have bought it from some third party, like their abuse was our fault. No, we bought it from the company and only because it was rated as good for seniors. Don't ever buy this phone or use this company. They are scam artists.

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      Response from Jitterbug Flip

      We are sorry to hear of your recent experience and we appreciate your feedback. Lively strives to provide the highest level of Customer Service available. Your feedback is highly appreciated and will help us improve our ability to serve you and other users of our products.

      Customer ServiceStaff

      Reviewed Nov. 21, 2021

      Very disappointed with this phone for my elderly mom. In order to make a phone call from contacts mom has to drill down too many times to finally be able to make a call. I've read that there are updates to add features that should have been available from the beginning such as speed dial, outer screen display time, etc. I just bought the phone today. The info re-update a is eons old, so why were brand new phones not already updated or updated as soon as the phone was activated. Also I had to troll the internet to even find out there was an update available. On top of this, even if we can get this darn thing updated, now mom will have to rely on memory who is #1, #2, etc. The makers should really have held a focus group of users 85+. They would see the phone IS NOT designed for the elderly. So, I'm dumping this phone after one month and going back to a simpler, regular phone. This phone is not useful to any elderly person.

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      Response from Jitterbug Flip

      Hello Deborah, we are sorry to hear of your recent experience and we appreciate your feedback. If you need any assistance, please call our Customer Service Team.

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        Jitterbug Flip Company Information

        Company Name:
        Jitterbug Flip
        Formerly Named:
        Lively Flip
        City:
        San Diego
        State/Province:
        CA
        Postal Code:
        92130
        Country:
        United States
        Website:
        www.lively.com

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