Straight Talk Wireless

Straight Talk Wireless

Miami, FL

 1.1/5 (103 reviews)

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Overall Rating1.1 out of 5
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About Straight Talk Wireless

Straight Talk is a no-contract phone plan that shares networks with four major cellphone service providers. It doesn’t restrict people to long-term contracts, and it offers nationwide coverage and more data plans with flexible payment options.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Affordable options
  • Add-on features available
  • No contracts

Cons

  • Data can be slow
  • No family plans

Bottom Line

Straight Talk offers basic cellphone coverage and the option to purchase discounted phones or keep your current phone. There are no contracts and no hidden fees.

Top Straight Talk Wireless Reviews

Verified

In my experience and for my needs Straight Talk worked very well for me. The service was great and I never had an issue that caused any inconveniences. I would recommend this carr...

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Verified

I always get great service and customer service is great. They also have a rewards program so you can earn points to get free monthly plans. I highly recommend straight talk as yo...

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What is Straight Talk?

Straight Talk is a cellphone service provider that offers fixed and unlimited monthly plans. Customers can choose a month-to-month option or save money by opting for a three-, six-, or 12-month data plan.

Straight Talk is available through Walmart, but you can also purchase equipment and modify your plan through the Straight Talk website. You have the option of purchasing a phone through Straight Talk or transferring Straight Talk cellphone service on to your existing phone. The company offers a wide variety of phones, including budget phones that come free with a phone plan.

How does Straight Talk work?

Straight Talk works like most other major cellphone companies but doesn’t require long-term contracts. You can purchase the latest phones or keep your own to take advantage of the company’s clear and consistent nationwide coverage. Plans include unlimited talk and text and high-speed data. It offers four different service plans with different data and storage options. There are no credit checks, and you pick the plan and activate your account.

Straight Talk is ideal for people who want basic cell phone coverage, plan flexibility and an affordable price. Its slower data speeds may not work for people who use their phones for streaming.

How much is Straight Talk?

The appeal of Straight Talk is its flexibility and affordability. It offers the best smartphones on the market, some of which are sold at significantly discounted rates. There are five different plans to choose from that offer different data, speed, coverage and pricing options.

  • Basic plan: $30 a month
  • 5 GB plan: $35 a month
  • 25 GB plan: $45 a month
  • Ultimate Unlimited: $55 a month
  • Unlimited International: $60 a month

There are no hidden fees with Straight Talk, and there is no cost to activate your plan. While Straight Talk does not have a specific family plan, it makes it easy to add lines to your existing service.

The company’s Two-Line Unlimited Nationwide coverage is $90 a month, but mobile hotspot data is not included. If you like your plan but feel like you're running through all of your data before the end of the month, you can purchase a 1 GB data add-on option for $5. This helps your unused balance roll over to the next service cycle. If you need more data, you can purchase a 2 GB data add-on option for $10.

Straight Talk FAQ

What's the catch with Straight Talk wireless?

While Straight Talk attempts to be transparent in their pricing and details, some plans that claim to be unlimited actually do have limits.

What cellular network does Straight Talk use?

Straight Talk uses the AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint networks.

What are the pros and cons of Straight Talk?

Straight Talk does not have any long-term contracts and affordable plans, but some consumers report slow data speeds.

Are Straight Talk phones unlocked?

Straight Talk will unlock phones for current and former Straight Talk customers for free. There is a charge for this service for noncustomers.

Can I use my phone as a hotspot on Straight Talk?

Some phones on specific plans have hotspot capabilities.

Is Straight Talk good?

Straight Talk is ideal for cellphone users that do not want to commit to lengthy contracts. It offers a wide variety of smartphones and allows users to activate service on their current phones. Straight Talk is a reliable alternative to major cellphone providers.

Straight Talk Wireless Reviews

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Page 1 Reviews 0 - 10
Verified Reviewer
Original review: May 25, 2023

An overall terrible experience. I was hired for an internship and needed a mobile hotspot to run my laptop. My current cellular provider, Cricket, does not offer this, so I figured I'd try the Straight Talk hotspot. Big mistake. Problem number one they charge you not based on data usage, but time? Why would someone buy 2 gigs/month? The second you run out that plan is useless, there's no auto-refill for running out of data, and none of the data refill packages actually work with the mobile hotspot!

They made sure to hide that in as small of text as possible and let me charge it to my card several times, each time giving me an error message "sorry we couldn't apply this to your account, but your card has been charged anyways." - if I had a good lawyer I'd do something about that obvious consumer fraud. It takes approximately 45 minutes and several individuals on the phone to get anything done. The customer support people are good people, just working for a moronic company. At this rate it would've been faster and less infuriating to just use smoke signals.

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Verified Reviewer
Original review: May 22, 2023

On their website it shows that my current phone is okay to use the service and after I made a purchase they told me that my mobile phone is not eligible for Straight Talk. I asked for a refund and they said no and finally they hung up on me. You couldn’t even talk to the operators. They are not helpful.

2 people found this review helpful

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    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: May 22, 2023

    The worst customer support possible. Awful system that does not update or keep enough information. Very limited capabilities given to support people, and they have no capability or authority themselves. Run away as fast as possible!!! Verizon took over and is running them down to the ground!!!! One small issue and you get lost in the loop of incompetency of actual system and customer support staff. I wish there were negative stars that I could choose as their rating. Moved to ATT, and found out that Straight talk is still charging me. They say you are still under straight talk, even though I had moved on long time ago with ATT logo on my phone. Run away from these absolutely awful company while you are ahead!!!

    2 people found this review helpful
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: May 12, 2023

    I cannot speak to service quality, but I am in the middle of a nightmare trying to get service activated. I am trying to bring my own device and port my existing number to StraightTalk (ST). After over a day (and counting) without service (Straight Talk pushed through the transfer to turn off my previous service), I do not have cellular service on my phone. I have spent hours on the phone or on the online chat trying to troubleshoot the issue.

    I requested the transfer PIN so that I can take my number to a provider that knows how to activate their service on my eSIM iPhone, but they refuse to give me the transfer PIN. So they have effectively (1) charged me for cell service, (2) caused my previous cell service to be disconnected (while I'm not connected to the ST network), and (3) held my phone number hostage. I use my number for both work and personal use. It is a big hassle to switch numbers. ST also will not refund me for the service I am not able to use. The clock is ticking on the month of service I purchased even though they are not able to connect my device to their network (they confirmed before I signed up that my device is compatible and multiple times after during calls with the helpline).

    ST employees do not know how to activate service on an eSIM device. The ST website is broken in some places and outdated in others. The tutorials show screenshots that do not align with the current iOS. Some information on the website conflicts with instructions I have received from the helpline. When I signed up, ST never cautioned that I could be without service for multiple days. Instead, their website specifically said that I would still have my old service until the ST service was activated. I know we all survived fine without phones in the past, but people can be placed in dangerous situations without the ability to communicate by phone. I fear I could be unreachable by family if there is an emergency.

    ST's poor customer service and poor communication of their limitations (inability to reliably activate service on eSIM devices) has placed extra stress on us. I would never have signed up for this service and started the process of porting my number if I knew there was a risk of being without service for multiple days. None of the helpline workers will allow me to talk to a manager. Only occasionally will a helpline worker indicate they are escalating my issue to someone equipped to handle it. However, I never get to speak to that person. Instead, a lot of time is wasted at the beginning of each service call while the same resolutions are attempted over and over (trying the same thing and expecting a different result).

    ST does not seem to keep track of customer service requests. Each time I call I am back at square one. Since most of the helpline workers are not very knowledgeable this is very frustrating. Ideally, the helpline workers would have access to some notes about the issue I have discussed with the multiple other people. Then they can avoid trying the same ineffective fixes over and over. It seems it would be fairly easy to keep these kinds of records.

    4 people found this review helpful
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: May 6, 2023

    I had been with Straight Talk for around 4-5 years. The service was not that great and it was more of a price thing. We had 4 lines with them and over the years paid them thousands of dollars. We purchased a few phones over the years and they were a decent price. But a word to whoever is listening DO NOT, I MEAN DO NOT switch to a new phone without making them unlock it or if you plan on leaving them MAKE THEM UNLOCK IT A FEW DAYS BEFORE! If you have a phone that was on their network and it hasn't had service for a while they will want $200 to unlock it or they will want you to sign up again for 12 months and if you argue with them long enough you may get them down to two months.

    My phone I had was a good working iPhone 6S Plus, not a great phone but I liked it better than the droid I was using. I filed a complaint with the BBB and it got their attention and they call and send emails wanting to resolve it. When I call them all they say is, "We can't unlock this unless you pay us." I say, "** I bought and paid for that phone and what gives you the right to hold it for ransom?" I hope this information helps someone in the future.

    5 people found this review helpful
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: May 4, 2023

    I have been a customer for at least 10 years...flip phone days. I love the service and price. They used to have excellent customer support. I tried this week to add another service, but the online activation did not work. I called support and after 45 minutes of the agent telling me to put the sim card in the phone three times, and I told her it has been inserted. A light bulb went off in my head and I said to her, "You don't understand a word I am saying, do you?" I got silence. That agent put me back into the system. I tried to get the next agent to get me to a manager and she just kept insisting that I let her help me. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt....then, the same thing all over again. She kept telling me over and over to put the sim card in the phone. She did not understand, the card is in the phone. Then she said call back in 30 minutes after it activates. I am going to go with a different company for this second phone.

    7 people found this review helpful
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: May 3, 2023

    I purchase Straight talk card and the service was not clear so I canceled and went with AT&T and I could hear her in the background straight talk asking me to purchase another card so when I call straight talk to Cancel, they told me it will be 60 days before that card, and its number be removed from my AT&T phone line. I do not recommend straight talk. It doesn’t have clear service.

    4 people found this review helpful
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: May 1, 2023

    I would Not recommend this service to anyone. Their customer service is rude, not helpful, and confused. They all say something different. This has been more than one occasion. I am Warning you. Do not use Straight Talk!

    9 people found this review helpful
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    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: April 7, 2023

    This is one of the most dishonest companies I've ever dealt with. The customer service is located in the Philippines according to the person I spoke to in customer service and no one there can speak English well, I can barely understand them. The customer service department also hung up on me multiple times. A few days after switching from Straight Talk to Vision I noticed Straight Talk had billed me for the whole month on the same day I switched, seems fishy to me! They are unethical if not an illegal enterprise and will do anything to rip you off even a penny. One of the many reasons I cancelled was I had no internet access. Walmart needs to dump them before they drag them down with them.

    17 people found this review helpful
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: April 2, 2023

    I have literally been on the phone with Straight Talk since 8 this morning and it is now 3 and still haven’t gotten my issue solved. Have been hung up on about 6 times. I would never recommend them to anyone. Service is trash and customer service is even more trash. If I could have given 0 stars that’s what they would have gotten from me.

    16 people found this review helpful
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    Straight Talk Wireless Company Information

    Company Name:
    Straight Talk Wireless
    Website:
    www.straighttalk.com