Straight Talk Wireless
Reviews and Complaints

I made plans to move from WA state to SD. After being emails and then phoning about whether my phones would receive reception is Sioux Falls, SD I got the runaround: "depends on the type of phone of you have" "depends on the plan" "depends on the number". Mind you their website HAS the information for both phones, the addresses and everything since I knew where I was moving to.
Once in SD, my son's Samsung got spotty reception bt text was ok...my Galaxy 3 was find. However, when I looked at the debit to refill --- Straight Talk changed me the WA state SALES TAX with is 2+ % higher, than it is in South Dakota. AGAIN, the runaround with slight of hand excuses. My son's card was SD tax, mine was WA state tax (and they refused to refund the difference although his was purchases first and they are listed on the SAME account with the same address using the same CC.

Straighttalk is not willing to help me clarify my issue on my phone. I bought a $379.45 after tax, and cannot get my phone to activate. They are scammer, they think that they are slick. They mistake is them and Samsung. But they have me go through hours and hours of waiting, just to talk to a representative and still they hang up on me. If I don't get it solve pretty soon, I'll get all my family member and friends to go to Verizon. I have put on hold for over 1 1/2 hours, and still waiting... while I type up this complaint

Switching from at&t to s/t, I have run into a wall of incompetence. I upgraded one of three lines to the 45$ plan with a new phone. s/t assigned the upgraded phone a number from one of my other 45$ lines making that line and the new phone inactive. three days later the new phone is finally working but they are not able to reactivate the other because it is not in the same area where it was activated although still in ny state.in their faqs it clearly states that a phone can be reactivated in a different zip code yet they are unable to do so with my phone. I have to go to the expense of having the phone shipped back to original zip in order for them to attempt to reactivate a phone that they were were responsible for deactivating, and, they will only compensate for service-time lost. I am totally pissed with s/t and will leave asap.

Upon believing their ads...I switched to Straight Talk...Could not keep my phone number as advertised. could only make and receive calls and plain text, multimedia and web access did not work. I went to walmart, bought a Straight Talk phone. When attempted to switch/activate it was told by Straight Talk that it would not work in my area. (bought 20 miles away). I have spent approximately 25 hours on phone with Straight Talk customer service. None of them know what they are doing or talking about. Got different answers from each person talked to. They are overseas. Impossible to speak to a supervisor as they say they are the supervisor. Yeah right! Was told to go to Walmart and call straight talk and tell them which phones they have so they could tell me which one will work!

To begin, we bought a $45 unlimited card to refill our phone for the first time.. Before we got to use it, we got a message saying something like, "Thank you for purchasing minutes!". Perplexed, we checked our account online. Horrified, we saw billing information and the auto-fill option set to on! We just checked it the night before and we never submitted billing info and auto-fill was definitely off. We feel like we have been scammed, and just purchased a $45 refill card that's worthless (before that we accidentally bought a $30 refill card that, for no reason at all, would not work. We were unaware that this wouldn't work and I can't find any documentation that explains why. We just wrote it off as "a mistake that must have been ours..."). We call up customer "service". We couldn't understand her and she couldn't understand us! We heard more non-English than English. After straining to understand and very slow talking, turns out that... it wasn't our billing info! Someone else was being charged! Seriously? How? How could someone else's billing info get on our account that uses our e-mail address and is password protected with completely random letters and numbers? It was like a reverse credit card scam! Well, they did remove this immediately from our account, but when we inquired if they were going to contact the person who owns the card and remove the charge, they said, "No. They must call and complain." Wow! They aren't going to remove the charge from this anonymous person's card unless they complain! Here is the weird part; after we talked to them, our services got really bad just minutes afterward! We can't contact Apple because our call will be dropped every time! Our voice echos and sounds like a robot, and this only happened immediately after we complained! We are not implying they are intentionally doing this, but others have complained about the same exact thing (after a compliant, bad reception happens). Very odd that we have nothing but dropped calls and "robot-like" voice after all of this. The price is not worth it. Definitely don't give billing info to them because you may be paying for someone else's phone!

In 2011, incurred charge of 182 dollars by Tracfone in Ordlando Fl on a credit card given to Straight Talk for auto refill. Issued a complaint with credit card fraud line and they released me from liability and informed me of the charge was for a phone (Tracfone) in Ordlando Fl. Incurred another charge for a phone they said was on auto refill and was not and a walmart card was used; so Straight Talk was paid twice. Tried twice to resolve. Credit Card Company will be called again for wrongful charge. Tonight talked to Straight Talk (Roekay) and she said transfer to a higher supervisor but got a recording of their hours. DO NOT GIVE STRAIGHT TALK YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER FOR AUTO REFILL-DO SO AT YOUR ON PERIL! I will have auto stickers for Straight Talk poor service and credit card security for auto refill since I own a sign shop and they will be free.

when i try to call the United Kingdom I get a message that says You can not call out due to service area. Code number 47431 this has happen 4 times in the last 4 months. the first time it took me one month to get this resolve. No body in the company knew what that code number meant not even the corporate office. So the first time they decided to dial out from there phone from the corporate office and they were getting the same code number. so if you get that code number It is the problem in the United Kingdom on there lines. Make sure you talk to corporate because no one else understand that code number. Getting fed up with this international calling with the is company But they do have to the best rates for international calling

I ordered an AT&T Micro SIM card from Straight Talk. I received a regular replacement SIM card from them in the mail. It came with a paper with the Tracfone, Net10, and Straight Talk logos at the top, and it started by saying, "...enclosed you will find your replacement SIM card." After talking to a girl on the phone for a half hour, I was told that she couldn't find that SIM card number in their system. They didn't know where I got it from. She said that my Micro SIM card was mailed to my address and delivered on 7/19/12. I had the check the SIM number for what she said they sent me, and said it had been activated. Her idea was that someone swapped out my mail once it was delivered. Really? When I asked if I could report it stolen and have them cancel it, she told me I couldn't do that because it wasn't activated under my account. Uh, hello? How does that make any sense? She said Straight Talk would do nothing for me. They would not send me another card and there are no refunds on SIM cards. Of course, if I want to use their service, I will need to order another Micro SIM card. Yeah right!
I was able to find my tracking number today. It shows that the package was accepted at a Post Office, but there's no further information. So the card they supposedly sent did not get delivered to me. I called my Postmaster who looked it up on her computer. She said they had 1, 000 pieces in that shipment. When the USPS gets that many at once, they don't scan the packages individually. Straight Talk would've given them a paper with a list of what they had, and the USPS would have scanned that. So she doesn't think it really even made it to the USPS. And the delivery date of 7/19 that the rep gave me... that was the ESTIMATED delivery date.
Now I have verification from the USPS that it wasn't received. Now maybe I can do something about it.
(I believe what happened is someone at Straight Talk swapped SIM cards. He probably sold my Micro SIM card to someone else who activated it and sent me the replacement SIM just so I would think there was a mixup or something.)

On am on my 3rd Optimus Q, the phone constantly makes calls, when in my belt pouch, on a table, doesnt matter. They have replaced it at the store, in the mail now on my 3rd replaement. Their service is B A D. Customer no service constantly says "thank you" "how can i help" but never fixed anything. I have not had my phone for a week now. They make you send the phone back before they will replace it! Will not take a credit card to guarantee that you are sending it they must have the phone first! They have had mine for 2 days now and still have not sent a replacement. DONT BUY A STARIGHT TALK PHONE you will regret it.. Carl

sprint per straighttalk shut off my daughters unlimited cellphone service
alleging overuse of data with no prior warning and only verbal accusations of
overuse of this unlimited plan and refuses to provide any records of their
accusations without a court order because (they) have shut phone off. They
will turn service back on only if i buy another phone, phone they turned off is
still in first year warranty. Accusations of chat lines was their verbal reason
why they shut off phone, they refuse to give any written reason. My daughter
denies she has ever talked on one or has any desire to and was anxious for phone records to disprove their allegations, only to find fine print at bottom of form they emailed, keep in my sprint/straighttalk turned phone off:( If
the telephone number for which you are seeking call detail records is
inactive, the only way you may obtain call detail records relating to
the inactive phone is through the service of a valid subpoena or Court
order requiring the production of your call detail records.) Quite convenient for them! BUYERS BEWARE! No justice for me or my
daughter, they take my money and run, they take her phone service away during
the deadliest heatwave in Indiana history, no proof of their accusations. Shame
on HEARTLESS straighttalk and sprint! TMOBILE $50 no contract phone smokes straighttalk poor and injustice service all the way. Phone quality with TMOBILE blows away straighttalk junk phones too. LIVE and LEARN.

Worst service, horrible customer support. I have been on the phone numerous times to these people and have spent 10 -20 hours trining to get straight answers from them and never can. I switched over my phone to them and have had nothing but problems and lies. First I was told that they use Verizon towers because Verizon is the only carrier that works in my area, that was a lie. After I received my phone I had poor reception and sometimes none at all. Called again and they said it depends on my phone. Tried to get an answer on what phone should I ge using and still never got an answer. The price is a great deal if you have the right area and phone I guess. It's been 4 months and still can't get answers. I switched three phones and spent $600 dollars on phones that are now door stops. I finally found the phone number for the US location and they were just as bad as the overseas people. Bye the way, the coverage map shows my location as getting great service.

Purchased Straight talk phone with the one month talk, text and web. I actually liked the service better than my old service provider for $55 less per month. I am in a major city, so only downside was limit of phone choice. Went to purchase an additional 3 months of service. Instead of going to Wal Mart online, I went to Straight Talk online. I was over charged like crazy. They charged an addtional 2.1% in sales taxes. I live in the county (no city taxes) and was charged 7% instead of teh 4.9 that would have been appropriate. My question, is if they pay the states, counties and cities based on what they sell by zip code, then what do they do with the over charges? I think there is some kind of law broken. Any attornies want to file a class action? I FOUND THE CARD CHEAPER ONLINE AT WALMART where they collected the appropriate taxes (4.9 local, and 1.7 Federal and E911). and it was $5 cheaper. STRAIGHT TALK would not refund the first charge to my credit card so I could get it from WalMart. NO REFUNDS EVER - so beware. I did negotiate an additional 7 days which was the $10 difference, but that is the best I could do. BEWARE on any renewal. Check the prices before you buy! In addition, I live in a state where no online purchase tax is due - so total from both WALMART online and STRAIGHT TALK online should have been 1.7% Federal.

Straighttalk is the worst. I purchased a 30 card. They shut my phone off and I had 202 minutes left. What is funny is how they say that when you call *611 it is a free call but how is it free and they are deducting the mintues from your usage. Then when you call *611 option 1 then 4 to check your balance they say it is a free text message but it isn't because they deduct the message from you usage as well. So they lie all the way around. I asked several reps is there something wrong with my phone,, is it defective or does it have a recall? They said "no'. Then all of a sudden months later they say your phone is defective. They are trying to tell me that the call timer on my phone doesn't work properly. Excuses, excuse. Has it that and I have the same phone that they are currently selling in the stores. A bunch of bs. They just want people to spend on a 45 card. They take your minutes and then blame it on the phone doesn't work. Then you get people that you can't understand and they don't understand you. Really! I truly think they have a warehouse outside of the states for their business. I wish I can file a class action suit because they are horrible. It is straighttalk, tracphone and net 10. Why would the government allow this to go on and the ftc is a big joke. If they need to save money get rid of them. Then what is funny they cut my service of two days prior to end date, and say oh you have to buy a new phone. If not then we will permenately deactivate your account. Ok! They have to be stopped. People put there hard earn money out there and pay for service and you don't get what you pay for. A bunch of mess. I will be investigating on how I can file a class action suit.

How can we (all of us complainting) initiate a class action lawsuit against straight talk.

Im tired and exhausted from dealing with straight talk and there lack of customer services reps. I understand that there reps are based overseas but that is no excuse to not care about customer satisfaction at all. I have reported it to the bbb. I have also called straight talk resulotion center at [protected] ext 3324, karen calderon at 305.715.3634 but it seems that no one cares. now I am without a phone and they have told me that there is absolutely no refund. what am I to do? this issue of illegal number transfer has become very prominate in my community and the surrounding areas. I have no ideal what to do about straight talk. I wish all of us could initiate a class action lawsuit against straight talk?

There have been so many people who have been victims of straight talk. Many have had there active cell number transferred to another customer or sold to another provider and was told my the straight talk offshore reps that there is nothing they could do. This action left many without a cell phone or having to receive a new cell number. This is unpractical and very unprofessional. The reps are quick to say that they are offshore and is unable to help. What can be done to alleviate this issue?

I purchased my first (and probably last) straight talk phone about a month ago. I then purchased a minutes and texts package that included 1000 minutes and 1000 texts. Since then, I have been receiving countless unsolicited promotional texts from CMT and NASCAR from Straight Talk. I have phoned straight talk several times and been told that the issue would stop within ten days of my complaints. Well, it's well over two weeks later and I am still getting these stupid texts that are wasting my 1000 texts. I am not happy! It's really annoying. I had posted a complaint on the board and someone from strait talk e-mailed me and said the same thing- the texts would stop after 10 days. Big lie! I was told by one of the reps that I would be given 300 free additional texts when I purchased my next package, but I don't know if it will actually happen. Partly because they haven't been reliable with their word so far and partly because I may not choose to use straig talk any longer. Come on people, can't you find a way to make these stupid texts stop? If you can't even do something this easy, why would I trust you with my service? I would appreciate some help from someone who can actually do something before I decide to cancel straight talk and tell everyone I know not to bother with them because of my experience.
Thank you,
Tina

I forgot that I was on auto refill. I then added money to my account on the day of my service end date. The following day, I noticed that I was charged twice on the same day. I called customer service and I was told that the money they added was from my debit card that I had entered the day before and the money from the auto refill was in reserve. Well, a month later when I needed to add money, low and behold there was nothing in reserve. I had cancelled the auto refill after my mistake the month before so that I wouldn't get charged again. I called customer service and they were trying to tell me that one was a pre authorization and one was an authorization. Wrong! I had the bank statement in front of me and nothing we put back into my account. Pre authorizations are usually for a dollar and then the full amount is then taken out. I don't know who they are trying to scam. I have sent them an email with the intentions of forwarding the information on the attorney general. I'm not looking for anything besides my account getting the proper credit.

I had purchased my cell phone back in November '11. I have been unable to download apps from the same zip code I entered for compatibility for this phone prior to purchase. After going through several tech help calls with straight talk the problem still remained.
It has been over three months and still it is not resolved. This company should be investigated for false claims that their product's
features can not all operate properly in certain zip codes. I definitely urge cell phone buyers avoid straight talk. Since it is too late to return my purchase for a refund I have learned a hard valuable lesson. Stay away from crooks like these.
RC.

In order fro Straighttalk to boost sales they do a number of thing (remember this is a product sold and owned partially by Walmart):
1) So that you cannot add new credit cards (ex: from a new bank or even update the expiration date on a card which is expiring soon-my card comes in same number, new expiration date and new CID # on back) their website is defective. The company calls this a "systems error", but the "error" does not get resolved. When speaking to customer service you will be told your credit card (and I also believe debit cards from others I have spoken to) will be "declined" and you will be told your "did not pay your bill" or there is something "wrong" with your finances. BUT, you will be offered to have your transaction go through if you buy a 3 month/6 month/year plan or auto renewel and they will work on this and you will have your service again. Funny, why would your new credit info not be useable when you wish to buy a plan month to month or a basic 30.00 plan, BUT if you purchase a multiple month plan or okay the auto renewal plan your new credit card can be used? Of course you have to speak to a customer service rep to do this and chances are you will not be understanding what they are say AND they will become condescending if you ask to have them repeat what they have said. Oh, by the way, try to stop the autorenewal and it doesn't...you are out the money until VISA or MCard deny the charges for you...usually takes about 3 months for VISA to get this resolved...if you use a debit card, contact your bank and have them deny further charges from Straighttalk, but I think this will come with a fee from your bank (check your banks policy, there have been instances of banks having to close a debit card, issue a new one...it's easier with a credit card though as there are usually safety nets for card purchases.) Hmmmmm, something fishy here.
2) On the internet when you go in anywhere from five to the day before your plan expires and try to buy a new plan, there is another "error" that happens. Your expiration date not change to a new expiration date, so when your expiration date comes you have to purchase another span of service...and you will not be refunded. This will be blamed on you (happens intermittently so as to make people have an "accident" buying a new service period. You will not have a refund issued by the "refund specialist" at Straighttalk. I believe "refund specialist" is a hilarious term when it comes to Straighttalk as there is no such thing...refund specialist means a person who makes sure you can't get a refund you are due, lol. BEWARE of this practice of theirs, it is done intermittently and is a way to nickel and dime customers and a fraudulent practice.
3) Since they practice the fraud mentioned in 2, your phone will be turned off during your last service plan day and definately at 12:00 midnight on the day after your plan ends...try renewing your plan then, lol...you will be your credit card company is declining you, BUT they will fix things if you wish to okay autorenewal or buy a more expensive and longer plan.
4) The company makes sure they get what they want/not what you have paid for, by outsourcing their customer service to countries where English may be taught, but not understood. I actually was told by customer service when I kept saying I could not understand (and I used to teach ESL and have a good ear for accents and nuances in others' language) to turn up the volume on my phone, lollollol...when I tried to explain the difference in hearing and understanding, the rep certainly did not understand. The outcome is we will upsell you and if you don't buy the upsell, we will make sure you don't have service.
5) Many of the Straighttalk Tracfones (and that is what they are, Tracfone) are defective. There is no refund for lost service time and to return is a hassle...and if the average three months it takes to receive a new phone from them keeps on going, you are still paying your autorenewal plan. Oh, by the way, Walmart does not stand behind any Straighttalk product or service card...you are out the money, lol. Sp, please keep an eye on your credit card statements by checking your purchases through the internet/or if bank card purchases check your accounts daily.
6) Straighttalk preys on poorer people and seniors whom are trying to make it on their Social Security. This company is NOT a company that is offering a legitimate service. PLEASE, if you are looking for a prepay plan look into your local companies or a US based company whom does not outsource. Straighttalk is a scam, it is not a service.

I purchased a new Straight Talk cell phone on teir website straighttalk.com. On January 09, 2012 I received the phone package. I tried to start charging the phone and discovered that the WRONG battery had been placed in the package. Then starts the "customer service" nightmare. I had to talk to several of the so called customer service reps to finally get them to understand that I DID know how to install the battery, but they sent the WRONG battery and that's why I couldn't install it, it didn't fit. Then we have to go through the long ordeal of what we are going to do about it. First they wanted me to PAY to send back the phone. I told them point blank, no, that's not going to happen. I asked them to send me the correct battery and then I would return the wrong battery that I had. No go. Many more customer service reps, two days, and several phone calls later, supposedly they are sending me a battery. We shall see. If I hadn't already purchased the "pay as you go time card" that is non-refundable, I would just go with a different carrier. When the time is up on this time card, I will be doing that. This company is "out sourced". I could understand only a few of the reps I spoke with. The one that finally helped me was in South America. I can't say enough about how horrible dealing with straight talk customer service is. Walmart is supposed to be a "made in America" type company. At least it was when Sam Walton was running it. Now it's a "made by enemies of the USA" type company. When we shop there I now feel like I am supporting American enemies. So, good bye straight talk, good bye Walmart. I will start looking hard at who is making the products I buy and especially where the customer service is located.