Buyer beware
I contacted Consumer Cellular in November, 2011 regarding my phone that would not power on even with a full charge. The representative advised me that I had purchased a phone from Consumer Cellular with a known defect. I requested a new phone. The representative advised me that there was no warranty on the phone and I would have to purchase a new phone for $35.00. I refused and threatened to cancel my service. I was told they would look into other options.
In December, 2011, I contacted Consumer Cellular again. The representative apologized and advised me that the additional $35.00 was for a new activation charge, not for a new phone. I, again, refused to pay and threatened to cancel my service. I was told they would look into other options.
In each of the following months, I contacted Consumer Cellular and requested that they resolve this issue. Each time, they apologized and told me they were looking into other options.
In May, 2012, after being stranded on the side of the road for over 6 hours because I had a phone with a known defect and service with Consumer Cellular that I could not access, I once again called Consumer Cellular in an attempt to resolve this issue. The representative apologized and told me there was nothing they could do to help me beyond my paying $35.00 and receiving a new phone. Therefore, I canceled my service.
In June, 2012, I received another bill from Consumer Cellular for $16.07. I called and was told this was for charges billed in advance. I advised the representative that I would not pay for service that the defective phone would not allow me to access.
In July, 2012, I received another bill, this time with a $10.00 late fee included.
In August, 2012, I received another bill with a second $10.00 late fee included and a note advising me of their pending collection attempts. I called and spoke with a representative who agreed to waive the $20.00 in late fees and would attempt to take care of the last bill. Several hours later, I received a call from another Consumer Cellular representative who advised me that the last bill must be paid. I notified them that I was disputing the last bill since the service they were billing for could not be accessed with the defective phone they sold me. Further attempts to negotiate a settlement were unsuccessful.
A the end of August, 2012, I received a call from a collection agency. They advised me that Consumer Cellular had included another $10.00 late fee and a $35.00 collection fee bringing the total to $61.07. I notified them of my dispute regarding the bill and that I would not pay for service that I was unable to access.
In early September, 2012, I received a letter from a collection agency. I sent them an email through their web site notifying them that I was disputing the validity of the claim based on a non-working phone and not being able to assess the network, therefore, the bill for service was not valid.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Lousy phone, unfair billing and payment not yet returned
I opted to use consumer cellular rather than my current AT&T because I could save $25.00 a month & with no contract.I was billed for the 1st. month service of $49.10 before I received the 2 phones and had already paid the $ 123.17, which now totals over $172.00. The phones are junk and I contacted to get info as to how to return. I mailed out the phones and they received them 5 days later. However, their po0licy is to not return my money for 21 days after the phones are received. I have contacted them an 3 occassions and have had no luck. They are useless people working for a useless company and if anyone uses them, be prepared to be ripped off. I am disappointed in AARP for the backing of the Jitterbug phones, which consumer celolular charges $100.00. Not a dealo for those of us on limited income trying to save a few bucks .
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Sue Weaver is a joke. Jitterbug is a joke. Their phones don't even work.
Hi, Mickie D. My name is Sue Weaver, and I’m the VP of Customer Service at GreatCall, creators of the Jitterbug cell phone. I saw your post today, and wanted to personally reach out, if you have any questions or concerns we can resolve for you.
We at GreatCall strive to offer our customers a superior level of customer service and superior products.
As such, I would be very interested in speaking with you, either via phone or if you provide me with a direct email address, to learn more about your experience with GreatCall and Jitterbug and answer any questions you may have. At your convenience, you can please reach out to me by calling [protected] and asking for Sue Weaver. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charge for phone service before the phone is activated
Consumer Cellular began charge when UsPs show that the phone is located at your post office. Even if you don't get a notice from UsPs, Consumer Cellular charge you. The charges should began at activation. Even if you don't get a notice from UsPs, Consumer Cellular charges you the minute that the phone arrives at your post office. The charges should began at activation. They are not very helpful-nor apologetic about charging you if you are not using their service. They need to be more consumer friendly and undertand that service charges should begin hen people are using their service-i.e. at activation.
I signed up for the free month
Received my sim. Immediately, called them as I had service. As long as activated by March 31, free month
First received a bill for $3 and change. (tax on free service) looked on back of bill contrary to their customer service was a bill
Next, my credit was checked with out my permission.
I cut off my other carrier 3 days early. Time after Time assured free month. In fact told 45 free days as I'm AARP. Not true. It's 45 day satisfaction guarantee
Next skipping part of more bills, spoke to supervisor mark. He admitted they start billing as soon as one orders sim and or cell. Next, he said there was error my account not pushed forward. Again I ask if free month valid. Next, they record us
Meanwhile called fraud line via AARP. I was informed they received umpteen complaints.
Next, as supervisor mark ask I called consumer Cellular following Saturday. Spoke to Manny he admitted ! Customers were billed for free offer. In fact one can search for it (recommend duckduckgo search engine)
Next I get billing. Offer Settle for 27 and change. They emailed offer with option pay $6 a month. No I did not agree. In fact should have had them send email confirmation of free month although I took screenshots of offer on their site.
Consumer Cellular also ticked I called ftc next, filing with attorney general. It is fraud.
Non contract? Post paid surprise.
In fact supervisor mark admitted I should have cancelled. With permission and knowledge I should have recorded them.
They are liars. Again bill one a tax quote, well turn it over and see the rest of it.
They lie about no hidden fees, being contract free, every aspect
Next I brought my own phone.
If the agent inform me of credit check I would have opted to forgo service.
Outdated data plans, post paid, fraudulent billing practices (phone service on order day) and all the above complaints. Fyi mark checked my usuage. Of course non as I did not install sim until 28th of March I believe. They owe me for my other service
Stay away from these crooks. Satisfied customer? Find a better company. Many out there at lower price and prepaid. No surprises .
They made a mistake alright (the supervisor). They messed with me.
Scammers paradise
I am a victim of cell phone fraud. I get 30 phone calls on my cell phone consecutively and the caller says that i called them. The purpose of this scam is that i pay by the minute plan. I bought my cell phone from Consumer Cellular and the phone that i bought you can not id the # until you open the flip phone. This happens everyday for months now and i finally decided to see what it's about, . All the callers are so sorry even if i cuss them out. All the people calling are from other states. I have become familiar with fraud through a friend who has lost everything through a different kind of scam.I can tell by answering this calls that this thugs are nothing more than scam artist racking up minutes for them and the cell phone company. I have reported this to local police, state attorney general, FCC and FTC and I have told the phone co. that i am investigating this. Since it is small it looks as if they will get away with it forever. THIS IS A BROILER ROOM AND A SCAMMERS PARADISE
A week ago we ordered a generous amount of minutes and data as well as 2 iphones through Consumer Cellular believing we would have good monthly pricing as well as good service. After mutliple calls one phone was activated the other has not been able to be activated by CC to date. We took the phones to the Apple store who assured us the problem lay with the service provider. Additionally, when we checked we became aware the sim cards in the phones were for T mobile not ATT which we requested (CC works with both companies). It took 3 trips to Target to get the new sim card and a substantial number of calls, holding on and being transferred while CC rectified the matter.It is numerous days since we had the phones activated and CC has still not been able to activate the 2nd phone. Countless phone calls have ensued between our home and CC, they promise their tech department is working on it. Everyone is very polite but we keep receiving empty promises. This should be a basic technical issue that any service provider should have the ability to easily handle.
Finally was able to speak with one of the managers who promised he had given the situation priority and that he would get back to us before the end of his work day. He called back once to say they are working on it and he would definitely call back before he leaves. Never received that call. If they are unable to activate the phone within another day - outrageous that it is takes a service provider days to do this, we will go with another provider. Had we originally gone with a major service provider the phones would have immediately been activated as any service provider should be able to do, and we would not have had all these days of frustration. Meanwhile, anyone needing to reach me is not able to do so. Frustrated CC customer.
Outraged me
First the *** phone breaks - breaks, just breaks on July 4th weekend. I lose all contacts, everything. I call and get Peggy on Mars who says call back Monday (Monday was a holiday). There is no place local to get Motorolo phones repaired. Options - be without a phone and wait for warranty to be denied. So, I pulled the plug and went with anothe provider. Got a bill for $35.00 a month and a half later. Paid it. Now get a past due notice of $20.00 - no explanation. This company ***! Avoid it at all costs! I have been frustated time and time again with them. Mailed the phone (in pieces) back to them and didn't even get a sympathy card - ***.
What happened to you is really infuriating. Good thing I chose Just5 as my mom’s provider. My mom is able to save a lot for her calling plans with Just5. Their offered calling plans do not cost a lot. In fact, it is much cheaper than Consumer Cellular offers. All of their minute plans are good for 90 days so their cheapest calling plan, which costs $10, will only cost $3.33 each month. This company does not also bind my mom in contract, but unlike Consumer Cellular this doesn’t rip her off. I’m really glad we were not easily enticed by the luring offers of Consumer Cellular when we haven’t known Just5 yet.
Awful customer service/lack knowledge
On May 29, my mother died. I had paid my mother bill up for 6 months. At her time of death she had a credit of 34.19. I call consumer celluar and told that she had died. I told them I could provide them the death certificate and my birth certificate to prove that I was her daughter and only surviving member of her immediate family, my father, her husband died on May 25, 2010. The representative on June 30, told me they did not need that, the check would be sent out in my name within in two weeks. I never receive the check I call back again the first week of Aug, they said the check would be there in 3 days, that came and pasted. I call again and spoke to a very rude and lying representative that said I never called back in June. I told her she was a liar. She said the check was sent. It should not take 2 months to receive a refund check of the money I paid on the account. I receive the check on Aug 30 with my mom name on it. I can not cash the check she does not have a estate and the representative in June was told all of my mom and father accounts were closed and she said would not be a problem to get the check with my name on it.I called today and spoke with a supervisor, and they told it would have to go to a estate which a representative before told me it did not have to I just wish they would give out correct information to customers.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Their advertisements are misleading and deceptive. Their customer service associates are not polite, helpful or knowledgeable. I was flat-out lied to with regard to whether or not two different phones I owned would work, first they assured me that they would work, then after several wasted hours on hold, and talking to very unhelpful customer service associated they told me they would not work. Total waste of time.
Beware
I initiated cellular service with Consumer Cellular. On 7-9-2010 I received two Motorola EM330 cell phones. On 7-12 one phone locked up. Upon advice, I removed the battery to reboot the phone. When doing so, the battery door latch became disengaged from the phone body. I then advised Consumer Cellular of this event. I was IMMEDIATELY told :now you'll have...
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I signed up for Consumer Celluar on November 30th 2018. Ordered two phones and service. They deducted $101.65 from my checking account (have proof) Did not get phones. Recontacted them and found out they sent phones to wrong address although I repeated my address four times and had it quoted back to me. A check with postal folks showed that since the phones were undesirable they were returned. I never saw them ! I called again and since I had another months service approaching for my old service and would hae to pay it due to Consumer Cellulars mistake I canceled the order. I was told my money would be refunded right away. Today is the 17th and i still have no refund. I called again and waited 45 minuets and then was told to check with postal tracking ? I re- reported that the phones were returned via post office I never saw them and was not my problem as they sent them to a non existent postal address. I was told I was not charged for the phones ? I have proof of payment and proof of no refunds. I have reported them to the BBB folks and am if the money is not returned by tonight going to my local court house and file a small claims suit against them. They will loose the case due to my proof and will have to pay my court costs for filing but one should not have to do this to get back what is legally theirs and have to fight with a company that supplies such crappy service and customer service.
Consumer cellular served me well for a quite a while. One day lighting hit a tower and was out of service for 16 days. Multiple calls were given to Consumer cellular. They were nice and checked stuff and told me service would be restored in 3 to 5 days more than once. I could drive into town- about five mile and get spotty service.
Before the lighting strike all my phone worked satisfactorily. I was never able to place a phone call from home again. I was never given any information as to a fix or that they had a problem. I went to Verizon and now have good service at my home and everywhere I have been.
It appears that Consumer cellular towers are contracted with AT&T who contract to another cellular tower. It also appears that nobody communicates in their organization.
I have much better signal strength with Verizon that I ever had with Consumer cellular. I did save some money by using them upfront. Because they refused to help me retain service I had to purchase new phones, pay hook up fees, drive to town to make call for 16 days, waste time with their no resolution staff. I spent over five hundred dollars changing service.
Then to top it off they refused to cancel all of my monthly service fees.
My recommendation for anyone getting cell phone service is to pay a little more and get a reliable carrier like Verizon or anyone else.