Consumer Cellular
reviews and complaints

I am filing a complaint because I am being penalized for NOT participating in auto pay and ebilling, $5.00 per month. When I pointed out I am enrolled in ebilling, then rep said $60.00 a year for not having someone go into a checking account. I am on a fixed income and every dollar counts why aren't all the senior consumers complaining to the Ceo, John Marick about this injustice?

Date: 8/25/2022 at approximately 3:00 pm EST

I tried going on-line today to change the credit card that is being used to pay our monthly bill. However, I wasn't allowed to do this and want you to know why the bill will no longer be paid.

I purchased a Consumer Cellular phone for my husband well over a year ago. He is a disabled Veteran with severe PTSD and is also hard of hearing. For those reasons, he will not talk to any strangers on the phone. I wanted to get this phone to begin with in case he had an emergency and needed to contact me, or in case I had an emergency and needed to talk to him. If you look at the phone records you will see that this phone hasn't been used very much at all.

Our account is #[protected]. The phone number is [protected]. When I went on-line to put in the new credit card number, your website said this was not a valid cell phone number nor password. I tried changing the password but it still said the phone number wasn't valid and would go no further.

So, I decided to call the customer service number. I was treated very rudely by the representative I first talked to, so I requested to talk to a manager. She said the manager wasn't going to help me either and continued to argue with me. Finally I did get to talk to another person, and she told me because this account was in my husband's name, she couldn't talk to me. I stressed that my husband wasn't home, and even if he was, he wouldn't talk to her. She told me again to try on-line. How could I do that when your system kept saying the phone number was invalid?! Eventually I received notification that the account was locked and to call customer service. I absolutely refuse to call them back and be treated rudely again. I told the so-called manager that I hope she never finds herself in a position such as I am.

So, here I am, trying to take responsibility for paying this monthly bill. But, as soon as the bill is put through for payment, it will be refused by my bank Visa. And at this point I really don't care! Guess we don't need your phone or service anymore and we can save ourselves $20 a month. So much for your excellent customer service! Word of mouth goes a long way.

I've had service with this company for over a year. I have auto-pay through my American Express card, which is paid off every month FULLY as is my Bank of America Platinum Mastercard Rewards card. They had already billed me $26.05 which American Express paid this month (August 2022). On Saturday, 21 August 2022, I contacted Consumer Cellular and asked them to disconnect my service, since I am 72, Oxygen-dependent, largely home-bound, & only venture out once a month for groceries 3 blocks away, for a total of 1 1/2 hours. I have a landline so a Cell Phone is superfluous. I thought they would bill my American Express card as they have been doing. Instead, they sent me a NASTY eMAIL today, 23 August 2022, telling me I was "PAST DUE" on their disconnect bill of $32.54 for 4 days service.

ALL THIS PAST WEEK

I have used your service Consumer Cellular for many many years, loved it for reliability and good service and price.. I am a senior, A US Air Force Vietnam Veteran nurse 1968, with a flip phone and A LAP TOP AND DESKTOP. I am not a fan of this new tech. As of today, I have lost everything. I even bought an IPhone from you to be dragged kicking and screaming into today. The sim cards are not working, I am 2 weeks without a phone at all. On my coffee table is 2 flip phones and 1 Iphone, alL dead. I have spent over $400 trying to get a tech to fix it, and he seems as dumb as I am. I pray it gets fixed and I will keep it. Otherwise, I have no American choices, which is a crime all by itself. I will have to become a member of the maddening crowd.

Beverly Trahan PLEASE HELP ME HERE! PLEASE

[protected]@gmail.com

[protected]

13214 Cherry Street!

Kansas City MO 64145

[protected] Please fix this!

Quote from male

s p a mmer.

To me/ your customer

Quote

Your sick your suppose to be an author and I’m trying to buy a book from you this is ridiculous

T his is from a consistent frequent spammer who gets through even when using blocked private numbers please block all private numbers coming to

[protected] thank you owner of the account.

PS new paragraph

From account number consumer Cellular with AARP [protected]

And

here is the latest phone number this spammer is using it starts with 929 so do not let any numbers come through that are private and keep a watch on numbers that start with 929 ..

And

keep a watch only means let me know that I have had the phone call thank you

I am a senior citizen customer with Consumer Cellular. I was out of the country June 26, 2022, through July 1, 2022. I had NO services. Yet I get back to the Unites States just to find out I had a $500 balance. I spoke with a nice gentleman Mr. Sandford on July 18, 2022, A payment plan was set up for 8/1/2022 of $100. I was unable to get through to a customer service rep. Today, 8/2/2022 I tried to make payment today and set up another payment plan but James with billing would not set payment plan up Hyka "supervisor" attempted to set up payment plan and take payment place me on hold twice just to mention something about an error on account a "credit class mismatch" this was not explained to me when I ask. I am disputing this $500 data charge because I could not use my phone for 5 days while out of the US. This is so unacceptable treating your senior citizen customers this way. I was told that I would have an international package when on vacation that this would be applied to my account once back it would be taken off account. When I received my bill, NOTHING was applied.

PS as a senior citizen on fixed income and customer since 2019 I have never had any issues. Please see to it that this $500 fee gets credit off my bill. Thanks kindly

[protected]

I was out of the country June 26, 2022, through July 1, 2022. I had NO services. Yet I get back to the Unites States just to find out I had a $500 balance. I spoke with a nice gentleman Mr. Sandford on July 18, 2022, A payment plan was set up for 8/1/2022 of $100. I was unable to get through to a customer service rep. Today, 8/2/2022 I tried to make payment today and set up another payment plan but James with billing would not set payment plan up Hyka "supervisor" attempted to set up payment plan and take payment place me on hold twice just to mention something about an error on account a "credit class mismatch" this was not explained to me when I ask. I am disputing this $500 data charge because I could not use my phone for 5 days while out of the US. This is so unacceptable treating your senior citizen customers this way. I was told that I would have an international package when on vacation that this would be applied to my account once back it would be taken off account. When I received my bill, NOTHING was applied.

Have had CC for about 2-3 years. Was pleased with the service, although when listening to voicemails, the message from CC was broken up in places:

Please enter, to hear...

About (4-6?) months ago, CC sent me emails & letters saying that our Samsung phones would no longer work with the new 5G networks being rolled out nation-wide.

They would however, work with 4G.

Our service has bee degrading slowly but surely, ever since.

We have Samsung S5 & S6 phones which receive 4G signals. Attached are pictures of the main screens showing the 4G icon signals and one of the Samsung Specs. for the S5 - the "older" model.

CC says (supposedly from Samsung) that they don't receive 4G. I have the Samsung Specs that say 4G! CC says we'll need to buy new $ phones - and they just happen to sell new phones!

I have been told by technicians that between Cell phone manufacturers that after some period (after warranty period?) deliberately download software that degrades performance/features and collude with cell service providers to downgrade performance so we the consumer are forced to buy new $ phones.

I just found out that Consumer Cellular charges $5 to your bill if you don't use auto pay option. I think that's illegal!

I refuse to pay $5 because I don't use auto pay.

I also know, if you have an issue with a Consumer Cellular phone, They will put you through an unbelievable amount of time to make sure they don't give you a new phone, even if it's owed to you. I've literally had a CC phone be so hot it would burn my hand to hold it while talking.

I had to put my phone through so many tests, it burnt out. When I finally convinced them while using a different phone to send my new phone right off or I will be without a phone. I offered to pay for extra to get it out to me right off. She said I'll send it out today you's get it at such and such a date. I didn't receive it for over a week and my son-in-law was in the hospital for lung surgery. I told them this many times so I would get my phone right off. I'm seriously considering leaving CC and I've been with them for many many years.

This phone is a poor substitute for the Black (smaller) or Red Doro flip phones, both of which I have had. The LINK II has no flashing light to indicate that it is charging, and no easily seen indicator or signal that it has been fully charged. The charging cord is barely long enough for easy use. It poorly indicates a missed call by display of a tiny symbol. Unable to increase size of display text. And, like the Doro phones, it lights up for a good while AFTER being closed (why?). Also, the user manual is hard to read (having tiny reference numbers and poor English), about which CC should have had oversight. **** I wanted to complain in a non-public WRITTEN way, but CC provides no means. It has no email or feedback except Chat.

You turned me off on Saturday the 23 of July, I am very un-happy with you, you can see how long I have been with you, I had called a few days before to inform them i WOULD BE PAYING THE BILL ON Wednesday the 27 BUT NO ONE WROTE IT DOWN, THIS IS EXATELY WHAT I DID NOT WANT TO HAPPEN. but SOMEONE SECREWED UP. AND I AM PAYING THE PRICE FOR THEIR MISTAKE... tHEY WOULD NOT EVEN TURN MY PHONE ON FOR 5 DAYS JUST 5 DAYS AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, IT IS VERY DIRESPECTFUL TO ME AFTER BEING A LOYAL CUSTOMER...

tHERESA kURK

[protected]

On July 22,2022, I went to Target in Vernonhills, Illinois during SERVICE time (11am). Service from Consumer Cellular was not available. Target staff said to come back the next day . I went back on July 23, 2022 right after lunch. No service was available again. Target staff called other locations and recommended going to Target in Mundeline. When I got to Target in Mundeline, a service person in tech section was helping other customers find items. No on else was waiting. When he could talk to me, he said he could provide service with Supervisor approval. Supervisor denied any service. I told her I live on Woodstock, Il and I am trying to help a man living in a nursing home in Lincolshire, Il. She said I could make appointment ext Wednesday. This is a hardship since I cannot do this. I am now looking at other providers that can actually provide service

the guide's opening page tells a person to plug the phone into an outlet to charge it completely.

Except the phone doesn't come with a charger. Just a cable with identical ends that only plug into the phone. No USB connection on one end. The problem is Consumer Cellular instructions do not mesh with what is provided with the phone.

I was having a problem with getting on the Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart pharmacy websites ..I called several times and their "fix" was to change the sim card. They sent an AT&T and said to use it to replace my Mobile one. Upon doing that the Grandpa's will not work in my home (not did it fix the Wal-Mart problem outside of my home) ! I am disabled and need this since no Wi-Fi is in my home ..also I live in a Florida coastal community and am subject to hurricanes and other weather where this service is imparative. I have been denied by Consumers Cellular to go back to the T-Mobile service which worked in my home. This is not only very inconvenient but DANGEROUS. I qualify under the Persons with disabilities act which includes Telecommunications. I am still being billed for service they have rendered useless. I had to buy the Grandpa's and is fully paid for ..What I want is to be out back in working order with a Sim card that will work.

On June 15th, 2022 I purchased a new phone from Consumer cellular and was required to return my current phone to them. I did so and returned the phone in a thin postage-paid plastic envelope that they sent to me. I received a letter stating that the returned phone was damaged and the return was denied.

When that phone was returned it was not damaged. I assume that it was broken in transit by the US post office. I now have a broken phone, a new phone, and

no credit. My account number is [protected]. The order number was18083017.

Thank You

Harold Strack

[protected]@hargray.com

One thing that Consumer Cellular Doesn't Inform You Is That They Force You To Keep Their Phones Even When you Haven't had The Phones Long.

FIRST PHONE EVER...61 & a disabled veteran. Don't know 1 thing about a phone. I got my Con. Cell. phone 10 days ago & no-one has been able to get it to work on YOUR END...1st they sent me to Target. ( 70 mile ROUND TRIP)for a sims card, ( which I don't know WHAT THAT IS... Well, "YOUR PEOPLE " STILL can't get it going. TODAY " YOUR PERSON" told me to take the phone to Target, ( ANOTHER 70 MILE TRIP in a '96 Chevy truck that gets 13 M.P.G.). I got more into gas than I do for the phone! & it's " YOUR PEOPLE" who keep sending me there. & Target HAD NO-ONE WHO COULD HELP ME...so it was YET ANOTHER wasted trip & gas money... & I STILL DON'T HAVE A PHONE... I'm going to try " 1 last time " tonight & if it don't work I'm done with you...

I've experience problems with my phone, specifically the memory card. My phone popped up a notice saying no memory card loaded, and HALF OF MY INFO WAS GONE! I use this phone for my business. I called your tech department, and was underwhelmed.

I was then told to call Target for help. I called to schedule an appointment. I showed up the next day for my 1:30 appointment. My phone showed the time of 1:32.

I waited for about 5 minutes and then got a hold of an associate. I was told that the tech support WAS OUT TO LUNCH! I ended up waiting another 20 minutes! I DO have a job! I'm being inconvenienced by incompetence!

FOND ANOTHER COMPANY TO HANDLE YOUR TECH SUPPORT! TARGET IS THE WORST!

I was at JFK Airport on May 3rd 2022 and called for a shuttle pickup. The phone made a pop sound, a flash of light in my left ear. Since then I have been unable to use my left ear when talking on the phone, the callers voices are distorted. Please help to solve this problem, I went to an ENT (ear specialist) and he could not find a problem with my ear. Thank you The distorted voices continue. Nohing more to add.

I called Consumer Cellular in August 2021, wanted info for phone service for talking, not interested in texts nor internet service. I was aware that some phones will only work with AT&T or Verizon, I asked them what phone I needed for their service. They suggested a flip phone, a Samsung Rugby 4 SM-B780A which I could purchase from them for $170. I purchased the same model phone on my own for $150. I started the service, they sent me a sim card, activated the phone, all was well for a few months, no service in some areas but for the most part no complaints. Didn't use it much but was handy to have in my pocket. In February I realized that regardless of my location I couldn't make or receive a call. I tried calling Consumer Cellular from my home phone so many times, waited for extended periods of time, no one would answer. I sent them numerous emails, which they didn't respond to either. I had recently paid them $50.42, I now disputed that charge. Surprise, surprise, now there's communication!. Now I've learned that the Samsung Rugby 4 phone which they recommended runs on 3G technology. 3G Phones no longer work since the launch of the 5G service. I've also now learned that the announcement about 5G service was made in April and would start in February 2022. This announcement also informed the industry that 3G phones would no longer work. This was 5 months before I purchased the Samsung phone. The way I see it they still owe me $125.