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The good, the bad, and the ugly - discover what customers are saying about Helio

Welcome to our customer reviews and complaints page for Helio. We understand that making informed decisions about where to invest your time and money can be challenging, which is why we've created this platform for our community to share their honest feedback about their experiences with Helio.

On this page, you'll find a comprehensive collection of reviews and complaints from real customers who have used Helio's products or services. Our reviews are authentic and unbiased, providing you with a complete picture of the company, its products or services, and their customer service.

Whether you're considering doing business with Helio, or you've already had an experience with them, our community's reviews and complaints will give you a valuable perspective on what to expect. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about where to invest your time and money, and we hope that our platform will be a valuable resource for you.

Please feel free to browse our reviews and complaints and share your own experience with Helio. Your feedback is an important part of our community and will help others make informed decisions.

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3:34 am EDT
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Helio Customer Service

First lets start I switched from AT&T to go to Helio thinking it would be a great idea since my friend has the same service and it works good WRONG! So I got the Ocean 2 500 minute all in plan. After the first month of service the phone starting acting up it would turn on and off randomly all the time. So I called they said no problem we will send you a new phone. I said "okay sounds good" so my phone arrive pretty quickly so I called them up activated my phone and went did my thing for the rest of the day. When I went to make phone call while I was roaming I noticed that the Verizon tower gave me message saying "They couldn't authentic my phone." So as soon as I got service I called Helio saying my phone wouldn't make phone call in roam but I know the first phone that I had did it no problem. So I went along with going the different Tiers of customer service and they said they would send me another device to see if that's the issue. So as i did before waited for the new phone to come in and activate same thing it didn't work. I called them back went the different Tiers again so they finally transferred the problem to Tier 3 and said that they would get a hold of me 24-72 hours which they did not at all. So I called to check on how the problem was going and come to find out that the first customer service did not give them enough information the first time and I said "they couldn't call me to get that information" of course they apologize . So i gave more information and they submitted it again and waited another 24-72 hours yet again I called to check on the status because they didn't call my back as usually and yet again the represented didn't provide enough information again. At this point I was getting frustrated so I went along with them and they sent it to Tier 3 again and said I would receive a phone call from Tier 3 and I made it very clear that they didn't contact me the first time so the represented noted in the account with contact information. Now I have to wait another 24-72 hours but it was a weekend and Tier 3 was closed until Monday so I would have to wait week for answer. So to make it short the problem is still going on it has been well over 2 months so I finally got some answers that they would refund my cell phone price and waive the early termination fee. Overall my experience with this company was terrible NEVER AGAIN! BE WARNED DO NOT BUY FROM HELIO. AT&T customers service is way better than Helio's customer service any day.

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Hardlaborer
, US
Apr 11, 2009 8:08 pm EDT

I hope Helio is out business. If you suffer from any psychoses, if you know what is good for you, you will not have any dealings with these people. They will make you blow your brains out. And I am as serious as a heart attack. I am a pretty well grounded person, but Helio had me on the verge of just hanging myself on several different occasions. Helio hates people. They fry and eat babies.

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Sammi
,
Oct 01, 2008 2:12 pm EDT

My phone broke 2 weeks after beginning service, supposed to get a replacement through the insurance. No phone after 4 months. Bill was a lot higher than quoted. Cancelled service and no questions about why or what could they do - just $$$$$. I would never recommend Helio to anyone!

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patricia white
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Mar 29, 2008 12:55 pm EDT

i am so upset i posted the wrong company info in my recent post...as for their phone number...i'm not sure theres 3 different phone numbers and the one to call to cancel your service is1-[protected] and its in the Phillipines!

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Beamus
, US
Jun 11, 2009 12:39 am EDT

lol@satan.

You dont exist

You dont even have feet

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Beamus
, US
Jun 11, 2009 12:18 am EDT

HEY ###ER, HOW ABOUT YOU GO STAB YOURSELF WITH A SHOVEL, AND THEN BURY YOUR SELF WITH THAT SAME SHOVEL WHILE ITS STILL IN YOUR BODY

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HelioEmployee
Columbus, US
Jun 11, 2009 12:14 am EDT

NO SIR ### YOU, YOUR UGLY.

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Beamus
, US
Jun 11, 2009 12:02 am EDT

NO ### YOU, HOW ABOUT YOU KILL YOURSELF FOR MAKING ### "PHONES" WHERE ARE YOUR LANDSHARKS NOW HUH?

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HelioEmployee
Columbus, US
Jun 11, 2009 12:00 am EDT

HEY ### YOU! why didnt you kill yourself? i work for helio and thats the gameplan. We all want you dead. ###. and yes we do eat babies.

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Beamus
, US
Jun 10, 2009 11:59 pm EDT

THANK YOU.

Helio is BS

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7:03 pm EDT
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Helio Poor Quality

Personally, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND Helio. I have NOT gotten what I paid for. And for someone with my personality to take time to actually post something like this says a lot. Promise.

Specifically:

Poor quality of Service and it appears they worked in an entire month payment I owe them over the last 9 months. Billing always seems screwy and the way they layout the bill, it is difficult to see if you are overpaying. I promise, I am not a dumb consumer.

First - their $99 ALL INCLUSIVE is not so much. It's really more like $150 per month. Granted there are taxes and $6/month for 'insurance' but wow! Regardless of which service, find out what the bottom line is.

Also, Helio charges $1.50 if you ever are in a crunch and need to call information.

And last, the service is horrid. Always has been but I just lived with it. I swear since Virgin took them over, it got way worse. I am not overstating this - 2 of 3 calls always have issues - sound dropping out or worse "Call Lost".

Three times their techs have tried to fix my phone, including reseting it to factory settings. Last week, I spent almost 3hrs on a Pay-As-You go phone I HAD to get because my $150 a month phone can't cut it. Who knows how long I was on with tech support over the 1.5rs I've had the service.

I should have just paid the $175 or whatever service charge the second month into the contract - I would have saved a lot of money and headaches in general. Ugh.

Perhaps Helio works better for people in other places than in Texas.

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3:05 pm EDT
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Helio Billing

WOW.. this company, feels like a scam!

I am currently on the phone with them alomost every month.

what they hey about the monthly charge is that, we pay in advance.
Fine, ! i don't mind what i pay for ina dvance. i am a paying customer. i was with verizon as long as i can remember, so i wanted to try different company so i tried HELIO. that's where my nightmare started. At start i was to pay them 2month in advance. At that time, the store told me that it's for the last month, when i disconnect them it's free, month. hummm... when i increased the minute, it's a choas! they told me to pay about 211 and i went to the website to pay it was 311. so i paied figuring that i was going to go to next month! so i checked on the 4/17 and my balance were 150 due on 5/20. so i thought it was paid for April but i was got off the phone with them and they said it's because system thought i was not paid the that they and it went to the next month while the billing system was not created.! what a crap! i feel like they should be under investigation. God knows how much they might have scamed people from who doesn't want to bother with these kind of fighting.!

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9:13 pm EST
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Featured review
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GREATEST HELIO SCREW UP!! Where to start...I thought I was the only person that was dealing with idiots at HELIO, but it makes me feel a little better that everyone's receiving the all-around dumb-### Helio service. Literally, Helio reps are pretty stupid. My latest dispute? Lost my phone after having it for close to two years now...almost done with my...

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1:02 pm EST
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Helio Scam and cheating

I have been with Helio since Dec. 2006 and my bills have always been the same until I added an additional line in Dec. 2007. My monthly bill for both phones was right around $150.00 per month. Before I moved this past summer I contacted Helio and gave them my new address, told them to stop the autopay and asked if I would still have good service in the area I was moving too and if my bill would change... asked if I would be in Roaming. I was told everything would stay the same. My first bill after moving was double... OK, I was busy and paid it, next bill was for $314.00 and when I called and talked to Carl I told him you guys are either charging for *free* text messages or for Roaming but there is no way we went over our 1500 minute plan. He said if I paid $175 that day and agreed to up my plan to the 2500 minute plan that he could accept the $175 so even though I argued and told him how unhappy I was for this mess I went ahead and made yet another over payment. Then, the next bill *HELLO* was for $1, 200 I was shocked at first and then I laughed a little because this has to be a joke. Getting a hold of anyone who is willing to help is the real joke! I have talked to so many people at Helio, sent SEVERAL emails and not one reply from them and have also sent them a certified letter trying to clear up this mess and still no response. I have a lawyer who works pro-bono for me since my husband passed away and he will now be getting involved. These companies are the reason that people like us end up with bad credit. They keep getting away with it and it's unfair. I will be writing anyone I think will listen state, local and federal.

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Sam
Redmond, US
Jan 28, 2009 7:47 pm EST

EVERYONE CONTACT THE BBB-PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS
They are screwing us with a 2 year contact! We did NOT agree to a 2-year contract. We recently cancelled our membership after the first year because helio has horrible customer service. Soon after that we began getting calls about owing 400 and some odd dollars for early cancellation. After a million phone calls to and from the company we find out it is because we supposedly agreed to a 2 year contract. However, when I asked for proof of this, they had nothing. Eventually that led me to calling their corporate office, where I left a message and asked to get proof of the phone conversation that we agreed to the 2 year in. Do we have any legal obligation to pay the early term fee if they cannot prove that we ever agreed to 2 years? Especially when they don't even offer a contract in writing, it is all online, which we were never even aware of until this incident. In addition to this, we have never once received a paper bill from helio, our last bill was sent to collection a month after it was due because we were not aware we owed money for any additional charges. If anyone has any further knowledge of these issues, or legal action that can be taken, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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GaySkyDaytondafag
Los Angeles, US
Jan 18, 2009 9:24 pm EST

Helio is the most "customer-unfriendly" business I've come across! Helio's customer service is a joke. I just get apologies in email and no action. My contract is up in April, I can't wait to sign up with a more established cellphone service provider. If you have any sure-fire way of getting at these ###s, let me know. I'd really love to physically beat up on Sky "###-###" Dayton and beat up his boyfriend too.

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Michelle
Cedar Point, US
Jan 10, 2009 10:45 am EST

To whom it may concern,
I am completely frustrated with Helio and my current situation with them. I am even more disturbed by what I am reading on different blogs and consumer sites on the internet. There has got to be some way we can all get together and do something to Helio. How in this modern age can a phone company screw so many people and continue to run a business?
I signed up with Helio in June 08 and was frauded out of $393.69 immediately. $150 of that was for a prepay account which would allow me to "not be tied in to any contract with them" and be applied to my account immediately. NEVER HAPPENED. Another $100 was for a rebate that "I knew sounded fishy at the time" the sales rep said they would send in for me so that I didn't have to worry about it. NEVER HAPPENED. The rest was for a phone that never worked properly from day one. When I got back from vacation almost two weeks later I went to the store that I purchased the phone from and they were gone, closed, out of business! I then called customer service. They told me that they would have to send me a new phone, would take 5-7 days. I said that was unacceptable. I already went about two weeks without a phone that worked I wasn't about to go another week. I asked them if I could go to another retailer where they sold Helio and trade it in for a new phone that worked. They told me repeatedly that they were not set up that way and couldn't do that for me. I told them that was unacceptable that any other phone company I had with insurance would give me a loaner phone immediately until they fixed or replaced my old phone. Two hours later of phone conversations and threatening to leave the phone company and service and going down the street to get another plan and service I was talked into staying with them with a $300 credit to my account. Worst mistake I made since signing on with them to begin with. Still no $300 credit, still no $100 rebate, still no $150 pre pay credit to my account, and still no phone that works. I told them to go screw themselves and signed a plan with another company, but I am still receiving bills from them saying I owe them over $275 plus there saying I owe them another $175 for early termination when technically they owe me money. I spoke with another supervisor there who said the supervisor who promised me the $300 credit was terminated. She spoke with her supervisor while I was on the phone and they said they would honor the credit to my account and place my balance owed to them to zero. She lied it never went through. At this point I don't even want their money I just want them to wipe my account out of their system. I have documented everything. I even have the business card of the sales rep that scammed me out of my deposit and rebate. No one is returning my calls at corporate. The lady that promised me the credit to my account still works there but avoids my calls. She is always on another line or out to lunch. The employees there all say that even though they're a phone company they don't have the ability to transfer me to her phone and that no one has voice mail? Yeah right.
I have challenged the original charge with my bank and they are going after Helio, but what do I do to keep them from damaging my credit? Do I take them to small claims and debate the charges? Can we "little people" get together somehow and go after these f*$*&@ ###s running this business. Does Sky Dayton, "if that's even his name" who runs the company have any idea what his employees are doing?
Please help me!

Thanks,
Frustrated Michelle

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12:18 pm EDT

Helio co-signer my behind!!

My son purchased a helio phone in Dec 2017, he needed a co-signer and called me on the phone to ask if I would. I said yes. The agent at the kiosk in the Mckinley Mall in Hamburg NY told me I would have to come in and sign within 10 days or the phone would be cancelled. The agent told my son to fill out MY information so all I have to do is sign it when I come in. Well, 2 weeks later my son decided helio didn't have all the options he would need while working, because he travels through all of the USA and called to cancel the phone, they put him on hold for 45 min and never came back. He called again, only to have the same thing happen. Finally he calls a 3rd time and they REFUSE to cancel his phone. I got on the phone and told them to cancel it. I was put on hold and they never came back. Come Feb 2nd, (he now has a new phone through a different company) he realizes the phone is still on and calls to file a complaint...wanna guess what they did? YEP, put him on hold and after 5 min he hung up. This is now the end of March and helio sends ME a collection notice for MY phone, I told them I didn't buy the phone, my son did and he tried calling 4 times to have it cancelled before the early termination date and they called me a liar. I then opened his phone and read off one of the dates and times he called and they accused me of "putting that number in the phone". are you kidding? Now they've called me a liar twice, and are now getting nasty with me and this is a supervisor! She told me he doesnt own the phone, I do, and theres no such thing as a co-signer and that I signed the contract! I never signed it, I never went in to sing it, the contract has my sons name on it, my sons address, etc etc. One hr after hanging up on this ###, I started getting calls from a collection agency and the 1st three got "snippy" when I tried to explain. The next day the one that called, gave all the information to my husband and THEN asked who they were speaking to. Today, they called me again, I told them they were in violation of the FDCPA and they said they dont have to follow those laws. I told her I wanted a copy of my contract and she refused. The worst thing is that, before all this mishap with my sons phone, I co-signed for my best friend, guess what? she doesn't own those phones either...I DO! So, I was misled into believing I was a co-signer when in reality, they switched the papers and said I purchased these phones and signed contracts. Not the ACTUAL customers. But on the copies of the contracts that my son has, HIS name is on it. The one my friend has, HER name is on it, but i found out THAT dont mean anything. Well, if you are in the right with your complaints...I URGE you to contact your local Attorney Generals Office and file a formal complaint and the BBB. Also, check out this website for the FDCPA laws. (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act)http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf and you can print out a copy of these laws...I hope it helps even 1 person against helio or any other cell phone company that lies about anything just to get a customer.

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Msvega
,
Oct 01, 2008 4:38 pm EDT

Hey i Need to find out more info on adding my name to the complaint list. I am furious, with helio's Service. And all i have been is a good paying customer. I just Got off the phone, With helio. I was trying to find out when i was going to receive my Deposit back. (since i was on time with my bill pay). Now mind you i spoke with helio in september about this. Well the gave me some bogus number to track my deposit. Then they are telling me Now i have another 7 months to wait for it back. because they have seen i have a few late payments. Which was never my fault. and i have proof on my account as well. That's only the Half. Out of the year an 2 months. I have had over 10 phones replaced, For problems not of my doing examples : phone re setting, powers off while on phone talking or while charging. phone browser not working, phone syncing not working, there is a list. then to charges from who knows. i have been charged every month for overage on I'm when the fact is I have always Had the unlimited plan from the beginning. How can this Be, I asked them all they cal tell me is it will be corrected next month an yet it still goes up more. And i have to have the headache of having t spent at least an hour at a time on there mess up when i call. But there is still more i can write a book.

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Tova
,
Oct 01, 2008 8:53 pm EDT

So as of Friday, I've had no texting capabilities. I've called EVERYDAY, and I've been put on their list something like 5 times. Today, the Tech support was actually nice instead of reading me a script and hanging up on me, they tried to reset my phone. However, again, I went back on to their Sprint list and I now have to wait for, yet again, another 24 hours.

I've been following all the posts from Heliocity.net, and I'm pissed to find out that my credit of $10 pales in comparison to the $30 credits that everyone else is getting. Apparently, my service in Los Angeles isn't the only being affected, or as so I've learned from the PA, San Diego and other states.

I'm really disappointed, irritated and upset. Seriously, 24 hour waits only to get NOTHING in my text inbox. I'm exhausted from waiting as everyone in my circle texts me and now thinks I'm seriously blowing them off, as well as irate considering that I've been lied to each day with their Tech and Customer Service people telling me different stories for reasonings and what not.

Yet here I am waiting and hoping that this finally works. This is atrocious. I was cool with Helio after sending them some REALLY nasty emails about not giving current customers the chance to upgrade to $99 all inclusive plans, however, I guess I have to resort to writing the VPs, now at Virgin Mobile too, about how bad their service is and that their measures to fix these situations is terrible.

The best part is, I work in advertising. Not only that, people ask me my opinion of products all of the time. I'm gathering that Word of Mouth doesn't play much importance to big brands anymore, however, I truly believe what Malcolm Gladwell said in his book "Tipping Point" that Helio is going to suffer big time for a ### of this proportion.

Helio, I hope you get your act together. This is unforgiveable.

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Cyd
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Sep 16, 2008 9:24 pm EDT

In May 2017 I returned malfunctioning equipment HELIO (Heat). I returned the phone in the same packaging in which I received the replacement equipment. In September 2017 I received a bill from HELIO in the amount of $475.00, apparently $116.45 for services (this is not disputed) and $358.77 for the equipment that I returned 4 months ago.

I spoke with 5 representatives and two supervisors, asking to terminate the services, and requesting the entity or department in which I could formally dispute the erroneous charges.

The last representative "Paolo" informed me that the complaint procedure is located on their website Helio.com. and further that there was no internal process, entity, or department in which I could submit a formal written dispute, to permit the company to investigate my complaint.

I searched their site, I found nothing. I have submitted a complaint to the FCC, and I will pursue litigation.

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Jenny
,
Jul 01, 2008 1:56 pm EDT

For a year I dealt with poor service from Helio. I had device problems & service problems. The device would freeze up frequently and sometimes would not turn on. The phone had never been damaged. The phone service I received was horrible. I could never complete a phone call without my phone dropping the
call. Often my Helio phone would not even connect, it would be "unable to place the call". When it would connect I could never hear the person on the other end, and they could rarely hear me. I would often receive no calls for a day, then have multiple voicemails the next day, but the calls from those people
never had come through. My internet that I paid for on the phone stopped working about 6 months into the 2 year contract and Helio could not fix it. Since I have signed up with a new carrier, my calls have been crystal clear and are rarely dropped. Dropped calls and horrible reception was unacceptable since I needed to do much of my business over the phone and was unable to speak with clients due to the poor quality and service. (NOTE: My phone and experience is not an exception, my whole family continue to be customers of Helio because they do not want to pay the cancellation fee, but their phones and service are every bit as bad as mine has been.)

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Msvega
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Oct 01, 2008 5:31 pm EDT

Hey i Need to find out more info on adding my name to the complaint list. I am furious, with helio's Service. And all i have been is a good paying customer. I just Got off the phone, With helio. I was trying to find out when i was going to receive my Deposit back. (since i was on time with my bill pay). Now mind you i spoke with helio in september about this. Well the gave me some bogus number to track my deposit. Then they are telling me Now i have another 7 months to wait for it back. because they have seen i have a few late payments. Which was never my fault. and i have proof on my account as well. That's only the Half. Out of the year an 2 months. I have had over 10 phones replaced, For problems not of my doing examples : phone re setting, powers off while on phone talking or while charging. phone browser not working, phone syncing not working, there is a list. then to charges from who knows. i have been charged every month for overage on I'm when the fact is I have always Had the unlimited plan from the beginning. How can this Be, I asked them all they cal tell me is it will be corrected next month an yet it still goes up more. And i have to have the headache of having t spent at least an hour at a time on there mess up when i call. But there is still more i can write a book.

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Art Rawding
,
Nov 19, 2008 1:51 pm EST

Thanks to the Better Business Bureau , http://www.la.bbb.org/Home.aspx, I was able to get the clowns in customer service to waive cancellation fees and outrageous overcharges. I am outta there finally, never going back to Helio but it was a process. starting with surly phone techs who barely speak english and read from a textbook without using logic. Their first approach is that you pay them everything, then you dispute afterwards. Yeah, right. Then they won't let you cancel till you pay in full. Then no one has any records when you call to follow up on issues.

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ROB0017
EUSTIS, US
Oct 16, 2008 9:36 pm EDT

I have had a nightmare with this company there phone get damage easely this month they have sent me 2 phones to replace my one and they dont work there come with defects and I am waiting on the third. My husbands phone yesterday got damaged is also a helio that will be the fourth phone. We only had these phone for less than a year and I want out. We need to complaint to bbb or do a class action

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BRENDA H
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Oct 03, 2008 12:07 pm EDT

I AGREE HELIO SUCKS! THEY ARE THE VERY WORST COMPANY I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH... MY COMPLAINT IS WAY TOO LONG TO WRITE... ITWOULD IT IS LIKE READING A BOOK! IN GENERAL, JUST LET ME SAY... I WOULD NEVER EVER RECCOMMEND HELIO TO ANY ONE... AND BELIEVE ME... YOU CANNOT REACH A CORPORATE PHONE NUMBER... THEY HIDE! THAT SHOULD TELL YOU SOMETHING!... AND I CAN CERTAINLY SEE WHY THEY WENT BANK RUPT!

*MISLEADING
*LYING
*UNETHICAL
TO SAY THE LEAST!

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david
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Sep 25, 2008 2:21 pm EDT

I've had service on an Ocean with Helio for little over a year. When we first signed up I should have trusted my instincts. Everything about the Helio corporation has been disgusting, the phone setup, returns for phones that did not work, billing, billing cycles, the ###s that answer the phones in customer service! Please, please do not do service with Helio.

PS I live border Houston, Tx in a town called Spring. We just went through Hurricaine Ike and suffered a lot of loss. I have been calling creditors to ask for some sort of assistance with by bills and everyone helped graciously except Helio. Mind you that they said my zip code 77373 didn't qualify. I wish I could provide them with the pictures and the experience of what we went through!

J E R K S !

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Allyn boice
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Sep 23, 2008 12:58 pm EDT

The exact same thing is happing to me. how did everything turn out for you?

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6:27 am EDT
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Helio Scam and rip off!

On January 29 2008 I paid the bill in the amount of $ 136.31 and then closed the account regrettably I didn't change the billing address before I closed the account because afterwards Helio told me that I cannot change the billing address to pay the last bill the account is closed vary nice. In March I called to find out what the total amount owed for the early cancellation. What should have been $ 175 and Helio told me I owe 1, 400 and something because the account was not closed and that there are charges for the month of February and that the charges was sent to the collections agency.

That is not right with out trying to settle the issue with me first. The whole time for one year I have never seen the bill over $ 400 in a month. My Daughter change to a different phone that was her boyfriends Helio phone, I hope that Helio didn't combine his account with my bill together because I didn't authorize this transaction.

I then E-Mail Helio E-Mail Department to see if that part of Helio services can help me with the billing issue. Not a chance the Helio e-mail department stopped responding to my plead to recheck the billing issue or just to even send me a copy of February bill because my Daughter keeps on moving from place to places.

I will never again open a phone account for any of my children just to save them some money or Helio the ripoff artist.

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Laura
Los Angeles, US
Apr 18, 2009 8:44 am EDT

I have been with Helio exactly 1 year 12 days. I switched over from metropcs because I wanted a cool phone with cool features and the ocean seemed very promising. I was so happy with the phone that I even convinced my husband to drop nextel and get it. About 2 months after having my phone I began to notice that the phone was dying ridiculously fast, even the days I would barely touch it. Instead of calling I went to the kiosk I got the phone from and the guy gave me a new battery promising that would solve the problem. It didn't. I went back and he said he would replace the device for a new one, 2 seconds later he said he couldn't and to call helio directly. That same day I called and told them my problem and since I didn't have insurance (because insurance is a scam!) I would be getting a refurbished phone. The phone they sent was an insult to say the least. It was full of scratches and the slider was messed up. Even without the insurance I was expecting a decent phone since I had forked money over for a new one. Needless to say I sent the garbage phone back. The battery hasn't gotten any worse but since moving to California my signal has been terrible and the Internet is slooow. "Customer Service" is horrible and whatever they tell you is usually wrong. Fortunately for me my bill has never been over except one month by $30 which I never called about even though I didn't know why. My husbands phone is starting to die fast and he isn't getting email notifications anymore. Helio is a joke and I desperately want to cancel but I can't afford 2 cancellation fees (or is it per account only?).

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Travis
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Nov 05, 2008 7:08 pm EST

Going to have to agree with most others here, with a few caveats.

First, the goods: I have had no problem with Helio service (meaning voice/data) and the only problem I had with my Ocean dying was resolved within a week. (It is unfortunate that that is a positive with Helio, since I was without phone/service the entire time. Kinda like, we know it's going to happen, but the positive is how quickly we fix it! What kind of logic is that?)

The only real negative I have had with Helio is, to me, a big one. Their customer service is simply atrocious. The scenario (unfortunately this seems to be common as it has happened three times in the 13 months I have been with them): Payment due date is the 3rd of the month. Very literally, on the 4th at 3 p.m., the phone calls start coming. Today being the 5th, I have had 3 phone calls from Helio asking if I was ever going to get around to paying my bill. I should note that I pay my bill, in full, every month, excluding the times when the due date falls on the weekend. In addition to the 3 phone calls, I have received two SMSs asking the same. This is beyond annoying. Look guys, I know I have to pay the bill. Tack a few bucks late fee on it and I'll pay that to. No sweat. Just leave me the hell alone about it! If this was the first time for their behavior, I'd be inclined to think I was a risk and they were really "just checking in on me". But I have been there long enough to establish a payment history. Use your brain, guys. (Seriously considering paying the termination fee and switching back to Verizon, it's that bad!)

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Risket
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Oct 02, 2008 1:49 pm EDT

I've only had one problem with Helio and they took care of it within a couple of hours after I called them.

Other than that I've never paid over $70 a month (except for the first month with the activation fee of course), I have not had anywhere NEAR the amount of connection problems and dropped calls I had when I was with Verizon. Helio runs off Sprints network and apparently Sprint is MUCH better than Verizon.

My experience with Helio has been amazing. Any communication between myself and their Customer Support has been quick, to the point and the issue was resolved. Most of my issues were really just me not doing something right or asking a simple question.

All I'm saying is don't think just because a group of people have bad experiences that the company is horrible. Sure there are people that think Helio is a "scam" (how, I have no idea--this makes no sense). However almost everyone I know has had HORRIBLE experiences with Verizon (some people I know are still stuck with them), but there are still people out there who are happy with Verizon. My girlfriend and I will NEVER go back to them.

People who have a bad experience are more likely to tell people about it. There are MANY more people who have had great experiences.

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Msvega
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Oct 01, 2008 4:33 pm EDT

Hey i Need to find out more info on adding my name to the complaint list. I am furious, with helio's Service. And all i have been is a good paying customer. I just Got off the phone, With helio. I was trying to find out when i was going to receive my Deposit back. (since i was on time with my bill pay). Now mind you i spoke with helio in september about this. Well the gave me some bogus number to track my deposit. Then they are telling me Now i have another 7 months to wait for it back. because they have seen i have a few late payments. Which was never my fault. and i have proof on my account as well. That's only the Half. Out of the year an 2 months. I have had over 10 phones replaced, For problems not of my doing examples : phone re setting, powers off while on phone talking or while charging. phone browser not working, phone syncing not working, there is a list. then to charges from who knows. i have been charged every month for overage on I'm when the fact is I have always Had the unlimited plan from the beginning. How can this Be, I asked them all they cal tell me is it will be corrected next month an yet it still goes up more. And i have to have the headache of having t spent at least an hour at a time on there mess up when i call. But there is still more i can write a book. just stay away from helio. Even virgin mobile is somewhat better..count down to close i'm out~

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Nate
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Oct 01, 2008 11:59 am EDT

I returned my Helio phone within the 30 day trial period. This was June of 2007. I remember this, because I returned it so I could buy a new iPhone. I bought the iPhone, banking on the fact that I would get my refund within a few weeks. Here it is October of 2008 and I am still spending hours on the phone with Helio customer service. I have not received a check yet. Now, I will admit, I have let months go by without calling. But at the beginning of the whole process I was on top of them constantly. They will not give me a direct answer as to why a refund check hasn't been cut. The girl I'm on the phone with today, says her system show that a refund has been authorized but still no check. So I am holding and holding and holding to find out WHERE THE HELL IS MY CHECK!

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dwayne
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Sep 02, 2008 11:17 pm EDT

YOU WANT TO SAVE MONEY, TIME AND THE HEADACHES? STAY AWAY FROM HELIO. That's all you have to know, otherwise you'll end up like the rest of us. I thought I was getting a great deal from them (Helio) with their $99 unlimited everything promo. WOW! was I in for a big surprise. DON'T LET THEIR GIMMIK ADS LURE YOU INTO SIGNING UP WITH HELIO.

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Leo
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Sep 02, 2008 11:01 pm EDT

Helio is the biggest ripoff wireless provider I've ever encountered. I am taking them to a small claims court to get my money back. It's the only way I can get their attention to resolve my problems with them. So If you're are thinking of subscribing to Helio just to save money, I highly suggest you stick with a reputable company that will do business the right way and save you the big headache in the long run.

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Jenny
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Jul 01, 2008 1:58 pm EDT

This same thing happened to me! I flied complaints with the FCC and Better Business Bureu. Helio is so horrible.

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Anna
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Jun 13, 2008 8:13 am EDT

I wish I had found these complaints before I got my Helio. I have had a horrible experience with this company and I truly believe they are scammers. The billing problems that people have reported are insane and i have had them as well. My bill always says I have a past due balance, but when I called customer service they said I didn't.

I also took my phone into the store because it was freezing up periodically. The salesgirl said she could upgrade my software. Instead she loaded someone elses contacts, texts, pictures and videos onto my phone and deleted ALL OF MY INFORMATION and also shut off my serivce, which took 5 days to restore!

Customer service is a joke. Once when I called, they told me to call back because their computer froze and they had to reboot. I asked to be transferred to another customer service rep and they said they couldn't do that! They are a complete waste of time and energy. Unfortunately taking the phone to the Helio store is no better.

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BETTY
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May 12, 2008 6:03 am EDT

STAY WITH YOUR CURRENT CARRIER! I HAVE BEEN WITH HELIO AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT A HEADACHE OF NUMEROUS OVERCHARGES AND COUNTLESS HOURS INVESTED INTO CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLS THAT LEAD TO ME BEING MYSTERIOUSLY DISCONNECTED ON (FROM BOTH MY CELL AND USING A LAND LINE), GOING AROUND AND AROUND IN CIRCLES GETTING NO WHERE AND BEING PUT OFF ON HOLD FOR AN HOUR AND FORTY EIGHT MIN "YES I WATCHED THE MIN GO BY". I HAVE THEIR 99.00 A MONTH PLAN FOR UNLIMITED AND HAVE BEEN CHARGED 9/07 150.00 AT THE LEAST, ALL THE WAY TO 3/08 696.07, WTF? 2/08 573.32, 4/08 360.68, 5/08 369.08 AND EVERY MONTH NOT ONE SERVICE REP CAN EXPLAIN TO ME THE BREAKDOWN FOR WHERE THE CHARGES GOT TO BE THIS SUM, INSTEAD EXPLAIN TO ME " IT SAY HERE YOU OWE ($$$.$$) SO YOU MUST PAY ($$$.$$) CAUSE DAT YO BILL FO DIS LAS MONTH!" AND THAT IS THE MOST INTELLIGENT EXPLANATION I'VE YET TO GET. I HAVE TRIED TO CALL THE CORP OFFICE AND HAVE ONLY BEEN ROUTED TO VOICE MAIL BOX AFTER MAIL BOX AND AM STILL WAITING FOR MY MESSAGES TO BE RETURNED, I HAVE EMAILED COMPLAINTS REQUESTING HELP IN REGARDS TO MY BILLING ISSUES ASKING FOR A BREAKDOWN IN THE CHARGES AND I GET NOTHING I HAVE NOW FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB WHOM IS CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO THE MATTER ALONG WITH HAVING NOW HIRED AN ATTORNEY TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE ACCORDINGLY BECAUSE I CANNOT TAKE THE RUN AROUND BS. OF BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AS THE CONSUMER. I SHOULD HAVE NEVER SWITCHED FROM AT&T WHOS SERVICE NEVER FAILED ME AND HAD CUSTOMER SERVICE 24/7/365 TO HELP ME WHENEVER I WANTED NOT JUST BETWEEN THE 9-5 HOURS WHEN YOU DON'T EVER NEED THEM. WEEKENDS HOLIDAYS AND EVERY AT&T REP I EVER SPOKE WITH WAS HAPPY TO HELP, RESOLVED WHATEVER ISSUES I RARELY HAD, DID NOT LEAVE ME ON HOLD AND IF EVER WE GOT DISCONNECTED THEIR CS REP ACTUALLY CALLED ME BACK. NO KIDDING THEIR REPS EVEN SPOKE ENGLISH. I REGRET EVER SWITCHING INTO THE HELIO NONSENSE OF FALSE ADVERTISING WHEN THEY SAY "TOTAL HAPPINESS GUARANTEE" IF THAT IS NOT THE BIGGEST LIE, THEY HAVE SHOWN NOT ONE ATTEMPT TO BETTER THE SITUATION WHEN NOT ONE EMPLOYEE FROM THE CORP OFFICE CAN EVEN HAVE A INTERN E MAIL ME, HOW HJARD IS IT TO PROVIDE A CUSTOMER WITH A TALLIED BREAKDOWN OF CHARGES SHOWING HOW THE SUM ADDED UP, I KNOW ON LINE I HAVE PRINTED EVERY BILL AND EVERY PAYMENT DOING BASIC ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION AND I SHOW HELIO OWING ME A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS IN OVER CHARGES! IF THEY CHOOSE TO BEG TO DIFFER I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THEIR HUDINI MATH SKILLS CONSIDERING THE ONLY THING I HAVE SEEN OUT OF THIS COMPANY IS FALSE ADVERTISING, POOR BUSINESS LIKE MANNERISMS AND THEIR NAME BEING LIT UP AS SCAMELIO. THIS COMPANY IS A BIG ZERO IF YOU HAVE YET ENCOUNTERED THEIR POOR TACT HOORAY FOR YOU STAY AWAY AND IF YOUR STUCK IN THEIR TRAP BEST OF LUCK I HOPE YOU DON'T NEED IT!

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Featured review
This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

Don't get me wrong, as far as the unlimited data and messaging service being all-inclusive, I love Helio. As far as their customer service and that their billing department is seemingly run by monkeys, I am about ready to eat an early termination fee and tell them to shove it. I pulled up my bill for my second line and see a balance of $238.00. WHOA!...

Read full review of Helio and 10 comments

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