TracFone Wireless
reviews and complaints

I bought a new phone for my son for Christmas, we did not activate the new phone until the 25th of December, after activating and transferring his number he was unable to use the phone at all, could not call text or anything. Called numerous times from the 25th to the 28th to get this issue resolved. Finally on the 28th service was working again, I had been told by the representative he would have service until the 28th of January to make up for the days he was unable to use phone due to problems on the companies end. His phone service was shut off the 19th of January. I have talked to 5 different employees. The first employee 510174 did nothing to try and fix my issue just kept repeating I need to purchase a plan to reactivate service I ended the call with him because I could see he was doing NOTHING this representative took it upon himself to call my phone back (which is not even a tracfone line) from a blocked number told me who he was and continued to repeat what he had been telling me before I ended the call with him, the second told me he didn’t have an ID I do have name if needed also refused to do anything but tell me to purchase a service plan. The third 540341 I believe was told is a manager told me the exact same thing “I’m showing your service has ended how would you like to purchase a service plan, I asked her to escalate me to someone above her she told me she would and I was given ANOTHER call back, which ended up being employee 514531 who I was told is just another manager in that department ignoring my concerns as the first representatives had all done and just said I need to buy another plan. The last I was told was a manager at a corporate level 513453 she was absolutely zero help, just said the same thing. Then told me there was no one above them I can complain to. I have been on the phone for hours since last night and at this point I think I’m switching providers. My son went without phone service for days and when we were told he would have those days added on to make up for those days, it was never followed through and NO employee wanted to do anything but say purchase another plan.

I have paid up service through April with Tracfone wireless phone network, After going through several days of online chats with Tracfone agents about the problem, no service, no solution was provided. I still have no service that I have paid for. I keep getting the run-around with Tracfone. After Tracfone said they were having trouble with their towers in my area, days went by and I filed a report with the FCC for help with the network/tower issues. Tracfone sent an email response asking me to call them (again), which I cannot since I have no service. I reply to their emails but they don't reply to me. They just repeat instructions for me to call them and discuss it, which I cannot and have reminded them I do not have service and that is the problem.

I have since read numerous complaints about them, detailing the same excuses they gave me. I would like a refund of the last two purchases of service plans that I made thinking I was at the end date of previous service, which I wasn't. Now, Tracfone has limited me to emergency calls only, which they did immediately after the FCC report was filed. I think Tracfone is doing this to punish me after filing the report for help. It follows the pattern of other customers who complained and had their carryover days wiped out, or similar hostile actions from Tracfone for complaining. Since I have emergency calls only, Tracfone probably says I have service. But it is not the service I paid for, 60 days Unlimited Talk and Text.

Carol Walters

Please see attached complain letter sent to the TracFone Wireless, Inc.

Attn: Executive Resolution Department

9700 N.W. 112th Avenue

Miami, FL 33178

concerning the fact that I have lost all my carryover talk time, Text and data and after at least 10 phone call to tech support and "higher department", nobody has been able to solve the problem and no news from Executive Resolution Department.

I have activated 3 different models of Samsung phones recently and non of them allow me to make calls out. I can send and receive texts and incoming calls. When I try to dial out I keep getting a recording from the migration support line. Recently, I have done at least 5 chats and phone calls with higher support techs and problem is not fixed. The phone I just activated was purchased from Tracfone and it won’t call out either. Is this a service issue or something I need to do. If someone at Tracfone could actually resolve this issue, I would be satisfied. Otherwise, I will look for another service provider. I just don’t understand what the problem is!

NO BARS SINCE before JAN 2023 this is jan 15, 2023

NO HELP from so-called customer service. they just drop the call, chat, etc. because they won't help. they take your money and run.

this is an iPhone that is 5G capable but no service due to whatever tracfone and verizon are up to.

lots of complaints all over the internet, reddit, etc.

THIS IS AN EVIL CHEATING FRAUDULENT LYING BUSINESS -- lots of lawsuits too.

avoid avoid avoid. FILE COMPLAINTS WITH YOUR STATE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION AND THE FEDERAL GOV. now because once the republicans control it -- you'll NEVER get any help for sure.

where are the attorneys who sue these evil corporations?

https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us

https://reportfraud.ftc.gov

you know why these complaints show as resolved? not because Tracfone/Verizon fixed them but because they timed out.

this is an evil money grubbing, lying, mendacious, corrupt corporation that gives zero crap about customers.

AVOID AVOID AVOID.

I have used Tracfone for 6 years without issue but since Verizon bought them it's been managed poorly. Most recently I have been without service in the Jacksonville FL area for the past 11 days and have wasted many hours with service techs trying to fix the issue. This ship is sinking.

I changed providers and my phone works great again but Tracfone will not release my phone number because they feel I still owe them a month of service. Their system says I owe a month on the phone I never bought from them. The agent was not interested in facts or service history, just reading script to me and quoting policy. This is a far cry from customer service.

Hopefully someone contemplating using Tracfone or Verizon will read this first and keep looking at other providers.

Could never activate the phones that they provided to me as a result of 4 hours with their incompetent customer service clowns then turned into another 8 hours on the phone with again with what they call customer service. It I’m sorry to say that I’ve never seen such a cluster F - - -. Of people not knowing what they were doing. They’re fall will be that no one will make the situation right I’ve even wrote letters to corporate headquarters. Just like the rest of the incompetent boobs at Tracfone the cowards wouldn’t even respond!

On 1/12/2023 I discovered I can't make outgoing calls on my Tracfone. Just says "dialing..." for a while and then "call ended." No connection at all. Tried with several different numbers, all the same result. Turned phone off, then back on, still no ability to call. Called my Tracfone from my landline and was able to connect. Left message but could not call in to get the message. I am able to connect to the Internet.

This is a Samsung J3 Luna Pro. It has become frustratingly slow, and because I've had it for several years, I was ready to buy a new one, but want this issue resolved before I invest in another Tracfone. I have activation until 5/12/2024 left on this phone and nearly 6,000 minutes.

Called Tracfone and spent over half an hour on the phone with a tech rep who said his name was Paul trying to figure out the problem. He said the system checked my phone and everything looks fine. I have 4G connection so the issue is not that Verizon no longer supports 2G.

I had tried to login to my account on my PC using Firefox browser and could not get past the login page. He said he sent an email with a new password, it did not go through. He said he would call back in 15 minutes to see if it came through. Got a call back from a completely different rep. Told her I was waiting for "Paul," she said call backs never go to the same person. I said I already spent half an hour going over the problem and trying various solutions, and that Paul said he personally would call back in 15 minutes. I asked for a supervisor. She said she was a manager and there was no one higher up to talk to. I said I didn't want to waste another half hour or more going through the same procedures we'd already tried multiple times, at which point, without another word, she just hung up on me. Hung up! "Customer service," and a manager, at that. I have been a customer for years and deserve better than this, certainly better than having a so-called customer service manager hang up on me!

I called back and got a third rep named Mary, she tried the same things Paul did, no luck, so she transferred me to another tech who she said could give more technical help than the basic steps she could. This next tech was a man with an accent so strong that I could not understand a thing he was saying. I kept having to ask him to repeat, repeat, repeat, and still couldn't communicate. At this point, having spent close to an hour on the phone trying to get help, I was so upset and frustrated that I told him I couldn't deal with this anymore and would try again tomorrow.

I activated another phone with them [protected] I lost my first # [protected]

text is ok I have accumulated over 1000 minuets on, Ive spent 3 hours troubleshooting wit reps that insist I do the same procedures + 18 times, they refuse to give me any trouble ticket even though ins on their web-site, Ive had this number for over 8 years, I need it. Im actually using up my phone time on the [protected] # Oh yes i purchased two more verizion sim cards, The just updated the Verizion as the only provider.Please help

Regards

barry Tramantano [protected]@Gmail.com

Trying to activate phone Tracfone web site activation dont work,I have called customer service and they can't activate either I just bought phone and yes it is a Tracfone I have a Tracfone account I bought new phone because i could not make or receive calls Tracfone could not fix that problem either I think I am about finished withTracfone will take my new phone back to Walmart All these problems happened 4 days ago January 6 2023

Have tried for the past day to purchase "add on" data, keep on getting the same "we are unable to blah blah blah at this time, try again later". That sucks, it's also outrageous. Customer service suggests doing a text to 611611 w/ BUY. That doesn't work either. This is ALL after 3 days of attempting to have the problem resolved. Then they have the audacity to say it has something to do w/THEIR computer upgrades? I have an idea, bring the service BACK to the states and out of India, or Pakistan or Bangledesh or wherever it is now.

Ois moto e5. I have been unable to make or receive calls for about 1 week. Texting is ok. Have service bars. I have contacted customer service 3 times with this problem already... Each time they go through the same "menu" of check and repair steps with no success. After about 30 minutes, they offer a reset solution and will call me back on my working land line. I have yet to have them call me back. I'm sure the online response to this complaint will be "we are sorry about... Whatever" and tell me to call the same number from which I have been unable to receive assistance. Looking for another carrier right now... Very frustrated with tracfone support.

My phone has not worked for over one week - I have received texts though. Won't even dial... I have spoken to Tracfone four or five times - usually for - 15-20 minutes. I have been "promised" the phone should work within 24 hours.

I have been assured the problem is not with my phone but on the side of Tracfone. I am tired of lots of talk and no results, and no one likes being hung up on. After the customary 15-20 minutes on the phone today my call was dispatched to an "elevated" service level where the service rep, Maydel(?), asked which number I was calling about. I asked what she meant by "which number" - and she disconnected me.

I have not been receiving my text messages from my pharmacy regarding our family medications.

The pharmacy confirms the phone number and that the messages were sent to us OK. They are sent via computer that which then are sent as text messages.

I contacted Tracfone via chat with customer service. I was then asked for my phone number, which I gave them. I gave them my home phone number. They said that someone would contact me in 15 minutes. That has already been at least three days ago when I did the chat and no calls.

I have a Samsung A01 cell phone. And am trying to confirm the settings to obtain the messages. I am receiving other text messages from other numbers and persons with no problem.

But, it appears that Tracfone does not care to help. And I would love to hear from Verizon regarding this and get the problem corrected. Especially since the medications are needed for our family health.

On January 4th my wife's phone stopped making and receiving calls. I called Tracfone on Jan. 5th and spent over an hour on my cell phone testing and trying to fix my wife's phone. I was finally told to wait a day or two and try again. Yesterday, Jan. 7th, I called Customer Service four times at three different levels of employees for three - and one-half hours, performing basically the same tests and procedures over and over. The last call was discontinued by Tracfone after 47 minutes.

Today, Jan. 8th, I tried to call Tracfone again on my phone and discovered that my phone no longer has service! My call was routed to an automated help line and eventually to Customer Service. The agent I spoke to was very helpful but the call was disconnected after about an hour.

Now I've discovered that neither of our phones has text capability.

I've spent almost six hours working on the issue with Tracfone and now have no cell phone or text service on either phone. I've gone from one of two phones that work to none in just four days.

I want full service reinstated on both phones.

I have not been able to make or receive phone calls for 5 days straight. I am still able to text and use the internet. When I called tracfone customer service on 4 jan they asked me to reboot my phone which I did with no change. They asked for my landline number to give me a call back in an hour that did not happen. Instead the called me back at 5 am the next morning and left a message after I did not awake quick enough to get to the phone. I called customer service again later that day and I was again told to reboot my phone. When that did not fix the issue I was told that there was a system wide problem that would be fixed that day. Still no phone service today after the latest reboot. Fcc compaint next step

My phone would let me text, but not call out or receive calls. I called Tracfone customer tech support. They were of no help to me. They kept passing me off to another person who would tell me to do the same thing on the phone as the last person did. The last person once again said someone will call you back in one hour. One hour went by still no call. Needless to say, no one called back at all. I forgot to mention I was using another phone to correspond with Tracfone tech support.

I finally took things into my own hands and did a factory reset. I didn't realize I would lose all my pictures and contacts saved. I was so upset to lose all those important pictures and contacts. I can never get back those pictures.

I will be looking for a new cell phone service.

I asked the tech about the factory setting they never told me not to use this setting. Horrible, horrible tech support. Would never recommend Tracfone.

Brian

I purchased a Tracfone because my goverment phone stop working. I went to activate my phone. But could not do activate phone. because there is a lock on phone, The only way to unlock the phone is to pay 150$ for 12 months of their service provider. If that's the case I wouldn't need a goverment phone. This is crazy how businesses can get away with these kind of actitives. Tried to activate so i can't return phone. This is BS

When I got up Jan. 1st, I found that my phone had been deactivated.

There was no warning. There was no evident reason for this. It was just suddenly dead. I can't even call the corporation's help lines, to discuss it - and, the website's chat utility simply doesn't work.

My last balance inquiry was 12:53am, 12/29/2022, and it returned the following result:
Minutes: 535
SMS: 6,740
Data: 2.71 GB.
Service end date: Jan. 13, 2023.

This sudden, unexplained disconnect happened 5 days ago, and I'm still very angry. If I don't receive some satisfaction, I will boycott TracFone forever - starting with my next phone using some other provider. On top of that, I'll tell my story to the 270 people in my Facebook friends list, and advocate that they do the same - and urge all their friends to also permanently boycott TracFone.

As a minimum remedy, I expect for:

1) My phone's service to be reinstated,
2) My stock of minutes, texts, & data to be reset as they were before this happened,
3) Extra days tacked onto the end date of my current contract, to compensate for the days of service my phone was out of commission.

When I got up Jan. 1st, I found that someone at TracFone had embezzled all the value from my phone's account by deactivating my phone without warning, cause, or explanation.

I posted a detailed account of this crime here, but it was quickly deleted by someone acting in defense of the corporation.

That full comment was posted in a 2nd location as a safeguard, and may still be read in the "Sociatry - for societal health" group at Facebook.

I want 2 things:

1) I want the person who committed the crime fired (at minimum), and

2) I want my phone's service restored, with full value put back into my account.