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Tracfone Reviews See All Tracfone News

Company Overview: TracFone is a prepaid wireless provider. The company is a subsidiary of América Móvil, and also operates Net10 Wireless.

Network Benefits: TracFone does not operate its own network, but operates as an MVNO reselling service from over 30 other providers.

Special Plan Features: Prepaid services only; Remaining minutes balanced tracked on handset.

Unique Features: Refer-a-Friend offers free service minutes in exchange for referring a friend who purchases service.

Pros: Flexible service options without contract commitment; Inexpensive handsets (often refurbished); Phones and service available direct from Website and at stores nationwide; Choice between many networks and technologies.

Cons: More expensive than contracted service from national carriers.

Technology Used: GSM, TDMA, and CDMA.

Primary Coverage Area: Nationwide.

Customer Service: TracFone's service is both very popular and widely complained about with regard to phone activation and other technical problems, call quality, customer service, and general business practices.

Show me:

Average user reviews

 

Based on 272 Reviews

Overall
2.3
Service Quality
2.35
Customer Service
1.8
Service Quality:
1
Customer Service:
1
Overall:
2
Overall:
Review Rating: 
0

Would Not Recommend to a friend.

Cannot Text Donations

Posted on: January 15th, 2010 by Anonymous

The good: Pay as you go,but what you need,etc.The bad: Battery life and you cannot text codes.Summary: Today I tried to make a "text" donation to Haiti and learned Tracfone does not offer that service. I hope with many requests that this feature will be made available to prepaid users.

This review is the subjective opinion of the user and not of PhoneDog.com

Service Quality:
5
Customer Service:
1
Overall:
5
Overall:
Review Rating: 
0

Would Recommend to a friend.

Amazing, cut my bill to more than half (StraightTalk)

Posted on: January 7th, 2010 by Bob Fox

The good: It works 100% better than at&tThe bad: No Android YetSummary: We CUT our costs to more than half of what we used to pay at&t. I have the Samsung keyboard version from Walmart. I was very hesitant but the reviews seemed ok as long as you do not need customer service.We are simply amazed that we have CUT our costs so much. For $45 a month I have unlimited calls, texts, web access and a relative great phone.I am VERY anxious to get ANDROID and I am hoping that StraightTalk (owned by tracfone) will have an offering soon.The customer service was a bit of a nightmare but saving so much money monthly wipes away that rare necessary cs contact.

This review is the subjective opinion of the user and not of PhoneDog.com

Service Quality:
5
Customer Service:
5
Overall:
5
Overall:
Review Rating: 
0

Would Recommend to a friend.

Works for me.

Posted on: December 21st, 2009 by JOSEPH REEL

The good: No contracts. Most affordable provider for the occasional user.The bad: None so far.Summary: I?ve been using TracPhone for only 6 months, but the service has been problem-free. Yes, the customer service is obviously located in India. Nevertheless, I did not encounter a language barrier when I needed to transfer the service to a new area code and have my phone programmed with a new number. Although the process involved entering lengthy sequences of numbers, I was guided logically through each step.Since I am just a very occasional user of the service, TracPhone?s $6.00 a month service protection plan serves my needs perfectly. The plan allows you to keep all unused minutes each month for this minimal monthly fee. Any particular plan or the entire service can be cancelled at any time without incurring penalties. No contracts?no hassle. Works for me.

This review is the subjective opinion of the user and not of PhoneDog.com

Service Quality:
2
Customer Service:
1
Overall:
1
Overall:
Review Rating: 
0

Would Not Recommend to a friend.

DO NOT BUY TRACFONE

Posted on: December 14th, 2009 by Theresa Spindler

I can not believe this company is allowed to do business. I have never experienced such horrible customer service in my life. I bought a minutes card and the silver strip could not be totally scratched off to reveal the PIN. I called them and was on the phone for over 45 minutes with no real solution. They even had me read a bunch of numbers to them only to tell me that I would have to fax something to them and wait for lord knows how long for it to be resolved. It was almost funny because the customer service representatives that I spoke with were like robots, reading a script to questions that consumers may ask them. Unbelievable!!! I even asked to speak to a supervisor and was informed that it would do no good and I would get the same response. To top it off, when I finally got the number (I had to go back to the grocery store) I put in a promo code for 20 additional points which I received via e-mail on the day before and it said that I had already used that number. Wow! What a bunch of idiots.

This review is the subjective opinion of the user and not of PhoneDog.com

Service Quality:
1
Customer Service:
2
Overall:
1
Overall:
Review Rating: 
0

Would Not Recommend to a friend.

The network sucks

Posted on: December 4th, 2009 by Phyllis Hirshorn

The good: Phone has good features - camera, text, browser and many others. Payment plan is pefect for me.The bad: Tracfone doesn't own their own cell phone towers; they lease space from other carriers.Summary: Most evenings when I enter the elevator of my apartment, the service cuts off. Sometimes it comes back when I'm in my apartment but mostly, I have to either wait till the next morning when I go outside or go outside that same evening, get the bars back and then again go in the elevator and hope the service doesn't cut out. When I travelled 110 miles east of where I live - from New York City to Montauk, New York, the only way I could get service was to climb on the roof of the house. After days and days on the phone with Customer Service, the only solution they could provide was to send me a new SIM card. But it's not the SIM card - it's the fact that Tracfone doesn't own cell phone towers. I'm gonna let the minutes run down and switch to Verizon.

This review is the subjective opinion of the user and not of PhoneDog.com

Service Quality:
1
Customer Service:
1
Overall:
1
Overall:
Review Rating: 
0

Would Not Recommend to a friend.

DO NOT GET TRACFONE!

Posted on: November 24th, 2009 by Brad Salata

The good: noneThe bad: customer service, trafone systemSummary: terrible customer service, over 4 hours on hold, no resolution to problem. All my troubles came from Tracfone, I did nothing. As you can see from most of the other reviews here Tracfone is a lousy company that doesn't give you what you pay for and makes it impossible to make it right. I have given up getting my Tracfone to work and I'm tacking it as a $65.00 lesson on getting screwed.

This review is the subjective opinion of the user and not of PhoneDog.com

Service Quality:
4
Customer Service:
1
Overall:
5
Overall:
Review Rating: 
0

Would Recommend to a friend.

Not That Bad

Posted on: November 19th, 2009 by R T

The good: phone service, Price Tag The bad: customer serviceSummary: I and my wife had have Tracfone for years and never had any of the issues that others have mentioned. I will admit that customer service can test your patient, only had to use it once, but since most company outsource their customer service anyway, they are all on the same level anyway. Other than that, it?s inexpensive phone service, I have traveled to different parts of the country and still have service where other carrier couldn?t provide. The phone selections are good and inexpensive, although you won?t find the super duper high tech phones you can get from Verizon, AT&T or Sprint; I don?t use any of that stuff anyway, so way buy it. There are no contracts, no termination fees, no phone insurance to buy, and none of the hassle with major carrier. I buy minutes about every 90 days for 20 to 30 dollars and call who ever, when ever.

This review is the subjective opinion of the user and not of PhoneDog.com

Service Quality:
5
Customer Service:
5
Overall:
4
Overall:
Review Rating: 
0

Would Recommend to a friend.

great buy

Posted on: September 5th, 2009 by L N

The good: great service; have to listen carefully to understand, but they are polite and follow-up quickly. They check back more than once to make sure the fix is working. We have had the phone for about 8 years, and only needed to call twice for help.The bad: speaker on our phone is goofy--after awhile we figured out "on" meant "off"!Summary: This is the smartest way to own a cell phone. We spend less than $150 per year to have a phone for when we travel, work or pleasure. We don't need to be constantly connected and find it annoying that other people are so rude with their constant phone checking

This review is the subjective opinion of the user and not of PhoneDog.com

Service Quality:
1
Customer Service:
1
Overall:
1
Overall:
Review Rating: 
0

Would Not Recommend to a friend.

Worst Customer Service EVER!

Posted on: September 4th, 2009 by Dave Foord

My Tracfone (Motorola W376G) failed to boot; when turned on it automatically shut down. Initial Tracfone rep offered to compensate my replacement costs with minutes; next rep reneged. Six calls, three hours and one week later minutes are not transferred and Tracfone hasn't replaced the phone

This review is the subjective opinion of the user and not of PhoneDog.com

Service Quality:
1
Customer Service:
1
Overall:
1
Overall:
Review Rating: 
0

Would Not Recommend to a friend.

DO NOT CONSIDER TRACFONE

Posted on: September 1st, 2009 by K C

The good: It;s cheapThe bad: You don't get functioning serviceSummary: Do not under any condtions consider Tracfone. I'd kept it for emergency use and it worked OK, but always charged me 2 units or a 1 minute call from the zip code it was setup in. Sunday I added time online and they failed to give me codes. I called their so called customer service and at the end of an hour while he had added time he left me without service & told me to call Mon. 6 hours on the phone Mon with Supervisors (getting cut off twice and being told to call back after 4 hours) & 2 hours today - same gibbersh with no succes. I won't even touch the issue of poor English. Dodges when asked about a refund. Don't even think about tracfone!

This review is the subjective opinion of the user and not of PhoneDog.com

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