topic Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue? in Electronics

What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

Stargazer77 — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 03:41:21 GMT

I'm transferring service from an old non-Android Tracfone to an Android Tracfone. I also did this several years ago, from a bundle through one of the home shopping channels, and when I transferred over, my old minutes went into each bucket (talk/text/data).

Tonight, when I transferred my old service to my new phone, the old minutes didn't transfer over at all, so I did a live chat with Tracfone's customer service. The CS rep told me that the old minutes don't transfer to text or data, just talk. I pressed a little (politely), but I didn't get a satisfactory answer. I wondered if there was a policy change between then and now. I'm thinking of posting on the HSN board because I've seen customer service reps responding to customers' questions/issues.

Anybody have opinions or experience with this? It's possible Tracfone changed their policy regarding this issue, which is fine. I just want to make sure I receive all the minutes I'm owed.

I have to say I'm a big fan of the live chat feature. It's so much easier typing out the problems than trying to explain them sometimes. Sometimes I have trouble understanding a strong accent in my own country, let alone another. Haha.

For those who recently got the LG Sunset, how was your activation experience?

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

stevieb — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 03:44:47 GMT

Live chat might sometimes (not always) be easier, but sometimes (not always) you get better results talking to a rep or a supervisor. I had a similar experience and ended up getting all my minutes, though I did have to endure hold and a somewhat challenging conversation.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

Stargazer77 — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 03:52:35 GMT

You know what else is funny? I asked the rep if there was a way to disable the Emergency 911 button on the lock screen and he said it was the default. Now that my phone is activated I see that button has disappeared. It said to press and hold to dial 911 and I've been so afraid I would dial it accidentally. I'm so glad it's gone!

I'll have to decide if it's worth my time and aggravation calling. Sigh. I think if it was my primary phone I would do it, but this is my secondary phone and won't be used very much, so I'm not sure I want the bother. I've called Tracfone before and it can be challenging. I will think about it some more.

Thank you for sharing your experience @stevieb.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

brandy77 — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 03:53:26 GMT

You might want to try calling. I have been a tracfone customer probably for about ten years and every time I have tried live chat I have gotten nowhere. I am like you, I much prefer chat to calling, and talking to tracfone customer service on the phone is definitely a pain, it seems to take forever, but the only time I've ever gotten results has been by calling.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

OnlyShopsOnline — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 03:54:07 GMT

Did you buy your phone from QVC or HSN. HSN actually has a small department to handle Tracfone issues.

When I purchased my second Tracfone, last year, my phone number didn't transfer. Tracfone CS tried, but couldn't do it. They told me I would have to stick with the new number.

Since it's not a phone that I use frequently, and because only two people actually know the number, I didn't think it would be a big deal. That is, until I started to get "questionable" texts and calls. I had never had any problem with my old number.

I called the HSN team and they got it fixed for me. My old number hadn't been given out, and the fix was completed within about 24 hours.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

hckynut — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 04:37:45 GMT

@Stargazer77

If Tracfone has changed this policy I would hope they would have the Host doing the presentation tell their viewers. It has been awhile since I have had a non-Android phone so I really can't answer that question?

Did anything transfer to your new phone? I would think that if Tracfone, for some reason changed their policy, it would not effect the talk minutes, rather the text and data, for those like myself that have bought multiple Android phones and transferred them easily over to my new phones. I get a new phone every year when my expiration date gets close.

I always call them and while it sometimes takes longer than others, I have never had an issue that was their fault. A couple of times I messed up the process but 48 hours later all was well.

hckynut(john)

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

Kachina624 — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 04:44:11 GMT

Everytime I've renewed my phone for another year and added new minutes, they've cheated me on my old minutes, not transferring all of them. I call and give them the total, then they restore them. It's some kind of game they play. Call back and talk to someone else.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

circles — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 04:48:34 GMT

I had a heck of a time tonight...I had three different phone numbers for Tracfone....and all of them directed me to automated...I had to activate and transfer my phone number..and the automated didn't seem to work for me...

I then went online to set it up and it said there is a problem please call.....and, of course it was one of the numbers i had tried several times....

Finally I called one of the numbers and asked to talk to technical support...at last i had a live person and he took care of everything...

All my previous minutes went to minutes only on the new phone...but thats okay...

Now to learn the other features...

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

excpa — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 05:00:03 GMT

I am a big fan of Tracfone, so much so that I dumped my land-line. It's very peaceful now. I check every few days to see if I missed anything and only turn it on if I'm expecting a call.

I just upgraded to the LG Sunset and, while it wasn't nearly as smooth as they claimed, it was a success Total time on chat was a little over an hour, mostly waiting. Sometimes the chatter just seems to wander off. I, too, prefer it to trying to talk.

Used the chat feature at Tracfone to get it up and running. Transferred (upgraded) from old phone on the first chat. Got all my minutes, etc, credited on the second chat. My service now ends in 2020 so I am probably set for life. This phone does a lot of stuff I don't even understand. Maybe too much.

When I first switched to a smartphone last year I lost all my minutes, data and text, but the end-of service date added years. They never did manage to port my number. This time I was told that all my minutes-etc were in my "reserve account", where they, apparently, park it until (or unless) you call and ask (demand) to have it added to your active phone. I find that each chatter has a different level of knowledge and you get better results from multiple chats...just say thanks when they ask if there's anything else they can help you with, wait a while, and try again.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

KYToby — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 05:20:43 GMT

lf you are transferring minutes from a non-Android phone to an Android phone with text and data, only talk time transfers as that is all you have paid for.

I switched to an Android a year ago, and this is what HSN indicated in the presentation, and this is what occurred when I transferred my number.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

Stargazer77 — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 16:00:44 GMT

@KYToby Oh, that's interesting. So your text and data buckets were just what was offered (the number of minutes) through the bundle?

I always watch or DVR the presentations because I like to see what's offered, but I don't pay very close attention anymore because it's kind of same old same old to me now. I could very well have missed the new policy where your old minutes only go into the talk bucket and not the text or data buckets.

When I originally switched over for the first time years ago, the Tracfone Android phones were still new and maybe this was how they enticed people to switch over, by offering to put your old minutes into each talk/text/data bucket.

Thank you for all your replies everyone! They're appreciated.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

Stargazer77 — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 16:04:39 GMT

Hi @circles! You mean all your old minutes just went into the talk bucket on your new phone? I'm sorry you had such a difficult time. It can be so frustrating calling companies today, trying to get through and navigating the menus.

Is this your first Android phone? I hope you'll learn to love it!

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

Stargazer77 — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 16:13:11 GMT

@hckynut Hi John! When my service finally transferred over, it was just the 1350 minutes in each bucket from the purchased bundle. I had another 1000 minutes on my old non-Android phone, so after my live chat I have that extra 1000 minutes in my talk bucket only, not in the text or data bucket.

I also get a new phone every year, sometimes when my service date is close to ending, sometimes earlier, depending on the special I see presented. Sometimes it's hard for me to resist a new phone. My primary phone is the LG Ultimate 2 and I think that's my favorite overall so far. This new LG Sunset is sleek and has a nice screen resolution, but I really love the blinking LED home button on the LG Ultimate 2 because I can tell at a glance who's texting me by setting each person to a different color.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

Stargazer77 — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 16:17:41 GMT

@OnlyShopsOnline Yes, through HSN. I didn't know that about their Tracfone department. I will look into it. Thanks for letting me know. If I lost the number on my primary cell phone I would cry. I think I've had it for 15 years and I get very few spam phone calls.

I've only had my secondary cell phone for a couple years, but I get a good amount of spam calls. I keep it on silent all the time, so I don't hear them, but they're still annoying. What's nice about the Android phone is that I can use the Mr. Number app to block the phone calls, which is exactly what I'll do when the spam numbers start calling.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

cowboy sam — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 18:04:21 GMT

I love this Sunset phone also.

I asked a question on the other Trac Phone thread about adding a screen..but that was not what i asked about.

However.. no one has replied to my question ...would one of you please

read and offer me advice??..

it has to do with my phone and my email logs on google and if there is a solution???

Thank you.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

Stargazer77 — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 19:24:43 GMT

Hi @cowboy sam! I saw your other post in my other thread, but I don't have an answer for you. You may have better luck if you start a new post explaining your issue, I think more people would see it that way. I hope you find a solution.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

rplas64 — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 04:56:44 GMT

I got the new Sunset too and activated it on Tuesday and everything transferred fine, even the 1350 bundle. I did it through the website that was on the blue welcome card. I had Verizon for years because of my 3 kids but once they were out of college and got their own plans, I switched to Tracfone. Last years LG Ultimate 2 was my first Tracfone and had no issues, so continued with this new one.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

cowboy sam — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 18:32:18 GMT

@Stargazer77

thank you for your advice

i figured how to slove my problem.

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

Stargazer77 — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 18:33:52 GMT

@cowboy sam Oh, very good! What was the fix? Was it something in your computer settings or something in the phone settings?

Re: What do you think about this Tracfone issue?

cowboy sam — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 18:47:29 GMT

@Stargazer77

When adding google app you also need to link it to your google account /or another one..so whenever i turn my Sunset phone on it leaves a message in my google history for me to see.

So now when i want to delete everything in my google history i have to but a check on every entry then click delete entries..then click clear all.

Before all i needed to do was click on delete history and everything would be deleted .

I hope i explained it correctly.

Thank you for asking if i solved my problem and how.