topic Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help in Electronics

Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

AngelPuppy1 — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 12:58:13 GMT

There might be a topic on this already, but I did not see it, so here goes!

Anyone here have an old Tracphone and received e-mail messages from them saying - due to the new 5g (or whatever you call it) your Tracphone will not longer work as of February and so, you will need to fill out the form they provided in the e-mail message and they will send you a free phone, which you pick from the ones listed???

I have attempted to do this several times and each time I get to the very end and get a message saying something like -- unable to complete due to an error on their part!

So then I called Customer Service - which is a joke -- and they said --- we can't help you over the phone, you have to do the e-mail form. I explained to them what happens and they said -- well, do it on-line then. They say Use the e-mail address and they gave it. Tried that and that was not working. Plus, there are now showing no free phones -- just ones you have to pay over a hundred or two hundred dollars.

Anyone else having these issues! It's really making me angry!

Thanks!

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

kittyloo — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 13:24:04 GMT

I always use online chat when dealing with tracfone. Works best for me.

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

x Hedge — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 13:36:35 GMT

@AngelPuppy1 ,

Although you don't say so in your post, I'm going to presume you currently use a 3G phone.

FYI, all 3rd generation is being phased out, everywhere, it's not just a TracFone thing.

Here's what's behind their offer for a "free" replacement phone.

At some point the cell towers in your area will simply stop serving 3G phones. In order to preserve your air time and minutes you have to transfer them to a 4G or 5G phone while your current phone is still active.

The free phone will be some glitchy clunker, but it'll serve the purpose of keeping your airtime and minutes from being irretrievably lost. That glitchy clunker phone gives you more time to find a phone you really like.

You can bypass that free phone offer and just order a TracFone from QVC or HSN, activate it, make sure it's working, and then transfer your airtime and minutes into there.

TracFone went through this when all 2G phones were being phased out. A lot of customers howled when they lost their air and minutes and blamed TracFone. So TracFone stated offering a free replacement.

https://www.slashgear.com/3g-shutdown-2021-why-your-old-phone-is-about-to-quit-30693452/

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

gardenman — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 13:54:36 GMT

And in general, when you get an error message like that in an online form, it's usually a sign that your browser isn't compatible with their site. If you switch to a different browser, you can usually complete the transaction.

If you opt to buy a new phone the Moto G Pure on HSN at $79.99 with free shipping and a full year's service is about the best option currently available on the lower end of the market. It's a pretty nice phone (almost certainly an upgrade over what you have now) and that's a pretty fair price for it. The really big markdowns on the shopping channel phones seem to have largely disappeared lately, but that's not a bad deal on a good quality phone.

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

goldensrbest — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 14:20:38 GMT

As a person that had tracphone, i went with consumer cellular, i like them very much.

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

x Hedge — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 14:27:02 GMT

For me, it's not even the browser, @gardenman .

I use a tablet. On the TracFone website I use mobile view to look things over and find what I want to buy. But when it comes to checkout I get a message they can't complete the transaction. I find simply switching my (same) browser over to desktop view resolves the issue, and they can process my purchase.

@AngelPuppy1

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

aroc3435 — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 14:28:18 GMT

@gardenman You are such a wealth of information for this kind of situation and on other topics as well and always state it with such clarity and graciousness.

I had a 3G flip phone which I purchased the last time we all went through a mandatory upgrade to the cell phone system.

My carrier is AT&T for 17 years (they bought out Ccingular) and they mailed a new--their brand--low level flip phone plastic one with a charger to me, unannounced, last June. Luckily in the pitch dark one night I heard the thump of a little something outside and it was the phone.

Note enclosed said I could convert online myself but knowing my lack of skill in this area I had them do it at their store before their date X deadline in July.

Have a wonderful weekend. I am waiting for the snow, ice, rain event expected here later this afternoon and then heading up to you in New Jersey. Stay safe and warm.

aroc3435

Washington, DC

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

gardenman — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 14:33:39 GMT

@aroc3435

It was around 13 degrees here this morning (now 17 degrees), but the storm is supposed to be mostly a rain and wind event here. I'm not sure how that happens, but that's what they say. It's going to have to warm up a lot in a hurry to be rain. We'll see what happens.

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

SilleeMee — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 14:45:35 GMT

I bought a Tracfone flip phone (Alcatel Myflip) for practically nothing. I think TF was getting rid of selling them so I got it for $10. It's a 4G phone. You can buy them from other retailers...Walmart and Target has that phone for $20. I only use it for emergencies and my plan for that phone is less than $70 a year.

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

Pook — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 15:28:10 GMT

This was supposed to happen the end of 2019 and I know everyone back then with tracfone got these notices. It was also on the news off and on over the past 2 years so should have been plenty of time to get a resolution. I received several texts about it and just bought a new phone back then.

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

ValuSkr — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 15:32:44 GMT

I'd like to know if my Samsung Galaxy Express 3 phone is 3G. I've googled but haven't found a method that works. The phone is pretty old, as those things go; I should probably buy a new one.

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

89135 — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 16:28:31 GMT

@AngelPuppy1 I got that message a month or so ago. I went to their website and they showed which phones I could get to upgrade. I ordered one (Samsung Galaxy A01 -FREE) and they sent..so far so good...didnt have to fill out a form from what I remember. Just go to their website and to your account.

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

AngelPuppy1 — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 10:48:31 GMT

@kittyloo

I tried that and I kept getting a bunch of topics and no real answers. Thanks!

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

AngelPuppy1 — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 11:07:37 GMT

@gardenman

Thank you! I tried that. I have an IPhone but I just kept the Tracphone as my extra phone which I used when I took walks etc. It is a flip phone and much smaller and I didn't have to worry about damaging it, etc. I just figured it Tracphone was going to replace it and for free, why not? But if it's not working out, then, I'm not going to worry about it too much --- it's not worth the hassle. Thanks for your post!

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

AngelPuppy1 — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 11:09:48 GMT

@goldensrbest

My tracphone I have had for years - a flip phone - and I love it. DH and I got Iphones and I don't like to carry it with my when I take walks, etc. The flip phone is so much smaller and I don't have to worry about dropping, damaging, losing, etc. I figured if Tracphone was going to provide a free phone --- why not. But it's just not working out. Thanks for your post!

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

AngelPuppy1 — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 11:11:34 GMT

@89135

I think I waited too long. I ignored prior messages on my Tracphone because they were always sending messages about putting on more minutes, etc. I have tried going on website also and I can't get anywhere with that either. And all I see are phones which you have to pay for. Thanks!

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

AngelPuppy1 — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 11:13:40 GMT

@SilleeMee

This tracphone I currently have if a flip phone which I love! I have a Iphone but I don't take it with me when I take walks, etc. I prefer the flip phone as it's small and convenient. I just figured if tracphone was going to give me a free replacement phone, why not take advantage of it? However, I've been trying and trying and I'm disgusted with it and not getting anywhere, so I give up. Thanks!

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

AngelPuppy1 — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 11:15:04 GMT

@Pook

I must have gotten notices on my phone a few months ago and I ignored them because they were constantly sending me messages about putting on more minutes, etc., etc. It was several day and I just quit reading them. So, I think I noticed it too late. Oh, well. Thanks!

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

AngelPuppy1 — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 11:15:35 GMT

@ValuSkr

I have no idea, but it's probably outdated.

Re: Message from Tracphone saying my phone will be dunzo by February --- need help

AngelPuppy1 — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 11:16:47 GMT

@x Hedge

DH and I have tried several different things and we can't get there, so we both give up. Thanks!