topic Activation in Today's Special Value

My TracFone experience

Mominohio — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 04:04:22 GMT

I noticed TracFone is the TSV again. We purchased during the last TSV (which seems like it was just weeks ago), and I have to say, we were less than impressed (and that is being very kind).

The phones would not charge completely.

Their customer service appears to be overseas, and the language barrier was horrible to deal with.

They promise you can keep your number, but TracFone couldn't make that work for us.

We ended up returning and staying with Verizon. It was way too much trouble trying to make it work with TracFone. The worst part was the customer service. Never again.

Re: My TracFone experience

Venezia — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 05:03:18 GMT

My Tracfone experience has always been the opposite and my DH and I wouldn't have anything else. Been with Tracfone for 15 years now.

We bought the last TSV (the Premier). Had absolutely no trouble transferring from our previous phones to the new ones and we love them.

It's good that we have choices, so everyone can find something that works for them. I'd say today's TSV looks like a very good deal and it has the latest OS, too.

(ETA: My SIL switched from a Verizon contract phone to Tracfone at the end of last year. It was her first smartphone, but she managed the transfer all on her own. Took her existing number with her and didn't have a problem.)

Re: My TracFone experience

Pook — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 09:11:32 GMT

I have had tracfones for many years and while I have had some issues in the early years of tracfone that were resolved satisfactorily, I have had no problems whatsoever for the past 8-10 years at least. I have had several phones (no problems with any of them) and set up was simple - keeping my phone # and transferring minutes. I have better coverage than many who have expensive contracts and there have been times when my tracfone was the only phone that had coverage in certain areas while traveling.

Re: My TracFone experience

Tracfone_Team — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 09:41:51 GMT

@Pook wrote:
I have had tracfones for many years and while I have had some issues in the early years of tracfone that were resolved satisfactorily, I have had no problems whatsoever for the past 8-10 years at least. I have had several phones (no problems with any of them) and set up was simple - keeping my phone # and transferring minutes. I have better coverage than many who have expensive contracts and there have been times when my tracfone was the only phone that had coverage in certain areas while traveling.

@PookWe consider your comments and we always welcome the opinions you express regarding our quality, technical procedures, products and overall service. Rest assured that we are doing our best to provide you the best service possible and we are continuously working on improving and expanding our products and services. ^Tiffany

Re: My TracFone experience

AspenGrove — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 12:27:12 GMT

@Mominohio wrote:
I noticed TracFone is the TSV again. We purchased during the last TSV (which seems like it was just weeks ago), and I have to say, we were less than impressed (and that is being very kind).

The phones would not charge completely.
Their customer service appears to be overseas, and the language barrier was horrible to deal with.
They promise you can keep your number, but TracFone couldn't make that work for us.

We ended up returning and staying with Verizon. It was way too much trouble trying to make it work with TracFone. The worst part was the customer service. Never again.

@Mominohio, I couldn't agree more with your comments! I had a TracFone many years ago when they first came to market. At that time, I just needed a phone for emergency calls only. Signed up online and never had to speak with a human, so there was never a problem. However, the moment I had to speak to a human about a problem, TracFone failed miserably. Their "customer support" (and I use that term lightly)—with humans on the phone—is a total joke. Every TracFone user knows it and TracFone will never admit the problem. When I finally needed a "real" cell phone with real features and functions, and humans who can resolve an issue promptly and professionally 24/7, I switched to Verizon and have never looked back. So happy to have left TracFone behind forever.

Activation

THOPY — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 12:28:23 GMT

How long can I keep this phone before I have to activate it?

Re: My TracFone experience

Q_Shopper — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 13:10:47 GMT

I believe that, as of August 2016, the latest OS is Nougat...and that the Marshmallow OS has been out about a year or so.

I know folks with older Tracfone OS's and they are still working great. They love them.

Yes, it is good that we have choices!

Re: Activation

Q_Shopper — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 13:13:32 GMT

I just read a response from a Tracfone Team member, on the TSV product page, that the phone needs to be activated within a year of the purchase date.

Re: My TracFone experience

Venezia — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 22:09:24 GMT

@AspenGrove wrote:
@Mominohio wrote:
I noticed TracFone is the TSV again. We purchased during the last TSV (which seems like it was just weeks ago), and I have to say, we were less than impressed (and that is being very kind).

The phones would not charge completely.
Their customer service appears to be overseas, and the language barrier was horrible to deal with.
They promise you can keep your number, but TracFone couldn't make that work for us.

We ended up returning and staying with Verizon. It was way too much trouble trying to make it work with TracFone. The worst part was the customer service. Never again.
@Mominohio, I couldn't agree more with your comments! I had a TracFone many years ago when they first came to market. At that time, I just needed a phone for emergency calls only. Signed up online and never had to speak with a human, so there was never a problem. However, the moment I had to speak to a human about a problem, TracFone failed miserably. Their "customer support" (and I use that term lightly)—with humans on the phone—is a total joke. Every TracFone user knows it and TracFone will never admit the problem. When I finally needed a "real" cell phone with real features and functions, and humans who can resolve an issue promptly and professionally 24/7, I switched to Verizon and have never looked back. So happy to have left TracFone behind forever.

@AspenGrove - No, every Tracfone user doesn't know that. I've already posted that I've never had the issues you or mominohio mention. You say you only had a Tracfone many years ago, so I doubt you're aware of the great improvements they've made over the years.

I've called Tracfone in the past and always managed to get any issues resolved, so please don't assume we "all" have problems like you did.

I believe there are millions of Tracfone users - and we can't all be wrong!

Re: My TracFone experience

GCR18 — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 22:35:53 GMT

Sorry it didn't work. The only activation problems I had were because I didn't follow the directions. I've called tracfone a number of times and had my issue resilolved quickly. Between my mother and I, I've activated 10 phones and transferred phone numbers.

Re: My TracFone experience

Gogos — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 23:12:31 GMT

@Mominohio wrote:
I noticed TracFone is the TSV again. We purchased during the last TSV (which seems like it was just weeks ago), and I have to say, we were less than impressed (and that is being very kind).

The phones would not charge completely.
Their customer service appears to be overseas, and the language barrier was horrible to deal with.
They promise you can keep your number, but TracFone couldn't make that work for us.

We ended up returning and staying with Verizon. It was way too much trouble trying to make it work with TracFone. The worst part was the customer service. Never again.

We agree. We bought the last TSV. We had older tracfones. Mine transfer and my husbands wouldn't. We returned his phone and they shut down the one he was using. The confiscated his service days and his minutes. He said next time it's iPhone. How QVC can continue to tout this phone is beyond me. Doesn't QVC have integrity standards anymore?

Re: My TracFone experience

Venezia — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 01:56:40 GMT

@Gogos wrote:
@Mominohio wrote:
I noticed TracFone is the TSV again. We purchased during the last TSV (which seems like it was just weeks ago), and I have to say, we were less than impressed (and that is being very kind).

The phones would not charge completely.
Their customer service appears to be overseas, and the language barrier was horrible to deal with.
They promise you can keep your number, but TracFone couldn't make that work for us.

We ended up returning and staying with Verizon. It was way too much trouble trying to make it work with TracFone. The worst part was the customer service. Never again.
We agree. We bought the last TSV. We had older tracfones. Mine transfer and my husbands wouldn't. We returned his phone and they shut down the one he was using. The confiscated his service days and his minutes. He said next time it's iPhone. How QVC can continue to tout this phone is beyond me. Doesn't QVC have integrity standards anymore?

The only reason they shut down "older phones" was because they were 2G and that is no longer supported. Tracfone offered free upgraded phones to anyone who had an older phone that would no longer work. (Only 3G and 4G phones do now.)

If you didn't take advantage of that, of course the older phone would no longer work. If you had, before the service days ran out, your existing service and minutes would've transferred.

I don't know why you insist on blaming QVC for something that is nothing to do with them. Technology moves on and no company (Tracfone or any other) can continue supporting old technology. JMHO.

(ETA: Not even Apple would support old, outdated iPhones.)

Re: My TracFone experience

Venezia — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 02:01:29 GMT

@Gogos - From Tracfone's own website:

2G Migration Eligibility

PHASING OUT 2G NETWORKS

In order to prepare for new cellular technologies, our network partners are beginning the process of phasing out their 2G coverage. Due to this, TracFone, SafeLink, Net10 and Straight Talk will no longer be able to provide coverage for customers using 2G phones. You may begin having service interruptions in the near future, particularly if you travel, as certain areas are being impacted earlier than others.

If you have a 2G phone, your phone will stop working entirely – and you will need to replace it. Do it now to avoid any service interruptions.

To verify if you have a 2G phone, and to see your offers, please enter your phone number and the last 4 digits of your Serial Number below. If you need assistance, please call 1-866-667-6437.

Phone Number:

Help

AND

Last Four of Serial Number:

Re: My TracFone experience

Shorty2U — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 02:15:21 GMT

I love my tracfone. I think Im ordering this one because its a bit larger. I did have trouble when i had to call them upon set up (because of the language barrier), but I did mess up following directions. So I hope this one goes through with no issues.

Also my data amount didnt register when I added a card last time on my current cellphone but then it went up again the next day.

So anyway I have been pleased over all. I am now able to do snapchat, instagram and all the cool stuff with my grandkids (who think its cool I do these things..lol.) And I still have thousands of talk, thousands of text, thousands of data on that phone. Now when home I do use my laptop. but I am still able to go on the internet while out and never ran out of data, never ran out of text, never ran out of talk. IMO its a DEAL compared to those over priced cell plans my adult children and my grandchildren have!

Re: My TracFone experience

Gogos — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 14:22:51 GMT

@Venezia wrote:
@Gogos wrote:
@Mominohio wrote:
I noticed TracFone is the TSV again. We purchased during the last TSV (which seems like it was just weeks ago), and I have to say, we were less than impressed (and that is being very kind).

The phones would not charge completely.
Their customer service appears to be overseas, and the language barrier was horrible to deal with.
They promise you can keep your number, but TracFone couldn't make that work for us.

We ended up returning and staying with Verizon. It was way too much trouble trying to make it work with TracFone. The worst part was the customer service. Never again.
We agree. We bought the last TSV. We had older tracfones. Mine transfer and my husbands wouldn't. We returned his phone and they shut down the one he was using. The confiscated his service days and his minutes. He said next time it's iPhone. How QVC can continue to tout this phone is beyond me. Doesn't QVC have integrity standards anymore?
The only reason they shut down "older phones" was because they were 2G and that is no longer supported. Tracfone offered free upgraded phones to anyone who had an older phone that would no longer work. (Only 3G and 4G phones do now.)

If you didn't take advantage of that, of course the older phone would no longer work. If you had, before the service days ran out, your existing service and minutes would've transferred.

I don't know why you insist on blaming QVC for something that is nothing to do with them. Technology moves on and no company (Tracfone or any other) can continue supporting old technology. JMHO.

(ETA: Not even Apple would support old, outdated iPhones.)

No his active phone was a 3G phone. They shut his active phone down after we said we wanted to keep it because the Premier would not accept his phone number. QVC has the liability of using vendors who do what they say during their presentations. Tracfone does not. Tracfone will become an albatross around their neck if they don't get this company under control.

Re: My TracFone experience

Gogos — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 14:29:51 GMT

@GCR18 wrote:
Sorry it didn't work. The only activation problems I had were because I didn't follow the directions. I've called tracfone a number of times and had my issue resilolved quickly. Between my mother and I, I've activated 10 phones and transferred phone numbers.

I'm glad yours worked too but Tracfone will not honor if you send a phone back and make sure that your previous Tracfone stays active and operating with the service date and minutes still left on your phone if you need to send a phone back to QVC for ANY circumstances, including defective.

Re: My TracFone experience

CalMom — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 15:27:58 GMT

It' interesting that no one from QVC Customer Service has responded.

@QVCCustomerService

I have Sprint, I probably pay too much. But I have 5 phones, free cell to cell unlimited with any carrier, first incoming 2 minutes for free, 1500 or 1800 minutes (cell to landline or landline to cell) these minutes cannot carry forward but are never used up, unlimited data, unlimited texting, monthly insurance fees. We got the phones in Sept 2014. I am waiting to get new phones. We have usually upgraded every 2 years but this year it will be longer. We have 2 iphones and 3 Samsung phones. I buy the phones outright because it is cheaper than renting and sell them back to Sprint. Around $298 monthly. Ridiculous? About $60 a month per phone.

Re: My TracFone experience

software — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:50:41 GMT

I had a Samsung Galaxy S3 and transferred my number to the Tracfone. That LG screen is outstanding & I thought the Samsung couldn't be beat! My Samsung was about 4 years old so time marches on.

@Shorty2U wrote:
I love my tracfone. I think Im ordering this one because its a bit larger. I did have trouble when i had to call them upon set up (because of the language barrier), but I did mess up following directions. So I hope this one goes through with no issues.

Also my data amount didnt register when I added a card last time on my current cellphone but then it went up again the next day.

So anyway I have been pleased over all. I am now able to do snapchat, instagram and all the cool stuff with my grandkids (who think its cool I do these things..lol.) And I still have thousands of talk, thousands of text, thousands of data on that phone. Now when home I do use my laptop. but I am still able to go on the internet while out and never ran out of data, never ran out of text, never ran out of talk. IMO its a DEAL compared to those over priced cell plans my adult children and my grandchildren have!