Quick Facts You Need to Know
- Prepaid Cell Phone Company
- Doesn’t offer contracts.
- Leader in Prepaid Wireless.
Why you’ll love them: Don’t use your phone very much? Perfect. Can’t handle a credit check? They don’t require one. Does your usage vary drastically from month to month? Ideal! TracFone’s exclusively pay-as-you-go prepaid service is ideal for customers who don’t need massive amounts of minutes (for more than about 150 min a month they start to get pricey). It’s also great for those who want the flexibility of a prepaid, no-contract service, or are looking for a very specific set of minutes that you (or your overtexting teen) can’t exceed. If you run out of minutes, you can always add on more. Their minutes packages are great if you plan on using them steadily over an extended period. This is also great for frequent travelers that can’t have a contract phone, but want the advantages of keeping a consistent phone number available–all your minutes carry over until you run out of service days. Additionally, depending on your phone, they offer the same add on perks (ringtones, games, news, etc) of the contract providers.
Why you won’t: If you use more than 150 minutes a month, it will be cheaper to buy a contract phone, hands down. If you’re in the mid-Atlantic coast region or the Midwest, their service is very spotty. If you’re a trendy phone addict, they are not cutting edge with their handsets (they offer older model Nokias, Kyoceras, LGs, Motorolas, etc, but they do seem to be making an effort to update their lines). For international phone calls, it becomes a bit of a production: you need to go through a 1-800 number (hassle), wait for connection, select a language, enter your dialing/country codes and the number you’re trying to reach, all of which is included in your minutes. However, depending on destination (and they don’t list applicable destinations) you won’t need to pay extra per minute, which is a plus (a small one, for the hassle…). And watch out, because if you exceed your service days, your minutes and money will disappear. Additionally, there are several negative reports on their customer service floating around the web–just as a warning!
Their customer service IS poor.
Their service sucks!
I lost 40$ worth of minutes and did they reimburse them? HELL NO! That’s 120 minutes gone!
And as they also run Net 10 I bet they suck just as much. Don’t use them!
The per-minute rate is relatively high. If you need the phone for any length of time, consider strongly the $50 double minutes offer. This effectively cuts your per-minute costs in half. (And you will use more minutes than you think!) Also, don’t buy the phone at a store. The best phone deals by far are directly from their website. Visit the website to see the prepaid phone card rates.
If you need a cell phone for just, say, the summer with no contracts, this is a good option. I have not needed any customer service-I’ve done everything on the web-so I can’t comment on their customer service.
On the west coast, reception has been very good in our metropolitan area.
I’m looking into Net10 because of lower per-minute rates. Net10 and TracFone are one company.
I have a contract cell phone and use this one for the kids so I can always get a hold of them.
this stuff sinks…..it took over 5 days just 2 activate my nw phone.
they didnt give me any thing for all the trouble
i recommened you dont use this service!!!!
Tracfone is absolutely the best pricewise. About 10 cents a minute, give or take a couple of cents depending on how many you buy at once. The information in this article is outdated. Double minutes is now standard on most phones. 150 minutes a month is only $15 a month. And you can keep it active for as little as $5 a month. 250 minutes a month is only $22 a month. Most contract cell phones start at $30 + taxes a month.
The phones are pretty basic. No smartphones, few of the features that some would now consider standard. Only a couple of their phones have bluetooth, for instance. However, the phone is usually very cheap or free if you buy some airtime with it.
Biggest problem is that what you invest in one phone is not transferable to another. You can move minutes over, if you want to put up with their abysmal customer service, but service date and double minutes (less meaningful now that it is standard on most new phones) are tied to a phone.
Lose your phone and you lose everything, even your minutes. This means that the desire to buy the minutes in bulk runs up against the desire to not lose too much when you lose the phone.
Also, did I mention that their customer service is abysmal? They are so tied to a script that they will apologize when no offense has been committed and thank you when you have done nothing, always implying that they are not really listening to you. Their answers are stock. Have a common question? No problem, as long as you are willing to wait a while. Have an odd question? you are really going to throw them.
Still, I have been a customer for years and probably will be for years more. I want a cell phone. I refuse to pay anything like $360 a year. I find that I am satisfied with 1000 minutes a year for $100. Not everyone would be, but tracfone fills a niche that no one else, not even the other prepaids, seem to cover.
Tracfone has made huge improvements to their customer service, no doubt because of the many complaints. The last time I dealt with them it was a pleasure. I have also always found that it is very effective to mail the customer service guys instead of phoning them. They reply pretty quick. Copy the link ” http://www.tracfone.com/contact.jsp?task=contact ” into your browser for help.
I have been using Tracfones for about 4 years now, and have NEVER had a problem with their service. I had a Motorola C139, bought a Motorola C261 last year. They transferred my minutes and my service time AND my number to the new phone. I seem to be buying about 200 minutes a month. With 90 day added with each purchase, I have service until 2011.
I’m looking for an “unlocked” cell,and skimming through the costs/minute (expensive)
and most likely WILL simply reactivate my old tracFone which worked just fine and take the deal that doubles your purchased minutes.
I simply want a phone and have no need for texting,music,photos,etc.
Was reading many complaints but the most recent I found were from 2004,saw a statement about a class action lawsuit against them…and found here basically neutral comments and some good reports..
so,tracFone–i’m back.
Thanks to all the above for taking the time to post here.
Dear Tracfone Customer,
My name is Elston and I am a Tracfone employee and I am here to assist anyone that needs help with there phone or service. You can contact me at 1.800.626.4883 ext 6107 or by email elombillo@tracfone.com