This is one of Prepaid Phone News' series of comprehensive US prepaid mobile operator profiles. I will be posting new profiles frequently, starting with the best known carriers. Eventually these posts will cover all the major US mobile operators that offer prepaid plans as well as the MVNOs that offer a good value.
Overview: TracFone is owned by Mexico based América Móvil, the fourth largest mobile operator in the world. Interesting trivia: América Móvil's founder and CEO, Carlos Slim was the world's richest man until recently but has slipped to fourth place.
TracFone operates 10 prepaid brands in the US; TracFone, NET10, Straight Talk, Simple Mobile, Page Plus, Telcel America, Total Wireless, GoSmart, Family Mobile and SafeLink. Combined the TracFone brands had 27 million subscribers at the as of September 2016, making América Móvil the largest US prepaid mobile operator. TracFone is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), it does not have a network of its own but buys service from other operators which is re-sells.
This post covers the TracFone brand which offers pay as you go plans only.
The main networks TracFone uses are T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon in the 50 states and Claro in Puerto Rico. Each TracFone device operates of one of the four networks.. Where service on the home network is not available TracFone feature phones will roam at no extra charge on other networks, including about 30 small regional operators that TracFone has agreements with. See How to Tell Which Network (AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon) a TracFone, NET10 or Straight Talk Phone Uses for more about TracFone's network options. TracFone Android phones and BYOP devices use either the AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon network and do not roam.
Technology: AT&T, T-Mobile and Claro based TracFones use GSM on the 850 and 1900 Mhz bands with GPRS (2G), Edge (2.5G) and HSPA (3G) data support. TracFones on the Verizon network use CDMA on the 850 and 1900 Mhz bands with 1xRTT (2.5G) and EVDO (3G) data support. LTE data is available with Android phones and BYOP devices on the AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon networks.
Devices: Originally TracFone offered only non-smartphones. In Sept., 2013, TracFone introduced its first Android phones. In Nov, 2014, TracFone began allowing users to activate Verizon 3G phones. Currently TracFone allow the activation of GSM and Verizon phones including LTE capable models. Verizon phones on TracFone use the Verizon network, GSM phones use either AT&T or T-Mobile depending on which SIM they are fitted with.
Plans and Pricing: TracFone's pricing structure is very complicated and confusing with rates ranging from awful to very good depending on the plan, refill denomination, model of phone and if a bonus code code is used.
There are three basic types of TracFone airtime:
- The regular Pay As You Go minute cards that are sold at convenience stores, Target, Best Buy, Walmart etc. They work on branded TracFone feature phones, and TracFone branded smartphones and Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) SIMs.
- Monthly and Family Value Plan airtime. The value plans renew themselves automatically each month using your bank account or credit or debit card and are only available at tracfone.com. TracFone Value Plans are no longer listed on the TracFone website and can no longer be activated. Previously activated Value plans still renew automatically.
- Smartphone-only refills that only work on BYOP devices and TracFone branded smartphones. Most of the smartphone-only refills are only available directly from TracFone omline, not in stores. Minutes, texts and data added with these special cards (listed below) do not triple.
Price | Validity | Minutes |
---|---|---|
$9.99* | 30 days | 30 |
$19.99 | 90 days | 60 |
$29.99 | 90 days | 120 |
$39.99 | 90 days | 200 |
$79.99 | 90 days | 450 |
$99.99 | 365 days | 400 |
$159.99* | 365 days | 1000 |
$199.99* | 365 days | 1500 |
Price | Minutes |
---|---|
$9.99 | 50 |
$19.99 | 125 |
$29.99 | 200 |
Price | Minutes | |
---|---|---|
First Phone | $9.99 | 50 |
Add'l Phones | $5.99 | 40 |
Cost | Minutes | SMS | Data | Days Of Service |
---|---|---|---|---|
$5 | none | 1000 | none | none |
$10 | none | none | 1 GB | none |
$15 | 200 | 500 | 200 MB | 30 |
$20* | 300 | 1000 | 1 GB | 30 |
$25* | 500 | 1000 | 500 MB | 60 |
$35 | 750 | 1000 | 1 GB | 60 |
$45* | 750 | 1000 | 1.5 GB | 90 |
$50* | 750 | 1500 | 2 GB | 90 |
$125* | 1500 | 1500 | 1.4 GB | 365 |
I suspect most TracFone users tend to consistently run out of either minutes, texts, data or days or service first. To help you find the most cost-effective top up for your usage pattern here's a table listing all the top up options available for TracFone smartphones and BYOP:
Price | Type 1 | Mins | Cost / Min | SMS | Cost / SMS | Data | Cost / MB | Days | Cost / Day |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$5 | Text | none | NA | 1000 | 0.5¢ | none | NA | none | NA |
$9.99 2 | MVP | 150 | 6.7¢ | 150 | 6.7¢ | 150 MB | 6.7¢ | 30 | 33¢ |
$9.99 2 | 30 Min | 90 | 11¢ | 90 | 11¢ | 90 | 11¢ | 30 | 33¢ |
$10 | Data | none | NA | none | NA | 1 GB | 0.98¢ | none | NA |
$15 | SP | 200 | 7.5¢ | 500 | 3¢ | 200 MB | 7.5¢ | 30 | 50¢ |
$19.99 | 60 Min | 180 | 11¢ | 180 | 11¢ | 180 MB | 11¢ | 90 | 22¢ |
$19.99 2 | MVP | 375 | 5.3¢ | 375 | 5.3¢ | 375 MB | 5.3¢ | 30 | 67¢ |
$20 2 | SP | 300 | 6.7¢ | 1000 | 2¢ | 1 GB | 2¢ | 30 | 67¢ |
$25 2 | SP | 500 | 5¢ | 1000 | 2.5¢ | 500 MB | 5¢ | 60 | 42¢ |
$29.99 | 120 Min | 360 | 8.3¢ | 360 | 8.3¢ | 360 MB | 8.3¢ | 90 | 33¢ |
$29.99 2 | MVP | 600 | 5¢ | 600 | 5¢ | 600 MB | 5¢ | 30 | $1 |
$35 | SP | 750 | 4.7¢ | 1000 | 3.5¢ | 1 GB | 3.4¢ | 60 | 58¢ |
$39.99 | 200 Min | 600 | 6.7¢ | 600 | 6.7¢ | 600 MB | 6.7¢ | 90 | 44¢ |
$45 2 | SP | 750 | 6¢ | 1000 | 4.5¢ | 1.5 GB | 2.9¢ | 90 | 50¢ |
$50 2 | SP | 750 | 6.6¢ | 1500 | 3.3¢ | 2.0 GB | 2.4¢ | 90 | 56¢ |
$50 3 | Super Size | none | NA | none | NA | none | NA | 365 | 14¢ |
$79.99 | 450 Min | 1350 | 5.9¢ | 1350 | 5.9¢ | 1350 MB | 5.9¢ | 90 | 89¢ |
$99.99 | 400 Min | 1200 | 8.3¢ | 1200 | 8.3¢ | 1200 MB | 8.3¢ | 365 | 27¢ |
$125 2 | SP | 1500 | 8.3¢ | 1500 | 8.3¢ | 1500 MB | 8.3¢ | 365 | 34¢ |
$159.99 2 | 1000 Min | 3000 | 5.3¢ | 3000 | 5.3¢ | 3000 MB | 5.3¢ | 365 | 44¢ |
$199.99 2 | 1500 Min | 4500 | 4.4¢ | 4500 | 4.4¢ | 4500 MB | 4.4¢ | 365 | 55¢ |
2 only available online at tracfone.com.
3 "Supersize" option is offered when buying another top up on the TracFone site. It's not available separately.
Text messages are charged at a rate of 0.3/minutes per text on feature phones.
Feature phone data and MMS picture messaging is billed various ways, all of them rather expensive.
- Old phones, released before June 2012: Data is charged at half a voice minute per minute of data use which is counted from the moment the browser or data using app is closed until it is closed. Picture messages cost one minute plus the cost of the data transfer which is typically another minute or two.
- Phones released between June, 2012 and Feburary, 2014 including the Samsung S390G, Samsung S425G and LG 840G: Data is charged at the rate of 1.5 voice minutes per KB of data. Picture messages cost one minute plus the cost of the data transfer which is typically another eight or nine minutes!
- Phones released since March, 2014, including the LG 305C and LG 306G: Data is charged at the rate of 0.5 voice minutes per KB of data. Picture messages cost one minute plus the cost of the data transfer which is typically another two or three minutes.
You can check your TracFone's data rate by entering *#106 on the code entry screen which can be reached by pressing Menu>Prepaid>Code Entry Mode.
BW=ACT R=1.5 means 1.5 minutes per KB
BW=ACT R=0.50 means 0.5 minutes per KB
BW=T R= 0.50 means 0.5 minutes per minute of data use
On all plans unused plan balances roll over if a top up is made before the expiration date. For example, if you start with a 60 minute top up and only use 30 minutes worth of calls, texts and data, and add another 60 minute top-up on the 89th day the 30 minute balance will roll over. giving you 90 minutes for the next 90 days. Rollover continues indefinitely as long as you top up before expiration.
Bonus codes TracFone always has some bonus codes that will give you extra minutes when topping up. Some of these can be very good. There's currently one that gives you an extra 60 minutes when adding a 60 minute top up. You can find lists of current codes on TracFone specialist sites like PrePaid.com and Turk Forums (log-in required). Bonus code minutes are NOT doubled or tripped on DMFL, TMFL or triple-triple phones. Bonus codes work with minutes cards on Android or BYOP TracFones but do not work with smartphone only cards.
Auto pay discount: Customers need to enroll a credit or debit card on the TracFone site and select a Pay As You Go card or a Smartphone/BYOP card that includes minutes, texts and data card as their "Plan" are eligible for an auto pay discount. Customers who select a Pay As You Go card get a 10% discount, customers who choose a Smartphone/BYOP card get a 5% discount. There is no discount on the text-only and data-only cards or Value plans.
International Rates: TracFone users can make calls to 60 counties including Canada, Mexico, China and most Western European countries for the same price as a domestic all. To make an international call you first dial 1-800-706-3839. You will then prompted to select your language and then to dial 011 plus the country code and number. (For Canada, do not dial 011). It is not possible to call other countries besides the 60 supported ones except by using a 3rd party international calling card. TracFone doesn't support sending international text or picture messages.
Coverage: TracFone has the largest coverage footprint of all the USA prepaid operators. TracFone feature phones can use over 30 US operators. The coverage with TracFone CDMA non-smartphone models that use Verizon is the best but the GSM coverage on phones that use AT&T or T-Mobile as their home network is almost as good. See Coverage Maps For All Prepaid Carriers to compare coverage. Android and BYOP phones use either the Verizon or AT&T networks with no roaming.
How to Buy: TracFones are available from tracfone.com and at major retailers including Target, Best Buy Walmart and Costco. Basic models can be purchased at supermarkets, convenience stores and chain drugstores.
TracFone branded GSM feature phones use SIM cards. However TracFone SIMs are locked to the phone they were sold with and can not be used in any other phones including other TracFones. The phones themselves are virtually impossible to unlock and can not be used on any other service.
How to Activate: The easiest way to activate a TracFone branded phone is by going to tracfone.com, clicking Activate phone and following the instructions. If you don't have a PC with Internet service you can also activate by calling 1-800-867-7183.
Bring You Own Phone Activation: TracFone now lets users activate unlocked and AT&T locked GSM phones and Verizon phones. You can check if a Verizon phone is eligible here. If your phone is deemed OK you will need to purchase a 99¢ a BYOP SIM Kit along with an airtime PIN.
To activate a GSM phone or a Verizon LTE, you need a 99¢ BYOP SIM and an airtime PIN. For Verizon 3G phones, only a PIN is needed.
One you have the activation kit and airtime PIN, complete the BYOP activation process online or by using the Chat window on TracFone's Support Contact page or by calling 1-800-867-7183.
After activating a 3G Verizon based phone online or by calling, TracFone will tell you to dial *22890 on the mobile phone to complete the activation. If that doesn't work try dialing *228 and choosing option 1 when prompted. GSM and Verizon LTE phones should activate automatically when the phone is turned on with a TracFone SIM in it.
Switching Phones:
To move your TracFone account from one TracFone branded phone to another, choose the "Transfer my number and service from one TracFone to another" option on the TracFone website's Activate Phone page.
To move your TracFone account from one Verizon 3G BYOP phone to another BYOP phone, use the TracFone BYOP page. After entering and validating your new phone's MEID choose the "I want to upgrade my active Bring Your Own CDMA Phone to another Bring Your Own CDMA Phone" You do not need a Network Access Code to swap between one BYOP phone and another.
To move your TracFone account for one GSM BYOP device to another, simply transfer the SIM from the old to the new phone if both use the same size SIM. If the phones use different SIM sizes you can swap service from one SIM to the other on the TracFone BYOP page.
Payment Options: PIN cards or codes are available at convenience stores, supermarkets, chain drugstores and big box retailers like Target and at tracfone.com. PINs can be purchased at a discount from callingmart.com and other online retailers.
You can top up with a PIN using the Prepaid menu on Tracfone feature phones. You can also top up with a PIN or a credit or debit card at tracfone.com or by calling 1-800-867-7183. If you have a promotion code don't forget to use it when you are topping up. If you forget, TracFone can usually apply a code if you call within 24 hours on adding airtime.
Account Management: Your airtime balance and expiration date are displayed every time you turn on a TracFone feature phone. You can check your balance and expiration date at any time using the Prepaid menu on TracFone non-smartphones. If you register at tracfone.com you can also check your plan expiration online for all phones and your balance for Android and BYOP phones.
You can also check balance and expiration for Android and BYOP phones by going to www.fastactportal.com/static/balance with the phone's browser or a PC and entering your phone number. Registration is not required. There's also a TracFone Android app that lets you check balance and expiration and refill using a PIN code. TracFone AT&T smartphone and BYOP users can check their minutes, texts and data balances by dialing *777*1#
Free information services calls
911 - Emergency services
Customer Service:
Chat Support: I've found Chat to be the fastest and least painful way to get support with TracFone. The Chat option can be found on TracFone's Support Contact page during the support hours of 8 AM to 11:45 PM Eastern Time 7 days a week.
Phone support: 1-800-867-7183 is the official TracFone support number. Use this number to access the automated service for adding top-ups 24/7. You can also reach a customer support representative at this number from 8 AM to 11:45 PM Eastern Time 7 days a week . Calls are handled by off shore call centers. Wait times are usually short and the representatives courteous. However they often appear to be following a script and seem unfamiliar with the details of TracFone devices and services.
An alternative is TracFone's "Executive Resolutions Dept." Miami based call center at 1-305-715-6500 X1029. It's available Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST.
The Executive Resolutions representatives are more knowledgeable and better equipped to resolve complex issues. I recommend calling 1-305-715-6500 X1029 for issues that Chat isn't able to quickly resolve especially if it involves no service, billing issues, or PINs that don't work.
Social Media: TracFone on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube
Phone Sales and General Information Web Site: www.tracfone.com
TracFone Pros: best coverage (feature phones only), strong retail presence, BYOP, lowest pay as you go data rates of any operator.
TracFone Cons: complex pricing structure, customer support is not trained and equipped to deal with the systems complexities.
Updated 25-Aug-2017: Newest smartphone and SIMs are "smart phone card only" and don't get "triple-triple billing" when topped up with minutes cards.

I am thrilled to think of the amount of money I have saved by using Tracfone. A lot of my friends have contract phones and they seem to pay a hang of a lot out everymonth. With me, I can go as low as $20 for three months and I get 60minutes of time. Tracfone has been real value for money for me
ReplyDeleteI have to agree these savings are the best things out there. I was nervous at first about getting prepaid phones for me and my family... but they have turned out totally exactly perfect. Plus the costs...... I cannot believe the savings.
ReplyDeleteTalk about savings. Did you know that with Tracfone you can get triple minutes for life. For every minute that you purchase you actually get three. There is no catch just purchase the LG500 and you will see. I cannot believe how much money I am saving with this offer
ReplyDeleteWhere did you find a TMFL LG 500G? The one's on Trac's site are DMFL.
DeleteDoes anyone know if Tracfone is going to ever get a real smartfone(the current ones are a box of rocks)? They don't ever tell you when a new phone is coming out, but I think they will lose customers if they don't enter the 21st century soon.
ReplyDeleteTracfone is just one of the brands used by America Movil in the US. It's targeted at talk and text users. Running a smartphone, which needs to a constant data connection on Tracfones 1/2 a voice minute for every connected minute data rate would be prohibitively expensive.
DeleteI wouldn't be surprised if someday Tracfone gets smartphones and smartphone friendly data plans but for now NET10 and Straight Talk are America Movil's smartphone brands.
I don't need a smart phone. I have a laptop to do all my fancy stuff on. My phone is here for me to communicate by voice and occassionally I send a text. I am still using my Samsung 155 and have absolutely no desire to change to something smarter.
ReplyDeleteBenjamin I think that you meant the LG800.
ReplyDeleteThe LG500 comes with double minutes (i know cos I have one) It is the LG800 that I have seen promoted with triple minutes which has caught my interes
Is there still the $45 unlimited plan that I used to hear so much about?
ReplyDeleteThere's is but it's from Straight Talk not TracFone. Same company, America Movil owns both brands.
DeleteI have the Straighttalk $45 unlimited plan and actually wasn't aware that it was the same company - can I use my straighttalk card in a Tracfone?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately you can't, Tracfones are locked to the SIM they came with.
DeleteI purchased the LG800 from Tracfone and I could not be happier. Besides being a really fantastic phone, it comes with triple minutes, so eat your hearts out all you doble minuters!!!
ReplyDeleteI have used a Tracfone for over a year and it's worked well for me. I haven't ever had any problems with reception and I have the double minutes plan. Because I don't work outside the home, I only use it when I'm out....basically for emergencies. I realize that if you break it down by minutes, they aren't cheap, but I don't have a contract and if I don't want to use up my time, I just tell the person I'll call them back later. For me, it's worked great. I would love to have a smart phone, but don't want a contract so will just wait for Tracfone to enter the 21st Century...may be waiting a very long time.
ReplyDeleteHave you taken a look at the LG800 touch phone from Tracfone. It isn't a smart phone but it almost is and is very bright indeed. What I like about it as well, is that it comes with triple minutes for life, which has really brought my costs down. I don't have the Samsung 455, but apparently this is also a good phone to have
ReplyDeletestraight talk have good coverage like the tracfone the phone i what is samsung sch-r455c it is cdma phone dose it work off verizon
ReplyDeleteYes, the R455C runs on the Verizon network.
DeleteHi Yeswap,
ReplyDeleteIf I were to purchase a Triple Minutes for Life Tracfone, activate it, and then purchase a $200/1500 min refill card, how many minutes would I get, 4500 or 1500? Also, if I were to purchase a triple minutes for life Tracfone that comes with minutes already, would those minutes also be tripled?
Thanks
A 1500 minute one year card would be good for 4500 minutes on a triple minutes phone.
DeleteThe triple minute phones from HSN, ShopCellDeals etc that are advertised as coming with 1200 minutes come with the equivalent of a 400 minute card which gives 1200 minutes when tripled.
The theory of Tracfone service is great. And when it works, it suits the need. However their customer service is HORRIBLE. I guess you get good and bad with it.
ReplyDeleteRelationship between AT&T and Tracfone; interesting background story in Fierce Wireless: http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/att-sells-part-its-stake-tracfone-owner-am-rica-m-vil-564m/2013-06-06?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal
ReplyDelete"TracFone offers a large selection..." Really?! I guess you have a different definition than I about large. I think their selection is horrible.
ReplyDeleteI hope they included the ability to toggle data usage on/off for apps so that you don't use up all your data inadvertently. This was a big reason why many android straight talk phones were not allowed on the $30 1000 minutes/1000 texts plan to use phone minutes as data.
ReplyDeleteAll Android phones allow the user to disable data use.
DeleteNo smartphones have ever been available for the $30 plan.
"If you register at tracfone.com you can also check balance and airtime online."
ReplyDeleteThis is actually not true. It will tell you your service end date, but not your balance. I wish I had known this before I bought the phone...
TracFone claims you can check you balance here: https://www.tracfone.com/direct/CheckBalance. Does that not work?
DeleteThe check balance feature only works on the android phones. If you select a feature phone and "Check balance," you will get the message "check your phone for remaining minutes."
ReplyDeleteI have a droid x2 on tracfone byop text woks fine, email works fine.MMS will not work after sending MMS says service not activated on network.Can't receive MMS either. Been talking with Tracfone for several weeks with no solution any suggestions on how to fix this.I did get on MMS to go through don't know why it did unable to send anymore.
ReplyDeleteTracfone goes international with the NEW $10 GLOBAL- Call anywhere in the world, including cell phones.
ReplyDeleteTracfone settles with fcc on phone unlocking. Must stipulate on their websites by September 1st. http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2015/db0701/DOC-334195A1.pdf
ReplyDeleteNew TRACFONE Phone Coming: Samsung Galaxy J1 http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SM-S777CZKATFN
ReplyDeleteGood Read: American Movil offers US Roaming http://www.wirelessweek.com/news/2015/07/america-movil-offers-us-roaming-readies-8b-network-investment
ReplyDeleteWill my Android Samsung Galaxie Centura's Mobile Data capability work in UK, Portugal, and Spain?
ReplyDeleteNo, TracFone's don't roam internationally and even if they did the CDMA Centura wouldn't work because it uses the wrong radio technology (CDMA vs GSM) for Europe.
DeleteWhen it's released next month, I want to use the Motorola X Pure Edition on Tracfone near The Villages, FL. But I live in a "COGSM5" area (Verizon/T-Mobile). Does this mean I will only get "3G" data? Do I need to put in one of those 'fake' zip codes centered in Tracfone's AT&T areas to get 4G-LTE signals where I live???
ReplyDeleteAll TracFone GSM BYOP SIMs use the AT&T network. You will get LTE everywhere AT&T has it. You don't need to use a fake zipcode unless TracFone says there's no service in your zip.
DeleteDo the minutes/texts/data on the 1 Year cards get triple/tripled as well with a BYOP android? Or just the ones with 30/60 day expiration?
ReplyDeleteYes, all minutes cards get tippled including the one year ones. The only one's that don't are the data and texts cards and the one year double minutes upgrade card.
DeleteWalmart - NEW - TracFone Bring Your Own Phone SIM Activation Kit (TFRTPKP4CNA) - $6.99, Online- Only. Compatible with most 3G/4G LTE GSM or CDMA Smartphones. This is $3.00 cheaper on the CDMA side than on the TracFone site, which is saying there is a Network Access Code. Walmarts' SIM activation kit mentions nothing about a Network Access Code.
ReplyDeleteIf you read Spanish and want to know more about Carlos Slim, an extensive, unauthorized biography is available now. It took 7 years to research and write. http://news.yahoo.com/tycoons-telecoms-trotsky-book-lifts-veil-carlos-slim-171328128--sector.html
ReplyDeleteTracFone pared down their airtime options, it looks like. Just one one-year airtime card now: 400 mins/$99.99, and just one data card: 1 GB/$10, for example. Data is a bit cheaper, at least.
ReplyDeleteI am a two year Tracfone customer. Updated to a Galaxy Core Prime smartfone a month ago and was working perfect until last week when txt messaging failed. Cannot send or receive txt messages for a week. Called Tracfone customer service Five times over the last five days and have made no progress. at each call do the same procedures(remove battery, power cycle, even reset the cell to factory defaults). Help line is useless and wants to stay on line as long as possible. Pays no attention to previous call decision tree attempts. 72 hours to re Provision for txting to work or Dump Tracfone.
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone. Every quarter hundreds of thousands of customers flee from the various America Movil brands, usually after getting a taste of their "customer service". Unfortunately many new "suckers" do not heed the warnings or are unaware and are lured in by the "good deal". In the end doing business with any America Movil brand is a bad deal for your sanity & your wallet.
DeleteThe no go list -
Claro (Puerto Rico)
NET10
Page Plus
Safelink
Simple Mobile
Telcel America
Total Wireless
TracFone
Its all relative and sometimes you get what you pay for. They have worse cutomer service than AT&T but better than RingPlus.
DeleteI don't consider Ringplus a tradional MVNO, after initial investment (top off) it is free monthly if you stay within your allotment. Yes they have monthly paid plans but I'd guess not many use those vs. the number of people who are on free plans. Free service = little to no CS, true, need to know that and be able to be OK with it.
DeleteI have encountered Movil CS many times over the years on several of their brands. I have dealt with about a dozen other mobile operators CS, MVNOs & the majors pre and post paid for many people, friends, family, businesses. Some of the MVNO were rough at times but I can say that Movil brands CS is clearly in a class of horrid all it's own from my experience.
In the end Movil will do all they can to make sure you don't get what you paid for.
If you have them flee while you are ahead, don't look back. If you are considering one of their brands heed the warnings and cautionary stories from others who have been through the Movil CS ringer experience - don't do it.
Dumping Tracfone. New prepaid Verizon GalaxyJ3 arrives today. Lost a few bucks but I will be happy to be off the Tracfone customer service bad experience. Thanks for your comments and this site is very informative. I hope to positively comment on my upcoming Verizon experience.
ReplyDeleteI am new to TracFone (AT&T) and trying to setup voicemail on a Nexus 5x. What is the voicemail number I have to use? I erased the original number came with the SIM by accident. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteTo reach your voicemail you can either dial 1 or your own number from your mobile phone.
DeleteWith BYOP, if I buy that $35 deal for 60 days, do I get to use that 750 minutes for phone calls, 1000 messages for texting, and also 1GB for web surfing in that 60 days period?
ReplyDelete@Dennis,
ReplyDeleteTracFone added a $45 and $50 smartphone plan which provide 90 service days if you want to add that to your table.
https://www.tracfone.com/serviceplan/smartphone
ReplyDeleteThanks, I've added the new cards to the table.
DeleteI have a prepaid tracfone triple minute smart phone and would like to switch to auto refill but if i loose my triple minutes it will be to expensive, will i loose my triple minutes ?
ReplyDeleteYou won't lose triple minutes by using auto pay. The triple minutes status says with the phone or BYOP SIM regardless of how you pay for airtime.
DeleteIs the add 365 days, "supersize" $50 still available, byod smartphone, not showing for me?
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, supersize is still available. It's supposed to appear when you checkout with a top-up that includes minutes in your cart.
DeleteThanks Dennis
DeleteDennis -
ReplyDeleteSeems the 1 year smartphone/BYOP plan is a bad deal (even @ $75 avail. on eBay) for my intended user.
I would like to know, can I purchase all at the same time:
2 of the $35 cards (750/1000/1000/60) + the 365 days of service for $49.99 all in one purchase/transaction = $120 and get:
1500 minutes
2000 texts
2000 MB of data
485 service days
????
If not how best to approach something like this?
Dennis? Or any Trac customers who load multiple smartphone plans able to let us know if the above works?
DeleteJust try it. First add a $35 card to your cart, you should then get the $50 "Supersize" offer. Then add a second $35 card and see if the Supersize is still in the cart. If it isn't cancel the order and start over doing it as two separate orders.
Delete