• TracFone

TracFone

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Overview

TracFone has a rating of 1.1 stars from 358 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about TracFone most frequently mention customer service, new phone, and sim card problems. TracFone ranks 161st among Mobile Carriers sites.

  • Service
    206
  • Value
    184
  • Shipping
    114
  • Returns
    110
  • Quality
    167
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 0%
Positive
0
Neutral
0
Negative
34
32
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How would you rate TracFone?
Top Positive Review

“Auto refill troubles...”

Kayla M.
7/5/22

I enrolled in auto refill because of a discount offer of $5.00 per month. After signing up, I did not receive the discount. I added my credit card information and the offer "magically" disappeared. I called customer service and no less than 3 people hung up on me when I tried to get the issue resolved. Now, I am trying to get a refund for my entire service and disconnect my service. Please be careful with this company. They are extremely unprofessional. UPDATE: The problem has been solved. I was given what was previously promised and 2 months free service for the inconveniences. All is well. Thank you!

Top Critical Review

“Bullshiot”

Hanna N.
10/4/24

I do not appreciate your bad cell service. Multiple times I have had to reset my kids phone just so it gets service. This last time was the last straw. Thank you for terrible service. I will be giving a bad reference every time someone asks. Hanna Nash - 1

Reviews (358)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (167) phone number (45) replacement phone (14)
Thumbnail of user radhah3
California
1 review
2 helpful votes
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March 17th, 2023

Worst experience ever! They take your money easy enough, but try to cancel the service and you go through a lot of BS that gets nowhere. I gave the PIN#, a frequently called phone number, and even told them that my email address on file was incomplete, and told them exactly what it said on my account and what to add to fix it. They needed two frequently called numbers (and I have not used the phone much so I gave them one and tried going down my phone list to get cut off at three numbers, and told to call back in 15 minutes). I called back and got the same BS AGAIN! Still do not have my service cancelled. WORST SERVICE PROVIDER EVER! And the agents just repeat the same words over and over. Refuse to transfer or excalate to a department or person who can help.

Tip for consumers:
Buyer beware. I would not advise using this service. Horrible customer service!

Products used:
Cell phone service provider.

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Value
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Thumbnail of user chef1352
Washington
1 review
5 helpful votes
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July 1st, 2023

The operator refused to acknowledge that I owned my phone or transfer me to anyone else. Just kept repeating the same script like a mantra. Did not help or listen a all.avoid this company

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Value
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Thumbnail of user roberts8561
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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April 2nd, 2023

Want to Chang carriers, Feel alike my current Phone number is being held hostage, I have spent hours trying to transfer My # and getting Phone unlocked, was told i had made to many calls in 24 hr period Would have to wait 24 to get unlocking pin one more step

Thumbnail of user josephg2330
New Hampshire
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 13th, 2023

Lately I havent been texts in a reasonable time. It sometimes takes hours before I'll receive a text. Coverage has shrunk. I'm going to a different carrier. I'm done

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Thumbnail of user dt97
Missouri
3 reviews
7 helpful votes
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December 23rd, 2021

Worst service I have had from Phone service plan. Usually foreigners, don't understand questions. Can't fix problems and usually make problem worse. Buyer beware!

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Thumbnail of user terryl503
Canada
1 review
6 helpful votes
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June 3rd, 2021

Not sure why anyone would ever use Tracfone. Their attitude is "we offer low cost plans but NO service". We have a plan with 4000 unused minutes and 4500 texts. The service end date is two weeks away. Due to the pandemic and the fact that as snowbirds we have not able to travel from Canada to the US for almost 16 months, we have not been able to use our "US" Tracfone during this period.

I called Customer Service with a simple request. After explaining our continuing predicament in some detail, I asked if the service end date could be extended until the Fall, when hopefully the reopening of the border would enable us to return to our Florida residence and begin to use our prepaid and unused talk and text time. I was routed through 3 reps, with each coming up with a different reason why they could/would not even consider extending the service end date. After spending an increasingly frustrating hour, I simply gave up.

We will lose our Florida phone number in 2 weeks. Tracfone has lost yet another loyal customer forever.

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user jacka736
New York
1 review
3 helpful votes
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December 29th, 2022

Dealing with Tracfone has been one of the single worst experiences of my life. It is like being beaten over the head with a switch and having my testicles burned in hot oil while my limbs are sawed off. For all you masochists out there, I recommend Tracfone Wireless for a good time. Website continually fails to load. When I search something it takes me back to the home screen. I cannot find any useful information on there. Everything is misspelled- clearly they weren't trying. Occasionally it just decides 'we cannot process your transaction at this time' and that's it for the day! The design is absolutely unhelpful. Customer service is entirely inept, but you will spend hours with them anyway. I have no coverage and cannot use my phone to talk or text. I have spent months trying to diagnose the issue, ordering new SIM cards, spending long, long stretches of time talking with customer service, and eventually transferring my phone over to Verizon because it doesn't do $#*!. Now they cannot activate the phone to Verizon coverage and it still says 'provided by Tracfone Wireless.' So in total this has been like $500 dollars down the hole and I don't have a working phone. I don't expect any for-profit company to care at all about their customers' general well-being and happiness-I'm not so naive-but whoever is in charge of customer satisfaction at this company has no semblance of humanity.

Tip for consumers:
Do not use Tracfone. It is a complete economic loss. There are no benefits.

Products used:
Phone and service

Service
Value
Shipping
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Quality
Thumbnail of user paulg1965
North Carolina
1 review
8 helpful votes
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April 6th, 2022

Just got a new Tracfone thru HSN, seemed like a great deal but...
When I call my home phone caller ID says "Spam Risk", I can't use as is since many won't answer the phone when seeing that. Wasted several hours with Customer DISservice trying to correct, much time on hold with no answer when I finally spoke with someone and 3 promises thru chat of a callback within 15 minutes, all of which have resulted in NO callback after several hours. I don't know if HSN will accept it as defective but it sure as hell is, and so is Tracfone's alleged Customer Service!

Tip for consumers:
You may get what you pay for, IF you're lucky!

Good luck!

Products used:
Still a work in progress.

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Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user wendas3
California
1 review
2 helpful votes
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June 11th, 2021

If I could give negative numbers, I would. Please try an alternative company before you invest your time and money with Tracfone. 5 phone calls, 1 chat, 9 people and 8 hours - 32 minutes later, I still don't have service. Every step of the way was a hurdle or an issue AND THEY HANG UP ON YOU! If they cannot help you. It was like I was in an endless loop of NO ONE doing their job. I have never experienced such poor customer service with any company (with the exception on one person - Jemie - she was very helpful). Bottom Line - after getting everything setup, they could not give me a telephone number that wasn't previously assigned to someone else. That wouldn't be such a big deal BUT THEIR NAME shows up (not mine) every time I called someone. No one will pick up the phone if they don't recognize the person calling. They think it is a spam call.

Tip for consumers:
Try not to use Tracfone. If you do, understand that you are in for frustration and lot's of time. Plan to be patient, persistent and don't let them hang up on you.

Products used:
NONE!!!

Service
Value
Shipping
Thumbnail of user spicl
Colorado
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 10th, 2022

Tracfone is owned by hilter nazi verizon wireless a Jew killing company! Yep hans killed jews ceo of verizon wireless. Just like donald trump wonder how many blacks he killed for fun in the towers?

Tip for consumers:
Buy American

Products used:
None

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Value
Shipping
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Thumbnail of user anthonym2125
Florida
1 review
0 helpful votes
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March 2nd, 2022

My phone was disconnected which I could understand but Didnt e mail me until a week after they cut me off then they owed me around $90 00 dollars dishonest people stay clear of them!

Tip for consumers:
Dont use tracphone bad company Consumer cellular gives a aarp discount and have a 4.8 out of 5.0 rating!

Products used:
New phone which I can use with consumer cellular but my time and minutes where a total loss 90 bucks stolden.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
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Thumbnail of user davidl208
Tennessee
3 reviews
3 helpful votes
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March 29th, 2016

We were unhappy with our service from US Cellular and several neighbors recommended TracFone so we decided to change after they told me we had good 3 G coverage. That was the first bit of misinformation. I then discovered TracFone was very happy to switch my number (aka revenue) but were not going to transfer my contacts or even provide instructions on how to do so (aka service). When I discovered the signal at our home was weak I called and complained and was told to dial a *xxxxx number. This said it activated/programmed my phone but did nothing to improve my situation. After multiple call/chats came the real answer that signal was "spotty" where I lived. I then asked in a signal amplifier would work and was told I could not use one because they used multiple providers and amps are provider specific. Then I ask myself why I was trusting their support when they were wrong so many times before. I called a major cell amp provider and they said I sure could use an amp with a directional antennae that would lock me on one tower. I have not gotten this yet so we shall see but TracFone is as difficult to deal with and then provides inaccurate information. Avoid them if you can.

Thumbnail of user jacob.tesch.2020
North Dakota
1 review
1 helpful vote
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September 27th, 2023

I have used tracfone for several years now.

Issues:
1) Recently, my phone just stopped receiving maybe 30% of my incoming calls. I would have people call me while standing next to me and my phone would never receive it. I am in a full coverage zone but it still happens for some reason.
2) When I'm not on a wifi network my phone doesn't like to send calls or send/receive texts unless I turn my mobile data on (very expensive with how tracfone sells their data)
3)My phone will occasionally give me a warning that my sim is not provisioned for calls and will just drop off the network randomly.
4) Sometimes images that are texted to you just disappear from the chat and cannot be redownloaded after a week or two.

I have called tracfone to fix these issues and they said, have you tried waiting the problems out? They also recommended I try buying a new phone from their store. When I said that my current phone was from their store after the last time I had these issues the rep said oh. They said they are unable to help me.

I'm cross posting my review on several sites so more people can see my issues.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user jollypeanut1
California
1 review
2 helpful votes
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June 23rd, 2023

I paid $200 upfront for Unlimited Talk & Text & during an important phone call my phone went dead, TracFone deactivated my phone permanent, after 5 calls to them to find out what happened I was told I used my phone too much as some calls were over 3 hrs they said it breached their terms & conditions, even though they advertise UNLIMITED... So Beware Unlimited is not Unlimited & I was only 12 weeks into my 52 week pre paid phone, also they refused to hand my phone number over to a new carrier. As far as I am concerned they broke the contract and stole my money... Never again.

Products used:
Phone

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user brucem821
Illinois
1 review
8 helpful votes
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March 31st, 2022

They do not deserve 1 star.
In over 3 hours on the phone I have been transferred 9 times, disconnected 4 and it's not over yet.
They continue to want to send a code to set up the new phone that's not working because they can't get it set up.
I worked in customer service for IBM for over 20 years followed with over 17 years of Apple support, part of it Apple Certified support.
Tracfone support is some of the worst I've ever encountered. It's as though they have no idea how their business works. I realize it's a complicated environment supporting multiple devices and manufacturers but it seems they don't understand the basics of their core. The appearance is that they are completely incompetent.
RESOLUTION: I didn't count but likely the 15th or so person had me push a software update on the iPhone. The phone worked as soon as it rebooted. Previous software release was February 10 and my battle began March 31. Over two days I ended up with approximately 8 hours on the phone with at least a dozen transfers and eight disconnects.

Products used:
tracfone service

Service
Value
Shipping
Thumbnail of user alisons385
North Carolina
1 review
2 helpful votes
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October 17th, 2022

I hate Tracfone. My teen daughter has a phone with Tracfone and we've had several issues leading up to moving her service to another provider. They claim she sent 2000 texts and used 2 GB of data in 2 days. I looked at her call/text log and nope, there's certainly not 2000 texts. When I called them and asked for a log of usage, they claim they "don't have access to that". How can they claim that's what they show she used but they can't provide it to me? A few more difficulties later, I decided to add her to my family plan with Verizon. I requested the transfer ID pin through their website... crickets. Then I tried calling and they told me to text ntp to *******, their text help line. I got a text back that the maximum number of ntp's were issued for this account and I have to wait 24 hours. I guess they hope we'll give up and stay with them? I called back and asked the rep to give me *one* of the supposed multiple ntp's they issued me. She said "sorry, we don't have access to that". What a crock - pathetic company. I'll wait my 24 hours and happily leave Tracfone. These companies don't seem to care... many more fish in the sea. They don't realize that when they burn people, they don't forget. I'd do without a cell phone before I had Tracfone again.

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Value
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Thumbnail of user ervinrodriguez414
Wisconsin
1 review
4 helpful votes
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July 16th, 2023

Do not buy a phone from TracFone I've had my phone for 4 days now I'm getting no phone data I ask for a refund and the tell me that I'm being transferred to other agent then they hang up on me avoid this company. Most unprofessional company ever SCAMFONE

Thumbnail of user arielh15
Tennessee
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 8th, 2016

If i could i would give it 0 stars. I got an iphone and activated it with the sim kit. I couldn't get imessage to work so i contacted Apple support and Tracfone. Apple took me through many processes to resolve the issue and it came down to that tracfone had to authorize i message. Trafone said there was no such thing, which it is confirmed that there is. They would not take the steps needed because it was a BYOP and that apparently throws out all of there responsibility for service. Do not use tracfone. They are unhelpful and do not care about costumers or there needs

Thumbnail of user beverlya407
Colorado
1 review
4 helpful votes
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December 3rd, 2022

I was forced to change to Verizon. Ever since I changed to the Tracfone Verizon SIM, I lost all of my 13 G. Of data. I am enrolled in the auto-renew plan. I have NO MOBILE DATA. I have spent many hours on the phone with Tracfone Customer service. Changing my APN settings and other settings to no help whatsoever.

Thumbnail of user wencesa
North Carolina
2 reviews
6 helpful votes
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June 7th, 2022

Purchased new phone Moto G Power had 1 year warranty. Unfortunately, screen was broken and returned. Received Moto E refurbished phone. 2 years older, smaller screen, less memory and poorer quality camera (2 cameras instead of 3 cameras). After speaking for hours and over 30 customer service representatives they had me reship to them the replacement phone. Customer service failed in keeping information stored in ticket number they gave me to keep track of the information given and they never had the information. Always had to go over same information time after time. After 2 months without phone I called again with them promising they would resend me the original phone. After waiting they ended up sending me another phone I did not want. The replacement phone was refurbished and cheaper than what I originally paid for. Brand new it is $58 dollars but they wanted to force me to keep it and gave me the run around in giving me my money back. Very disappointed and frustrated. Poor service.

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Value
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Thumbnail of user karenp1993
Louisiana
1 review
4 helpful votes
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March 5th, 2022
Verified purchase

My elderly father has a phone and service plan through TracFone. He has had the phone for many years and did not realize that it was 3G and that it would stop working recently. He thought he was simply out of minutes and that we needed to refill the minutes on the phone, so we ordered a new card for him. Those minutes will not work, however, because the phone will no longer work. When I called to explain the situation to TracFone and to request a refund of the minutes we just purchased, TracFone said that they could only credit our purchase by sending us instructions through a text... a text to the phone that no longer is able to receive any messages of any kind because its 3G service has been completely ended permanently, by them. TracFone was extremely rude and unwilling to help my 87-year-old father and are obviously perfectly comfortable taking advantage of the elderly and the limitations of their understanding of technology. Please don't give TracFone any of your business. They should be completely ashamed. Their policy and approach are disgraceful.

Service
Thumbnail of user irenes414
Illinois
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 9th, 2022

Horrible Service they try to help but cannot. They sent me a sim card for the Orbic I had to pay $40.00 because they were out of Volte. They sent me a new sim card but cannot activate phone. I get Verizon messages to use a credit card but I have 2,000 minutes on my Volte They cannot find problem and I cannot use the phone.!
*******302 HELP HELP HELP

Tip for consumers:
don't use tracfone

Products used:
orbic

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Value
Shipping
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Quality
Thumbnail of user mickeyn26
Texas
1 review
1 helpful vote
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November 24th, 2022

I had used Tracfone for several years, just as a phone, nothing more than that. I am a senior and do not use a phone that much...My son wanted to put me on his plan and whatever I did, Tracfone would not give me the transfer number to my phone. The employee was rather short with me for changing service, made several attempts or so he said, to verify the caller was me...As a resort, he asked which is better, to text me or email me a security code, I answered email as I already had it open...He then proceeded to text me with the code while I was looking at my emails. Said he could not give me what I needed without this verification. After about 30 minutes of what usually is an easy procedure, I understand, I told my son just get me a new phone number...The associate would not let me talk with anyone else and said there was nothing more he could do. So a relatively easy request has now ended up with a new phone and having to enter my contacts, etc, all over. But, worth it, to get rid of Tracfone because the customer service is not friendly, not coopoerative and flat out will refuse any suggestions, like me asking to email and he texting me. Glad I am changing though overall, do not need the aggravation.

Service
Thumbnail of user jelenat13
Arizona
1 review
6 helpful votes
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January 12th, 2023

JUST CALL WASHINGTON STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL THAN YOU WILL SEE HOW LONG MORE THIS BUSINESS WILL WORK WITH OUT PENALTY TO PAY FOR FRAUD AND CHEATING PHONE CARDS.AND EVERYTHING ELSE...THE CUSTOMER SERVICES IS 0...CUSTOMER SERVICES PEOPLE DON'T KNOW NOTHING THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO CONNECT YOU ON SERVICES. BUT THEY TAKE MONEY IN ONLY 1 MINUTE...THET TAKE MONEY FROM YOU IN ONE MINUTE...JUST CALL WASHINGTON STATE WILL SEE HOW WORKS...PLEASE...

Tip for consumers:
JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF THE REVIEW ...MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE COMPLAING

Products used:
TRACFONE AND CARDS YOU GIVE MONEY THEY GIVE YOU NOTHING...NO UNLIMITED INTERNET FOR 30 DAYS JUST FOR 5-10 DAYS. THAT IS IT....THEY CHEAT YOU

Thumbnail of user gerryv38
Florida
1 review
0 helpful votes
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March 26th, 2022

Since3/15/2022 I have been trying daily to get service to the new ORBIC phone they sent me and can't get verification code and when representative said she entered it at her end it still wasn't activated. Asked for a different phone tobe sent but no deal so I am giving up when my service runs out 5/15/2022

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About the business

TracFone Wireless is America's #1 prepaid wireless provider. Shop prepaid cell phones, Pay As You Go Airtime options, No Contract Monthly Plans and More!

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