• 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
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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 mikel1983
Wisconsin
1 review
0 helpful votes
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August 18th, 2022

Been with Tracfone for years. Got a new $159.00 Motorola from them, wont connect while on the road literally next to tower. Help line no help wont replace phone essentially telling me to bad and to get a new phone. Are they nuts? New phone doesn't work so get another one.

Tip for consumers:
go someplace else for phone and services

Products used:
phone

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Thumbnail of user joet319
Arizona
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
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July 22nd, 2022
Verified purchase

This has got to be the worse experience with service. There phone wont connect to signal. I call them for a replacement. They test the phone everyday I called in one week every time i call them. They fail to fix. Told me to buy new SIMM which was $38 - they fail to remedy issue. They stonewall on giving me a replacement phone and refund on SIMM they told me was the problem. They drop your call when they pretend to be preparing to send you a replacement for the first piece of junk $179 Moto G Stylus. Now I am going to go the legal route to get what I paid for. TracFone doesn't deserve a one star rating either.

Tip for consumers:
I pity the fool who does not heed the warning "Stay Away from TracFone"

Products used:
Moto G Stylus

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Value
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Quality
Thumbnail of user carolinep288
New York
1 review
2 helpful votes
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June 10th, 2023

TracFone was a reliable company for many years. I dealt with them with no real problems. Unfortunately TracFone is no longer reliable as far as handling information is concerned. I have been in contact with customer service numerous times over the past month. Almost every time that I try to log into my account, my email is not recognized as being attached to any account. I spend time with a customer service representative getting it fixed. It works for a day or two and the problem recurs. Thankfully, other companies are much more competent in handling information – imagine if you couldn't reliably log into your email account or your bank account or your social media account. It's really frustrating and terribly annoying not to be able to simply log into my account. I believe that they are sharing information with other related companies under their umbrella such as Straight Talk and in doing so they are corrupting accounts.

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Thumbnail of user wayneh557
California
2 reviews
32 helpful votes
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April 7th, 2022

Since 2013 I have been buying 100 minutes from Tracfone each year to make sure I have a working emergency phone with airtime. In February 2022 I bought my usual 100 minutes to renew for another year. Three weeks later I get an email that a week prior the wireless network which provided my service shut down and my phone stopped being supported. Their phony offer of a "free" VoLTE compatible phone was a joke. They were out of those. They had plenty for sale, but the "free" ones were gone. I asked for a refund for the airtime service the were now not going to provide me but they said it was against policy. I disputed with my credit card issuer and they are now fighting that. So basically, for $102 I get about two weeks of service and then a big middle finger, and they are now clinging to my money tighter than a vampire feeding on a corpse. STAY AWAY FROM TRACFONE. All they sell is disappointment.

Thumbnail of user dsseminoles76
Illinois
1 review
4 helpful votes
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July 23rd, 2023

The cell phones sold by Tracfone are good phones. Customer service, however, is useless. Tracfone must have a requirement that all customer service employees be incompetent. When setting up my account with Tracfone I spent hours on the phone & online; finally got service up and running, but was given a number in a completely different area code; rather than spend more days and hours trying to get a number in MY area code I simply gave up and accepted it. Today I called customer service to check on the end date of my plan, only to be informed that it ended last week. A check online showed that it has a month and a half to go.

Thumbnail of user julier991
North Dakota
1 review
2 helpful votes
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February 11th, 2022

I'm 2017 when I purchased my phone for my school's after school program, they did not register my email correctly. As a result when my school's phone was stolen last week, I could not transfer the phone number. Thankfully the phone was returned but today I tried to update my email address. I was told I cannot do that through chat. So I called customer service. I was hung up on 8 times. Then told that I was all set and when I went to log in it says my email isn't associated with any known account. I called back and was put on hold and told I was all set. Before I could say anything they hung up on me again.
2 hours was wasted and my email is still not updated. I am HORRIBLY disappointed with this service.

If you don't need customer service it's great. But think real hard before wasting hours of your time

Products used:
Purchased 2 flip phones. They’re fine. It’s the customer service that’s horrific.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user geoffryv
Colorado
2 reviews
3 helpful votes
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March 7th, 2024

I lost all my accumulated minutes texts and use by date when I changed phones and number. Use caution when dealing with this company.

Products used:
Samsung

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Value
Shipping
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Thumbnail of user markc3178
Connecticut
1 review
6 helpful votes
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March 3rd, 2022

For the second time this week my blu140xl would not make or receive calls or texts. After 5 and a half hour wait to speak to a person it is now working.the web site is confusing and seems to only want to sell me a new phone. Just purchased mine. 6 months ago! It should work! Have had TracFone for years and never had a problem.PS after my second reset they said I would to get a new phone if it happens again

Thumbnail of user addaron83
New York
1 review
11 helpful votes
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May 1st, 2023

If youre trying to save money with a cheap tracfone and service you will pay greatly in time,patience and blood pressure.Purchased samsung galaxy 11,website never works to register or add on devices.Hours on phone trying to resolve with tracfone only to get a phone that will not work.I am relieving myself of this nightmare,phone in trash,service canceled,looking for legitimate phone service... Spare yourself the same experience.

Products used:
None ,,,could not get phone to operate..No refund policy of Tracfone

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Value
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Thumbnail of user alyceksky047
New Mexico
1 review
4 helpful votes
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July 5th, 2023

My online account as been non-working for over 4 months. Each time I call I'm told that everything will be fixed within 24-48 hours. The foreign workers are not knowledgeable enough to fix the problem and the "Trouble Ticket" they create is a JOKE. Changing cell phone service ASAP.

Value
Thumbnail of user gails601
Florida
2 reviews
7 helpful votes
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February 13th, 2021

Do you guys get the bonus minutes sometimes? Since last year, I haven't been able to get the minutes. Everytime after I input my card number and the bonus code, I always receive a message telling me to call the customer service to complete the transaction. What I got from the customer service is either the code has expired or the system sent me a wrong code. Why are they lying all the time?

Thumbnail of user aniscapop
Texas
1 review
8 helpful votes
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June 27th, 2023

For over 5 weeks I have been dealing with multiple reps (about 7) and multiple managers (about 3). I've been laughed at, and told sorry and been on hold for hours while they're "checking the account". Each rep says different things, they send verif codes to my broken phone I've mailed to them after I specifically told them I DO NOT HAVE the phone, it is broken. Every rep and even management at the corporate office cannot have more than a kindergarten level education. They are not helpful, are rude, keep telling me to wait 3-5 days (it's been 5 weeks), and most reps say I can't help and I can't transfer you to a supervisor or manager.

This company should be put out of business for hiring completely incompetent, and rude morons who parrot "I'm sorry, let me check on the account". This experience has been beyond horrible.

Thumbnail of user daley85
Arizona
3 reviews
1 helpful vote
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October 21st, 2023

I have tried to call and read what to do on line but Error 15 keeps coming up on the phone and on the computer when trying to access my account. The calls all go to India and you cannot understand what they are saying. When you ask to be transferred to the US they tell you they cannot do that. I have spent over an hour calling and two hours on the forum, which I can log into.

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Thumbnail of user grega19
Colorado
1 review
5 helpful votes
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December 4th, 2014

TracFone may be the cheapest cell phone available, but - 1) About one call out in ten you get a "emergency calls only" and the phone screen returns to normal open look. 2) Half of the incoming calls go into voicemail without the phone ringing. 3) The phones do not log date but only the time of the incoming voicemail. 4) It can take up to three days for a notice of voicemail to appear on the screen. 5) The company apparently sells your number to companies that phone you to sell you something - I've had up to over a dozen sales calls in a single day.

Thumbnail of user zephanr
Tennessee
0 reviews
4 helpful votes
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December 30th, 2021

I bought my brother a new phone through tracfone and he was always having issues with it. Recently he passed away so I took his phone as my own. As I tried to get the service changed on the phone that I paid full price for, they want to charge me 150$ to switch providers... if that isn't a scam idk what is.

Tip for consumers:
Avoid tracfone...

Products used:
Phone

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user jenniferh3757
Massachusetts
1 review
1 helpful vote
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September 15th, 2022

After 14 months of service I tried to upgrade my phone with a dealer bought phone. It wasn't compatible with their network despite buying it from a TracFone contracted dealer. They did NOT resolve the issue so I changed plans. I was just going to use my old phone with a new provider. I was told by a customer service representative that my phone automatically unlocked locked after 1 year of service. Now I'm trying to use it on my new plan and their tacking on additional fees to give me the unlock code

Tip for consumers:
Choose literally any other cell phone provider for better quality and service

Service
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Shipping
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Thumbnail of user conniep355
Illinois
1 review
3 helpful votes
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July 15th, 2022

Purchased phone from Tracfone website. Phone keeps shutting down and restarting after several phone calls to Tracphone and factory reset it is still doing the same thing. Going to just take a loss on cost of phone and go elsewhere. Stay away from the phones they sell it was not a refurbished phone. Highly recommend you go elsewhere very dissatisfied customer after approx 3 years.

Thumbnail of user joannet12
California
13 reviews
8 helpful votes
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December 30th, 2015

I have had Tracfone for years, but I have also kept my landline. I just use my Smartphone lightly so the costs are small. It is fine for that type of user. Also, I rarely use customer service. They are not very helpful and takes a long time to get no where.

Thumbnail of user kamig7
New Jersey
1 review
1 helpful vote
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March 18th, 2022

I ordered a flip phone and ordered the $20 plan with Data in error. (I was only looking for a text/call only plan) When attempting to call Tracfone and request a refund for my order within minutes after ordering I called customer service and they tell me they are unable to cancel the order. They sent out the package anyway. Upon receipt the package is slightly damaged and I'm unable to refuse, so I called customer service to request a return label and they want to resend another phone? Incompetent! Horrible customer service merry-go-round. After multiple attempts to reach a competent live person to help, on only get "transferred" over and over or dropped calls. I'm glad I immediately disputed with my CC company. I wish I saw the reviews about this company in advance. Best advice... Don't do it. Buyer beware!

Tip for consumers:
Buyer beware. Do not use this company. Scam.

Products used:
N/a

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Value
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Thumbnail of user michaell4719
Arizona
1 review
8 helpful votes
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May 25th, 2022

To send the SIM card $20 plus tx but my phone would not activate. They just kept the money and started charging monthly. Because I don't have an account, they cannot stop charging me! Talked to 6 agents and supervisors. 3hours! They dumped me back in queue or just hung up, when they did not know what to do. They say I will get a refund, but I will have to pay my bank to stop their charges. Unbelievable.

Tip for consumers:
They tried to tell me all kinds of crap, like they could not refund. Be your own lawyer.

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Thumbnail of user frederickl231
Missouri
1 review
1 helpful vote
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December 20th, 2023

Your TCL phone is a piece of sh%$. Especially your camera. Obviously nothing but spy useage. But it doesn't even do that very well. This is I realize a older model phone. However there is nothing smart about this phone. Can't wait to toss it in the bottom of river

Thumbnail of user shanes459
California
1 review
5 helpful votes
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August 17th, 2022

HORRIBLE customer service! After two years STILL can NOT use my dat due to iphone10 not being compatible w tracfone computer system! So no internet coverage! Signal when talking is also sketchy, half the time can't make calls or receive. Spoke w tracfone and total hours spent dealing w this issue is over 100 hrs! The reps just transfer from one person to the other.

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Thumbnail of user marshal275
Arizona
1 review
1 helpful vote
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March 23rd, 2023

Even if the phone was free, I would NEVER advise anyone to purchase *******@tracfone. I spent the last 4 days going back and forth with over 20 non fluent representatives that was not knowledgeable about their job and could care less about assisting anyone. Customer service is apparently not a concern for this company which was apparent when on multiples calls I could hear peoples televisions and co-workers laughing in the background. Between being transferred and hung up on I gave up. All I wanted was to transfer my number to a new phone. NO ONE COULD HELP. The only thing they was capable of doing was change my phone number which was NEVER requested which created a greater challenge to transfer the *******@tracfone need a better balance of employees that could speak more than spanish! Everyone had an accent that was difficult to understand.

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Thumbnail of user courtneyr285
Texas
3 reviews
1 helpful vote
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August 15th, 2022

I've called several times each time they hang up or put me on hold not fixing the issue I can not receive calls or text I payed for the 15 dollar plan in which I have yet to receive. They will not give me a refund or let me turn in this phone for a new one

Tip for consumers:
Government issue phones only work for one month and then they jip you when you try to pay for a plan

Products used:
Motorola Moto g play

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user dw609
Connecticut
1 review
3 helpful votes
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December 17th, 2021

I have spent about 20 hours on the phone and each agent spends hours loading computer. Horrible service! Then i chatted with a broken record player. Kept saying the same things instead of responding to my questions. I kept a record of the chat and wish I can publicize it.

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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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