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  1. #1
    Susie
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    Anyone familiar with them? Good, bad, ugly? TIA!


    See More: Consumer Cellular?




  2. #2
    skier8848
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    i have no experience from using them. from what i gather they are a reseller of cingular services. Meaning they operate on a GSM network. There are many pros and cons to GSM, including service coverage. a large part of making your decision should include the area in which you live. I imagine that using their service will get the same coverage as cingular.

    I would recommend giving them a call. talk to their customer service and feel it out. their plans are cheap and it says on the web site.

    "We never lock you into a long-term contract. Instead, we'll earn your business each day.

    If fact, with our 100% Risk Free Guarantee, if you decide to cancel within the first 30 days or 30 minutes of use, we'll waive all charges, and we'll even send you a prepaid mailing label for you to return your phone."

    so if you dont like it, sned hte phone back in the first 30 days!
    tavenger5 likes this.



  3. #3
    n1ckel5
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    wow, a ballsy move from a cell company! big ups to them on that.



  4. #4
    startrekwest
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    Re: Consumer Cellular?

    Hi Susie. I had Consumer Cellular service (AAA) for about a year and a half. The Good News: Their customer service is awesome, there are no contracts whatsoever, and you can't beat the price if you're looking for a simple free phone you can use in emergencies. And they have AAA's phone number preprogrammed as a speed-dial feature, which you can use for free when you need a tow. The Bad News: If you use the phone for anything other than emergencies, it sucks because the coverage was undependable. My plan was only $10 a month (about $12 after taxes, etc.), and I didn't buy "anytime minutes" at all. In other words, at the time, I used the phone ONLY for emergencies, and I was willing to pay 25 cents per minute because I simply didn't talk on cell phones that often. And that sort of thing worked fine. But when I moved cross-country, I started to use the phone a lot, and it sucked because there was never a reliable signal. It seemd to access AT&T service quite frequently, so maybe that speaks for itself. I switched to Verizon Wireless and am relatively happy with it. Of course, now I'm stuck in a contract with a $175 cancellation fee, which is ludicrous. But at leat the signal is dependable in most areas.
    tavenger5 likes this.



  5. #5
    eyc360
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    Re: Consumer Cellular?

    Consumer Cellular cancelled my Verizon service prior to activating my new phone. And, I CAN'T get any help because the Customer Service, IT Support, and Activation departments are closed for the three-day Memorial Day holiday! HORRIBLE experience with Consumer Cellular.



  6. #6
    namratasnv
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    Re: Consumer Cellular?

    I haven't use this service before and would like to get into details for using it.



  7. #7
    kidcharge
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    Re: Consumer Cellular?

    I've had nothing but problems since signing up for consumer cellular. First the good, their customer service is good. Now the bad. The phone they sent me sucked. Icons would disappear from the screen, icons that should have been there weren't, the call log was incorrect. It would say my outgoing calls were incoming and then change to outgoing next time I looked and then back again. As I said, their customer service is good so I called and they sent another phone out right away. It too was bad, in fact it was even worse and it looked as if it was a return. I called again about the replacement phone being even worse than the original and they asked me if I wanted another sent out. I told them no! I feel that they would have just sent out another "return" phone and it would be worse of all. The phone I had was the Samsung A697. DO NOT BUT THAT PHONE. It's nothing but problems. I should also mention that I had a terrible echo on the phone sometimes. Couldn't even talk because I would hear myself in a delayed echo. So to sum it up, customer service is good, the phones are bad, the reception is bad at times. Very unhappy customer.



  8. #8
    avenue
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    Re: Consumer Cellular?

    Quote Originally Posted by kidcharge View Post
    I've had nothing but problems since signing up for consumer cellular. First the good, their customer service is good. Now the bad. The phone they sent me sucked. Icons would disappear from the screen, icons that should have been there weren't, the call log was incorrect. It would say my outgoing calls were incoming and then change to outgoing next time I looked and then back again. As I said, their customer service is good so I called and they sent another phone out right away. It too was bad, in fact it was even worse and it looked as if it was a return. I called again about the replacement phone being even worse than the original and they asked me if I wanted another sent out. I told them no! I feel that they would have just sent out another "return" phone and it would be worse of all. The phone I had was the Samsung A697. DO NOT BUT THAT PHONE. It's nothing but problems. I should also mention that I had a terrible echo on the phone sometimes. Couldn't even talk because I would hear myself in a delayed echo. So to sum it up, customer service is good, the phones are bad, the reception is bad at times. Very unhappy customer.
    Sorry to hear about your bad experience. They didn't give you the option to get another model? I'd think they'd just allow you to switch to a different model that might work better. What provider are you with now?



  9. #9
    Inthehills
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    Re: Consumer Cellular? Glad you asked.

    I'm in Consumer Cellular hell -- bought elderly mom a cell phone from them, big mistake. Beware!

    Although I was the account holder (because I was the purchaser) the billing address entered in the online purchase from was hers.

    No problemo for 5 months. She got her paper bill in the mail, she paid her paper bill through the mail.

    On Month 6 no paper bills show up and I'm getting online pokes to pay the bill.

    Call #1 to customer service, she explains she's the bill payer, please send her the bill she'd pay it. She's assured it will be fine.

    No bill arrives. She sends payment anyway, to the address on previous paper bills.

    Call #2 to customer service, I explain she's the bill payer, please send her the next bill, she'll pay it. I'm assured that if I send them written address correction, it will be fine.

    I do, and it is not.

    Call #3 to customer service: That's me, asking why am I getting emails that "my" bill hasn't been paid. I explain situation; am assured the billing address on the account (which has somehow inexplicably been changed to my address) will be changed back to her address.

    It was not.

    Call #4 to customer service: That's me, AGAIN asking why am I getting emails that "my" bill hasn't been paid. I am assured that this time the billing address WILL be changed back to my mom's address and all will be fine.

    Still not.

    Call #5 to customer service: That's me, AGAIN asking why am I getting emails etc., etc. I am assured that THIS time the billing address will be changed back to my mom's address and all will be fine.

    Now I'm getting testy, and while assuring the nice customer service rep that I know it's not his fault, ASSERT that this needs to be resolved now, or I'm terminating the account. Nice guy says he has changed address back to mom's, etc., etc.

    You know the punchline.

    Things are definitely not fine.

    Call #6 to customer service: That's me, asking why am I NOW getting notices in the snailmail that "my" bill hasn't been paid. I'm furious. Assure the nice customer service rep that I know it's not his fault, then rant. Terminate the account, now.

    He checks with supervisor, definitely has fixed problem this time.

    No, he hasn't, which prompts Call #7- this time they're calling me, and I try to terminate the service, clearly stating I HAVE SPENT WAY TOO MUCH TIME DEALING WITH A SERVICE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SIMPLE.

    Really, can you imagine what would happen if an 84-year-old Luddite had to untangle this mess? No need to imagine, because that's what happened next.

    Call #7 was a "three-way" (sigh) call with customer service, with my mom on hold. Kudos to Marie, who had tried to explain to my mom what was going on (I could have told you, Marie, how far you'd get there) and who reassured me that she could indeed take the account out of my name entirely and put it in my mom's name.

    Hurray, hope at last. Go for it, Marie.

    Call #8: It's Marie. My mom would not divulge any info that would allow Marie to set up the account.

    As I'm talking to Marie, I'm holding the phone with one hand and shoveling manure in the horse corral with the other. The symbolism is not lost on me.

    Marie is lovely, if you're her supervisor and reading this, give her a day off with pay.

    If you're the person at Consumer Cellular responsible for a database that can't get out of its own way, I have a place for you in my corral -- and it isn't on a horse.

    There is a happy ending: The account has been terminated, mom no longer has her hated cellphone, and I have one less thorn in my ass.

    Moral of the story: Stay away, far, far away, from Consumer Cellular.



  10. #10
    EmmaKille
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    Re: Consumer Cellular?

    Quote Originally Posted by Susie View Post
    Anyone familiar with them? Good, bad, ugly? TIA!
    No! I don't know about Consumer Cellular.
    For Mobile Device Management, Enterprise Mobile Apps and Beyond,Mobility Management and the CIO search Enterprise Mobile Hub



  11. #11
    EmmaKille
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    Re: Consumer Cellular?

    Quote Originally Posted by Susie View Post
    Anyone familiar with them? Good, bad, ugly? TIA!
    No! I don't know about Consumer Cellular.
    For Mobile Device Management, Enterprise Mobile Apps and Beyond,Mobility Management and the CIO search Enterprise Mobile Hub



  12. #12
    howjac303
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    Re: Consumer Cellular?

    just got a smart phone and consumer cellular service. have had it about a week. so far no problems and service works fine. in Chicago land.



  13. #13
    avenue
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    Re: Consumer Cellular?

    Quote Originally Posted by howjac303 View Post
    just got a smart phone and consumer cellular service. have had it about a week. so far no problems and service works fine. in Chicago land.
    What plan do you have?



  14. #14
    daveknave
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    Re: Consumer Cellular?

    CONSUMER CELLULAR, STAY AWAY FROM THEM. worst experience ever with a phone service provider.
    consumer cellular disconnected my service without attempting to contact me in any manner available.
    no phone call. no text message. no email. no letter.
    there was a mistake with my payment from my credit card company. it was not indicated on my subsequent billing notice so i had no idea that there was ever a problem. no communication ever attempted by consumer cellular, they shut off my phone instead of contacting me and giving me a chance to fix the problem which i would have done immediately.
    FACT= there is absolutely no online support.(yes, you can view your account online but that is all, there is no actual support online) you must phone them if there is an issue.
    since they turned my phone off without attempting to contact me i found myself looking for a pay phone to call them and find out why they stopped my service in spite of the fact i paid my last billing on time. i swear this is all the absolute truth.
    i made written complaints to the fcc and the state public utilities commission on 10/8/2013
    Last edited by daveknave; 10-09-2013 at 01:55 PM.



  15. #15
    avenue
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    Re: Consumer Cellular?

    Quote Originally Posted by daveknave View Post
    CONSUMER CELLULAR, STAY AWAY FROM THEM. worst experience ever with a phone service provider.
    consumer cellular disconnected my service without attempting to contact me in any manner available.
    no phone call. no text message. no email. no letter.
    there was a mistake with my payment from my credit card company. it was not indicated on my subsequent billing notice so i had no idea that there was ever a problem. no communication ever attempted by consumer cellular, they shut off my phone instead of contacting me and giving me a chance to fix the problem which i would have done immediately.
    FACT= there is absolutely no online support.(yes, you can view your account online but that is all, there is no actual support online) you must phone them if there is an issue.
    since they turned my phone off without attempting to contact me i found myself looking for a pay phone to call them and find out why they stopped my service in spite of the fact i paid my last billing on time. i swear this is all the absolute truth.
    i made written complaints to the fcc and the state public utilities commission on 10/8/2013
    Did you switch to another provider or did you get your service reactivated with them?

    Did they improve and now send emails if there is a problem with payment?



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