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- 02-26-2005, 03:57 PM #1Guest
My wife and I bought identical Motorola TracFones in the fall. We
happily text messaged for a month or so, until one day her phone
refused to send or receive messages any more. After several fruitless
calls to their support, she exchanged it for an identical phone at
Wal-Mart. Once we got that activated, we found that everything worked
fine except TM. Calling TracFone again, we were told that they don't
offer TM in our area, which is a little odd since she had it before and
since my phone still has it, working just fine.
TracFone never gave my wife a satisfactory answer on this. Does anyone
have a clue what they are up to? TM is prominently listed on the box as
one of their features. Is it so, or is it not?
› See More: TracFone Text Messaging - or Not?
- 02-26-2005, 05:43 PM #2Tropical HavenGuest
Re: TracFone Text Messaging - or Not?
> My wife and I bought identical Motorola TracFones in the fall. We
> happily text messaged for a month or so, until one day her phone
> refused to send or receive messages any more. After several fruitless
> calls to their support, she exchanged it for an identical phone at
> Wal-Mart. Once we got that activated, we found that everything worked
> fine except TM. Calling TracFone again, we were told that they don't
> offer TM in our area, which is a little odd since she had it before and
> since my phone still has it, working just fine.
>
> TracFone never gave my wife a satisfactory answer on this. Does anyone
> have a clue what they are up to? TM is prominently listed on the box as
> one of their features. Is it so, or is it not?
>
What model phone is it and where do you live? TracFone offers many
models of phones using several networks, including Verizon's CDMA
network, Cingular's TDMA network, and Cingular's GSM network. TracFone
does not operate its own network, but relies on coverage via roaming
partners. Especially if it is a TDMA phone, the problem could lie with
the network operator. Most TDMA networks are upgrading to GSM, and some
are upgrading to CDMA. With TDMA and CDMA, features are not standard,
and roaming is not seamless. GSM roaming is seamless.
Here is a scenario which happened last year. In the Tampa, Florida
area, Cingular operated a TDMA network in the 1900 mHz band. However,
Cingular is upgrading to GSM. Because Cingular did not have enough
spectrum (airwave license) to support both technologies, on June 25th
the TDMA was shut off and GSM went live. Although TDMA coverage is
still available (through the AT&T Wireless network, as this was before
the merger), perhaps text messaging wasn't supported on that network for
TracFone users.
If your phone is CDMA, you may not be able to use all digital features
in your area, as only making and receiving voice calls are standard on CDMA.
- 02-26-2005, 07:29 PM #3JoshIIIGuest
Re: TracFone Text Messaging - or Not?
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My wife and I bought identical Motorola TracFones in the fall. We
> happily text messaged for a month or so, until one day her phone
> refused to send or receive messages any more. After several fruitless
> calls to their support, she exchanged it for an identical phone at
> Wal-Mart. Once we got that activated, we found that everything worked
> fine except TM. Calling TracFone again, we were told that they don't
> offer TM in our area, which is a little odd since she had it before and
> since my phone still has it, working just fine.
>
> TracFone never gave my wife a satisfactory answer on this. Does anyone
> have a clue what they are up to? TM is prominently listed on the box as
> one of their features. Is it so, or is it not?
>
What model TracFones do you and your wife have and what carrier are they
currently using? To find out just call 611 and listen to the automated
message.
I have three TracFones:
Nokia 5180i - CDMA - Verizon carrier - Text messaging works flawlessly.
Nokia 5180i - CDMA - Alltel carrier - Text messaging works good. Can send
text messages fine, but unable to send email from phone.
Nokia 1100 - GSM - Cingular carrier - Text messaging works flawlessly.
If TracFone customer service is not helpful on re-establishing your text
messaging capability, I would call your carrier's customer service and
complain. Do not mention you have a TracFone, just tell the carrier's
customer service representative your cellphone number. They might tell you
why they turned your text messaging off, then you can tell TracFone customer
service about it.
Hope this helps!
JoshIII
[email protected]
Activating a new or refurbed TracFone soon?
Be sure to get a referral (by email) from another
TracFone user and you'll both receive 100 FREE
minutes airtime. TracFone uses Alltel, Verizon,
Cingular, AT&T, and Suncom wireless networks, just
to name a few! I've been a TracFone user for 3.5 years.
- 02-26-2005, 08:43 PM #4Steve SobolGuest
Re: TracFone Text Messaging - or Not?
JoshIII wrote:
> If TracFone customer service is not helpful on re-establishing your text
> messaging capability, I would call your carrier's customer service and
> complain. Do not mention you have a TracFone, just tell the carrier's
> customer service representative your cellphone number. They might tell you
> why they turned your text messaging off, then you can tell TracFone customer
> service about it.
Sounds like a good idea, but wouldn't they try to look up the phone number and
realize he's not one of their direct customers and direct him to Tracfone anyway?
--
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- 02-26-2005, 10:56 PM #5JoshIIIGuest
Re: TracFone Text Messaging - or Not?
"Steve Sobol" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> > JoshIII wrote:
> > If TracFone customer service is not helpful on re-establishing your text
> > messaging capability, I would call your carrier's customer service and
> > complain. Do not mention you have a TracFone, just tell the carrier's
> > customer service representative your cellphone number. They might tell
you
> > why they turned your text messaging off, then you can tell TracFone
customer
> > service about it.
>
> Steve responded:
> Sounds like a good idea, but wouldn't they try to look up the phone number
and
> realize he's not one of their direct customers and direct him to Tracfone
anyway?
>
Josh III response to the response:
For example: About 9 months ago, a friend had a TracFone that uses the
Verizon carrier. Their text messaging did not work from the minute they
activated their TracFone, so I called Verizon customer service about it for
them.
Verizon customer service knew instantly the TracFone number was not their
"direct customer" or a regular account, but they had no indication what
account was for. The Verizon customer service guy asked if it was a
government account.
All I asked them was if they could tell me if the text messaging function
was switched on or off for this cellphone number. The Verizon customer
service guy could not see any details about the TracFone account, so in this
case, calling Verizon customer service was not helpful.
This took place 9 month ago, I'm sure things have changed since. This was
the way Verizon customer service handled TracFone accounts at the time, i.e.
they wre retricted from being able to call up any details.
For my own TracFone that uses Alltel carrier, I submitted a problem ticket
via their customer service website concerning a problem I was having not
being able to send text messages to an email address. Alltel customer
service responded as if I was one of their regular customers. They never
could resolve the problem saying it was probably with my equipment. A week
later I deactvated with Alltel, and re-activated with Verizon and all my
text messaging problems went away.
Bottomline: If the original poster's (walterb@cheeta... ) carrier is
Verizon, then more than likely its a simple matter of getting TracFone
customer service to call them about switching text messaging back on.
If their TracFone is using Alltel, Cingular, or Verizon, their text
messaging function should work.
JoshIII
[email protected]
- 02-27-2005, 01:53 PM #6Guest
Re: TracFone Text Messaging - or Not?
We have Motorola V60i phones and live in northern Colorado. The carrier
is Verizon.
- 02-28-2005, 09:23 AM #7JoshIIIGuest
Re: TracFone Text Messaging - or Not?
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> We have Motorola V60i phones and live in northern Colorado. The carrier
> is Verizon.
From my experience and what I know about TracFones that use the Verizon
carrier, your SMS and email function *SHOULD* work flawlessly.
I have two Nokia 5180i TracFones that use the Verizon carrier, and I have
years of experience using both together. Each one sends text messages
perfectly everywhere there is a digital signal (CDMA).
You might try visiting a Verizon regional store, then their technical
services department in your area (not a Verizon kiosk in the middle of the
sidwalk) and ask them why your text messaging was working, but not any more.
If that doesn't work,
Then call TracFone customer service one more time. Mention to customer
service others you have talked to with TracFones that use the Verizon
carrier have never had problems with their text messaging function.
If that doesn't work,
Go to www.planetfeedback.com and then to the TracFone complaints area and
post your complaint. The TracFone Executive Resolutions Department in Miami
will call you within a day or two of your post. They will be able to
resolve your problem to your satisfaction. Otherwise call or write TracFone
direct at:
http://www.tracfone.com/contact.jsp?...p&task=contact
Got a question? Need more information? Have a Suggestion or Complaint?
This is the place.
Just complete the information below, call us at 1-800-867-7183 or write us
at:
TracFone Wireless, Inc.
Attention: Executive Resolution Department
8390 N.W. 25th Street
Miami, FL 33122
For California Only:
California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) number
for TracFone Wireless, Inc.: U-4231
California Public Utilities Commission
Consumer Affairs Branch
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone Number: 1-800-649-7570* or TDD 1-800-229-6846
www.cpuc.ca.gov
*Please be advised that the 1-800 number is an intrastate toll-free number
and will not work from locations outside California.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties, for faster service simply
click the "technical support" navigation button on the left of your screen.
Hope this helps!
JoshIII
[email protected]
Activating a new or refurbed TracFone soon?
Be sure to get a referral (by email) from another
TracFone user and you'll both receive 100 FREE
minutes airtime. TracFone uses Alltel, Verizon,
Cingular, AT&T, and Suncom wireless networks, just
to name a few! I've been a TracFone user for 4 years.
- 03-01-2005, 10:35 AM #8Guest
Re: TracFone Text Messaging - or Not?
I want to thank you for your suggestions. I'll follow up with these
tactics and see what I can get done.
- 03-09-2005, 11:11 AM #9Guest
Re: TracFone Text Messaging - or Not?
After getting nowhere with TracFone or Verizon, I tried PlanetFeedback.
I got a call back from TracFone the same day, and they were able to
resolve the problem. It took about an hour on the phone. My wife had to
get a new phone number with the same prefix as mine has. They also
transferred the minutes she had purchased for her old phone over to the
new one.
In other words, they had the answers all along. They just refused to
give them to us until we were angry enough. Kudos to the folks who
finally helped me, thumbs down to TracFone's overall level of service
and their attitude toward same.
Thanks to all on this group who gave us advice.
- 03-09-2005, 01:41 PM #10JoshIIIGuest
Re: TracFone Text Messaging - or Not?
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> After getting nowhere with TracFone or Verizon, I tried PlanetFeedback.
> I got a call back from TracFone the same day, and they were able to
> resolve the problem. It took about an hour on the phone. My wife had to
> get a new phone number with the same prefix as mine has. They also
> transferred the minutes she had purchased for her old phone over to the
> new one.
>
> In other words, they had the answers all along. They just refused to
> give them to us until we were angry enough. Kudos to the folks who
> finally helped me, thumbs down to TracFone's overall level of service
> and their attitude toward same.
>
> Thanks to all on this group who gave us advice.
>
Cellphone technology and its systems (including your cellphone) are complex.
Its hard to troubleshoot any problem where its not entirely clear if the
fault is with a defective phone, carrier side issues (Cingular, Verizon,
etc.), or TracFone's responsibility.
I've had text messaging problems with two separate TracFone 5180i models,
that were never directly resolved. They were both resolved indirectly
however.
Executive Resolutions Department just sent me a new 5180i to resolve the
first issue. With the second issue, it was resolved was after switching
carriers.
With the first issue, I thought TracFone had not given me the right
programming codes for my phone. As it turned out, the real reason was the
phone had a slight defect in its internal program that could not be fixed.
Executive Resolutions Department just sent me a new 5180i (mine was out of
warrantly). You really can't ask for better service than that in this
case.
The second issue I took up directly with the carrier. They tried some
things, but were never able resolved the issue. By switching carriers the
following week, the issue was cleared up instantly.
So in the later case the phone was not defective, but the carrier was
claiming it was.
I had to go through a good bit of grief in both instances. Through
trial-and-error and many weeks, both issues were resolved to my
satisfaction.
Again, complex systems are simply hard to trouble shoot.
It really helps to know the answer, or else have a pretty good idea of
choices before you ask any question with any customer service department,
not just TracFone.
Most issues I've ever had can be and are resolved by TracFone customer
service. I've had three TracFones in the past 4 years.
Normally, issues you have to resolve with a new activation are not the same
issues you have later on.
Glad you got your issue resolved!
JoshIII
upstate south carolina
[email protected]
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