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  1. #1
    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?




  2. #2
    Tropical Haven
    Guest

    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.




  3. #3
    JoshIII
    Guest

    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.






  4. #4
    Steve Sobol
    Guest

    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?

    --
    JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
    Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

    "In case anyone was wondering, that big glowing globe above the Victor
    Valley is the sun." -Victorville _Daily Press_ on the unusually large
    amount of rain the Southland has gotten this winter (January 12th, 2005)



  5. #5
    JoshIII
    Guest

    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]





  6. #6

    Re: TracFone Text Messaging - or Not?


    We have Motorola V60i phones and live in northern Colorado. The carrier
    is Verizon.




  7. #7
    JoshIII
    Guest

    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.





  8. #8

    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.




  9. #9

    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.




  10. #10
    JoshIII
    Guest

    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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