Consumer Cellular
Reviews and Complaints

In February I received an email and text stating that I had reached my data limit and my data was going to be slowed. When I looked on the app and online, my data was less that 13 GB, my data limit was 50 GB. When I contacted customer service I was told that there was 37 + GB of data that hadn't been registered and that it could take 24-36 hours to come through, due to storms (which we had not had). Three days later, it still had not come through. In the mean time, I searched for a different service. I had purchased a new iPhone 13 Pro outright, no monthly payments, and went to switch my service to the new company and saw that my phone was locked. I called Consumer Cellular to have it unlocked and was told that the phone has to be on their network for 180 days before they would unlock it. Saying that it doesn't meet the unlocking criteria. So now, I have a $1000 phone that I can't use until July. I could see if I was under a contract and was making monthly payments on the phone but I paid for it outright.

I had a simple question about adding a data plan to my cellphone account. I wanted to email the question, but Consumer Cellular does not list an email contact, so I started a chat instead. I was on a waiting list for two hours to go from number 27 in line to number 8 in line, then they disconnected me and instructed me to reconnect. I did, and went back to number 27 in line. I don't understand why they can't offer an email contact for people who don't have difficult problems and don't need an immediate answer.

I keep receiving notifications about their updates and how my 3g phone will no longer work in the near future and that I need to upgrade. Great... No problem right? So, I finally take a moment and go on to review the phones they have, costs and ect. I notice that they offer the pay full price or easy payment plan... Sounds great and just what I need because I am on a budget but would still like a good quality phone.

I pick everything out but it won't let me choose the payment option.. So, I call customer service explain this to her... She is happy to help. We get through the order and she says and your amout today is (almost) $800. I replied with, I wanted the payment plan. She says that phone doesn't offer it... Well which phone does... We don't have any phone's at this time that do! What? Why? Why do you even offer that as an option? This is not the first time consumer cellular has let me down and honestly I think it's awful. I will be changing companies.

Today, on March 4th, 2022, I once again tried to speak to an actual customer service representative and found it just impossible to do so. I called company at exact minute they were supposed to open. Doing this does you NO good at all! It literally doesn't matter when or what time of the day you call them. Nobody is available, no longer how long you are willing to wait.

My call began at 6:00 AM, PST, and an hour and a-half later, at 7:30 AM, I hung up. In the past, I have waited even as long as two or three hours. Good God. Customers need to attend to things they have to accomplish in their lives on any given day. They should not be forced to wait for hours to speak with somebody and get help.

Now I want to cancel my service with them and honestly don't no how I am going to do this in a reasonable or sane manner. This is the worst service - other than the pathetic, miserable "experts" T-Mobile forces on you - I have ever encountered. Don't waste a minute of your time - let alone hours or days, becoming a Consumer Cellular customer. The company simply doesn't give a damn about you or providing any kind of service. If I could give them a minus 10 I would. Beyond horrible service, made all the more offensive by the fact that they don't give you any service at all!

We have had Consumer Cellular service for years and have been happy until recently when they cut our voice service to our two cell phones. They have been sending us form letters indicating that we need to buy new phones due to the fact that 3G is being phased out to make room for 5G infrastructure. Both our phones are 4G and have worked fine for the past 24 months. Three times after receiving a letter we have gone to Target and had the tech check the phones on all occasions the tech said they are 4G and we we would be fine. On Feb 28th our [protected] (Galaxy Note 8; IMEI [protected]) was shut off of voice service. When we called Consumer Cellular a very rude man said, "we've sent you lots of letters" and pushed to sell us a phone. We said we'd scheduled and appointment at target and he said that when we are done to be sure to call back to buy our new phone via a phone order rather than from Target.

At target the tech called the CC tech folks and gave them both our phone IMEIs and was told neither would work on their net work, The tech said that the older of the two phones (Galaxy S7 edge; IMEI 3577 [protected] 559) was still working. At that point that phone was also shut done.

We are currently shopping two other service providers and have learned that both of the above IMEIs (both 4G) can be supported; they like Consumer Cellular don't have a network and use that of a major carrier. Apparently CC has decided that selling phones takes persistence over providing cell phone service. I plan to file complaints with the FCC and Federal Interstate Trade Agencies, as well as the Better Business Bureau.

Sorry our relationship with CC is ending on this sad note.

I cannot receive or make phone calls. My phone is locked and the messages into your PUK code. I have texted and sent messages but I get no response. Please help!

Spent hrs trying to get ahold of customer service and get disconnected every time after waiting for hr. No luck online or request call back.

Home phone no in or out connection. Wife works from home and I have many bad health conditions and no phone! No customer service. They keep blaming covid for the issues. wonder how long they will keep this BS up?

Also told no more 3g and that maybe my issue but they made me buy a new home box so that better not be the issue!

3-2-22 I have Consumer Cellular cell phone service, I even bought the phone from them. My phone just stopped making and recieving calls. I tried calling them- But they leave me on hold for hours and hours- I tried chat with them- But their chat is down. I got NO notice of any service change, my bill is paid- They let me know NOTHING about If this was going to happen, and now I can't even reach them to get help.

I have been a Loyal customer of there's for over 5 or 6 years now, and have Never ghad any problems. They continue to take the payment out of my credit card, But I can Not use phone or even get a hold of them to find out why.

Please help

cannot log on - your system rejects my cellphone number when I enter it: [protected] (get an error message that this number does exist). I am tired of not being able to log on with my email, phone number, password, or pin number. All are rejected again and again, and I work from 6am to 6pm every weekday so am unable to contact you on the phone during these hours. Any suggestions or help? Virginia Stone (Also, was treated very poorly last month by your customer service agent who had me holding for over 40 mins and then cut me off after collecting my payment.)

Tried 4 times to activate Sim Card to transfer service to them. Web site failed, says to call customer service. Spent one hour and 15 min. on hold listening to same bad music and promos, never did get to speak to anyone.

If this is any indication of their service I'll have to stick with old carrier.

Don't say go to our web site if it doesn't work and don't sell a product if your people can't support it or make it function.

AARP should not endorse this company or its service.

When I bought a smartphone In Jan of 2022 they added $5 to my bill, Which was a Autopay/ eivoice/Opt-out fee. I knew nothing about this fee! Every month I called to get this feet dropped. But in February I called a supervisor by the name of Anna, She kept overtaking me and was rude as hell!. She told me that I had that fee because I wasn't in auto pay or or a lot Is paperless billing. I told her I've had service since October of last year and I had not had this extra $5 fee. Why was I charged as soon as I bought a smartphone? Of course she didn't hear my question because she overtalked me! There is no reason for them sneak fees this is that I know nothing about. I requested a different supervisor and she said that there was no other supervisor! After waiting a 1/2 hour to talk to her I'm forced to hang up and call back! Refuse to pay Xtra fees!

To whom it may concern on September the 1st I changed my phone company and I told single wireless to close my account I had a balance of $30 and I paid the $30 the next month they said that I owe $10 and I just got a paper in the mail that went up to $26 consumer Cellular is price gouging and they have no sympathy for the people going through the pandemic I would like for them to stop sending papers that I owe and take the $26 off my account and leave me in peace thank you

I am not able to contact Consumer Cellular via phone, email, or message.

My account is flagged eg when I phone the phone rings then cuts off after 2 rings, or when I get through I
am unable to use the call back service.

Yesterday I called and no one knew about the (All in one sim card free)” not even the supervisor.

This is not the first time l was ignored. but this is my first time I am reporting it. If you need a more detailed report I can provide it.

It’s about three hours since I sent an email and I have not received a response.

they are leaving us on hold forever even when we are having phone technical problems ! we have network connection problems but are getting no help from customer service - have been trying to get help for last 24 hours!

The phone is absolute garbage but worse yet is trying to get help from them-after a 2 hour wait I hung up and called the sales department thinking they may be able to help-well I was unlucky enough to get a rep named tyler whom I wish he worked for me-rude-nasty - abusive and down right rude then he hung up-this is the 3rd time I was treated like garbage by their employees and this place should be closed down instead of promoting claims which are sure not good in my case

When the contract expires I will switch — any one needing service I for sure would not go to consumer cellular

after being on hold for more than an hour a gentleman with a very heavy accent answered. i asked if he was in the us and he said no. he took my name and put me on hold but after 10 mins never came back on line.
why are you claiming to have 100% US based customer service?
why are you allowing hold times of over an hour?
who is the idiot in your corporation who decided to make these changes to your customer service?

I purchased a Consumer Cellular Link II phone. The phone drops the call I am on when I get a call waiting call. The keys double type digits which makes it very difficult to make calls. CC international calling system does not work so I have to dial a 11 digit number and then input the 11 digit number I am trying to call. With the keys double typing it has taken me two to three minutes to make these calls. On top of the above problems I can not contact their customer service to resolve the problem. They just don't pick up, and their live chat line isn't working. There is just no way to send them a message.

Back in February of 2021, I purchased a iPhone XR for an Est. of $350.00 cost. I then made two payments of $70.00 and $77.41 on the 19th of Feb. 2021. Then on March 16th, 2021, I paid $218.81 to settle the cost of my phone. Can someone please tell me why then should I be charged for an installment plan of $20.00 every month up until now? On speaking to an agent I was informed that the $218.81 was placed toward a bill and not to the balance of the phone. These payments were made since then ...April 14/2021-$65.50...May 17/2021-$29.96...June 17/2021-$39.92...July 23/2021-$51.73...Sept 17/2021-$50.00...Oct 12/2021-$102.22...Nov 19/2021-$76.02. I need some sort of explanation as to why This mistake was made and why am I still making installment payments and shouldn't I have been credited for some of those payments which I made after making that $218.81 Payment Something is not right. Looking forward to a prompt reply.
Ms. Verne Alleyne-Leconte [protected]) Copy (1)
Bank ending in ...8857 HSBC

I have not been receiving any email usage alerts. I have it set for both email and text for 50% and 75% usage finally received 1 text after 83% usage but no email. So, I got online and changed the alert set up just so I could save it again then I received an email. Now will wait to see if this resolved the problem. Almost impossible to get a real person in the "award winning service" without waiting >15 minutes and being 75 in the "chat" facility. Also their annoying chatter about how great they are while waiting they could at least play soothing music? Maybe jd power has lowered their standards giving them awards?
They were great when I first joined but now like all great businesses after they grow customer service does not keep up.