Post by LynRogers on May 7, 2011 18:00:09 GMT -8
My family and I use Tracfone's prepaid cell phones.
When we first started looking into getting cell phones, we asked around the area and received mixed messages. Some people received good reception, some people didn't receive ANY reception. When buying a cell phone, it's felt like hit-n-miss. Maybe this one will work, maybe it won't. Will it be a waste of money? or worth the expense?
Recently I had to get my daughter a new phone because hers wouldn't hold a charge anymore. We bought her another Tracfone, so her number, minutes, and time would carry over to the new phone. After all was said and done....her phone didn't get reception at home, nor up to the bus stop, nor anywhere else in this area. I called Tracfone a few times to try to get the problem solved. Each time I'd spend over an hour on the phone, then we'd go through a lengthy process of punching in numbers, and then I'd be told to give them 24+ hours to...I dunno what. Each time, no change in getting service here. It's frustrating. Two tracfone's work here at home, but her brand new one doesn't?? argh. What good is a phone that doesn't work when/where we need it?
So for a few months I've been considering trying another phone for her. But the whole hit-n-miss thing was bugging me out.
Friday, at Fred Meyers in Bellingham, I saw one of Tracfone's "updated" phones. $30...I debated with myself a bit, but went ahead and bought it. Yet at home, I hesitated on opening it. Would it work? Did I just waste $30? Should I return it unopened?
In frustration I tried to find info about it online. It wasn't until about 2 hours ago that I finally came across some helpful information.
pbush14.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/tracfone-and-net10-sim-card-info/
&
pbush14.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/more-tracfone-and-net10-sim-card-info/
I checked the Tracfones that work. Their SIM numbers start with 890141. According to the second link above, that means that those phones use AT&T.
Then I checked the phone that doesn't work. It's SIM number starts with 890126. Which would mean that it's using T-Mobile.
Then I checked the bottom of the package for the new phone (where the barcode scanning is). It had TFLG500GP4DM on it. TF means tracfone I think. LG500G is the phone model. P4 tells me that it has an AT&T SIM card inside. (dunno what DM means)
So, could the problem be the difference in carriers? Tonight the new phone is charging up. Tomorrow I'll go through the process of transferring the number, minutes, and time. So Monday, hopefully, I'll find out.
It would be relieving to know if this is the issue, and now how to avoid running into the same issue again. I'll post an update when I find out yay or nay.
When we first started looking into getting cell phones, we asked around the area and received mixed messages. Some people received good reception, some people didn't receive ANY reception. When buying a cell phone, it's felt like hit-n-miss. Maybe this one will work, maybe it won't. Will it be a waste of money? or worth the expense?
Recently I had to get my daughter a new phone because hers wouldn't hold a charge anymore. We bought her another Tracfone, so her number, minutes, and time would carry over to the new phone. After all was said and done....her phone didn't get reception at home, nor up to the bus stop, nor anywhere else in this area. I called Tracfone a few times to try to get the problem solved. Each time I'd spend over an hour on the phone, then we'd go through a lengthy process of punching in numbers, and then I'd be told to give them 24+ hours to...I dunno what. Each time, no change in getting service here. It's frustrating. Two tracfone's work here at home, but her brand new one doesn't?? argh. What good is a phone that doesn't work when/where we need it?
So for a few months I've been considering trying another phone for her. But the whole hit-n-miss thing was bugging me out.
Friday, at Fred Meyers in Bellingham, I saw one of Tracfone's "updated" phones. $30...I debated with myself a bit, but went ahead and bought it. Yet at home, I hesitated on opening it. Would it work? Did I just waste $30? Should I return it unopened?
In frustration I tried to find info about it online. It wasn't until about 2 hours ago that I finally came across some helpful information.
pbush14.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/tracfone-and-net10-sim-card-info/
&
pbush14.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/more-tracfone-and-net10-sim-card-info/
I checked the Tracfones that work. Their SIM numbers start with 890141. According to the second link above, that means that those phones use AT&T.
Then I checked the phone that doesn't work. It's SIM number starts with 890126. Which would mean that it's using T-Mobile.
Then I checked the bottom of the package for the new phone (where the barcode scanning is). It had TFLG500GP4DM on it. TF means tracfone I think. LG500G is the phone model. P4 tells me that it has an AT&T SIM card inside. (dunno what DM means)
So, could the problem be the difference in carriers? Tonight the new phone is charging up. Tomorrow I'll go through the process of transferring the number, minutes, and time. So Monday, hopefully, I'll find out.
It would be relieving to know if this is the issue, and now how to avoid running into the same issue again. I'll post an update when I find out yay or nay.
