Consumer Cellular..

[goofyernmost]

Has anyone used Consumer Cellular? If so give me the good, bad and ugly. I have just been quoted $19.00 per month compared tp $70.00 per month with T-Mobile.

 

[_19disnA]

Curious to hear from those who have used them. See them advertise a lot on TV. That price sounds too good to be true. Wonder if there are issues with sound quality or coverage areas?

 

[dcassetta]

We have had consumer cellular for about four years now and think the service is just fine. Be aware that the cheapest rate includes very little data, but that may not matter to you. If you go over your data for the month they just automatically bump you up to the next tier which is about 10 extra dollars. I would say the one big drawback to consumer cellular is that there is no way to add an international plan at all, so if you travel overseas there is no way to use your phone as an actual phone.

 

[2goofycampers]

We have had them for 2 years without problems. We have the same quality phone and data we did with Verizon. Their customer service is great.

 

[DisneyHardin]

My parents switched to Consumer Cellular a few years ago and have been pleased - it is MUCH less expensive than what they had before.

 

[kdonnel]

For all the MVNO you have to research who’s network they are reselling. Then determine if the coverage of that provider is good in the areas you live and visit.

Consumer Cellular is primarily AT&T but a few areas are sold as T-Mobile.

MVNO traffic is usually prioritized below the regular traffic but that only matters if the area is congested.

The real question is does the minute, text, and data pricing really work out cheaper for your usage?

 

[fla4fun]

Make sure you read the fine print carefully so you are comparing apples to apples between companies, especially when it comes to data. Most companies will offer unlimited calls/minutes, and most offer unlimited texts, but when you get into ultra low cost plans you may find there are limits. It gets more complicated when you add data to the mix. Does the data expire each month or does any unused data roll over to the next month? If you get more than one line, is everything pooled and shared between the phones or does each person get their own allotment.

I have not used Consumer Cellular, so I cannot comment on them specifically. If it were me, my first step would be to read as many online reviews as I can find, looking for repeated complaints about the same topic. I look for things such as, do they get a lot of complaints about coverage, or service, or billing. I tend to take negative reviews with a grain of salt, but they can be helpful at uncovering overall issues with a company.

Good luck with your search!

 

[PollyannaMom]

DH's parents switched and had a ton of problems. I think they've finally got it all straightened out, but I wouldn't chance it.

 

[Miffy]

If you don't need unlimited data, I'd recommend PureTalk, which is what I have. I have the lowest-tier plan with unlimited talk and text and 2 GB of data. Even with heavy data use during a WDW vacay, I've never exceeded the 2 GBs. It's $20 + tax, so for me the total is about $22.50/month. They have other plans with more data, also reasonably priced, and their unlimited data plan is only $55/month.

I have my own phone--altho they sell phones--but I prefer it this way.

I had Consumer Cellular a few years ago and ditched it immediately, although I don't remember why.

The PureTalk rates are less than CC's, btw. I just looked.

PureTalk runs on the AT&T network.

I have no affiliation with them, btw! I'm just a customer.

 

[disneyseniors]

If you don't need unlimited data, I'd recommend PureTalk, which is what I have. I have the lowest-tier plan with unlimited talk and text and 2 GB of data. Even with heavy data use during a WDW vacay, I've never exceeded the 2 GBs. It's $20 + tax, so for me the total is about $22.50/month. They have other plans with more data, also reasonably priced, and their unlimited data plan is only $55/month.

I have my own phone--altho they sell phones--but I prefer it this way.

I had Consumer Cellular a few years ago and ditched it immediately, although I don't remember why.

The PureTalk rates are less than CC's, btw. I just looked.

PureTalk runs on the AT&T network.

I have no affiliation with them, btw! I'm just a customer.

Just a quick question about PureTalk. Have you traveled a good distance (across a few states) and have you had trouble with coverage? I have CC and I took a trip of 1000 miles and I didn't have decent coverage at all - not on the long trip or at our destination, which is near a huge capital city. I am not impressed at all, and am going to check out puretalk or go to verizon.
Our package costs $24 a month for 2 gb and unlimited date; however, it's no use if it doesn't work as it should.

 

[Miffy]

Just a quick question about PureTalk. Have you traveled a good distance (across a few states) and have you had trouble with coverage? I have CC and I took a trip of 1000 miles and I didn't have decent coverage at all - not on the long trip or at our destination, which is near a huge capital city. I am not impressed at all, and am going to check out puretalk or go to verizon.
Our package costs $24 a month for 2 gb and unlimited date; however, it's no use if it doesn't work as it should.

I haven't been across the country with it. It certainly works in Orlando and all over the Northeast. I've had trouble with coverage only in places where basically no one has coverage, like in parts of the Catskills.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Dad and I had Consumer Cellular on a family plan years ago. At first, when we had basic flip phones, our experience with customer service couldn't have been better. I remember they took a lot of time, and we did get, then, a good deal. Eventually, the flip phone was no longer supported, and we got our first smartphones. Honestly, I don't remember what happened other than not too long afterwards, we needed new phones. That was when we began having trouble with their customer service. Eventually, we were blessed to get a great family plan deal through Verizon. Have had some trouble over the years with a couple prepaid smartphone choices because the phones turned out to not truly being new as described but reconditioned. This, of course, was not Verizon's fault.

As others have said, I would research carefully and also ask others in your area who their phone provider is to give you a better idea of coverage and plans. A big factor, too, of course, is how you use the phone. I use mine 80% of the time for talking only. The other 20% to look at pictures sent to me by text or taken by me, texting, and very brief email checks. No gaming or video watching or chatting, etc. I also turn off mobile data and just use free Wi-Fi so data is not a concern for me the way I know it is for most people.

I currently am happy with a prepaid Samsung Galaxy A13 phone that I got from Best Buy. The one "catch" to this phone (I had no idea) is that you will need to separately purchase (at least I did) a USB C to USB charger to be able to plug it into the wall to charge. Also, if you want to be able to plug the phone into your computer to upload pictures taken on it, you'll need a second extra gadget to do this. Gotten around this cost because my dad has the older type of charger. Any photos I take on my phone that I want to see on the computer, I can send to his cell phone, save it to the phone, and then upload away.

Prayers you find both a good phone and service that works well for you

 

[tvguy]

We have had consumer cellular for about four years now and think the service is just fine. Be aware that the cheapest rate includes very little data, but that may not matter to you. If you go over your data for the month they just automatically bump you up to the next tier which is about 10 extra dollars. I would say the one big drawback to consumer cellular is that there is no way to add an international plan at all, so if you travel overseas there is no way to use your phone as an actual phone.

Data could certainly be something to look at. Everyone I know that has Consumer Cellular loves it, but I think an awful lot of those folks use their phone........as a phone only. Remember Consumers primary market, older folks like me that need a full sized key board and a 17 inch monitor for surfing the web. Data use on our phones is in an emergency only.

 

[cvjw]

Has anyone used Consumer Cellular? If so give me the good, bad and ugly. I have just been quoted $19.00 per month compared tp $70.00 per month with T-Mobile.

How many people on your phone plan? We have AT&T unlimited elite and it is only $40 per month, per line for 4 phones - can’t believe that T- mobile is $70 per month. We have yet to travel to an area where we didn’t have great cell coverage with AT&T.

 

[kdonnel]

How many people on your phone plan? We have AT&T unlimited elite and it is only $40 per month, per line for 4 phones - can’t believe that T- mobile is $70 per month. We have yet to travel to an area where we didn’t have great cell coverage with AT&T.

Like the marriage penalty and taxes, single people don't get the great deal on cell phone plans that family plans offer.

In the post paid plan world:
AT&T offers a single line plan for $50.
T-Mobile offers a single line plan for $45.
Verizon offers a single line plan for $65.

The plans above generally do not include taxes, fees, hotspot, or streaming services.

There used to be services that would match strangers together for family plans. Seemed risky to me.

Shopping for a cell phone plan is so complicated.

 

[_19disnA]

TV ads tend to oversimplify your phone options. Where you live, how you use your phone and where you typically call makes a difference. The answer isn't a one size fits all approach. Be sure to check on what it will cost going forward AFTER the low intro rate has expired. If you get poor sound quality, get frequently cut off or have trouble getting a line, then it really doesn't matter what bargain price they charge. Good customer service doesn't matter if you frequently have trouble making calls to those you talk with most.

 

[tvguy]

Like the marriage penalty and taxes, single people don't get the great deal on cell phone plans that family plans offer.

In the post paid plan world:
AT&T offers a single line plan for $50.
T-Mobile offers a single line plan for $45.
Verizon offers a single line plan for $65.

The plans above generally do not include taxes, fees, hotspot, or streaming services.

There used to be services that would match strangers together for family plans. Seemed risky to me.

Shopping for a cell phone plan is so complicated.

I pay $42 per line for Verizon, no idea what if any discount I get because I have 2 lines. I have the Verizon Small Plan. Unlimited talk and texts, 2 gb shared data with carryover. We did some trips last month and used Google Maps a lot, so used 1.2gb of data last month.

 

[kdonnel]

I pay $42 per line for Verizon, no idea what if any discount I get because I have 2 lines. I have the Verizon Small Plan. Unlimited talk and texts, 2 gb shared data with carryover. We did some trips last month and used Google Maps a lot, so used 1.2gb of data last month.

You pay for two lines, a family plan.

I posted the current lowest price listed on their page for single line post paid plans.

 

[ICF]

My family of 4 has had them for years.....and haven't had any issues. You can adjust the data portion of the plan to meet you / your familys need

 

[goofyernmost]

How many people on your phone plan? We have AT&T unlimited elite and it is only $40 per month, per line for 4 phones - can’t believe that T- mobile is $70 per month. We have yet to travel to an area where we didn’t have great cell coverage with AT&T.

just one phone.