I lost my 15+ yr old phone number last night. Gone forever thanks to Tracfone. - Page 1

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - I lost my 15+ yr old phone number last night. Gone forever thanks to Tracfone. (Page 1 of 4)

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:14:24 PM EDT

My phone number is my lifeline. From account authorizations, medical reminders family, and friends. The biggy is its on my business card and even plastered all over the Internet.

I woke up this morning and had no mobile phone service from Tracfone. The only evidence of trouble was a text from TracFone regarding an account verification number from last night. After two attempts I was locked out of my email verification. Was on the phone for over 6 1/2 hrs with 9+ Service reps. At the end of the day I have a new phone number. If you call my old number you get a voicemail with my voice yet I have no way to retrieve it. I was told to send a certified letter to their corporate office in Miami and not call them back or try to email them. This is disastrous for my service-based business. I had Straight Talk for over 12 years without an issue. I switched to an Annual Plan with Tracfone last November thinking the mother company would be a safe bet. Man was I wrong.
Does anyone know anybody with the FCC, Tracfone or the Attorney Generals' office or anyone else that could help resolve this shit show?

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:15:41 PM EDT

[#1]

Maybe don't use Tracfone? I don’t trust these fly by night carriers and prefer Verizon. Zero issues in over 24 years.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:15:59 PM EDT

[#2]

Did someone gain access to your account or was it just killed by Trackfone?

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:16:55 PM EDT

[#3]

I would just pick a different cell provider and have them port your number over to them.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:17:53 PM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
Did someone gain access to your account or was it just killed by Trackfone?

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This. You left out some important information.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:17:55 PM EDT

[#5]

Jesus Christ, please tell me this is a joke of some kind.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:18:27 PM EDT

[#6]

I'm shocked that when picking a budget service provider they don't provide better service.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:19:59 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
Did someone gain access to your account or was it just killed by Trackfone?

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Was told at one time that it was a system glitch. I wonder if they got some outside fuckery in their system. I can access my online account with Straight Talk and Tracfone but unable to access or edit any security credentials.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:20:02 PM EDT

[#8]

I’ve had the same number since 1997 when I started driving to school after getting my permit.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:20:09 PM EDT

[#9]

You get what you pay for.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:20:28 PM EDT

[#10]

That sucks. I've had my phone number for over 20 years so I know what you're going through.

doesn't help the OP but this is exactly what I mean when I tell people to stick with the big 3 providers.. yes you pay more but when you need CS you can usually get what you need.

The problem with tea phone and the other service resellers is they are not the people in charge and their contracts with their primary network won't let you talk to the people in charge of your network.

What was the reason they gave for the issue

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:20:44 PM EDT

[#11]

What the fuck? Who runs a business with a tracfone (other than drug dealers and pimps)?

Attached File

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:22:24 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:

This. You left out some important information.

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Did someone gain access to your account or was it just killed by Trackfone?

This. You left out some important information.

No one knows.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:22:59 PM EDT

[#13]

Good luck, they did that to me a decade ago.

Sent letters, got BBB involved (yeah they're useless), and tried contacting the state AG office (didn't care) to try and get leverage to get my number back.

Got a one month credit for the inconvenience and never got my number back.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:23:06 PM EDT

[#14]

30 years ago VA split off some area codes, we lived in a "new" area code. They linked the old area code to the new area code so both would ring the same house, landline era. Years later I had a cell phone. They sold the same number on the "old" area code to someone else, we were basically sharing a cell phone. That one took a while to straighten out

I wouldn't trust my phone or my business to a pay by the hour phone company. A kid at work pays annually, he has problems with service constantly. No thanks.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:25:35 PM EDT

[#15]

Arent tracfones burner phones for criminals?

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:26:54 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
What the fuck? Who runs a business with a tracfone (other than drug dealers and pimps)?
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/138374/zoomin-428901-768826.gif

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Some Tracfone phones run off of Verizon towers. Many many years of multiple phone upgrades without an issue, now this. Unbelievable!!!

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:28:33 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
I've had my phone number for over 20 years so I know what you're going through.

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I just realized I’ve had my number for 20 years now. Moved to my current area in Florida just over 20 years ago. Time flies.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:28:34 PM EDT

[#18]

I've been using TracFone for years with no problems.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:28:48 PM EDT

[#19]

Tracfone's main customers routinely want new numbers. They probably aren't used to servicing someone that wants to recover one.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:32:24 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
Maybe don't use Tracfone? I don’t trust these fly by night carriers and prefer Verizon. Zero issues in over 24 years.

View Quote

LMAO!

In 2021, Verizon acquired TracFone Wireless, Inc. from Mexico-based América Móvil (owner of Claro) in a deal worth up to $6.9 billion, involving 20 million subscribers. The deal was approved by the Federal Communications Commission on November 22, 2021, and closed the following day.[4][5][1]

In 2022, the TracFone portfolio of brands, including Straight Talk, Safelink, and Total by Verizon, became part of the Verizon Value organization, led by Angie Klein.[6] The organization is part of Verizon's Consumer Group and houses its value and prepaid brands.[7]

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:34:20 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
I'm shocked that when picking a budget service provider they don't provide better service.

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I know if my livelihood depended on my cell service I would pick the one created for hood rats and single moms on welfare.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:36:40 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:

LMAO!

In 2021, Verizon acquired TracFone Wireless, Inc. from Mexico-based Am rica M vil (owner of Claro) in a deal worth up to $6.9 billion, involving 20 million subscribers. The deal was approved by the Federal Communications Commission on November 22, 2021, and closed the following day.[4][5][1]

In 2022, the TracFone portfolio of brands, including Straight Talk, Safelink, and Total by Verizon, became part of the Verizon Value organization, led by Angie Klein.[6] The organization is part of Verizon's Consumer Group and houses its value and prepaid brands.[7]

View Quote

Yup, a man does not have a chance today running a business. Let's buy out the competition and run their subsidiaries into the ground PRONTO. Meanwhile, the FTC and the FCC is chasing their tail.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:38:07 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:

LMAO!

In 2021, Verizon acquired TracFone Wireless, Inc. from Mexico-based América Móvil (owner of Claro) in a deal worth up to $6.9 billion, involving 20 million subscribers. The deal was approved by the Federal Communications Commission on November 22, 2021, and closed the following day.[4][5][1]

In 2022, the TracFone portfolio of brands, including Straight Talk, Safelink, and Total by Verizon, became part of the Verizon Value organization, led by Angie Klein.[6] The organization is part of Verizon's Consumer Group and houses its value and prepaid brands.[7]

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Maybe don't use Tracfone? I don’t trust these fly by night carriers and prefer Verizon. Zero issues in over 24 years.

LMAO!

In 2021, Verizon acquired TracFone Wireless, Inc. from Mexico-based América Móvil (owner of Claro) in a deal worth up to $6.9 billion, involving 20 million subscribers. The deal was approved by the Federal Communications Commission on November 22, 2021, and closed the following day.[4][5][1]

In 2022, the TracFone portfolio of brands, including Straight Talk, Safelink, and Total by Verizon, became part of the Verizon Value organization, led by Angie Klein.[6] The organization is part of Verizon's Consumer Group and houses its value and prepaid brands.[7]

LOL. It’s still tier 3 CRAP.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:38:52 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
Tracfone's main customers routinely want new numbers. They probably aren't used to servicing someone that wants to recover one.

View Quote

Yes they probably don't t have a corporate process for this scenario

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:39:34 PM EDT

[#25]

Meth dealer phone company. Who would have thought. Better go with Patrot Mobile, they give money to Niki Haley.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:41:17 PM EDT

[#26]

I've used them for years with no issues but that sucks and is extra sucky if that's your business number.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:43:02 PM EDT

[#27]

If I was that dependent on my phone number I would use a real carrier.

Good luck, sounds like a mess.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:43:02 PM EDT

[#28]

Sorry about your situation OP, not fun and dealing with 'nokustoomer' support these days is a nightmare.

However there are days when I think I would be happy if my number changed.

I've even been thinking about it once I retire, just dropping the old service/plan, signing up for a new one and never handing out my number again.

So many things to have to update first before dropping the old though. So many accounts and so forth use that number to 'verify' it would be a pain.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:43:26 PM EDT

[#29]

As long as they are sure it isn’t sim swapped.

But I still don’t understand how a ‘glitch’ causes this. When you have tracfone do you have a standing account? Or is it month to month and minute by minute?

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:44:07 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
I've used them for years with no issues but that sucks and is extra sucky if that's your business number.

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yes, explained that to them and no SOP for escalation.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:48:47 PM EDT

[#31]

When a previous employer went under, my phone number was the only one of the dozens of company phones in our region that the HR director decided would stay with the company. Yeah, the director hated me. He let everyone else keep their number if they wanted it.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:49:05 PM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
yes, explained that to them and no SOP for escalation.

View Quote

Exactly. And Verizon is over here with entire departments and specialized employees for business accounts. There's a reason it's more expensive.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:50:17 PM EDT

[#33]

Tracphone? Sorry man but you're probably out of luck.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:51:39 PM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:
As long as they are sure it isn't sim swapped.

But I still don't understand how a 'glitch' causes this. When you have tracfone do you have a standing account? Or is it month to month and minute by minute?

View Quote

They verified my phone SIM and previous phone SIM. I have been on auto refill for years and years using a Chase Credit Card. Got a QVC Black Friday Deal with an upgraded Samsung Galaxy A54 and an annual service plan for 249.00 Sometimes deals are too good to be true. What could possibly go wrong???

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:51:58 PM EDT

[#35]

Quote History

Quoted:
I know if my livelihood depended on my cell service I would pick the one created for hood rats and single moms on welfare.

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Hood rats and welfare moms get "free" phones thanks to Uncle Sugar.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:51:59 PM EDT

[#36]

I wasn’t even aware that brand of crack dealer burner phone was still in business.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:52:05 PM EDT

[#37]

that sounds awful.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:53:54 PM EDT

[#38]

Tracfone.

That’s where you lost my sympathy.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:55:42 PM EDT

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:
Jesus Christ, please tell me this is a joke of some kind.

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I think he’s serious.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:57:49 PM EDT

[#40]

Quote History

Quoted:

LMAO!

In 2021, Verizon acquired TracFone Wireless, Inc. from Mexico-based América Móvil (owner of Claro) in a deal worth up to $6.9 billion, involving 20 million subscribers. The deal was approved by the Federal Communications Commission on November 22, 2021, and closed the following day.[4][5][1]

In 2022, the TracFone portfolio of brands, including Straight Talk, Safelink, and Total by Verizon, became part of the Verizon Value organization, led by Angie Klein.[6] The organization is part of Verizon's Consumer Group and houses its value and prepaid brands.[7]

View Quote

I'm primarily on Verizon, but had a single StraightTalk line as a backup.

That line had issues less then three days after Verizion flipped the switch on ST integration. Within a month
my autopay failed because ST unilaterally ceased to offer the plan I was on for five years and didn't inform me.
To get service back on I had to pay twice was I was a month.

Wouldn't be at all surprised if this was Verizon fucking with (their own) TracFone customers.

Posted: 3/9/2024 6:58:07 PM EDT

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:
Maybe don't use Tracfone? I don’t trust these fly by night carriers and prefer Verizon. Zero issues in over 24 years.

View Quote

This is where I'm at. I know Verizon is all woke an sheeit but they have the best geographic coverage (very important for me) and their service has been good the few times I needed them. I'm willing to pay a little extra for those benefits but my budget isn't that tight. I will scrimp somewhere else.