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Consumer Cellular Reviews, Complaints & Contacts

Consumer Cellular, Inc. is a Scottsdale, Arizona wireless provider focused on older adults. It does not own a network: it sells its own branded service over the networks of major carriers, and it has been a GTCR portfolio company since December 2020. Below: how the 30-day risk-free guarantee and cancellation work, how to dispute a bill, how to reach the company, where to escalate a problem, and what customers report.

REVIEWS & COMPLAINTS29on USAComplaints · 1 in last 3 yrs
PHONE(888) 345-5509Customer support
WEBSITEconsumercellular.com
HEADQUARTERSScottsdale, AZ
PROFILE CHECKED2026-11-06
Submit a Complaint Read reviews & complaints ↓ Call (888) 345-5509 Official website ↗

Contacts, Payment & Login

PhoneEmailAddress

Customer service & general contact

Cancel, billing & returns

Account & login

Reference numbers (not support lines)

Other contacts

Show all 9 contacts

Other contacts (continued)

VERIFIED

Locations

  • Headquarters9363 E. Bahia Drive Scottsdale AZ 85260
  • Mailing address12447 SW 69th Ave. Portland OR 97223
EDITORIAL

Is Consumer Cellular Legitimate?

BBB, Trustpilot

Legal name
Consumer Cellular, Inc.
Founded
1995
Business type
Privately held postpaid mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) selling wireless plans and phones, with a focus on older adults; headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona; a GTCR portfolio company since December 2020.
Website
consumercellular.comSource: Consumer Cellular home page, checked 2026-10-14
Headquarters
Scottsdale, AZSource: Consumer Cellular leadership page, checked 2026-10-14
Subsidiary of
CCI Topco, Inc.Source: FCC public notice DA 26-691, July 9, 2026, checked 2026-10-28

Consumer Cellular, Inc. is a wireless provider, founded in 1995, with corporate offices in Scottsdale, Arizona and roughly four million subscribers. The FCC lists it as holding international section 214 authority to resell telecommunications service, and in 2010 the FCC cited it for filing a hearing aid compatibility report late. It is BBB Accredited with an A+ rating and has been a GTCR portfolio company since December 2020. Its service terms are published in its Wireless Customer Agreement, which requires most disputes to go to individual arbitration. Whether a particular charge or cancellation was handled correctly depends on your plan and account history, so ask the company to explain a disputed charge in writing and keep that answer.

EXTERNAL SOURCE

Independent Sources

Shown for context — not merged with USAComplaints' own numbers.

BBBComplaints in the last 3 years
11,653 reviews · 1,488 complaints · BBB business grade A+ · average customer rating 4.38 / 5
TrustpilotAll Trustpilot reviews for consumercellular.com
18,605 reviews · TrustScore 4.2 / 5
EDITORIAL

Complaint Themes

Billing, charges or collection noticesAdvertising, guarantee or minutes terms disputedCancellation, switching or number porting namedCustomer service, reception or signal namedPhone, SIM or replacement-device issue namedCredit check or denied service named

Themes summarize what people write about most often. One complaint can touch several themes, and some complaints (a positive report, or one later retracted by its author) fit none, so themes are not a count of complaints.

CONSUMER ALLEGATION

Reviews & Complaints on USAComplaints

29 complaints on USAComplaints, including 1 published in the last three years.

Show 15 more on this page
EDITORIAL

BBB, Trustpilot and complaints published on this site

BBB. Consumer Cellular's BBB profile, filed under Portland, Oregon, shows the company as BBB Accredited with an A+ rating, 1,488 complaints in the last 3 years and 494 in the last 12 months, and an average of 4.38 out of 5 from 11,653 customer reviews. Accreditation is a status a business applies and pays for; BBB does not use customer reviews when it sets the letter grade.

Trustpilot. The company's claimed Trustpilot profile shows a TrustScore of 4.2 from 18,605 reviews, with Trustpilot's note that the company has not invited customers to review recently, so the reviews may not be representative. The two platforms count and score differently, so their figures are not added together.

Complaints on this site. 29 published complaint reports are linked to this profile. All but one were posted between 2007 and 2013, before GTCR's 2020 acquisition; the exception is from 2025. They are customer allegations, not findings. The authors describe charges or collection notices after a customer cancelled or switched carriers, disputes over advertised guarantee terms, minute allowances or promotional rates (including an AARP rate a 2025 author says was not honored), delays in cancelling or moving a number, defective phones or SIM cards and fees to replace them, poor reception at home, and service refused after a credit check the authors dispute.

Had an experience with Consumer Cellular? Tell other people what happened.

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EDITORIAL

Cancelling Consumer Cellular, refunds and billing disputes: what the company's terms say

Consumer Cellular service is month to month, with no required term. The rules on this page come from the company's Wireless Customer Agreement (last updated June 25, 2025), which governs every line.

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For cancellation, billing and porting questions call customer support at (888) 345-5509; the agreement's cover page lists (888) 511-3894. You can also manage the account in My Account online or in the My CC app.

The 30-day risk-free guarantee (section 1.1). A new customer may cancel within thirty days, and the company waives the monthly service charges and the one-time network activation fee for new lines, "provided that your data usage is limited to 500MB." You still pay "any international long distance, roaming, text and data charges, any device upgrade fees for added or replaced devices on existing lines of service, as well as directory assistance charges and other third-party charges, and applicable taxes or surcharges." A phone or accessory bought directly from the company can be returned within thirty days if it comes back "in like-new condition with all the original packaging," and all lock features, PINs and passcodes must be removed first.

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Active AARP and USAA members get an extended 45-day risk-free guarantee period, according to the company's help page on the guarantee.

Cancelling after the guarantee (sections 1.2 and 1.10). You can cancel at any time, but you owe all charges through the last day of the billing cycle: the company "will not prorate or refund the monthly Service charges on your final invoice." Service stays on until the end of the cycle unless you move the number to another carrier first. If a credit remains after cancellation, an amount over $25.00 is mailed to your last known address within ninety days; a smaller credit is returned only if you ask for it.

Phone payments after you leave (section 1.4). Cancelling a line with an active installment plan, or reporting the phone lost or stolen, may make the remaining installments due at once. Expect the unpaid phone balance on the final bill.

Switching carriers and keeping your number (sections 1.2 and 7.2). To keep your number, do not cancel the old account first: start service with the new carrier and let it request the port, using the account number and transfer PIN from the old carrier. When the port completes, the old line closes. Not all numbers can be ported.

Disputing a charge (section 1.4). Call customer support or write to Consumer Cellular, Incorporated, 12447 SW 69th Ave., Portland, OR 97223 "WITHIN SIXTY (60) DAYS OF THE DATE OF YOUR BILL"; otherwise the agreement says you waive the right to dispute that bill. Keep paying while the dispute is open (California customers have the exception described on this page): the agreement requires payment of all charges, including disputed ones, by the due date, and late payments draw a $5.00 late fee or the maximum your state allows (section 1.8). Note the call date, the representative's name and any reference number, and ask for the outcome in writing.

Small claims court or arbitration (sections 2.2 and 4.4). If support cannot fix the problem, you can file in small claims court, if the amount is within its limits; the agreement allows that route, and arbitration is not invoked while the claim is pending only there. To start arbitration instead, you must first send a written Notice of Dispute by certified mail to Office for Dispute Resolution, Consumer Cellular, Incorporated, 12447 SW 69th Ave., Portland, OR 97223, describing the problem and the relief you want. If it is not resolved within thirty days after the company receives the notice, either side may start individual arbitration with the American Arbitration Association. For claims of $10,000 or less, the company reimburses your filing fee, and claims under $10,000 are decided on documents or by telephone, at your choice, unless the arbitrator orders otherwise. Whichever route you take, file within two years of the events behind the claim; the agreement says a later claim is waived unless the law provides otherwise. Arbitration does not stop you from bringing the issue to federal, state or local agencies, such as the FCC.

Where to escalate. File an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints or 1-888-CALL-FCC; there is no filing charge, and a provider served with the complaint must respond in writing within 30 days. You can also complain to your state attorney general's consumer protection office and to the BBB. In California, the agreement (section 8.1) says the company will report the result of its investigation of a charge you say you did not authorize within 30 days; if you disagree, you can complain to the California Public Utilities Commission at cpuc.ca.gov/complaints or 800-649-7570, and while the CPUC's Consumer Affairs Branch investigates you do not have to pay the disputed charge or related late fees, and the company will not send it to collection or report it to a credit bureau. Connecticut customers can contact the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, and Puerto Rico customers the Telecommunications Regulatory Board (section 8 of the agreement). If you paid by credit card, the Fair Credit Billing Act lets you dispute a billing error with the card issuer within 60 days after the statement showing it was sent, but the agreement lists an unapproved card chargeback among the reasons the company may terminate service.

EDITORIAL

FCC citation (2010), advertising review (2023) and regulators

FCC citation, May 26, 2010. FCC document DA 10-930 (file EB-09-SE-175) is, in its own words, "an official CITATION" issued to Consumer Cellular, Inc., "a reseller of wireless services", for "violating the digital wireless handset hearing aid compatibility status report filing requirements" in 47 CFR 20.19(i)(1). It records that the company did not file its hearing aid compatibility status report by the January 15, 2009 deadline and filed it on November 8, 2009, and that the company explained it "was unaware of its obligation to make such a filing." The document warns that future violations "may subject Consumer Cellular to monetary forfeitures"; it is a citation, not a consent decree, and imposes no monetary forfeiture.

More on regulatorsShow less

National Advertising Division, June 8, 2023. BBB National Programs reported that its National Advertising Division (NAD), on a challenge by T-Mobile US, Inc., found certain Consumer Cellular wireless-plan claims supported and recommended that the company modify or discontinue others, including the comparative-cost and savings claims and the "unlimited data" claim (NAD recommended disclosing that high-speed data is reduced after 50GB). NAD is an industry self-regulatory body, not a government agency. Consumer Cellular told NAD it had permanently dropped a "best price with the best quality" claim, and in its advertiser statement said it "will comply with NAD's recommendations."

Who regulates the service. As a wireless provider, Consumer Cellular falls under the Federal Communications Commission, which takes consumer complaints about billing, number porting and service. State attorneys general enforce consumer protection laws, and the company's agreement names the state regulators that take complaints from customers in California (the California Public Utilities Commission), Connecticut (the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority) and Puerto Rico (the Telecommunications Regulatory Board).

EDITORIAL

Court cases naming Consumer Cellular

For customers, the Wireless Customer Agreement decides where a claim can be heard. Section 2.1 requires disputes to be resolved by individual arbitration and states that class arbitrations and class action lawsuits are not permitted. Section 2.2 keeps one court route open: either side may take a claim to small claims court if it falls within that court's limits, and arbitration is not invoked while the claim is pending only there. Section 4.4 sets a deadline: unless the law provides otherwise, a claim must be filed in small claims court or as an arbitration demand within two years of the events behind it, or the right to pursue it is waived.

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Section 8.5 gives AARP members a different path: non-binding arbitration first, then an individual claim in a Delaware court, and a class claim only if a Delaware court rules that the arbitrator found fraud under Delaware common law.

EDITORIAL

Who runs Consumer Cellular and who owns it

Consumer Cellular, Inc. is a Delaware corporation; its Wireless Customer Agreement names the contracting company as "Consumer Cellular, Incorporated". The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, with a corporate office at 9363 E. Bahia Drive. Its customer contract and dispute notices go to 12447 SW 69th Ave., Portland, Oregon. GTCR describes it as a postpaid wireless provider focused on customers aged 55 and over, with approximately four million subscribers. Ed Evans, a former CEO of Syniverse Technologies and Inteliquent, became CEO when GTCR's investment closed in December 2020.

How the service works. Consumer Cellular is a mobile virtual network operator: it does not own towers. It sells Consumer Cellular-branded service, handles billing and customer support itself, and carries traffic over the networks of major wireless carriers under network access agreements. Coverage therefore depends on the partner network in your area, so check the company's coverage map for your address before you buy.

More company historyShow less

Ownership. GTCR, a Chicago private equity firm, completed its acquisition of Consumer Cellular in December 2020. Founder John Marick, who had led the company as CEO since its start, remains a substantial shareholder, according to GTCR. GTCR also reports that in February 2024 Consumer Cellular completed a dividend recapitalization that paid $340 million to equity holders.

FCC public notice DA 26-691 of July 9, 2026 records a pro forma transfer of control, effective December 17, 2025, from GTCR Partners XII/A&C LP to GTCR Oak Fund LP, an internal change in which the same individuals controlled the company before and after. According to the notice, Consumer Cellular is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of CCI Topco, Inc., which is owned by Cellular Holdings, LLC (75 percent) and HPS Investment Partners, LLC (11.72 percent), and no other entity owns 10 percent or more.

VERIFIED

Company Relationships

  • Subsidiary ofCCI Topco, Inc.
  • Affiliated withGTCR
EDITORIAL

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cancel Consumer Cellular service?

Call customer support at (888) 345-5509. You can cancel at any time; service continues to the end of the billing cycle unless you move your number to another carrier first, and the monthly charges on the final bill are not prorated or refunded. Within 30 days of activation, a new customer who has used no more than 500MB of data can cancel under the risk-free guarantee and have the monthly charges and activation fee waived. If you are switching carriers, do not cancel first: let the new carrier port the number.

Where can I see Consumer Cellular phones and stores?

The company's website menu lists flip phones, iPhones and a bring-your-own-phone option, and under Visit a Store it lists Consumer Cellular and Walmart. Its coverage map page says the interactive map is provided by its network partner, AT&T, and is shown only after you accept all cookies. Check the coverage map for your address before you buy.

How long is the Consumer Cellular risk-free guarantee?

For new customers the guarantee runs for 30 days from activation and applies only if data use stays at or under 500MB. Cancel within that window and the monthly service charges and network activation fees are credited back; third-party charges and device upgrade fees are still owed. Active AARP and USAA members get an extended 45-day guarantee period.

What does the guarantee not refund?

The guarantee waives the monthly service charges and the activation fee for new lines. Under section 1.1 of the Wireless Customer Agreement you still pay international long distance, roaming, text and data charges, device upgrade fees on existing lines, directory assistance and other third-party charges, and taxes or surcharges. A phone bought from the company is refunded only if it is returned within the window in like-new condition with its original packaging and with all locks and passcodes removed.

Is there an activation fee?

The company's help page states a one-time network activation fee of $10 per line. Under section 1.1 of the Wireless Customer Agreement, that fee is waived if a new customer cancels within the 30-day risk-free period with data use of 500MB or less.

What phone number do I call?

Customer support is (888) 345-5509. The cover page of the Wireless Customer Agreement lists (888) 511-3894, and the BBB profile lists (800) 686-4460. For a billing dispute, call within 60 days of the bill date and note the date and the representative's name.

Who owns Consumer Cellular?

Private equity firm GTCR completed its acquisition of Consumer Cellular in December 2020; founder John Marick remains a substantial shareholder, according to GTCR. According to FCC public notice DA 26-691 of July 2026, Consumer Cellular is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of CCI Topco, Inc., which is owned by Cellular Holdings, LLC (75 percent) and HPS Investment Partners, LLC (11.72 percent), with indirect control held through GTCR Oak Fund LP since an internal restructuring in December 2025.

What does the BBB show for Consumer Cellular?

BBB shows Consumer Cellular as BBB Accredited with an A+ rating. Its profile lists 1,488 complaints in the last 3 years, 494 of them in the last 12 months, and a customer review average of 4.38 out of 5 from 11,653 reviews. BBB does not count reviews toward the letter grade.

Where can I complain if the company does not resolve a problem?

File an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints or 1-888-CALL-FCC. There is no filing charge, and a provider served with the complaint must respond in writing within 30 days. You can also contact your state attorney general's consumer protection office and the BBB; California customers who disagree with the company's answer on a charge they did not authorize can complain to the California Public Utilities Commission. To pursue a claim yourself, the agreement allows small claims court; arbitration requires a written Notice of Dispute sent first by certified mail to the company's Portland, Oregon dispute address. Either way, the agreement sets a two-year deadline to file.

Are there lawsuits against Consumer Cellular?

A customer's own claim normally goes to individual arbitration or small claims court: the Wireless Customer Agreement bars class actions and class arbitrations, with a narrow exception for AARP members, and requires a claim to be filed within two years. Separately, the FCC issued the company a citation in 2010 for filing a hearing aid compatibility report late; it carried no fine.

How do I keep my number when switching to Consumer Cellular?

Keep your current service active until the transfer finishes; a cancelled number may not be available to move. Have the account number and transfer PIN from your current carrier ready when you sign up, and Consumer Cellular requests the port. Not every number can be ported, so ask before you buy.

Has any advertising body reviewed Consumer Cellular's claims?

BBB National Programs reported on June 8, 2023 that its National Advertising Division, acting on a challenge by T-Mobile US, Inc., found some Consumer Cellular claims supported and recommended modifying or discontinuing others, including cost-comparison and savings claims and the "unlimited data" claim, where it asked the company to disclose that high-speed data slows after 50GB. The company said it would comply.