On April 12th, I bought a new UNLIMITED service card for my daughter, as I do every month. It was activated successfully that day. On April 19th my daughter lost cell phone service, but assumed it was due to the Boston Bombing. Mind you, this was just one week after having refilled her "Unlimited Service" card. Later that evening when her service resumed (somewhat), she called Straight Talk to ask why she could only call or text all of a sudden. Unable to send/receive picture messages or access the internet without WIFI, the explanation she was given was "excessive data usage.” I don’t understand how that could be the case in just one week (April 12-April 19), AND, I thought UNLIMITED meant just that…. Unlimited. She was told that the next time she bought a new service card, (which would be in 3 weeks) the problem would be resolved. This meant 3 weeks of having only calling and texting options despite having an UNLIMITED USE card. On May 12th, I bought her a new UNLIMITED USE service card, which was activated successfully. Nonetheless, she could still only text or call; no picture messages or email access without WIFI. She called customer service, and was told the problem would be resolved within 24 hours. After still not having full service with a brand new UNLIMITED SERVICE card, she called again. She spoke to 4 different individuals, all of whom connected her to the “High Data Usage Hotline.” Each time she explained that she had already accessed the hotline but to no avail. Each time she was placed back on the hotline despite her asking them to not do so….. But to please let her speak to a supervisor instead. She ended up in tears and still got nowhere while I listened and watched this nonsense.
I spent over $500 on cell phones for my daughters and me in February, after having used TracFone for many years. I am ready to go back to TracFone as I never had any issues with the customer service there. The only reason I switched, which I greatly regret, was I liked the phones StraightTalk had available. I have never experienced such POOR customer service anywhere: 3 weeks without full service despite having paid for it and now a repeat is in the making because all they do is connect us with a dead end automated hotline which solves nothing.
I am now going to write to the Better Business Bureau to share my experience; I think it is only fair the public be duly warned of what a nightmare dealing with StraightTalk can be. After that, I will write a letter to the editor of our local newspaper.in it I will make a plea to the public for advice in hopes that someone knows how to have success with StraightTalk. Perhaps one of our community lawyers will have an answer.
Frustrated,
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