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How to Report Lifeline Assistance Fraud, Abuse and Waste

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Lifeline is under attack by people who don’t understand how much people need this outstanding program. But the simple fact is, if you support Lifeline you need to pitch in and save it by reporting any fraud, abuse and waste you see.

Fact is, no one supports Lifeline more vigorously than we do. We get emails every day from needy people who need help in these tough economic times and we understand better than most that Lifeline gives them exactly the boost they need. Without it, millions of people would have no phone — either landline or mobile — to use for all the things the rest of us take for advantage. Thanks to Lifeline, they can now use their phone to make and receive calls from potential employers, keep in touch with family, and have around for emergencies.

There’s an old adage that says there’s a rotten apple in every barrel. It’s true with Lifeline, too. There are always those who will take advantage of the generosity of others. That’s why controls need to be tightened up, and anyone committing fraud needs to be caught and punished, whether it be a phone recipient or a cell phone company providing Lifeline phones. If we don’t all do what we can to end fraud, abuse and waste, those who oppose the Lifeline will be given more ammunition against this helpful program.

So if you know of someone who lied about their eligibility on their Lifeline application, or if you know of a company or company agent that committed fraud in their sign-up process, please report them. (Don’t worry, you won’t be sending any cell phone users to jail. To the best of our knowledge, the government simply cancels Lifeline service for anyone caught lying to get a phone.)

The Reporting Procedure

It’s easy to report any waste, fraud or abuse; and you can choose to do so anonymously if you wish. Just contact the special Whistleblower Alert line at the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). What is the USAC? It is the organization that oversees the Universal Service Fund (USF), which oversees and pays for the federally-mandated Lifeline Assistance Program.

The USAC wants to hear of any wrongdoing, and treats each report of waste, fraud, or abuse as a serious and urgent matter requiring immediate attention. You can contact them about any of the following:

  • Potential violations of any USAC laws, rule, or regulation.
  • Gross mismanagement or gross waste of funds.
  • Fraudulent activity.
  • Abuse of authority.

There are four ways you can file a Whistleblower Alert:

Telephone: Call them at (888) 641-8722. Tell the operator you want to report a “whistleblower alert” concerning USF waste, fraud, or abuse. You will be connected to specially trained staff who will record your report.

U.S. Mail:

USAC
Whistleblower Alert
2000 L Street, NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036

Email: Send your email to potentialviolation@usac.org.

Contact Form: Click this link for the contact form. You’ll be prompted for the type of complaint; select “low-income.”

You will talk to a USAC staff person who will ask a series of questions to obtain as much information about the situation as possible. You may choose to remain anonymous. Can can choose to identify yourself so the USAC can contact for further details if need be, and if you do, they will make every effort to keep your identity confidential.

Whistleblower Alert Hotline webpage:
http://www.usac.org/about/tools/contact/whistleblower.aspx

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  1. If you are going to ask "how do I get a cell phone?" go here instead.
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  3. We are not your cell phone company. All technical questions should be asked of your vendor.
  4. Your comments are moderated, and we will manually approve those worth publishing within 24 hours.

Comments

  1. I know, and can prove a guy is selling these “obama phones” using fraud. He flat out tells people to lie on the application. He allegedly tells them what to write so they get a free phone and he gets a sale.

    Furthermore, he has LAUGHED at the fact that he can take one of those cell phones ( I do not own one) and he can fix it so they do not pay anything monthly. They can download songs, watch movies, call anyone they want with absolutely no charge ever. He charges $100 at least for one of those phones. He comes online laughing that he can make up to $2500 in ONE WEEK . Minus or plus income. He goes online, shows on videocam his phone stand set up in parking lots. A few times he makes fun of homeless people on camera and screws with them. It’s sickening and their is recorded video of him doing so. He is a scumbag. He gives out his name. He is in California. He has one of those facebook pages.

    If someone reported him, they could look at any evidence and his bank accounts and see exactly how much he is making and how he sells these phones that he cracked open and fixed so a user has no bills, so would he find out who reported him? Sometimes people don’t want to report for fear of being retaliated against physically. Others just won’t do it unless they can get a reward.

    Reply

    • If that’s the case, you should do something about it and follow the instructions in the article on this page.

      Reply

  4. Someone using my address to get a phone at my address but not a tenant at my home. The application was mailed to my home. Need to report it so my services are not turn off.

    Reply

  5. After finally getting my proofs through, I got approved for a safelink phone. I needed it so there is a phone for my teenage boys at home to reach me in an emergency. There is no phone line run to my house so the phone company wants to charge me to run new line. I can’t even afford a second phone, let alone pay to run line! So I end up waiting a month to get my free phone. I understand processing and shipping can take a few weeks. No biggie. However when I turn on and activate the phone there is absolutely no signal. Can’t make or receive calls. Spent my entire weekend off trying to talk to the person that needs me to repeat myself about a dozen times. Also spent it being talked to like i was retarded or something. I dont appreciate that at all. Then to be hung up on repeatedly! This last time when I got switched to a tech he said he was looking up my account info, then I spent 15 minutes on complete silence with the exception of goats in the background. After that I got hung up on again. I’m done. I’ll have to take out of my gas money and just buy a cheap phone from Verizon.

    Reply

  6. I have been trying to get my account back but it was hijacked by Qlink Wireless and I have spent months trying to get it back, it was with safelink but someone stole my phone and wallet and now neither company will allow me to choose another carrier for over 4 months now, please help – John Wygrecki

    Reply

  7. Safelink is a complete scam of government funds. This company is really based in the Philippines at least when you need assistance that is were they send your calls. I called to let them know voicemails were resetting and after talking to 8 people in Philippines and they all sounded like they were reading que cards. I was disgusted and gave up. A week later my phone was turned off completely (which I later found out cost me several job interviews) I went to a neighbors to call Safelink to inquire about my phone. Some 6 people later and yes still in the philippines was told another phone was being shipped to me. I told them this was unacceptable do to people contacting about jobs. They told me I either had to wait of I could buy another sims card from them. You have to be kidding, no they were not. They also have a way of making sure if you purchase minutes they will not go the phone and you have to call, of course Philippines again. Why does the Government set people like me up with a business like this. Trying to find a job is really hard when you have this company. You can’t count on them putting your calls through. My account was about to expire so now I know why they forced the phone on me, so the could bill the Government for it. Do every American a favor and stop this company from scamming us.

    Reply

    • yes they are a total scam ! i got unwarranted notice that a
      phone i acquired sept 2018 had not been properly documented
      and was sceduled for termination feb 1 2019 ! i did ALL the paperwork
      with THEIR FIELD AGENTS RIGHT THERE AT THE DPSS OFFICE WITH EVERY SINGLE DOCUMENT REQUESTED ! IVE been on phone getting
      the SAME RUNAROUND FROM PHILIPINES MANY TIMES SINCE my notice jan 2. IVE UPLOADED ALL DOCS TO THEIR SITE OVER AND OVER…. SAFELINK NOW TODAY SEZ MY NUMBER DOESNT EXIST and that EVERY TIME I UPLOAD DOCS THEY REQUEST the freaks REAPPLY… and keep telling me the docs are not THERE. SAFELINK IS OUT AND OUT EMBEZZLING MY HARD PAID TAX DOLLARS… RINGING UP PHONES FOR DEAD PEOPLE AND DENYING *ME* SERVICE AND LYING ?? THATS CRIMINAL FRAUD PEOPLE! CUT OFF PHILLIPINES ANYWAY ! WHY ARE AMERICANS NOT GETTING THIS WORK ?

      Reply

  8. I tried to apply to get a new phone with my same company assurance wireless on a wednesday feb 21 2018 told Im still under the 60 day freeze thats fine was just checking to see if you can get a much better phone i told them u lost your phone the guy said! I was like ummm???ok???
    He said i was not aproved. He then said I have to wait 2weeks and I can come back to his pop up tent on van nuys blvd in Van Nuys CA.and then get a much better phone.(mine had been freezing if I was using it for non calling use like email or applying to jobs online and then if someone calls while im doing anything on the phone BOOOM !!! frozen lose everything I had written !!!! START OVER Heres my issue last night(march 6 2018) i noticed my phone had been dn isconnected from assurance wireless the voicemails to all the jobs i have been applying for i cant check to see if they called it told me instead i have lost service from the lifeline program!!!!! after 2months out of no where!!! i call lifeline they blame me saying i switched to (safety net)??? a company that’s not even in my area!!! I NEVER seen them!!! She says I signed it’s my fault that i wanted to and applied. she says i applied on 24th( I thought it was 21st when i spoke with assurance wireless ) later i looked up feb 24th and i see its a saturday!!!I think O WOW!! Funny thing is i couldn’t have signed up that day!! I was busy at a funeral in
    burbank all day !!!! she says i can re apply to assurance in 60 days i lose my number no matter what !!! Why would someone sign up for a co lose this is fraud hier service to be left with NO PHONE to use NO SIM CARD and NO #PHONE NUMBER NOW!!!!?????!!!! lifeline so UNhelpful no compassion says i shouldn’t have tried to switch. Now like always I HAVE TO START OVER my job sgettinearch and getting a phone and ##!!!!! im so upset she couldn’t see that is 100%fraud they had the wrong address on file!!!! and my forged signature! But still I lose service !!! Should i sent this letter as my complaint?? What can i do? Thank YOU in advance!

    Reply

  10. Safelink is kicking customers(elderly ones at that) who DO need and who DO LEGALLY QUALIFY for the service out of the program. They’re deceiving people into thinking that they did not re-certify in time and had their service cancelled for that reason. My mom’s re-ceritification month is March but her service was cancelled in December 2017 after being told she failed to re-certify in time. So how do we report CELL COMPANIES committing fraudulent acts against customers?

    Reply

  11. Safelink is kicking customers(elderly ones at that) who DO need and LEGALLY QUALIFY for the service. They’re deceiving people into thinking that they did not re-certify in time and had their service cancelled for that reason. My mom is supposed to re-certify in March but had her service cancelled in December 2017 after being told she did not receive her minutes for this reason. So how do we report CELL COMPANIES committing fraudulent acts against customers?

    Reply

    • Read the article on this page, Joanna. But let us ask you a question: Why would Safelink want to cancel its customers’ service for no reason? The only way they generate income is by enrolling people, not cancelling them.

      Reply

  12. Trying to get through to you on your phone number, but it only goes so far, I would like to get in touch with you about fraud and abuse of a person that has a few of your safelink phones and is using them for harassing calls..you can contact me at 989 808 ****.thank you.

    Reply

  13. Safelink continues to send my daughter a cell phone to my address which she does not live here she uses this address to get a phone causes she on the move a lot I keep calling and returning the phones but she calls and they send it again I asked that they require her to send in proof of residency current I’d which she does not have don’t know what else to do she gets phone from wherever she can free but using my address prevents me from services if would need them thank you

    Reply

    • Sorry, Linda, but we cannot help solve your problem. You are correct that it violates the rules of the program.

      Reply

  14. Hello. I called the FCC and the man who answered said he cannot help, that I need to call the state PSC. So I did but was on hold forever. I went to the website
    http://www.psc.state.md.us/online-complaints and it says PSC they does not regulate
    ” Wireless, VOIP, International, Inter-state Telephone ” , that I need to phone FCC and complain!! Who do I complain to? I am n MD. My company is Cintex, which is now Standup. They charge me for voicemail! When someone leaves me a voicemail message minutes are deducted from my 500monthly minutes. That is not right. How do i get help? Thank You.

    Also can you add a track back? That way when you respond or new comments are posted to this thread I get an email so I can return here and read the answer. I posted on another post on this site but I cannot remember which so I cant go back and read the answer. THANK YOU!

    Reply

    • Yes, it is quite possible that you get charged for both outgoing AND incoming minutes. That’s the way most of the plans work. Is that what you want to complain to the FCC about?

      Reply

  15. After 2 months of service, all service has been stopped. Being told that “Social Security # does not match Identity in our System” which is obviously incorrect – had to use government aid paperwork to receive free service. Now what?!

    Reply

    • Contact customer service. Ask to speak to a supervisor and try to figure out what the exact problem is. If your service provider’s information is incorrect, see if the supervisor can help you correct it.

      Reply

      • Called 7-8 times. Supervisor says there is nothing they can do. Try to re-certify. All the information will still be the same, So it won’t change the status. They all said the same thing.
        If using government paperwork to certify, with SS# and License to prove identity, with state paperwork, and no other way to prove identity, with zero warning that this was an issue, It cannot be fixed on our end. They said they cannot do anything on their end. Best to contact your offices I assume?

        Reply

        • Here’s what you do next: Contact the USAC at USAC.org and ask for help solving your problem. That organization governs the free government cell phone program and they are used to solving problems like this. Good luck, Steph.

          Reply

  16. Q-Link Wireless refuses to close out an active account and charged the US Government for about a year now for a phone that has been accidentally ran over by a car. The company has been emailed several times to close the account as their service was limited to none in the area anyway.

    Talk about free money from the government…. So why would they want to lose it?

    They need to be stopped!

    Reply

  17. I am having harrassing text messages from a government phone. Very threatening and cursing messages . This person is using phone for drug deals also.

    Reply

  18. Hi, is California Lifeline phone discount covered by this department. If so I have read the requirements this program is for one telephone per household in this state but I know people that they have more than one phone in their house holds. Can I report this fraud in here?

    Reply

  19. yes i received safelink wireless phone friday and they did not include the activate card this is so u will have to call them and they place u on hold for 30 minutes to an hour and charge the minutes to you! this is strait fraud and needs to be stopped! i dont have money to give this supposed tp be free!

    Reply

  20. I have a complaint about Safelink through Tracfone I’ve spent 14 hours on the phone of my own personal time trying to switch my client’s son’s phone from a 2G to a 4G LTE that his mom gave him for father’s day (it’s his only phone, he lives in an assisted living care facility and lives in his own little apartment style room). The problem is that Safelink insists that it’s still a 2G phone and I’ve been through I don’t know how many techs trying to fix this issue. First they say it’s a bad SIM card (it’s not), then they say the phone is defective (it’s not), and then they say ‘I don’t have the tools to deal with that’. It’s *their* computer that’s defective and won’t allow it to be changed. Right now I am up to a level five tech and they STILL tell me you have to call back in X amount of days. The phone they said is ‘defective’ (that I had to buy a new phone to replace the one they said is ‘defective’ for Safelink) worked right away when I bought an airtime card. That phone is now a ‘spare phone’ I gave to Eddie just so he had a phone. I shouldn’t have to have bought it as I really can’t afford it! Then I tried to have Eddie’s phone ‘unlocked’ so that I could go with another provider. They refused and said ‘we own the contract for the next year’. So, you are paying Safelink to provide a service that they ARE NOT providing. And as you might guess after 14 + hours on the phone I’m pretty angry. Now my client’s (the mom) Safelink phone went from the same 2G dumbphone to the same ZTE Citrine 4G LTE model that she bought on sale at the local Family Dollar for like $22 on sale without a hitch. I don’t understand why his is such an issue. No amount of time or talking to the highest customer service agent helps. I am angry that they refuse to address my concerns and get the phone working. All they do is start in with the SIM card is bad, the phone is defective, or you didn’t get the phone from Tracfone so it may not work (yes, I got it from Tracfone). All lies to cover their incompetence. Like I said I had to buy a phone and a airtime card out of my own money JUST for him to have a phone. They are ripping you off for the time that the phone isn’t working! I don’t know if they are that incompetent or just like ripping people off. Most people would have given up by now, good thing I’m stubborn.
    Thanks for reading this, I hope it helps.

    Reply

    • Yes, Wendy, sometimes it pays off to be stubborn. Your service provider’s conduct is indefensible. The only thing they seemed to get right is that you are committed to a one year service contract as soon as you enroll with a free government cell phone company. That’s not something the company made up — it’s a new Federal Communications Commission rule that went into effect late last year.

      Reply

  21. hi i need to find out how to get a safe link phone its saying ive enrolled an have one but ive never enrolled in anything for safelink my life please help if a phone has been on its not me an i need a phone now please help thanks.

    Reply

    • Contact customer service at the company with which you want to enroll. Ask to speak to a supervisor. Tell that person that you need to clear up a mistake in the National Lifeline Assistance Database.

      Reply

    • The trouble is with safe link they go by the residency if someone lived were u lived and had a safelink phone they wont give u one or if you live in an apt if u live in an apartment u have to tell them that and your apt number. They only give one per house hold or one per client if u are on medicaid or any public assistance I found that out the hard way it makes it bad on people that are married to have one cellphone among them if they cant afford another one. Someone could have used your info to get one and it will be hard to get one.

      Reply

  22. No one touched on terracom wireless on here.they do much worse fraud theft.deception and lies.my service has never worked properly been complaining a yr.they Saud recertify we will fix all lies all they do is fund terrorists with American funds.they have lies for over a year and in stuck.FIX and BBB know ablout all this but they must be getting kickbacks they won’t help.

    Reply

    • C’mon, Ryan, do you really think TerraCom funds terrorists? And do you really think the Better Business Bureau is getting kickbacks?

      Reply

    • We’d need more information, Annetta. If you can give us details, enTouch can give you an answer.

      Reply

  24. Can Two people in the same household use the same address to received and stay using there phones?

    Reply

    • The trick is the definition of “household.” If they are one family unit and share all expenses, the answer is no. If they are roommates who do not share expenses, the answer is yes.

      Reply

  25. I have Access Wireless, I dont use it much, They shut it off two months ago and will not turn it back on, They are still charging the Government, I need the phone but i get some one in India and they will not help! They sat re apply on line, But it wont let you! I tried to get a phone from safe ling but they could not give me one cause i had Access Wireless, Access Wireless said my phone is canceled! They are stealing, I am sure i am not the only one that is having this problem! I am disabled and i need the phone! Please help me

    Reply

    • How long did you have your phone, Kevin? The rules of the program say that you can only switch providers once every twelve months.

      Reply

  26. Where do I begin to start!? Safelink wireless is totally bullcrap. I applied online the first time. They never got back to me in email nor letter. I had to call them.a month later to hear that ive been denied but the non english speaking agent told me it happens a lot the first time ppl apply so he told me to reapply. So i applied again online. Once again i heard nothing back after 3 weeks so i called them back again. I was told that i have been approved and a letter has been sent out in the mail. So i waited another 3 weeks and no letter. So i literally called them back today. The agent told me it shows ive been approved but was looming into why i received nothing. After 15 minutes of him trying to figure it out i asked to speak to the supervisor. The supervisor whose name was Martha i.d.#22742 told me that i wasnt approved. Ummm so i was told the first time i was approved and that a letter will be coming in the mail yet nothing came. Then i was told again today that i was approved but dont know why i received nothing and in the same day today the supervisor told me i wasnt approved!?!? She told me to again apply online. I told her no ive already applied twice and was told twice after the second time that i was approved…yet she being the supervisor told me i wasnt. I then asked to speak to her supervisor bcuz even a supervisor has a superior. She declined telling me theres nobody else there. So i asked to be given a voicemail to her supervisor again she declined. I asked for her employee id number which she gave as 22742 her name is Martha. Its illegal to be denied access to talk to a superior supervisor and she denied my every attempt when i asked. This place has fraud written all over it! Safelink wireless is total fraud. The only think Martha would give me was an email address. I asked for a phine number to the corporate office and she refused. I let her know that i was recording the call and she told me she doesnt give me permission to do so. I told her that safelink records phone calls and i dont give permission either but they still do. I even told her to go back and listen to the calls where i was told i was approved twice. She ignored that i even said that and only said “im sorry u were told that” ummm its understandable if one person tells me im approved by mistake bit for 2 ppl to tell me that im approved? Yeah that company is not legit and its real fishy!

    Reply

  27. I just recently got a cell phone from safelink I got it in November on the 29th. Ever since I got my phone I always got my minutes on the 29th but not this month when I call to find out why they say your Things Mira counseling cancelled I said you need to renew so I log on to my account online it tells me I don’t have to renew for another 8 months then they tell me on the phone the SafeLink people say oh because you have another phone I said no I don’t. I haven’t had another phone in over a year I cancelled that one. This is the only phone I have. they said I applied for another one last night I said no I did not that’s not me I did not approve it it’s somebody’s using my name. Their reaponse there’s nothing we can do about it so we’re going to cancel service for 60 days until you figure it out and if it’s not then it’s just cancelled so I’m without a phone now for 60 days because somebody’s hacking into my stuff and they won’t look into it.

    Reply

    • That’s an unacceptable answer, Denise. We’ve discussed issues like this with the USAC and they tell us that the customer needs to contact the service provider again. Ask for a supervisor. Insist that they help you figure out the problem and clear your name and address on the National Lifeline Assistance Database. If they refuse to help, tell them that you are going to file a complaint with the FCC and USAC.

      Reply

  28. My mother has used my address to get free phones.I have not given her permission to use my info,and want to know how to erase my address from her using it more than twice without my request or permission.

    Reply

  29. Mary L ******* from 98499 has two life line Assurance phone. One belongs to a Bruce who left the phone for Mary L to use. He does’t even live in same apt Complex. He just come to recertify so she can use it. Her number is 253 592 **** the other number that does’t belong to her. 253 468 ****

    Reply

  30. Safelink – Qlinkkwireless is fraud, submitted medicaid just stay in a “under review” status after waiting the 5 bussiness they say it will take them to process them. Then there is no customer service and you have to leave message that it says it takes 72 hours to get a reply. But they never reply and your blocked from trying to sign up with other providers!

    Call them at (888) 641-8722. Tell the operator you want to report a “whistleblower alert” concerning USF waste, fraud, or abuse. You will be connected to specially trained staff who will record your report.

    Reply

  32. The whole SAFELINK Wireless company is a FRAUD!! I have repeatedly asked for a CDMA phone because a GSM that works off the AT&T network can not receive a signal at my home! I am a heart patient with no way to call an ambulance if I need one.

    During one call, the NON-ENGLISH speaking phone reps tell me they will send a CDMA phone and makes the order. Then I get an email to call and the next NON-ENGLISH speaking bozo tells me they cannot send me a CDMA phone because they don’t offer CDMA service in my area? ???? WTH?? CDMA on the Verizon network WORKS in my area and they should provide whatever system works! There is not an AT&T tower within 50 miles of here so why send a phone that uses that network? Because they are a fraud! There IS a VERIZON tower but SAFELINK REFUSES to send me a CDMA phone that will work on the Verizon network.

    They are basically using our Government to provide them money by lying in saying they are providing us with a service which they do NOT provide. Put them out of business! They are scamming our taxpayers!

    Reply

    • Millions of customers are happy with their Safelink phones and service, Emma. That is not intended to discount your experience, but only to indicate that the company is not a fraud.

      Reply

  33. I was hired two years ago to review application for the program. And I have to tell you the fraud is ridiculous. When I first started you didn’t see it as much. We had pretty strict procedures to fight against it. But when we started to do real time application which is when we have agents on the street and people get approved within minutes that’s when you seen it in abundance. The agents are committing fraud left and right. From using same cards over and over and Photoshoping documents such as driver license, benefits cards, and benefit approval letters. Hundreds of phones a day wrongly being approved and handed out. As a employer it was so frustrating that we seen it and we tried to stop it by making cases against agents by saving the fraudulent documentation and giving it to our supervisors. But it was a waste of time because nothing was ever done. Still to this day same agents are still commuting fraud and nothing we can do because we were shot down time and time again when we reported it. So most agents just stop worrying about it and did what we were told and approve applications. We had five minutes from the time the agent sent in the application to review and approve the application. Being drilled about going faster and faster. Not to drop any applications because our SOA was the most important thing not the accuracy of our decision. Our man boss said that they rather us approve a phone than deny. Because they can turn off a phone if it is found out later to been approved wrongly than to miss out on a customer. Let me till you I bet no one was ever found out at a later of time to be wrongly approved and there phone was shut off. It’s real sad because I know alot of people truly need this program but alot of money is being wasted and stolen from this program.

    Reply

    • Sorry for all the misspellings my auto speller has a mind of its own. And to be clear in case of confusion I am a reviewer agent. Been doing this job for two years now.

      Reply

    • I am not part of the free phone plan; but I have some concerns regarding the street agents. Their boots appear everywhere with no sign of representative for any company in reference. When agent processes an application, what kind of information that they are collected? How information from the applicant will be safe guard? Beside the Fraud, Waste and Abuse potential issues, how do one guarantee that collected information will be used for that sole purposes? Is this a potential identity theft issue in the making?

      Reply

      • Absolutely, Trung. Very intelligent of you to see the potential hazards possible with the street tents. There has been so much fraud and abuse originating from the street tents that we often tell our readers to make sure then enroll online or by phone.

        Reply

        • I am a outreach agent manager. We use tablets to sign people up through a special designed app. Nothing is saved locally and everything is safe for customers I have dealt with for almost a year now.

          Reply

    • Some guy outside of a super market just signed my neighbors up for two smartphones while he already has a lifeline phone at home which makes a total of 3 lifeline phones under 1 house. I think that’s illegal but these “workers” signing people up need to be held accountable for their misleading actions while knowing the law states only 1 lifeline per home but whatever I didn’t see anythiiiing.

      Reply

    • Do two things, Michelle. First, do exactly what the above article instructs you to do to get a replacement phone and to cancel service to your old phone. Second, contact the police.

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  35. My neighbor has 5 free Obama phones, maybe more. She never registers them in her name or puts “unavailable” in the caller ID. I’m worried that she has since got one using my name. She should only have one, am I correct? She is abusing the privelage of having a free cell phone. I want to turn her in but not sure how. Even her unrelated land line is not in her name. She laughs and jokes about it and shows me all her phones and brags and boasts about it. It’s people like her that ruin it for everyone else. Please tell me here to go next before she gets another one in my name.
    Thanks so much

    Reply

  36. 8 months ago Assurance Wireless cut my services after I complained about some minutes.Now after 8 months they deactivated my account and can’t find no records of me.On top of that there is no way to contact me.They give us this #18883215880 which leads us to a Sprint services,with no ideal what we’re talikng about.Our services our being hold ransom by this company.157 complaints so far about this issue.We cannot apply no where else cause they have us listed as a comsumer.Please help with at least a number that doesn’t loop us back to Sprint.

    Reply

  37. To who it may concern: want to know who do I report it to that it’s saying that I have a lifeline service? the phone that I have I pay for. it’s not a lifeline and no service will let me sign up. and I want to know why please. help. you can call me at 267-407-**** or you can email me at ********@gmail.com

    Reply

    • There’s no way for us to know what the problem is, Bridgeanna. If we had to take a wild stab in the dark, we’d guess that someone else at your address once had Lifeline service (but we admit that that theory is a wild guess). It sounds as if you’re attempting to enroll online. If that’s the case, try contacting your service provider by phone so you can ask a customer service rep the same questions you just asked us.

      Reply

  38. how long before you can reapply for a free phone after you’ve been denied? i-wireless got me. Dude said don’t worry when they find out they’ll just cut it off smh my fault i should’ve call assurance and dead the phone or better question can i reapply?

    Reply

    • We’re not quite sure what the problem was, Ty, but there’s nothing to keep you from applying with another company immediately — IF you now have all the information you need to prove your eligibility. Good luck.

      Reply

  39. How do you report an employee on safelink who isn’t doing their job though? I tried calling to find out why my phone wasn’t activated after it said it was the other day they said just wait. I got a letter in the mail today saying it was suspended. I called today again and asked what was going on and they put me on hold with no other words. Does that mean their just going keep putting me on hold without giving me a straight answer? I believe that would be considered not doing their job, at all but that’s just me. Can someone please tell me how to go about this?

    Reply

    • Do you remember the employee’s name? If so, call back in and ask to speak to a supervisor. In addition, you should write a letter to the director of human resources at Safelink corporate headquarters. The address is:

      SafeLink Wireless
      Attention: Human Resources
      9700 N.W. 112th Avenue
      Miami, FL 33178

      Reply

  40. I qualify for the phone program. Logged into site and was told that I am able to transfer my account, minutes, And phone number, from Lifeline to Safelink.
    Problem is:
    I’ve never had one of these phones, the free government phones – in my name or anywhere that I’ve lived.
    So, what to do?

    Reply

    • This is a situation where you need to speak to someone on Safelink’s customer service team, Barbra. Since the automated online system won’t accept your application, you need to explain your problem to a live person or in an email.

      Reply

    • i can probably tell what has happened. One of your lovely neighbors already has a phone listed at their address, but they want another account, so they gave them your address. I know this happens for a fact because the exact same thing happened to me. I had to jump through alot of hoops to prove that I live at my address, not the other people! Talk about FRAUD! Good Luck!

      Reply

  41. I have had lifeline originally had access wireless for last few months could not use phone could not contact them spoke to USAC told me to do benefits transfer decided to go with safelinkcontacted them 6/23/16. Answered questions etc sending forms sent forms to sign up called back oh they sent wrong forms.she will send right ones.again sent wrong ones.finally got girl did on line middle of July. Called them 7/23/16 said that I was approved received phone 10 buissness days. On 8/6 nothing contacted them again stated I was stuck in qualifying status.be 30 days.refuses to allow me to talk with supervisor

    Reply

    • Bad story, Judy. Very bad story. If often takes two, three, even four weeks to receive a free government cell phone. We’ll keep our fingers crossed and hope your phone arrives and your situation is resolved.

      Reply

      • I have track phone told them just let me use it.this has been on going since 6/23.they will not even let me talk to supervisor.was on phone 1 hr on Fri sent me around to 6 people.you should be able to talk to someone about this

        Reply

  42. Unfortunatly i am in California……. i qualified for a phone and service. the assigned me to budget mobil, budget mobil sent me a phone that i can not use. i have arthritis in my hands and fingers, i need a touch screen the key pad on this tiny phone they sent me is only 1/8″ also the phone will not hold a charge. They stopped their service to lifeline and i was transferd to safelink, they will not give me a phone they say i have to buy one from them. this is not right!

    please help me

    Sharma Wentworth
    7/**/**

    ****

    851/447-****

    Reply

    • We’re not sure what’s going on with your Lifeline account, Sharma, because nothing you told us sounds right. You should have been able to sign up directly with any company offering Lifeline service in California. Here’s where can find a list of those companies:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Next issue: Budget is one of the largest Lifeline companies and still offers the Lifeline program in California, so we have no idea why you were “transferred” to Safelink.

      As you can see at the above list, a number of companies offer Lifeline plans in California. If you are unhappy with your Safelink service and phone, we suggest that you start service with one of the other companies. It’s a relatively simple process and the new company will take care of cancelling your Safelink service. Here’s an article that tells you how to switch providers:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/how-do-i-switch-lifeline-providers

      Reply

  43. Safelink is texting messages to clients telling them they need to contact them at the technical assistance tel#. Clients wait on hold in excess of 60 minutes. When they get through they are told they don’t know why they received the message. Safelink charges airtime for these calls.This is being done to cause clients who can least afford it to be forced to buy additional airtime! FRAUD!

    Reply

    • We aren’t ready to holler fraud, but it certainly is suspicious. Under the circumstances, you should contact customer service and they should restore your minutes. If the first person you speak to isn’t helpful, Daniel, ask to speak to that person’s supervisor.

      Reply

  44. Budget mobile submitted a phoney phone number to get approval and sent no phone almost a month now no phone ripping off government. When calling budget mobile they tell a different lie each time and still no phone. The open an account and bill the government. Last phone call they said they are out of phone and are testing signal in the area fraud fraud fraud.

    Reply

  45. I had an entouch phone and after the first year I started getting text stating that my phone would be deactivated if I did not us it every week. My contract stated my phone would be deactivated if I did not us it every 60 days! Then I started getting texts stating that I had to buy more minutes. When I refused to by more minutes than I used entouch cut off my phone and listed me as not renewing the phone on time!

    Reply

  46. Hi,
    I sent in all the documents to Lifeline and the signed form to get a Safelink phone. I waited almost two weeks and I received a notice with a new application saying my signature did not match my name. However, this IS my signature-on all my bank documents, my EBT card and all other personal documents. I have been signing my name like this for a very long time. I even had lifeline/landline a number of years ago and signed exactly the same way. They want me to send in my driver’s license to prove my signature. I resigned the form and included everything AGAIN along with my driver’s license photo. What gives? I’ve never had anyone question the way I sign my name. Seems they just make it hard to get the help you need. Can you comment? Is this common or did someone simply decide to give me a hard time.

    Reply

    • Sometimes, Sue, there is no explanation for the strange workings of the Lifeline process. We certainly can’t explain this odd situation. Good luck. Keep us posted on your progress. We’re sure our readers would be interested in what happens next.

      Reply

      • Actually, that answer is not good enough. Something should be done to force the Lifelines of all 50 states to issue a report concerning abuse, waste, fraud and customer complaints. And if the Universal Service Administrative Company pays their salaries, and is their boss, they should do something about this nonsense. Just because it’s free is irrelevant.

        Reply

  48. Dear whom it may concern I better paid for own phone I right better right in civil court case because pay it not government free cell not free because try me find job because hang city employee put city job title hope say or do commit crime on phone ,,,.money or conflict of interest sign to perjury amount of income fuck you not fool people play other just use my compensation money in my account get back payout me because on city job hold host charge though government fund program clean out bank account fast you help out just trick out compensation. Money pay by hand health condition done city job hurt years now

    Reply

    • Our official translator tells us that you’re not happy with your free government cell phone service. How did you get the phone, Michelle? Did you apply with one of the legitimate service providers we cover on this website, or did you apply with some fly-by-night scheisters at a street tent or booth?

      Reply

  49. Thanks for the info., I wasn’t aware of this concerning fraud w/ cellphones & fraudulant companys, now that I am, I will keep my eyes & ears open to this threat.
    I for one certainly need this service otherwise I couldn’t afford to pay for a cellphone service.

    Thank You,
    Linda

    Reply

  50. At tuesday i stop clouse to mc donals un downtown modesto and this sr Ask just for id and food Card brcause the number dont look so good he Ask for medical later My last four of social then he Ask me for My social Card that its a most and he told me that the sistem in hes tablet shot down to go next day he be there i Ask for the picture that he take to My social and he said he delet it but gess what i dont see hem no more i still have no Phone and he got My información and he never come back please help me dont need no body messing with My social!

    Reply

  51. Hi, i had applied for a phone with terracom a while back and got approved and it was supposed to come in the mail but it had not shown up for almost 2 months, so i just gave up waiting. I no longer live at that address. I tried to reapply for another ohone with them but it says i have a phone already with a government assistance place. I don’t. How do i find out who is using a phone in my name?

    Reply

    • You need to contact Terracom to explain and resolve the situation. Otherwise you will not be able to apply for a phone with a new company.

      Reply

    • No, I don’t think anyone else is using your phone. They are talking about YOU, because you are still in their system. Excuse me Universal Service Administrative Company — how come you guys can’t get your act together with this program?

      Reply

  52. What happens if my lifeline service has been canceled due to inactivity and i want to restart it? I wasn’t using the phone because I had another, but now I need to use the lifeline phone. What can I do to get service through a lifeline phone again? Can I simply reapply?

    Reply

    • Yes, if your account was cancelled due to inactivity, you must start the application process again.

      Reply

  53. reporting metro pcs and budget mobile. i had service with budget mobile through the free phone program for over 3 years when one day my service is no more. when i called customer service, they told me that i had requested my number be ported to metro pcs and that someone named Lashonda approved my request. well i never made that request. when i called my cell phone from my landline, some girl named katrina answered and i told her what happened. she said all she did was go to a metro pcs store and fill out the necessary forms to get a phone and she was assigned that number! whether she’s being truthful, who knows? i have documented all my customer service phone calls and emails with both budget mobile and metro pcs from whom there was no help of course. they are not afraid of legal action for some reason. i think they should be very afraid. i’m ready to file a class action suit or join one. just let me know.

    Reply

  54. Safelink: 1-800-378-1684 or 1-800-867-7183
    Enrolement ID#720****

    Been without a properly working phone for a while now. Robot voice hangs up on me when I enter my phone number. Finally got in touch with a person at Safelink and they told me a new phone will arrive on 03/03/16 or by the Friday afterward. PIN-1131708941
    (03/12/16)
    No phone. Called Safelink & they said the phone was “back-ordered”. It’s been nearly 2 weeks so that sounds suspiciously like BS because these are obsolete phones & I can order new things from China & they will have it to my front door in less than 2 weeks.

    (04/14/16)
    What have I done to offend you people? I can’t think of anything but I must have done something because if every interaction with customers was like mine has been you would not be in business. So it must some how be MY fault. Please tell me. It all started when the Safelink phone you provided got so bad I couldn’t use it. The speaker was broken and I couldn’t understand anything being said. Some of the keys will stick so it is difficult to dial or text. And the volume button on the side fell off. I called and someone told me a replacement would be sent. Nearly a month passed so I called to find out where my phone was and was told it had to be “back-ordered”. It arrived a few days after that but would not work and when I called the number you put in the box with the phone a robot told me my number was being worked on and to turn my phone on and wait 15 minutes, then if it still didn’t not work to call back, This went on for a week. I called and finally got a real person and they told me a SECOND phone was on the way and it would work out of the box. I told the person that at that point I didn’t have a lot of faith in this but she told me I had to wait for the second phone. It arrived in a couple of days but wouldn’t work either. Both phones displayed “unregistered SIM”. I typed things out as I have now and went online to the chat feature of your website and pasted what had happened. During the conversation I got disconnected somehow, but not before I told my problem. Resorting back to a landline, after many attempts I got another real person and after a 20 minute wait told what had happened. It was a man this time and he very efficiently told me a new SIM card would be necessary and it would arrive that Friday or the Friday after that. It arrived in two days. Someone had Fed-Exed it. I was embarrassed to be so much trouble, but grateful also for the card. I put the new card in the new phone and the display said “SIM card rejected”. I resisted getting a hammer and gave myself some time to calm down. As I picked up the phone to call once again, I got an idea and stopped. I put the new SIM card into my old phone which was nearly unusable and it lit up and worked. So, after 6 or so weeks of work, you managed to restart my old phone which was defective. This is why I believe I must have offended someone. No one could be this inept and stay in business. It has to be deliberate. Whatever it is I have done, I am sorry. I did not mean to offend.
    My phone number is 662-739-****. The IMEI of the OLD phone which is now active again is 01416200076****. The SIM number in OLD is phone is 8901410427874528****. The IMEI of the NEW phone which isn’t active is 01430300424****. The SIM number in the NEW phone is 8901410425778954****. If there is anything you can do to help I would appreciate it since the phone as it is now is nearly useless. If for some reason you are unable to activate the new phone I will use the new phone for parts and try to repair the old phone. I don’t anticipate perfect results from this since I am old and my eyes are not as good as they once were but I don’t know what else to do. You may contact me at donmullican@gmail or call me at 662-289-**** extension 105. My address is 321 *******, Kosciusko Mississippi ****.
    (04/15/16)
    Got online to ‘chat’ option and talked to someone who called themselves ‘Alejadra’. A told me this phone and the new one both showed non-functional’ on her screen. She was online with me for close to an hour. Finally she said a new SIM card would be required for the new phone to work right. Why does this sound familiar. A new one will arrive in maybe a week. On Friday. Hmmmmmm.
    (04/16/16) Messages started arriving telling me that service will end tommoror. “last day of service” warning.
    Tried to reply to message but got back “sorry” but message you sent is not valid . Check your text and try again.
    TracFone Wireless, Inc.
    Attention: Executive Resolution Department
    9700 N.W. 112th Avenue
    Miami, FL 33178
    CorporateOffice@tracfone.com
    Parent company for Tracphone: America Movil (Mexican telephone company-4th largest in world)
    Ticket # for SIM card is 113513****
    04/18/16
    Nothing has arrived. Yet.

    04/23/16
    Still no SIM card in mail.

    04/25/16
    No SIM card yet. Will try again later.

    (04/30/16)
    Friday. Still no SIM card. My phone has been defective now for months and my contact with Safelink has been going on for over 2 months. The level of ineptitude is unbelievable, that’s why I am beginning to think I am someone’s project to torture. This much incompetence is can’t be an accident: a person who be incapable of feeding themselves.

    Reply

    • That is a horrifying story, Donald. But you have done the right thing by documenting every interaction and lack of action. The only thing left for you to do — and you probably should have done it several interactions ago — is to demand to speak to a supervisor and threaten to report this ineptitude to the Federal Communications Commission and the USAC. If you still get no satisfaction, you must follow through with the report.

      Here’s an article that will tell you how to file an official complaint.

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/file-lifeline-service-complaint

      Please continue to keep such thorough notes and let us know how it goes.

      Reply

      • Concerning Donald’s story — why is that YOUR company has not yet done anything about this RIDICULOUS nonsense? How about putting sanctions on these phone carriers so that if they don’t start working the program CORRECTLY, they will be kicked out? How about that ???!!! AND MEANTIME — THEY ARE BILLING YOU FOR SERVICES THAT DON’T EVEN EXIST. That’s called FRAUD. Why am I having to tell you how to do your job?

        Reply

  55. The scam involves well-known figures, such as the owner of the New York Times, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim. The profits to scammers are astronomical and the costs to working taxpayers are far beyond astronomical.

    Reply

  56. If your Obama phone salesman has already made his cut from the three-ring scheme between your carrier Virgin mobile (among other giants), the brokering company (Assurance, Safelink, etc.) (mostly located off shore so that U.S. laws don’t apply and the LIFELINE program in your state then read this experience carefully.
    I was cut off completely from “unlimited text and unlimited talk” in less than 3 months after receiving the phone.
    The red tape I had to go through between LIFELINE and Assurance yielded me NO resolution. After a month of trying to restore my texting and ultimately my minutes I have a dead phone. When I first gave them my personal ID it had an old address on it. 3/4 of Americans are nOT living at teh address they originally listed on their drivers license!! LIFELINE sent me a recertification letter after just 3 months and it never reached me! It never reached over half of their consumer base (cash kickback profit from Obama) beacuse they’re friggin HOMELESS or moving to new job opportunities. When I finally recertified with LIFELINE on their deplorable website they told me I had to wait ANOTHER thirty days from Assurance to disapprove a new assigned phone number. You see because I just wanted my friggin phone restored! These programs, while fighting so-called fraud completely knocked out a homeless person from getting any calls or texts for job opportunities, famil;y, friends,M y entire social network was hijacked for 6 weeks AND i LIVED IN A MENS SHELTER!! DO NOT ACCEPT THESE PHONES FROM SALESMEN WHO ARE LINING UP AT MAJOR SOUP KITCHENS (ONES WHO SERVICE UP TO 3,000 MEALS A DAY.), ON THE sidewalk of your local human services building and high-traffic destitute neighborhoods. They know damn well there’s profit being made and yet they SHAME you for questioning their insanity justifying that YOU got the phone for free!! They will set you up!! BEWARE!!

    Reply

  57. You can’t get approved for a Safe link or other lifeline phone if you live in an apartment if someone else in the apartment building has one even though they are completely different households and don’t even know each other!!THIS IS WRONG!!!A lot of low income people who need a phone are getting denied!Who is responsible for this gross injustice and discrination.I am going to get a class action suit together!!!WTF is wrong with these morons!!

    Reply

    • A class action suit,that’s an excellent idea!!And a petition would be a great idea too.But lifeline won’t listen to us!!Government phones would be a great asset to low income people who cannot afford a cell phone to help get employment,get to doctors,keep up with our business appointments,and try to better ourselves,if the phones and the whole screwed up program didn’t suck so bad!!The government don’t care about poor people!!!!

      Reply

      • We cannot deny that the Lifeline Assistance program has flaws, but it has helped millions of low-income Americans get jobs, to reach out to medical professionals, and to keep in touch with friends and families. It’s far from perfect, but millions of people are grateful for it.

        Reply

    • The Federal Communications Commission approved these rules in an attempt to reduce the rampant fraud, waste and abuse in the system. Unfortunately, it seemed to be the only way to keep unethical customers from receiving multiple free government cell phones.

      Reply

  58. Anything the government controls is gonna suck!!That’s why Safe link and the other government phone programs have an overall ratings are one star.Our government programs are a joke!!!Poor people are continuousally f-ed over!!!

    Reply

  59. I know someone who is abusing this free government cell phone. He works and has another cell phone. He makes good money .he works for a moving company. .gets paid cash. …under the table . So he’s lied about the money he makes… he also tried to get food stamps. .but was denied because he was not looking for work. ..but he has a job..His number is

    Reply

  60. My. Qlink Obama phone. Stoped working and I don’t have 25.00to pay for a new one I have told them that and have asked them to turn off. Its been. 5 months and they will not turn off my account and send monthly reports of my usage and that is not true it’s not been working or used in months I think they are talking money that they don’t deserve to this is wrong and they still won’t turn it off

    Reply

    • ATTENTION — Universal Service Administrative Company — Kimber.Sweet’s story is yet another example of carriers BILLING the government for services that do not exist and/or were shut down ions ago. That’s FRAUD. And why have you not put a stop to this yet? Are the companies sending your regular reports as to their activities?

      Reply

  61. My phone was stolen. I want the service disconnected. 443-939-**** is the number. Please turn it off.they are using it every month. I went to Social Services in Temple Hills, Maryland and they could not even give me a number to report it stolen or disconnect.

    Reply

  62. It’s not generosity when phone companies are forced to pay usf and paying customers like me being forced to reimburse the phone companies payments into the usf

    Reply

  63. Yes I found out that my missing phone wasn’t missing an that my mother had stole it. So I called reported it stolen they sent a new phone an was using it all the way up to three days ago. My mother reported it stolen on me so I had my husband call safe link back and they verified everything on the account was mine so we goto bed wake up an it’s deactivate again, but this time there telling us that it’s in someone else’s name not mine… So how does that change overnight that was my only phone an I know my mom has three of them from different government assistance programs. How can I fix this my moms a professional scam artists that gets the government to pay for everything she does, I just need my phone. An this safe link ppl aren’t trying to listen or they just don’t want too

    Reply

    • Attention Universal Service Administrative Company — What have you done about Angela Barth’s mother? Write your answer here: _______________________________________________.

      Reply

  64. I have a track phone safe link program and I cant get my mins.
    Ive dealt with a track phone rep and I cant get anywhere with them so I have 3 mins on my account.
    Ive tryed and it seems they cant figure out there own system.

    Reply

  65. My old phone speaker went so they sent me a new one. I have been over a month trying to get my old phone number. I have SafeLink. They have sent me five new sim cards and they still do not know what to do. Each time I have talked to them, I have given them a contact number, my email address and my mailing address. The FedEx man stated it must have an Apt. number on it which I have given them each time or the next time they will not deliver.. I need my old phone number because my medical team has that number

    Reply

  66. This is Barbara Kennedy I want the 86600 minutes put back on phone with
    Nunber1-407-927-**** you have one hour or I call the police and fire charges.

    Reply

  67. Lawton Oklahoma 73500
    Possible human security for national government
    April Dawn Tallent
    April 4 1984
    Birthday
    Sergeant word heavy in use, found other uses with flat visual of human source of debt corporal word observed.
    Heavy personal inservitude

    Reply

  68. 310-593-**** this number contacted me several times to enroll me requested I txt a pic of my snap or link card to them so I complied but never got the lifeline service is this number a scam or is there a back log and I still will receive ? They now have my personal card information or else I would not be as concerned.

    Reply

  69. I was also denied re-certification from Assurance wireless. Apparently someone is already using a lifeline phone with a different carrier in my name! And it is difficult getting in touch with someone to find out who is using my name for this phone. I have been on hold with the USAC for 30 minutes….keeps saying hold time is more than 10 minutes….

    Reply

    • Someone is using my name and has a lifeline phone,…but it isn’t me. And now I need this phone and just recently qualified for the govt phone but,..i can’t get it. I’m frustrated and know how you are feeling, as well.

      Reply

  70. Hello I recently went to apply for a life l in budget cell phone and was denied because someone is already using my info to have and receiving service. How do I disconnect that service and block any one else that tries to use my info?

    Reply

  71. I don’t know if i’m in the right place but a ex-room mate keeps placing adds on craigslist and the phone minutes will be used up in a few hours . can some one help me with this .

    Reply

  72. hi my name is angel im a solo support for my family a friend toll me about life line program so i went a walfare office from my erea on the side walk i saw a lady given phones for free so i got one thank you lifeline on 8 10 2015 they recev my form i was aproved the for 12 months untill 10/13/2016 the problem is that total wirelees said that i was not aproved but if i have a visa i can get refill minutes for $25 .00 so im not gettin nottin free so went back to the plase ware i got the phone and i see people and same problem from buget mobile total wireless accurance wireless tag wireless access wireless life line is helping the people but this companys are taking avanteges of califonia lifeline program at the end i got nottin teking pravit information from people social id medical ebt and i got natting thank you angel flores

    Reply

  73. I would like to report ***** ****** of Elkhart Indiana who reports her children, which she does not take care of, and herself in order to the government in order to collect free government money. She also steals aderal from her children to sell as a source of income.

    Reply

  74. I’ve had a phone from assurance wireless.. Violas that got infected with a random app. I had to get a new lifeline phone and assurance refuses to take me back without judge. Ping through hoops. The most recent problem I’ve had is with Total… I got an HTC evolved 3d… Bad ads I must admit, and I started getting text about my service being cut off only had it for two weeks why?

    Reply

  75. Budget mobile makes it next to impossible to speak to a live person and when you do they do not speak english and refuse or cant help and they direct you to the web site where they are on purpose frauding the ederly and disabled…..they have blocks in a line that you click on what product or service you want then when you click the top block it takes you to the next page where the blocks are switched in their order so you get decieved whatyou are purchasing….and when you are charged for a data pack or the like that you cant even use on the phones they provide thru the lifeline service they refuse to give you a refund or even convert the purchase to a useable product….and this has happend to numerous people i know at 5 bucks a pop for a service they know you cant use dont want and cant refunded they are making a killing and im certain they are doing this with intent to defraud

    Reply

  76. I didnt seen this question asked. I checked before I commented here but i may have missed it. Is it ok for someone to have a regular service provider phone as well as a safelink phone? My daughters boyfriend has had both of these in his name for months now. I dont feel its right. Id like to report this but im unsure if its the right thing to do.

    Reply

    • No, you are only allowed one Lifeline phone per household. That’s one landline phone with a Lifeline discount, or one free or discounted Lifeline cell phone. If his landline has a lifeline discount applied he cannot have the Lifeline cell phone. However, it is perfectly legal to have a non-discounted landline phone plus a Lifeline cell phone. We say it’s legal, but we agree it’s not right and a waste of government money

      Reply

  77. Brandon with assurance wireless and Greg with Tag Mobile, both posted ads on Craigslist offering employment as an “Independent Contractor”. Brandon demanded I work 8 hours +. Brandon demanded I “sell” 31 cell phones plus in order to get paid $10.00 per application. Brandon indicated anything less would be paid at only $6.00 per application/cell. Brandon offered paid training. Brandon owes me for 7 hours worked during training. Brandon instructed me to tell customers that assurance was the only carrier that offered unlimitted voice minutes and unlimitted texs. Brandon confirmed to me via text messages that he found my cell phone which was left in his car after we went on our training. There were two other people training in the car. Brandon has refused to give me back my cell phone. He has also removed the ads he placed on craigslist. I saved a copy of the ads.

    Greg, on the other hand, indicated on his ad he would pay $15.00 per approved application….but then changed his mind and indicated he would only pay $10.00 per application. I am to purchase my own tablet and other equipment needed to work.

    Greg is afilliated with Ken ****** (Top 10 Map Listers).

    Both, Greg and Brandon requested I fill out an application online…they both run a background check on me. I am terryfied that they now have access to ALL my personal information….
    Brandon is associated with ******. He also sells solar panels. He operates out of *****. WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91367
    These appear to be huge scammers…They should be stopped…WHO IS OVERSEEING THIS PROGRAM?

    Reply

    • We had to asterisk out some of the info as we can’t allow unsubstantiated charges against persons on this site. Although we do believe you, as we’ve also seen various Craigslist postings like you are talking about that seem a little suspect. The only thing we can suggest is to contact Budget and Assurance and let them know of the contractors that are not living up to their promises, and to use the information on this page to report them to Lifeline.

      Reply

  78. Two phones are being sent to this address an one is safelink the other reach out an also have a land line and it is unfair because these ppl can afford a phone..

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  80. I have been incarcerated since 6/02/14 and i went to bluejay to sign up for a phone and it says i can’t apply until 6/22/15 and i was in jail at the time. I need a phone and not able to get one and I dont know why.

    Reply

  81. I ordered a Obama phone for a Vincent ********, mailed to ****** Clark Street Las Vegas NV 89122, never received it…Although maybe he didn’t qualify?? Was it sent and when?

    If it was sent is it possible for someone else to activate it?

    Thinking my neighbor, Brenda ****** may have stole it, but said it was her phone.

    How many Oboma phones are you allowed to have?

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  82. I see people getting signed up for these phones on the streets, How do I know which ones are safe? do they need SSN?

    Reply

    • They don’t need your social security number, although they might ask for the last 4 digits. Look for a vendor that is listed on our page of providers.

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  83. Reporting that i believe that someone has used my identity to get lifeline service. I recently applied for lifeline sevices and was informed that service already exist. Please help me find out who did this…and would like to know if i will be able to obtain services needed for my family in emergency purposes

    Reply

  84. Can someone who has an Obama cell phone give it to there kids whom do not live with to keep? Or is that considered fraud?

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  85. Does anyone know if people are getting arrested for having 2 phones in the home? For example two different disabled adults living in 1 apartment, and they both have a phone? Just one each? I read on the site that its considered fraud to have more than 1 per household. Just curious…

    Reply

    • It’s fraud be there have not been reports of any arrests that we’ve seen. All we’ve seen is all but of the phones being turned off.

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  86. I know of many people committing FRAUD and have reported it to Assurance as well as the FCC without results, this has been going on for one year. One guy I know is still committing fraud while he has two jobs. This is why the tax payers are angry and I want to do something about it but keep getting a run around. The number provided here seems to be a fax. If you can be of any help please send me info. I am going to media outlets next. One fraud user Bob ***** (518)***-**** has been cheating the Government for two years.

    Reply

  87. I have been receiving mail under someones name that does not live at my address for their safelink phone> I have att and do not use safelink and would like to let safelink know they do NOT live here. any suggestions?

    Reply

    • contact Safe link and let them know so they can resolve the provider for you. Don’t bother calling CA Lifeline they will they you to contact the provider. I know this because I am going through a similar situation myself.

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  89. Apparently someone is using my identity for lifeline services and i need those accounts ceased immediately so I can start a new service!

    Reply

  90. Okay now I am really frustrated. I first tried in February 2014 to apply online for the phone service.(Safelink) It would not accept my physical address so I called and the woman told me that I would have to wait 3 months for the system to upgrade?? I tried again on April 10,2014. The lady took all my information so she could send me an application. Okay so I waited and waited and no application came. I tried again at the beginning of June 2014. I saw that I could download the application from the site so I did, I printed and filled it out and sent it with verification that I receive medicaid, food stamps, and verification of my physical address. Okay so then at the end of June I saw on the site that my application was approved. YAY!!! BUT it says that it’s still pending for documentation. I thought okay it takes a little time to process….hmmm…then I called again at the beginning of July and was told they don’t have my documents, I thought but they have the application and the documents were sent with the application. The man I talked to was very unpleasant and told me that I need to still send in the documents I asked him well where did the paperwork go that I did send in and he told me it’s in back office but yet he doesn’t know how to get ahold of back office?? so after hanging up with him I went on the site towards the end of July and clicked on the links for sending documents I thought okay I can e-mail so I scanned and downloaded the documents and sent the documents via e-mail, and I called back again on July 28,2014 just to be told that the e-mail doesn’t work and that it is down for maintenance. I told the man are you kidding me? He said I need to send them again because they cannot get the info from the e-mail. Okay so the next day I saw that I could upload the documents okay so that is what I did yesterday July 31,2014. Today is August 1st 2014. I called this morning and you won’t believe what I was told…They can’t receive the documents by the upload…hahaha! Okay jokes on me. I get it this can’t be legitimate. I was told this morning when I called that for me to fax the documents. well I think the last 3 times of sending information that this is a false company. When I mentioned that I was going to get in touch with USAC the lady kept interrupting me and would not let me finish talking and she kept talking over me and I find this quite rude. She told me still that I need to send the documents. Now…anyone else getting a run around like I have just been through?? Very upset here!

    Reply

    • Thank you for the info regarding safelink. i am trying to get ph service for my 85 yr. old mother. My suggestion to you is try Qlink.gov

      Reply

  91. I keep receiving emails asking me to ‘re-certify’ my SafeLink account. When I re-register on-line, it says that my information is incorrect and can’t proceed even though I enter it several times correctly. And when I re-register by phone, it says that I am already registered. I’m wondering if this is a phishing email. Are there any other complaints regarding phishing emails with respect to SafeLink?

    Reply

  93. could someone PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!.
    Someone is using my identity or something so I am unable to get a phone through the lifeline program. I have spent two weeks and countless hours talking to everyone from the FCC, PUC, USAC and Lifeline. NO ONE seems to be able to help me and they are all passing the buck. Keep in mind, none of my other personal accounts have been compromised in any way shape or form. Can some please help me?
    Thank You and GOD BLESS.

    Steven

    Reply

  94. Dear Sirs,
    I am totally confused. On 02/04/2014 I filled out and mailed my application. 7 days later in stead of getting my phone I got a new set of applications. I check the web site an it says” we mailed out your application, please allow 5-7 days. I tried calling the number 1-888-898-4888 and 1-877-732-3018 and all I got was an automated menu, and they asked me for my phone number..Dahhh, I don’t have a phone that is why I am applying to get one! I finally Faxed ANOTHER APPLICATION on 02/19/2014. Now I went to the web site filled in the inforamtion and it says “YOUR INFORAMTION CAN NOT BE FOUND” what is going on here? Do they just want me to give up? Please adise.

    Nicholas Paredes

    Reply

  95. someone by the name of ****** is using my address for free assistance i recieved a safelink phone at my house my address is ***** macon.ga 31206 how to i stop free mail coming here i keep returning it to sender i applied for a free for couldnt get one because ******* got one what do i do can u stop her from using my address thanks

    Reply

  96. My daughter has a free link phone that someone gave her. I am not happy that she has the phone and would like to know what I can do to get it shut off.

    Candice Foote.

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  98. I’m having a problem getting a free cell phone, the reason why I need a phone because both of my knees have severe arthritis and will need knee replacement I also have severe back problems, because of this I’m on SSI. I cant get a phone because a girl is using my address to get a phone. I have all her information, SSN and DOB. can you help me?

    Reply

  99. I can’t get a phone because the lady that lived in this apartment before me had one. She died…that’s how I got the apartment. Safelink tells me that I have to send them a copy of her death certificate to prove it!!!! i keep sending THEIR mail that comes for her back to them with stuff written all over the envelopes — dead, deceased, no longer living, update your computers, etc. Two years and still can’t get one. I’m assuming her children kept it and are using it. What other conclusion?

    Reply

    • There are not very good instructions on how to cancel the service in the event of the subscriber’s death. It is not necessarily malicious fraud by her family.

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  101. My idiot neighbor has 12! no lie. I hate that she calls me on different numbers through out the day. We call her MA BELL. I wish I could report her. The agreement clearly states that each citizen can only get one phone per household. To top I off she has Galaxy 3 or4 phones thru Verizon for her and r 14yr old that she purchased. it makes me sick that this pathetic woman is abusing a program that was really needed by low-income families. She and thousands like her will be the cause of this program coming to an end. Phoenix, Arizona

    Reply

  102. My sibling has admitted via a text message to the person he is “harassing” that she may not have received his last rant because “i ran out of minutes on one of THREE obamaphones they HANDED to me for FREE bcuz im a MOOCH LMMFAO:)” quote/unquote. This is ridiculous; he isn’t employed, he doesn’t have a license, and he lives with our mother. The only person he communicates with is the person he is harassing.

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  103. u people are blind. put two and two together. the reason druggies are able to get the phone and not hard working citizens is because they want to track and record the drug users to crack down on the war against drugs. wake up America and smell the coffee. times are changing

    Reply

    • Yes! Omg my boyfriend was arrested randomly tonight for a warrant in another county, after sending his id pic to our neighbor to becone a distributor. A few days ago my homeless friend that is staying with me, was arrested. He has a phone from this program and lost it right before getting arrested for jaywalking. My boyfriends brother is our roomate and the day he signed up for the phone, he was accused of “drinking in public” (it was a bottle of orange juice) and then beaten by the cops for resisting arrest and thrown in jail.

      WTF IS UP HERE?

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  104. I think someone should check out qlinkwireless, they have all my qualifying documentation and I cannot get a live person to respond to my questions. This has been going on for over 2 months. I suspect they are scamming the free government program and who knows what they are doing to me with all that faxed/mailed documentation I sent them. I am going to use the website that was recommended and hope for some action. We still need help on Hawaii.

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  105. We’ve taken the liberty of editing your phone number. Our standard advice: Don’t give out personal information on the internet. That being said, Hanna, we are not the phone company. Contact your service provider if you want to cancel your service.

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    • Universal Service Administrative Company — Please explain what it is you do? The article above this forum states that you PAY out the funds to support this program, which I assume includes the salaries of the Lifeline offices?

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  106. There is a woman out here who has obtained some 7 phones by having them sent to her “friends” addresses. That way she does not feel they can trace them. Mail from Assurance still comes here addressed to her daughter. She gave me a phone. I had no idea where it came from. Then she became angry & had it cut off. I have written to Assurance Wireless & called them. I do not know if they ever did anything or not.

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  108. As for tax payers that are worried about paying for lifeline benefits you are required by law to pay universal service access fee’s if you have a land line or cell phone so even if the lifeline benefit program didn’t exist you would still probably be faced paying the same fee’s as before the program came into existence.

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  109. While the FCC has suggested what I’ve state above publicly I’m not so sure they have taken appropriate action to create such a real time database I would suggest anyone reading my comments please contact USAC and The FCC and lets all try to get them on the same page.

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  110. ETC’s need to be held under more regulation with this program it’s often the case that one ETC doesn’t have a clue what the other has on file and that’s why so many people have 2-5 cell phones running all at the same time USAC needs a main database to track all the ETC’s Applicants and their lifeline customers and it will fix much of the problem with the program.

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  112. I know a guy that has TWO of these free-phones. His neighbors in his apartment complex all have two phones as well. How is this even possible? I couldn’t file a complaint because the link here doesn’t work. What the hell….whose paying for these phones? Me the taxpayer? This is insane!

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  113. Agree totally with “JUSTPLAINTIRED”. My 80 yr old little Mother needs one of these phones. Worked hard all her life, paid into goverment taxes for over 60 yrs. I helped her apply for a phone. Found out a seriously mentally ill drug addict woman had used her address to get one for herself. Just for the life of me, I cannot wrap my mind around how these thieves get away with all the freebees the goverment give them! Then when an honest person whom is in desire need of help, cannot get any . PLEASE tell American what is wrong with this picture !

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  114. Funny, I am disabled. Someone druggie used my address…I cannot get a phone. Safelink asked me for tons of proof, I faxed it…lived in same place or over 12 years and can prove it. NOTHING. More like, “First Come, First Serve”. I have serious health issues, they just like their dope. There needs needs to be more of a cap on this than just the “Under penalty of perjury…” clause. Just like selling their Link cards…make them drug test before you the taxpayers give them anything…you work hard to support these lowlifes!!

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  115. they give these phone they dont check the people out i no people with 5 to 10 phone we report them no one will check them out stop giveing these phone to the lazy bumbs

    Reply