We get lots of comments from readers who are unhappy with the Lifeline Assistance free government cell phone service.
Dave said, “As a result of the Q Link cellphone being a piece of junk, I filed a consumer complaint. They called, we argued and did not resolve anything. I refilled my consumer complaint. The called again [sic], we argued and did not resolve anything. They then cut me off.”
Paulette said, “My month to month account with EnTouch is getting ready to expire and the thought of buying time while they fiddle around just pisses me off. The right hand doesn’t seem to know or understand what the left hand is doing……and I am ready to file a complaint with the agency that handles them plus additional organizations.”
Joan said, “What can I do. I phoned and waited over 15 minutes and no one answered. I can’t find a place on line where to leave a complaint.”
If you are unhappy with anything about your free government cell phone service — maybe your phone stopped working the day you received it, or maybe your unlimited talk and text plan suddenly turned into a 350 minute per month plan, or maybe something completely different has you steamed — we just posted an article telling you how to complain and to whom you should complain.
Our comprehensive guide to complaining tells you who to complain to — the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Universal Service Administration Company USAC), your state’s public utility commission, and even the Better Business Bureau. We provide the names, the phone numbers, the websites, everything you need to know to file that free government cell phone complaint.
It’s the internet’s ONLY comprehensive guide to making a complaint about your Lifeline free government cell phone service. Click here to go to the page.
And by the way, if you are sick and tired of your current Lifeline provider, we’ve also written a new FAQ on how to switch Lifeline providers. We’ve got you covered.
And it’s brought to you by FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net.
Carolyn McMillan says
Warning to Assurance Wireless Customers: Your data and privacy are never secure, especially not on an ANS Android!
Assurance Wireless now only offers dangerous ANS Android smartphones as replacement phone handsets. They will not let you use another phone handset, not even those listed on their own Website as being acceptable. The company simply refused to activate any other system-campatible phone handset for me. Two piece-of -shit ANS phones in a row seriously malfunctioned on me: pressed buttons on their own, shared info that I never consented to sharing, would not place calls, and could not access voicemail. They have all sorts of apps and junk that keep the phone from working as a phone, but constantly try to con you into paying for upgrades, as if that’s going to help incompetent design and service. Customer Service gave me the runaround for three months, claimed they had sent replacement phones that they never sent, left me hanging on Hold for an hour several times, etc.
Luckily, I had use of other people’s phones, or I would have been in bad shape. People should know: If you are impoverished enuf to qualify for a Lifeline phone, then make sure you sign up your Grandmother too, who lives at a different address, and keep her phone active as a backup for you to use whenever your Lifeline phone malfunctions! A government phone is an unreliable phone. Unfortunately, you always have to have a working phone in order to call Customer Service about your broken phone. What a catch-22! And now, apparently, some entity is trying to vacuum up our data and our contacts, using software pre-installed on our free phones. A real security breach. I wonder if there are government plans to exploit this, as they try to disqualify folks from government programs.
God bless you guys at Free Government Cell Phones! Thru reading your articles and comments, I learned how to search out and change providers, since Ass Wireless will no longer permit customers to upgrade to a handset that works, and won’t even activate a dumbphone anymore.
Bill says
How can I find store’s in Minneapolis that handle free government phones or tent location Also can I keep my old phone number ? Please sent me email soon old phone is doesn’t work have heart problems and need phone am low income on snap
Free Government Cell Phones says
You don’t need to enroll at a store, Bill. You can enroll by phone or online. And it’s much safer, too.
Leon Stewart says
I’m starting my 3rd provider, and I have one simple comment I’d like to make; A high percentage of the users of Lifeline Services are the elderly. Many of the elderly have poor eyesight and poor dexterity. So why isn’t ita requirement to be a provider is to supply a larger phone with a larger screen with settings for larger Fonts. They an still provide Refubished phones,as long as they are in good working order, but those small phones with small fonts should be eliminated, at least for the elderly. However, a plan could be developed whereby the elderly could purchase a 6 inch smartphone refubished unlocked at a substantial discount, and all providers have to have their systems compatible with unlocked devices.
Free Government Cell Phones says
You can purchase your own phone on Amazon or eBay or anywhere else and make it your free government cell phone. You just need to be very careful that the phone you buy is compatible with your service provider’s network. Talk to your service provider’s customer service team PRIOR to purchasing a phone.
andre says
I can’t get me a service with QLink and got tired already ! They saying that i must fill application on their site … agreed with that , but with SSN number on it ? … no way … are you kidding me , this is very sensitive !!! personal information . Lots of bad guy’s in here (i didn’t forget that is our president vote got hacked and they still can’t figured out, who did it…) . I called them and asked if they can send me an application to my address and the answer was NO !? I’m very disappointed ! and what can i do now ??? … maybe call our president and ask him for help? … i need a telephone (doc.’s app.’s … you know…) , without service you’re in deep hole , simple is that. Peace to everyone !!!
Tired_Of_Idiocy says
Willful ignorance is as disgusting as horrible grammar and fearmongering.
Do you not use https to secure your browsing? Have you ever heard of a proxy or VPN to encrypt your network? Get LifeLock if you’re worried Russians are gonna target your random self. You are not important.
the spreading of misinformation is hacking, is the same crap the Russians have been doing for decades, and Americans are all too stupid to remember and/or notice it.
If you were able to complain here, you’re able to use a search function to solve these simple problem of yours. Is problem solving and critical thinking a thing of the past only used by the few?
Your an adult and your issues are things solved by children, unless you completely lack common sense. Go back to school and learn some self-sufficiency.
Once upon a time, telecommunication didn’t exist and folks still made it to the doctor. Bye Felicia!
Steve says
LOL your sweet guys !
: ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
Edward Schultz says
Thank you very much for this info, I filed complaints tonight.
Free Government Cell Phones says
You’re welcome, Edward. Please come back and update us (and our readers) about what — if anything — happens as a result of your complaints.
scott johnson says
I cannot get my phone service. I had Budget Mobile for a long time. Then they switched to Entouch which will not give me my phone service back.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Read our guide, Scott.
Jerry says
Good job.
Something like that is badly needed. I haven’t looked as the guide yet but I can attest to the fact the FCC will get these people on their toes, real fast when nothing else worked.
After years of problems with ISP’s, for a mere $15 I am now able to have two, Comcast and AT&T, due to the low cost internet service for the poor that I first ran across on this site. I have two because of the constant problems of them both trying to rob me because I use only a minimal service (they tend to try to rob you when they aren’t getting enough money from you) and that gives me a back up where I can be more brave in dealing with them, as they prey on the fact we need our service and the constant fear of losing it allows them to rob some people.
They do not like giving these low cost plans, among other problems I mentioned, so I finally got the FCC on them, they jumped and got extremely cooperative. So it’s good to see that as well as the other agencies listed in this article made public. It’s more of a help than some realize, as with some of these companies you can never relax and just use their service, they are thieves and will hound you constantly trying to take your money.
I’ve tried the twitter and facebook sites of these bad companies and all that is designed to wear the customer down so they give up and pay what they are being robbed of, so don’t waste your time, and get right down to reporting them/what works..
It’d be interesting to hear how well those other agencies work, but again the FCC is not only very easy and fast to file with online, but effective.
Kudos for writing/posting this guide…a great public service.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Thank you, sir. We appreciate the kind words.
Chester C. Graham says
I lost my lifeline phone and when I received a new one the supplier (SPRINT) did not provide a manual.
The on-line manual was 124 pp. awkward to use on-line as the illustration of the phone was at the beginning and it was a pain to scroll back and forth from the instruction to the illustration of the phone.
the supplier also did not send the code to access my voicemail.
The customer service telephone number of the supplier did not give me an option to request a code to access my voicemail and the options did not include one to speak to a real person.
A letter to the supplier resulted in my being told my voicemail access code was my Zip Code and their policy was not to supply manuals.
My Zip Code was not my voicemail access code.
I wrote the supplier again with my complaints and copies my state’s attorney general – consumer division.
When again mailing the supplier I was told my voicemail access code was 1234, but their policy was not to supply manuals.
My voicemail access code was indeed 1234 but I still had no manual.
I again mailed the Consumer Department of my State Attorney General with my manual complaint.
This resulted in the supplier telephoning me twice telling me their policy was not to supply manuals and I should go on-line to see the manual and asked me if I was “satisfied.”
I repeatedly told them their policy of not supplying manuals did not satisfy me.
Had I told the supplier I was “satisfied” they would have written the attorney general I was “satisfied.”
Finally, after at least three telephone calls I received a manual in the mail.
I have found complaining my mail is the way to go.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Glad to hear that you were willing to keep going until you got results.