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I’m afraid I’ll get busted for having more than one free government cell phone. How can I cancel the extra account?

May 11, 2015

The government is actively searching for customers who have more than one free government cell phone account. Read this article if you’re one of those people, because it will save you a lot of grief if you get nabbed in the government crackdown.

We’ve all seen newspaper articles and television news stories filled with wild tales of scam artists who have ten or twenty or more Lifeline Assistance free government cell phones. We often condemn scammers whose actions threaten the existence of this valuable program.

But there are other groups of free government cell phone customers who have multiple phones not through scamming, but through their own mistaken actions. We’re talking about those who have more than one phone because (a) They mistakenly signed up for phones from different providers, (b) they switched from one company to another without notifying their first provider, or (c) It took so long for their first provider to ship their phone that they signed up with a different provider out of frustration, (d) Their first refurbished free government cell phone was so shoddy that they threw it away and signed up with another provider.

There are probably lots of other reasons that honest but needy customers find themselves receiving more benefits from more than one free government cell phone company.

The simple fact is that it’s easy to end up with more than one government cell phone account without being guilty of any crimes.

But it’s just as simple a fact that having more than one free government cell phone is a clear violation of the programs rules and regulations, and the government is going after those innocent scofflaws.

The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), the governing organization behind Lifeline Assistance, has begun a proactive program to de-enroll anyone with more than one free government cell phone. They’ve cross-referenced customer information gleaned from all phone companies participating in the free government cell phone business, identified all customers receiving benefits from multiple companies, and have sent letters to those individuals.

Makes sense, right? No so fast.

Just when you thought this was one rational government action, the harsh reality kicks in. Turns out that this seemingly logical USAC action was actually self-defeating.

Here’s how the USAC describes it:

Once a subscriber receives the letter from USAC, he/she has 35 days from the date of the letter to select a single Lifeline Program carrier. During this 35-day period, NLAD does not allow changes to be made to the subscriber’s information. Significantly, subscribers may not be de-enrolled from his/her Lifeline Program benefit by any service provider from NLAD.

Brilliant, isn’t it? The USAC wants to end duplicate enrollment, but they don’t allow customers to de-enroll themselves.

Luckily, someone at the USAC realized the insanity of its actions, and issued some corrective notices. Here’s how they explain it:

Therefore, we direct ETCs to undertake this process effective Tuesday, July 29, 2014, to effectuate the request of the subscriber:

If a subscriber approaches an ETC and asks to be de-enrolled during his/her 35-day period, the ETC must de-enroll that subscriber within the ETC’s system and cease provision of Lifeline Program service to that individual at that time.

The ETC must keep a record of the subscriber’s request to be de-enrolled and the subsequent de-enrollment.

Once the 35-day letter period expires for that particular subscriber, the ETC must de-enroll the subscriber from NLAD and enter the de-enrollment date.

ETC must keep a record of the entry into NLAD 36 days later as necessary due to the 35-day letter period for that particular subscriber.

ETC records should make reference to this USAC guidance as authorizing these actions for audit purposes.

We’re always surprised when any governmental body acts in a rational manner, so we weren’t surprised when the USAC’s actions seemed contrary to its goals.

But we were pleasantly surprised to see that it realized the error of its ways and issued new rules that allow customers to de-enroll after they’ve bee notified that they are in violation of the regulations.

Good mid-course correction, USAC.

How to de-enroll a Lifeline phone

If you find yourself in the situation of having more than one Lifeline cell phone, pick the one you wish to keep and then contact the other company/companies and ask them to de-enroll you. If they say they cannot, point out the USAC ruling we’ve told you about here. If you need the contact information for a phone company, you can get it from our list of providers on this page.

If you cannot recall the name of the company you receive the phone from, if it’s still working dial 611 to contact their customer service department to find out.

Source: USAC

Tagged as: FCC, fraud

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Comments

  1. Mark says

    February 17, 2021 at 8:08 pm

    I had a phone with Qlink for.months my phone was stolen I lost it at a bus stop I fell asleep so.months later I got a email saying 5 min have been used so since it was still active they wanted me to buy one I didn’t have tjw money but had anold phone well I was told I.could get a.sim card free for my old phone so I.asked them.to.send weeks went by I order another from another carrier I hot it I’m 3 days when the sim card came in i tire it away 2months later my.service was cut off I got letter im ail tellimg e.I.had two lines.and they cut one I.was actually using off I immediately cut off the account which I.have used in 2momths I thought it would be cut off in 30i never activated that sim card or used it I got email of usage on it how could it be on still of I.thre w it away and I kept the one I.was using after they cit me.off I called.the company they sent me.new one the other one was cut off…. Now I.just have the one o was using bit I.got a crazy VM saying my.social security num ..matches fraud it was automated call said to press one for an officer and if I didnt it is a non appearance they left no number and didilnt identity who it was .. Is this the reason wjy

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      February 17, 2021 at 8:18 pm

      We have no idea what to make of your convoluted tale, Mark. So many variables, so many changes, so many typos. No idea what to tell you.

      Reply
      • Mark says

        February 18, 2021 at 12:50 am

        Bottom line I got a letter that said I had two accounts from 2 different carriers they said pick one I did derolled the other soon as i got the letter o only have one now so I am I good now

        Reply
        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          February 18, 2021 at 4:36 am

          Aha! Glad to hear things worked out for you.

          Reply
  2. ANA says

    March 3, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    I recently signed up for assurance wireless and itd been so long I didnt think that my request went through. I thought that company was a joke and signed up for qlink. Qlink in the next few days sent me a phone that I activated and use. Today almost a month later assurance wireless sent me a phone that I have not activated because I didnt mean to get two. I didnt think the first one would ever come. What should I do?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      March 4, 2020 at 4:03 am

      Cancel one of them ASAP.

      Reply
  3. Philip says

    March 11, 2019 at 3:50 pm

    Folks stay away from SAFELINK/TRACFONE they are THE worse service EVER EVVVVVER y’all need to de-enroll them

    Reply
  4. Philip says

    March 11, 2019 at 3:26 pm

    Hello what about if one sends you a phone and the other doesn’t

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      March 12, 2019 at 9:25 am

      We would assume that the second company snagged your named when it came up in the National Lifeline Assistance Database, so they didn’t send you the phone. But that’s a pure guess on our part.

      Reply
  5. Mb says

    November 13, 2018 at 2:12 am

    I need phone service until my new phone arrives from my new service provider. Is it possible to have double coverage for a few days while this happens without being accused of committing fraud? The fine line agreement said that if i had service with a previous provider that i agree to transfer service to the new provider.

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      November 13, 2018 at 5:45 am

      Not possible, MB. The rules specifically say only one free government cell phone per household.

      Reply
  6. Seth says

    September 17, 2018 at 9:38 pm

    Hi My dad wants to try lifeline for his landline but my mom has 1 on a cell I think that she got ages ago, but she has her own address for health reasons. My dad should be okay right?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      September 18, 2018 at 3:12 am

      We’re not quite sure what “she has her own address for health reasons” means, but if they have separate addresses, they can both have Lifeline accounts (as long as they are both street addresses and not PO boxes).

      Reply
  7. Stephen says

    August 11, 2018 at 4:35 pm

    I have a Tracfone with paid minutes near 50,000 and service until 2029. This morning I received a Text about my SafeLink benefits. I checked my on-line Tracfone Account and it shows I have SafeLink. I have never applied for and I do not need SafeLink, I am not entitled to SafeLink and it is a fraud for me to have it. Tracfone said not to worry about it because the SafeLink Benefit would expire if I did not renew it. They also stated that I could not cancel it since I am not the person on the account. I further pointed out that it is a fraud for me to have the benefit and is a fraud for Tracfone to bill the US Federal Government for a benefit that I am not entitled to. After pointing out that it is fraud to the Federal Government. TracFone said they canceled it.. However it appears to still be on my phone and shows up on my Tracfone Account. I have had the phone number as a land line for over 20 years and recently (3 to 4 months ago) had the number ported over to a Tracfone. Is there a Government Office I should contact or do you know a way to talk to someone at TracFone that can remove the Safelink off my phone?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      August 11, 2018 at 5:38 pm

      First of all, that is one bizarre story, Stephen, but we believe every word of it. Yes, there is a way to report the fraud and that is exactly what it is if the company will not cancel your account immediately. Here’s an article that tells you exactly how to report fraud:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/report-lifeline-assistance-fraud-abuse-waste

      Reply
  8. pat says

    April 3, 2018 at 5:51 am

    hi my mom is about to receive a safelink phone at her address. However I realize she still has a landline in her name under lifeline in my house when shes lived here on
    and off through the years .Now she is more stable and living on her own for now. Should she cancel the safelink? She wants to keep the landline in my home in case she comes back to live. I don’t use this landline hardly ever. Except if in emergency its there.

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      April 3, 2018 at 8:29 am

      Of course, we can’t tell you which Lifeline account to cancel, but she definitely needs to cancel one of them ASAP.

      Reply
  9. Ricky P Arnett says

    February 5, 2018 at 9:26 pm

    Are their any providers that offer more than a measly 350 minutes?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      February 5, 2018 at 9:42 pm

      Depends on which state you live in, Ricky. Here’s where you can find all the companies and plans offered in your state:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Reply
    • Lisette says

      February 19, 2018 at 6:23 am

      Stand up wireless

      Reply
  10. Genell says

    December 3, 2017 at 6:15 pm

    What if any time limits on getting with a different lifeline provider?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      December 3, 2017 at 9:55 pm

      If your service includes voice and text, you must stay with your current provider for 60 days. If your plans also includes data, you must stay with your service provider for one years. The FCC just announced that those rules would be changing, but they have not announced when they will go into effect.

      Reply
  11. Cheryl Crago says

    October 21, 2017 at 4:49 am

    I have a lifeline ,land-line.I also rent out one of my bedrooms .since I have the land-line lifeline.what about my senior gentleman.we have separate living quarters

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      October 21, 2017 at 6:29 pm

      Exceptions are made for situations like yours, Cheryl. You should be able to get an exemption simply by filling out a form. Speak to customer service about it.

      Reply
  12. scott wilson says

    October 19, 2017 at 9:53 am

    Hello I read your artical and I have different accounts with different cellphone companies. how can I delete them all? I dont have any of the phones anymore?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      October 19, 2017 at 1:26 pm

      How long has it been since you used any of these accounts, Scott? The rules of the program state that accounts should be automatically cancelled if they go unused for 30 days or longer. The way to make sure you cancel the accounts is to contact the USAC at USAC.org. They can tell you if you have any current accounts and which company (or companies) they are with.

      Reply
  13. Maria Ortega says

    June 19, 2017 at 1:56 pm

    Can you get in trouble for having 2 different governments phone under the same name

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 19, 2017 at 2:04 pm

      Absolutely. Sooner or later (probably sooner) you will be flagged by the National Lifeline Assistance Database.

      Reply
  14. Unnamed says

    June 14, 2017 at 7:35 pm

    Hi we have a government cell phone my son and I have one he got he’s after I got mine. I found out you cannot have two so as a generous mom I canceled mine. Well my other son I want to sign up with safe link says he can get service because he does not contribute to the expenses of the house. He works only two days a week five hours both days. He only gives my husband sometimes between five or $10 a week. So how is that contributing to household expenses when we have food, electric gas cable etc.? So can he get a lifeline phone since he has this situation and my other son has assurance wireless

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 15, 2017 at 2:35 am

      Your son has the rules of the program completely backward. The only way he would be eligible is if he maintained his own household within your house. In other words, if he rented a room and paid all his own bills, he “might” be eligible. Even that would be a bit “iffy.” Here’s an article that explains more:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/fcc-more-than-one-free-government-cell-phone-per-household

      Reply
  15. Ashley says

    June 9, 2017 at 11:55 pm

    I have been trying to get a new phone at the stand’s a few times but can’t because it always say that I already have services in my name but I no longer have access to any of the phones bor the phone number or phone ID for any account. So have can I cancel my services without this information being needed

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 10, 2017 at 5:05 am

      We always tell readers not to enroll at street tents or booths because they have been the source of so much fraud and abuse. But in this case it sounds like yours is legit because they actually check your status and turn you down.

      However, now that you’ve been repeatedly rejected, it’s time for you to contact customer service. Call in and ask to speak to a supervisor. Explain your situation and ask him/her to help you correct an error in the National Lifeline Assistance Database. It is supposed to be simple for them to correct errors like the one you describe. Good luck.

      Reply
  16. Paula Priddy says

    June 9, 2017 at 8:13 am

    I tried to get a phone with data the guy took all my information took copy of my ID and food stamp card. He had the phone but he said he bad to go get a SIM card but he never came back. I didn’t get the phone but it shows that he gave me the phone. I have been trying to found out what company so i can cancel. So i can update my life line phone because they now offering data

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 9, 2017 at 8:22 am

      Paula, we constantly urge our readers to NOT enroll with street vendors. There have been too many cases of fraud and abuse. It’s certainly possible that this guy was legit, but we’d say the odds are against it.

      There’s only one way for you to figure out which company you enrolled with. Here’s where you can find ALL the free government cell phone companies offering plans in your state:

      https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states

      Click on your state to find all the companies. You’ll need to start at the top of the list and contact each company’s customer service team one-by-one to figure out if you enrolled with that company. Yeah, it will take some work, but it’s the only way to find out if you have actually been enrolled or scammed.

      Reply
  17. lisa m says

    June 2, 2017 at 5:45 am

    Hi can you help me I was with safe link and I canceled my service with them and I got verification of that I’ve been trying to apply for insurance wireless I’ve applied for times they keep denying me saying that I have a Phone but I don’t have that phone anymore or the phone number because I canceled the service how can I get Insurance wireless to except me as a customer

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      June 2, 2017 at 8:06 pm

      Call in again. Ask to speak to a supervisor. Explain your situation and ask them to correct the problem in the National Lifeline Assistance Database (NLAD).

      Reply
  18. Rodnesseus hanford says

    July 24, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    Yes I received this free phone in the mail but I don’t want it I will be returning it via post office certified mail

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      July 24, 2016 at 4:00 pm

      Good for you, Rod. We’d also recommend that you call customer service at the company that sent you the phone. You need to alert them as to your intentions and get their advice.

      Reply
  19. Patty says

    July 21, 2016 at 4:16 pm

    Hi yes I just got my boyfriend a phone under my name but I already have a free phone and at the moment I can not find it when I find it. Do I have to cancel one so I do not get in trouble ?. Can I get in trouble for having 2 phones.? Also my grandpa said only 1 free phone per address is this true ?

    Reply
    • Free Government Cell Phones says

      July 21, 2016 at 4:32 pm

      Yes, you can get in trouble for having more than one phone. The government keeps what’s called the National Lifeline Assistance Database with the names of every free government cell phone customer. Eventually you will get nailed if you don’t cancel immediately.

      Your grandpa is correct. Only one phone is permitted per household.

      Reply
      • Patty says

        July 21, 2016 at 4:59 pm

        Can I have my boyfriend go back to the free phone booth and have them switch info so it will be under his name and not mine ? His phone got stolen .

        Reply
        • Free Government Cell Phones says

          July 21, 2016 at 8:39 pm

          No, but he can apply for his own phone. Here’s an article that tells you what to do when your phone is stolen:

          https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/i-lost-my-phone-how-do-i-get-a-replacement

          Reply
  20. Andy says

    June 23, 2015 at 9:23 am

    I am looking for the Access Free Phone Vendors near National City California, how can I find one of their stations?

    Reply
  21. bettyweiss says

    June 22, 2015 at 3:22 pm

    I JUST WANT TO CANCEL MY SERVICE WITH ASSURANCE SINCE SAFELINK HAS SENT ME THEIR PHONE WHICH I AM GOING TO KEEP PLEASE HELP ME CANCEL THIS OTHER PHONE AS IT GOT STOLEN WITH MY POCKETBOOK POLICE WAS NOTIFIED

    Reply
    • FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says

      June 22, 2015 at 4:15 pm

      You’ll have to contact Assurance.

      Reply
  22. edward jp says

    June 12, 2015 at 10:29 am

    if you have two government phones, trust me, they will find you…takes about 3/4 months but they will….I know..>)

    Reply
  23. yao says

    May 22, 2015 at 12:24 pm

    I am going to apply one free cell for my mother-in-law. She has separated with her husband. They received a free cell before and her husband keeps it. I am not sure if he uses it or not. If I apply for one for my mother-in-law, is it against the one lifeline per household rule? Do I need to provide anything to prove that they have separated? They live in different unit in the same building. Thanks for the clarification.

    Reply
    • FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says

      May 23, 2015 at 8:56 am

      First all, let’s look at the definition of a household:

      “Household” is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address as one economic unit. An ‘‘economic unit’’ is defined as ‘‘all adult individuals contributing to and sharing in the income and expenses of a household.’’

      But since they live in different units we are hoping that the cell phone company database recognizes the different units as different addresses. Of course make sure the unit number is specified on the application.

      Reply
    • edward jp says

      June 12, 2015 at 10:30 am

      1 phone per household….

      Reply
  24. Phill says

    May 21, 2015 at 11:43 pm

    I have (about to be had) a girlfriend. She some times stays with me in a room I have. Other then that she is homeless and stays in a tent. Well she had her GR phone sent to my address, and I was fine with that. The problem is she as a friend and he had his phone sent here ( he lives in a tent to. Now I was upset to say the least. Now I am applying for SSI disability, and I need a phone so I started looking into this thing and started reading all this stuff about the address thing. What should I do??? I don’t know anything about all this. Could I be charged with fraud??? I had no idea she did this. the phone just showed up one day. What do I do?????

    Reply
    • FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says

      May 22, 2015 at 7:57 am

      You won’t be charged with fraud. We have not heard of any phone recipients ever being charged with fraud. What will happen is that one of those two phone subscriptions will be deactivated. You may get a letter asking which one to deactivate; just choose one.

      As for the phone you received, don’t use it and worry about returning it. You would have to spend likely hours on the phone with the vendor before you spoke with someone who likely would not care anyway.

      One last piece of advice: no more dating women who live in tents.

      Reply
  25. marvel perry says

    May 20, 2015 at 10:33 am

    I like a free cell phone please…

    Reply
  26. Gregory A. Lind says

    May 14, 2015 at 11:19 am

    I’m not going to keep this free phone, please shut my free cell phone off. I cant get hold of anyone by phone. The cell number is (209)421-****. Thank you for helping but im staying with my survice

    Reply
  27. marianne ades says

    May 12, 2015 at 5:59 pm

    your statement about only being able
    to have one legal lifelime account is
    false.

    do you not know that there is at least
    one exception? if someone has
    medically provable severe hearing
    problems (like me), you can have two
    phones. one for audio and one for tty.

    Reply
  28. ron watson says

    May 12, 2015 at 8:33 am

    What about those that have a land line lifeline and a lifeline cell phone?

    Reply
    • FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says

      May 13, 2015 at 7:25 am

      That is against the rules too.

      Reply
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