Cricket Wireless
Reviews and Complaints

We've had Cricket for four years. At first we loved them, but over the last year or two they've become so bad, I wouldn't recommend their service to the devil.

First, they managed to allow someone to access my personal voice mailbox, meaning friends and family heard someone else's voice and name when it picked up and naturally confusion ensued. It's probably the only problem we've had that got resolved quickly, by a friendly rep, and without an issue.

Later we transferred my number to a land line. That took several weeks to resolve because Cricket wouldn't let the number go to the other provider.

After escalating it, someone finally apologized for "not flipping the right switch." Uh huh... I'm surprised from reading complaints here that they cheerfully refunded us for the time the number remained with them when it wasn't supposed to.

Next, my husband's NEW cell phone, not even a year old, dies recently. He attempts to go to a Cricket store only to hear that his phone is "obsolete." They've stopped selling not just the phone but its respective parts, and refuse to look at or service the phone! So now he's stuck with a dead phone that they won't fix.

Finally, we had a credit card number change around the time our bill would have been up. They attempted to run the old number, didn't work... they cancel the bill without even trying to notify us of the problem, even with a snail mail and email address on file.

Now as anyone who's gone through this mess knows, the only way you can update your account information is to either dial 611 on your Cricket phone, which we can't, because it's broken. Or you dial the 800 number, which requires you to input your number... and if your account got cancelled like ours did, it won't recognize it, and they hang up on you. So we're stuck being unable to pay our bill either.

I finally figured out how to get to a live person. I called the 800 number and at the prompt, told the system "Cancel My Account." So now you know how to get around that little trick :-)

But it doesn't mean you won't get a customer service rep with sand for brains. For the record, I normally NEVER lose it with customer service reps - I've worked in that field, I know how hard it is, and I believe in treating others with respect.

Today, I broke my own rule after several minutes of circular arguing because he first told me the account is current, then tells me it's cancelled because the credit card was no longer valid and it has an overdue balance. Well, which one is it?

After yet more back and forth I snapped and I told him just take my d*** credit card number, put it in your system, make this right or I will escalate this above your head, and STOP arguing with me. What does he do? Argues back that I'm not arguing with him!

I replied about 20 decibels louder than normal that I've had enough, I want this account current NOW, and don't p*** me off, at which point he puts me on hold, comes back on the line and apologizes.

So the account is current, but we got slapped a reactivation fee (after missing ONE payment folks!), and they "punished" us by making our account pre-pay instead of post-pay (like I care by now). What-EVER sir, just fix it.

Oh and as we get off the line, even with his knowing my husband's cell phone is dead, he says "We'll text you a confirmation of the bill pay to your phone number." Gee, thanks. I asked him can't you send it to an email address? He just grunts. I'll take that as a no.

Needless to say we're going provider shopping and cancelling our service ASAP. I imagine it'll be just as much fun transferring my husband's cell number to someone else this time around too.

I have been a customer of Cricket Wireless Broadband Service for 5 months and it has been a continuous problem. Customer Service is essentially non-existent! When you have a problem if it is after 8:00pm (cst) you are routed through a system that eventually disconnects your call. On the rare occasions that you actually speak with a human being, when you can understand them because of their thick accents, they have no resources to solve your problems. And they seem to really not even care. I am currently working on a problem for the third consecutive day! I've spoken with a multiplicity of their reps and supposedly supervisors, only to be told that they will try to fix it but they really don't have the authority to do so. Well if they can't who can! Don't fall for the hype. Their commercials about respect are a joke. I think I will switch carriers as soon as my next payment is due!

Last week we recieved a notice that one of our accounts had bounced. It is an account that is never used except for certain expenditures so we don't keep very much money in it. When we investigated, we found that cricket had billed our account $5.00. When we called cricket, they claimed that they have no idea what the charge was for, nor who authorized it. They refused to refund the money claiming that it's a police problem. Another phone call to the bank confirmed that not only did cricket charge us the initial $5.00, but they had also "tested" our account by submitting a request for one dollar twice before the five dollars went through. So my account is out seven dollars plus the bounce fees.

Apparently this type of fraud happens quite regularly with their company. There is a complete section on their website explaining what you should do if you are the victim of unauthorized charges on your credit/debit card. A word to the wise... Never ever use a credit/debit card to pay your bill with cricket.. And never put it on file. Only god knows who had access to our information and only god knows how many other people they ripped off since the charge was so low. Imagine how much they could have taken if I did have money in that account. Five dollars here and there wouldn't have registered with us on our other accounts.

Ok is this year to get screwed out of your money. My brother need a phone so I saw the commerical for cricket unlimited localand long distince ad unlimited texting. For 45 dollars. My brother was homeless and I was sending home to amariilo texas and he is not in good health. So we went to the cricket store in jacksonville andtalked to the sales lady andtold her he need a phone because of the cirmstances. So I could check on him on the bus. We ask the lady 3 different times if it would work in ama, texas she says oh ya anywhere in texas. So we signed and got the phone and went to my house to try it it worked standing next to each other. And then he called his son in jacksonville they talked 5 mins. The next morning got him on the bus in little rock it doesn't work and did not work no more. The bus was late 3 hrs do to a blizzard. Thank god he made it. I called cricket they say take it to north little rock office I did. They said okay you will have to take it back to jacksonville to get your money back. My brother had to send it back. Oh by the way there is no crickit phone store in ama, tex. And no serve. So I take it to jacksonville they say they can't refund none of the money that he had talk for more then 30 mins on it. I said show me the numbers he talked to, she said she could not. Bull crap. Needless to say not 1 penny back. They would not even take the phone back. Told me to sell it to someone else I said so you can screw them too. Taking money from a homeless person. How wrong is that. $90.00 for 6 mins.

I get texted messages warning me of phone shutoff even when bill is paid on time. This is intimidating as I always try to pay my bill on time. The excessive texted message arent warranted when people like me are only paid once amonth. On top of this your customer service department computer servie is a joke. Because theres no person on the other end of the line to field my questions and your system that you have in place always tells me to call back at a later time and disconnects me. I dont need this kind of service laspe when my time is valuable this needs to be fixed in order for me the paying customer to be satisfied. I would greatly appreciate your department for looking into this matter. Thanks!

Man these guys have been terrible since the first day i recieved the phones via ups, which i paid extra cause i was in a hurry to get myself mobile with a plan i could keep a closer eye on, ie no hidden charges or fees added to my bill or contract, because there is no "contract" per say. Wow what a load that is... So you start by paying retail for a free phone even though they say they will coonect any phone you bring in, any cricket selected type of phone that is, not just "any" phone will do. Though this is what is advertised, its just a way to get you in the door so they can pitch their gimmick to ya. All of this i was unaware of when my "account" was created and my second mistake was made. The first of course being, typing in the word cricket to look for a cell phone and service provider that would be so much less of a hassel to work with. "ha funny in my face"! Well i'm being a little harsh on myself but dang it i bought 3 phones and family service, "family" so my wife and sister-in-law are a part of nightmare cell service with a crew of [censored] jerks that guard the pleases just give me what i paid for sanctium in god knows where. One supervisor on the service hotline actually cussed at my wife and called her names for trying to fix a billing mistake, "yeah you guessed it a mistake that cost me". Whats $65 u. S. To me anyway right? Huh if that was all my wafe spent around 29 or more hours calling customer service many many times to help them figure it out. Thats $65 u. S. Not 65 rupies, but even a few cents can add insult when it's wrong, i don't care who ya are. Period... Getting robbed is still getting robbed isn't it. So anyway after 2 months of argument after argument with people who could care less about people much less the customer/person they are supposedly in a job to assist, hence the term customer service representitive, what doen't everyone get job title and requirements information from the same career information place i do? Ya know "the internet". Well guess not then huh? We decided to eat the money because there was not much more we could in that particular situation for us aside from going postal at one of the stores which wouldn't be a far shot from the jerks on the phone and online, only they take the phone you previously purchased and therefore own, from you when you bring it in for activation, walk it in the back for a sec and return it to your "the owners'" hand in a non-functional state, and then tell you oh was this working it needs a new battery i couldn't add it to your account". So naturally my wife askes the question. "how much is a new battery for this one i'm trying to add?" the response $40 dollars. So she asks and how much to repair the old/new cricket piece of crap i just bought 4 months ago and has more problems than a 60 year old drug addict still living with his mom?"$40 dollars. " wow a reavelation just occured to me duhhh! "ok, so the battery and the hook up on the phone i own will cost $35 dollars then. " no "it's $40 and $40, $40 each to add that phone to your account. " my wifes says " i just recieved a text from cricket that says bring in any phone and add it to your account for $15 bucks, not 2 days ago, as a matter of a fact i have recieved at least one a week for about 4 months, so what about that deal? "i have never heard of such an offer lady. " my wife left before things got crazy in the store and so she could call me to vent only to find out her service was turned off. She had to go back in to the store where the employee who already treated her like a mark from the minute he took and destroyed, the working but not active cell phone she brought in with her, from her hands only to take it from her sight without explaination and blipp, fry, melt, f*^%, burn and otherwise ruin her functional phone including the damn battery". However this time he takes her over to some chairs and sits her down to talk, like a child taking a lesson from her better or an elder teaching you a lesson he thinks you should have always known even if he had no clue what he was talking about, like an older peer putting you down for chewing gum at school, or something real dumb like that. He said "lady the only way for you to get an upgrade/different phone would have been if you had subscribed to the $5 a month "per phone" "maintenance fees" then he proceeded to tell her it would still cost the additional $40 dollar deductible in the warrenty contract, which is at the descretion of the product return/repair technition who assess the damage done to the unit during abuse/use. This may be a bunch of ranting to read but this was just atiny bit of the crap this company has attempted on my loved one and i. I just wanted to share a few of the worst. Thanks for your time and be aware out there...

Eugene

I have been a customer of Cricket communication for almost a year and a half. The very first payment that I made to the company was an electronic funds transfer from my bank's online bill pay option. Cricket lost my payment, and the first I knew about it was they had my service shut off. When I went to find out what happened, I was told I didn't pay my bill. I showed them my bank statements, and was told that they had to "investigate" where the funds had gone. Meanwhile, my service is off, and I needed it back on, so I went to my bank, explained that Cricket had lost my money, and canceled the funds transfer. I immediately went to the Cricket website and paid my bill there. I still had to go back to the Cricket store to get them to take off the 15 dollar fee for having to disconnect my service before they would turn my phone back on. But ever since then, I have been denied customer service through their phone contact centers AND their website. The only thing I CAN do is pay my bill. When I call their 611 number, I am told that they cannot access my account and that I will have to go into a Cricket store. When I go to the store, I am told that since I cannot call the 611 number that the contact center is the only entity that can fix the problem. I am getting the run around from everyone, even the managers. I was told this issue would automatically resolve itself, because I was penalized with a 6 month penalty flag on my account for STOPPING PAYMENT ON A CHECK. Which isn't what happened at all. So, its been over a year and a half later, and I still cannot use the customer service functions that are available to me as a paying customer.

I was on facebook when a great deal for a cell phone with unlimited text and talk for $25 appeared. I decided to order it for my 12yo for xmas. The phone arrived and everything was fine. I added the $5 longdistance which with taxes and the first month free was $34.74 per month. They turned the phone off on feb 3 and it was almost impossible for me to reach anyone. (March 1, 2010) when I did they tried to charge me a reconnection fee plus $11 for three days use. After talking to several telemarketers they promised an $11 refund and that my next bill would be $23 with that. Fast forward to march 31, 2010 they charged me even more $48.65 for the service that with adjustments should have been $23. The explanation that they gave me was that I already got the first month free what more do I want. (This was a promo that they were running with web purchases) I told them that they did not have the authority to go into my account and take additional funds. They then said that the extra money was for online service. There is no online service on the phone. They cut off the text messaging (Which was included in the $25 price) and told me that it was concidered online. I called my bank and they are doing an investigation. Apparently I am not the only one that has this complaint with this company. Beware!

I got cricket wireless service about 4 months ago. Near the end of march 2010 I noticed my download speed was extremely slow!. I called cricket and was told I went over my usage limit on my unlimited plan. They told me I was only allowed 5 gigabytes on my unlimited plan, they said I used 19 gigabytes and could not get back my download speed until I paid back those gigabytes (They said I have to wait 4 months without using the internet, and pay my bill every month for 4 months to give them back their 5 gigabytes/month that was included in my unlimited plan). The person I talked to kept pushing their $60/month plan (Like I am going to fall for that "give us more money, u can have your internet back") how is cricket still in business!

I was paying 67.00 every month, my febuary bill was 170.00 for 1 cell and 1 modum. So I questioned them at the lake jackson corp. Store why so much, and they couldnt tell me why. So I got on line and looked for my self and they put someone eles cell phone on my acc. I called 611, 4 times telling them this is not my phone. Of course getting hung up on 3 times. I will not pay for someone eles phone, they turned my service off, now I will call the news stations up telling them about cricket and there rude people that cant speak english, so u have no clue what there saying. O and the lake jackson store is now shut down, I wonder why. People look at ur bill on line and make sure your paying for your own cells.

I've had the $40 cricket unlimited plan for about a year now. To be brief, about 3 weeks ago I noticed that I could no longer send picture messages. I figured it was just the terrible service that I get on a regular basis anyway, so I waited a while. 3 weeks later, no change. So, today I decided to go look at my account and see what was up. To my surprise, picture messaging was no longer part of my plan! I guess they think it's ok to keep charging me the same price and secretly take off part of my plan. They didn't even have the decency to tell me so that I could cancel my plan 3 weeks ago. Tell me there isn't something illegal here? I am getting rid of this garbage first thing tomorrow. Virgin mobile has a promising looking plan for texting, which I just might try.

Not only did they fail to send me the $50 rebate they promised over 3 months ago, it has been a nightmare dealing with their customer service (in the Philippines & in their local service centers).

When I went to make my first payment online ($40), their system was down, so I called in. After explaining the problem they took my payment by phone and yet still charged a $5 service fee.

The next month I had the same problem, so I went to make a payment in person & was again charged a $5 service counter fee, but when I got home my internet service had been dropped because my payment was a day late. So, they charged me another $10 to reactivate it even after I explained that it wasn't my fault their system would not accept a payment on the due date.

I went to their local headquarters on 79th & Layton Ave in Greenfield and their response was "too bad" and asked me to leave when I demanded a refund on the additional service fees.

The 3rd month was the same story. It literally took me 4 days of jumping through hoops and hurdles to get my payment made, and you guessed it, I again had to pay a service charge of $5.

Their attitude is if you don't go on an automatic monthly payments with your bank, then it's too bad when their system failes to take your payment and your service is abruptly disconnected, which always results in a $10 + $5 reconnection and service fee to reconnect.

I say to myself "why whould anyone want to go on an automatic payment plan with them after learning of such crappy service and refusal to waive excessive fees that were caused by their inability to process a payment (especially considering they apparently have a habit of continually charging your account even after you drop the service)?"

I got Cricket because I thought it was a good deal. But now I have learned it is the worst internet provider in the world and am definately going to get another service provider when this months subscription runs out.

All I ca say is "Do yourself a favor, DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH CRICKET WIRELESS UNLESS YOU LIKE GETTING IT IN THE REAR!"

I have wireless service with cricket every month my bill is high. I call to tell this to them and after speaking to at lease three people ithougth it was settled but now they are rejecting my payment citing it is something wrong with my bank card which it is not they are trying to clear up thir mess because I am going to report them to the bbb and leap corporation they have very bad service and need not to be in the wireless service.

I have had cricket phone service for about 3 years and until I wanted to change my plan had no problems and great customer service. On Feb 3, 2010 I called to add two lines to my existing service for a family plan that advertised for $99. I was told first month free on the two new lines. I was told to go into a cricket store and make sure they were added to my existing line as a Family Plan. I go into the store today 2/22/20 well before the free time ended and find out I wasn't signed up for a family plan at all and had to pay $178. Instead of being signed up for family plan they opened a second account! I had to pay $15 to downgrade my existing plan, plus a month of service and $112 for the family plan. I was literally charged twice for the same line! The girl in the store claimed she was the manager, which I seriously doubt. I called cricket got hung up on by one agent and bamboozled by a second. I asked to speak to a supervisor he put me on hold came back gave a different name and that he was the supervisor. First thing out of his mouth was I had overpaid and should have a credit. Before the conversation was over I owed them. I had no problem letting him know that unhappy customers tell everyone and happy customers refer. Before I go to bed tonight I intend to post on every available site that cricket is a bait and switcher!

I purchased 2 phones for my sons for Christmas, it was around $138 for the phones and activation. They activated the phones the day they shipped them which could be impossible because I had to call and activate them the day before Christmas. I signed up for the $25 a month plan for each phone (unlimited text and talk). When I was chatting with the customer service rep on line I specifically asked the question "since the phones are capable of other functions will the other functions be disabled since my plan doesn't include them?" The rep said "Yes, they would be disabled so no unexpected bills for you". Which I saved this conversation on my computer. My sons had the phones for 2 weeks and service was disconnected due to non-payment. I called to have the service reinstated and had to pay the activation fee again because I wasn't sent a bill, they said I owed $90 something dollars because I had signed up for web access, I said "NO, I DID NOT" my plan didn't include it. I explained I had kept the conversation on my computer after repeatedly explaining this to the lady I had to pay $78 for the phone service and reactivation and was assured the the web access would be removed and I would be sent paper bills at $1.75 per month. So the next month comes my sons phones are deactivated AGAIN. I called customer service again to pay the bill expecting to pay $55-60, they say I owe $91.99. I say how can this be on a $25 per month per phone plan, they say I signed up for web service. I explained AGAIN that my plan didn't call for it and it was supposed to be removed when I paid the bill the last time. They said NO it was not in their system and I would have to pay that fee and the reactivation fee, WHICH THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO SEND ME A BILL AND DID NOT. After a half hour on the phone repeatedly explaining my situation to the rep she finally said she would remove all the fees except the monthly fee I signed up for, she assured me the other fees would be credited after I paid the bill. I said I needed some kind of documentation because that's what the rep said last month, I was ultimately HUNG UP ON. So I called back and had to go through the hole situation AGAIN. I asked to speak to a manager that likes to keep their customers and she got on the phone and said Hello numerous times like she couldn't hear me (I was on a land line when I called) and she ultimately HUNG UP ON ME AGAIN! I have spent over $200 for my sons to have service for all of a month and a half. This company needs to be SHUT DOWN! If you're thinking of getting a cell phone and/or service from this company I would highly recommend another company even if you have to pay a little more for you service because over all you'll be paying alot more to Cricket. What a FRAUD!

I am finding out how bad their customer service is. I went into a store to post a bridge payment, I then had 7days to pay the balance(2/15/10). I paid the balance 2/12/10 on line. I received a conformation # and an email for my payment. Well 4day after I submitted payment my service was disconnected. No active line means no contact with customer service. I go to the store on 2/16, some lady on the phone restores my service and tells me to fax over the copy of my CC statement showing the money being dept from my card. Well I try the fax# several times only to get a fast busy signal. Later that evening after I've get of work I try and call Customer service to verify the # only to find out that my service was once again disconnected so now I have to wait unit the next day to go back to the store. At their corp store I am told there is nothing they can do about it. They reactivate my service for 7day extention try and fax my info(CC statement, confirmation # and return email of payment made) to their billing department only to get the same result as I did the day before, a busy signal. So here I am hoping that this gets resolved in the next7day. If there is anyone out there who has a corp# plzzzzzzzzzzz email me [protected]@yahoo.com

Cricket claims to have broadband speeds on their blazing fast 3g network. The speeds are anything but blazing fast. Youtube doesnt even load, page tranfers are not as fast they should be, give their advertisement. I was overcharged on the sales tax and the activation fee. I bought the modem and called the next day to ask if i could bring it back, they said i could but said the activation charges was non-refundable. I am going to bug the crap out of their customer service to try to get it back. If i don't get it back, i am out 30 bucks.

It is time that people take a stand against these types of rip offs. I would encourage everyone on here that has been ripped off by cricket to report them to the federal trade commission, the BBB, and let them know.

bottom line CRICKET BROADBAND SUCKS

I go into the store ask if wireless internet is available in my town (1 town away) the clerk said yes. I bought the droadband card got it home and it did not work. I tried to call the store & the number on the reciept was incorrect! I was on hold for over 1 hr to try to get someone in customer support through the 800# only to be told service is NOT available in my town. By then the store I purchased it from was closed. They close at 6pm I got customer care after 7pm. So promptly after work the next day I go to return it and inform the same clerk service is not available I want my money back, he only gives me $50.00 of the $75.00 I paid yesterday! I asked about the other $25 he said the activation fee is non refundable. I asked how can it be activated if I never used it?! So he won't give me my money back. I call customer service and after speaking to four different people no one would do anything to refund my full price.
In my opinion they are very incompetent and nasty on the phone as well as in person.

I would not reccomend doing buisness with Cricket Wireless company unless you like being taken advantage of.

I filed a complaint with my bank because I used my charge to pay & currently the bank is in the proccess of disputing the $25.00 charge.

continually dropped calls, dead areas, dont receive texts, this is the worst service ever! I would drop them but it is a company phone, so Im hoping my Boss gets tired of this crap soon. clarity is bad everyone tells me I sound like im in a tunnell.