Straight Talk

Straight Talk adds Samsung Galaxy S3

May 20th, 2013   |    Straight Talk   |    5 Comments

Strange, I saw this on the Straight Talk website last week, but it didn’t really click that it was something new. Lo and behold, the Straight Talk blog announced on Friday that they were indeed selling the Samsung Galaxy SIII. We needn’t run down the specs for it at this point; nearly every carrier, prepaid and postpaid, carries it at this point. It’s actually a great time to get one, since it’s getting discounted with the Galaxy S4 about to hit markets nationwide. It will cost you $439.99, which isn’t half bad for a non-subsidized phone.

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Straight Talk clears the air on data limits

April 16th, 2013   |    Straight Talk   |    3 Comments

When Net10 instituted a 1.5GB data cap on AT&T SIM cards, it felt like the beginning of a wider-spreading policy. While Tracfone brands Net10 and Straight Talk advertise unlimited data, that isn’t actually the case. As we’ve learned, Straight Talk has no set data cap, but will absolutely throttle your data speeds if you exceed their acceptable usage trends. If this all sounds confusing, Straight Talk sympathizes. They recently wrote a blog post that clarifies their position on data usage.

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Straight Talk starting Verizon BYOD program tomorrow

March 25th, 2013   |    Straight Talk   |    1 Comment

It appears that Straight Talk is set to launch another big initiative. According to PhoneNews.com, the carrier tomorrow will launch a bring-your-own device program for Verizon-branded devices. This just adds to their BYOD program for AT&T and T-Mobile phones. There are certain limitations, which we’ll cover after the jump. But as PhoneNews.com notes, this puts Straight Talk in heated competition with Page Plus, which also offers a BYOD program for Verizon phones.

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Straight Talk picks up the BlackBerry Curve 9310

February 22nd, 2013   |    Straight Talk   |    No Comments

Straight Talk users looking for a bit more variety in smartphone selection have received just that. Earlier this week the carrier announced the availability of the BlackBerry Curve 9310. Chances are we’ll see a number of BlackBerry models in the 9xxx series hit prepaid carriers in the near future, as the contract carriers start to offer BlackBerry 10 phones. The Curve 9310 is nothing special, though it is a decent smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard and BlackBerry’s famous email system, plus BBM. You can get it now, paired with the $45 monthly plan, at Straight Talk’s website.

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Samsung Galaxy Discover coming to Straight Talk and Net10

February 6th, 2013   |    Straight Talk   |    No Comments

The Samsung website has revealed a new smartphone heading for Straight Talk and Net10. It’s teh Galaxy Discover, a 3.5-inch Android 4.0 device. With an 800MHz processor it is the very definition of low-end device. But with 4.0 it can compensate for some of those hardware limitations. It is limited to 7.2Mbps HSDPA speeds, but that is still better than EVDO, which many Straight Talk and Net10 smartphones connect to. There is no word on pricing or availability, but usually when phones show up on manufacturer websites it doesn’t take long getting them to carriers.

Via Samsung via Phone Scoop.

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Straight Talk has no set data cap for iPhone users

January 24th, 2013   |    Straight Talk   |    1 Comment

If you read the user reviews of Straight Talk wireless service, you’ll see plenty of conflicting information. Some users claim that there is a 2GB cap on their unlimited data plan. Some claim that it’s even less — that they’ve been throttled after just a few days. When Straight Talk started offering the iPhone at Walmart outlets, the topic of throttling was sure to come up again. After all, iPhone 5 users consume huge amounts of data, and iPhone users in general are known for their data-heavy ways. That raises the question of how Straight Talk will deal with such a load on its resources.

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Straight Talk now selling iPhone 4 and 5 through Walmart

January 10th, 2013   |    Straight Talk   |    No Comments

The biggest news in prepaid lately: Straight Talk will start selling the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 through Walmart. The phone itself will cost you plenty, $649.99 for a 16GB iPhone 5 and $449.99 for an 8GB iPhone 4. Still, the world’s most popular smartphone line gets paired with Straight Talk’s $45 monthly unlimited plan, so there will be plenty of folks interested in the offer. In a two-year span, the Straight Talk iPhone 5 will cost a customer $1730, while a 450-minute plan from AT&T will cost $2,360, or $3,080 with unlimited minutes. There are certain limitations with Straight Talk’s service, but for casual iPhone users this could get the job done. The iPhones 4 and 5 will go on sale at Walmart this Friday, January 11.

Via Phone Scoop.

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Straight Talk offering Galaxy S Showcase in some stores

October 15th, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    6 Comments

It appears that Straight Talk has started offering the Samsung Galaxy S Showcase in some Walmart retail stores. It might be a new name, but the Galaxy Showcase is actually the original Galaxy S, meaning it is a two-year-old handset. It has a 4-inch screen and a 1GHz processor, which is fine and good, but it runs Android 2.3, which certainly downgrades the experience. That wouldn’t be such a bad package if the price were right, but at $250 it seems quite a bit overpriced. Then again, Straight Talk doesn’t offer any Android 4.0 devices, and they sell the Galaxy S II for $100 more. Again, this doesn’t appear to be available on the website yet. It’s at some Walmart outlets. It runs on the Verizon network.

Via Howard Forums.

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Straight Talk launching home phone service

September 13th, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    36 Comments

While this isn’t exactly prepaid cellular news, it does have to do with one of our more prominent carriers, Straight Talk. They’re apparently piggybacking Verizon’s Home Phone Connect service, which they launched a couple of years ago. It’s essentially a wireless base station and wireless phone that runs off of Verizon’s CDMA network. The base station itself will come out September 21st and will cost $99. The service will cost either $15 per month, for unlimited domestic long distance, or $30 to add international long distance to 1,000 worldwide locations. You can check out more details at the dedicated Straight Talk page.

Via PhoneNews.com.

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Straight Talk gets LG Optimus Zip on Verizon network

July 16th, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    2 Comments

It appears that Straight Talk has added another Android handset that runs on the Verizon network. A Howard Forums user posted photos he took of the LG Optimus Zip for sale at a Wal Mart in New Hampshire. PhoneNews.com points out that this is the the same handset as Verizon’s LG Enlighten; we heard last month that Straight Talk would get the LG Enlighten. The Zip matches the specs, and the looks, if the LG Optimus Q, which Straight Talk launched last year. The Optimus Q runs on the Sprint network, though, so there is a difference between that and the Zip. It appears that the Zip has not yet made its way to Straight Talk’s website, but it appears to be available at Wal Mart stores that are in the Verizon coverage area.

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Straight Talk adds Samsung 390G

July 3rd, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    5 Comments

Just a quick note on a new handset from Straight Talk. The Samsung 390G is a pretty basic QWERTY handset, featuring a low-res screen, 2-megapixel camera, and microSD expansion up to 32GB. This actually pairs perfectly with Straight Talk’s All You Need plan, which provides 1,000 minutes, 1,000 messages, and 30MB of data for $30 per month. That’s plenty for a handset like this. You can get the Samsung 390G and a plan at Straight Talk’s website.

Via Howard Forums.

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Straight Talk picking up LG Enlighten Android handset

June 25th, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    No Comments

PhoneNews.com reports that Straight Talk will add another Verizon-powered Android handset to its lineup in a few weeks. As for the Enlighten itself, it’s the definition of an entry-level Android handset. It has a small 3.2-inch display at a mere 320×480 pixels. It does have a slide-out keyboard, though, which is preferable to some. Then again, it’s unfavorable to others, since it makes the phone more bulky. It will run Android 2.3, which is the bare minimum at this point. Again, we can expect the phone to drop sometime in the next few weeks. There is no word on pricing, but expect it to be considerably less than the $180 Samsung Galaxy Proclaim, Straight Talk’s other Verizon-powered Android.

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Straight Talk gets Huawei Ascend II at Walmart outlets

May 15th, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    3 Comments

It’s hard to believe that nearly a year ago Cricket launched the Huawei Ascend II. At the time it wasn’t that impressive a handset, clicking in at 600MHz with a 3.5-inch screen while running Android 2.3. According to a recent Howard Forums post, some Walmart stores have started selling the Ascend II for Straight Talk. It’s the same exact phone, of course, just with different branding and service plans. You currently cannot get it at Straight Talk’s website, unfortunately. As of this writing it’s just at Walmart stores. The price tag is said to be $179.99, though, which is $80 more than it sells for at Cricket — and Cricket’s version has Muve Music.

Via PhoneNews.com.

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Straight Talk to offer Verizon-powered Samsung Galaxy Proclaim

May 7th, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    12 Comments

It’s really amazing how Straight Talk continues to expand. Last year they began offering smartphone service via Sprint’s CDMA network. They’ve unveiled a number of Android handsets to go along with that offering, including the LG Optimus Q, the Samsung Galaxy Precedent, and the LG Optimus Black. Now, not even a week after Verizon prepaid began offering an $80 smartphone plan, Straight Talk has picked up a Verizon phone, the Samsung Galaxy Proclaim, for its network. It certainly creates a new level of competition.

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Straight Talk adds unlimited international messaging for Android customers

March 27th, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    3 Comments

Last week we saw Straight Talk make a pretty big move, introducing a $60 unlimited international long distance plan. Not long afterwards they made a smaller, under-the-radar move, adding unlimited international text messaging to their $45 unlimited plan. This feature, however, is available only to Android customers. Right now Straight Talk offers the Samsung Galaxy Precedent, the LG Optimus Q, and the Optimus Black in its Android lineup. Many other carriers offer this unlimited international text messaging service, though many charge for it. Straight Talk’s addition comes at no extra charge, and will further boost the profile of its premier plan.

Via PhoneNews.com.

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Straight Talk introduces $60 unlimited long distance plan

March 23rd, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    1 Comment

Straight Talk has unveiled a new plan, which is aimed at international callers. For $60 per month customers can make unlimited calls to select destinations around the globe. This includes mostly landlines, but also cellular numbers in select locations. Straight Talk spells it all out, allowing users to check whether their desired destination falls under the plan — before signing up. The plan comes with all of Straight Talk’s $45 unlimited features, so it’s in essence an extra $15 per month for the unlimited long distance calling service. You can check the validity of any number you wish by going to Straight Talk’s website and visiting the Unlimited International link.

Via PhoneNews.com.

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Straight Talk launches LG Optimus Black

March 16th, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    1 Comment

It has been something of a confusing week for Straight Talk. First we heard that they cancelled the launch of the LG Optimus 2X. That was a shame, since it is a relatively powerful device. As it turns out, though, they just pulled a switcheroo. Instead of launching the Optimus 2X, they launched the Optimus Black — which is the same as the Boost Mobile launched in January. To review, it’s an Android 2.3 Gingerbread device with a 4-inch touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera, and 1GHz processor. It also comes with a 4GB microSD card. The device is available right now for $329 on Striaght Talk’s website.

Via PhoneNews.com.

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LG Optimus 2X will not come to Straight Talk

March 9th, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    7 Comments

Remember earlier this year when Straight Talk put up a page announcing the LG Optimus 2X? it looked to be one of the highest-end Android handsets on prepaid, which makes for exciting times. Unfortunately, it is not to be. PhoneNews.com reports that the device has been quietly cancelled by Straight Talk. The reasons at this point are unknown, but PhoneNews’s Humberto Saabedra does a good job examining the possibilities. Maybe it will resurface in the future, but for now we’ll have to wait a bit longer for another relatively high-end Android handset on prepaid.

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Prepaid iPhone on Straight Talk?

February 7th, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    10 Comments

Here’s one interesting outcome from the new SIM-only deals from Straight Talk and Net10: it could, and probably does, mean that users can activate iPhones. Andrew Berg of Wireless Week cites Walter Piecyk of BTIG, an analysis firm, who talks about the disruptive possibilities of such an offering. “We are unaware of any way to use an iPhone on prepaid,” writes Piecyk. That’s true generally, though there are the tech-savvier among us who have figured out ways. Yet there might be a few problems involved with this.

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Straight Talk and Net10 add SIM-only option

February 6th, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    3 Comments

Both Straight Talk and Net10 have added a new option for phone owners. Instead of the normal process, which involves purchasing a phone directly from the company, they are allowing customers to bring their own devices. There are a number of restrictions involved, however, so anyone interested should read on to determine whether or not they are eligible.

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Straight Talk getting LG Optimus 2X

January 18th, 2012   |    Straight Talk   |    No Comments

It appears as though Straight Talk is gearing up for another Android handset release. This one will be the LG Optimus 2X, and it comes with a little twist. It will actually have an LTE radio, so it will be a rare prepaid Android smartphone running on a 4G network. According to PhoneNews.com, it will run on AT&T’s LTE network. The phone itself isn’t particularly high end in terms of new Android handsets, but it’s near the top of the prepaid food chain: 1GHz processor, 800×480 display, 8-megapixel camera with 1080 video capture, and a front-facing camera. The big thing, of course, will be the LTE data on Straight Talk’s $45 plan. There is no word on pricing or availability, but as usual you can sign up to reserve your copy. Just visit Straight Talk’s reserve page for more details.

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Get Straight Talk unlimited for $30/month

November 25th, 2011   |    Straight Talk   |    6 Comments

Straight Talk has quite the a deal in store for Black Friday. Instead of discounting various handsets, they’ve discounted their popular $45 monthly unlimited service. During the promotion new customers can get unlimited talk, text, and web from Straight Talk for just $30 per month, for a full year. The deal runs from now through November 30th. There are certain restrictions, though, but as long as you’re OK with an older handset, you can take full advantage of this offer.
 

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Straight Talk officially adds LG Optimus Q

November 9th, 2011   |    Straight Talk   |    3 Comments

For the past month Straight Talk has been taking reserves on its second Android phone, the LG Optimus Q. Now they’re ready to unleash it. It is currently available for $179.99, and pairs with Straight Talk’s unlimited everything $45 plan. The Optimus is a mid-range Android handset, featuring the 2.3 operating system, a 3-megapixel camera, WiFi, and all of the standard Android features — including the Android Market. You can grab yours, along with a plan, at Straight Talk’s website.

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Straight Talk rakes in a half million subscribers

October 31st, 2011   |    Straight Talk   |    1 Comment

Tis the season for third quarter earnings reports. These are mostly uninteresting, even in terms of subscriber numbers. Really, we only share the ones that have the most relevance to Prepaid Reviews. One of them, of course, is Straight Talk. They came in big during the third quarter, adding 515,000 subscribers. This is all the more remarkable, because usually wireless carriers are a bit slower in the second and third quarters. Chances are this was a late-quarter rush following the release of the Samsung Galaxy Precedent. They’re primed to have a bit fourth quarter, too, now that they have two Android handsets. The holiday rush won’t hurt.
 
Via FierceWireless.

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Straight Talk announces LG Optimus Q

October 3rd, 2011   |    Straight Talk   |    12 Comments

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It appears that Straight Talk is just getting started with Android handsets. They recently released the LG Galaxy Precedent, and now are readying another one. Via their Facebook page we learn about the LG Optimus Q. It’s identical to the LG Optimus Slider, which Virgin Mobile will shortly release. That means that, like the Precedent, the Optimus Q will run on the Sprint network. It’ll be a tick cheaper, though, at $179.99. You can reserve yours at Straight Talk’s website.
 
Via PhoneNews.com.

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Straight Talk’s Galaxy Precedent will run on Sprint’s network

September 12th, 2011   |    Straight Talk   |    1 Comment

There has been some confusion lately as to which network would host the Samsung Galaxy Precedent, which is Straight Talk‘s first Android handset. Straight Talk uses multiple networks, but since the Precedent is a CDMA phone many assumed that it would run on Verizon’s network. Verizon, if you’ll remember, was the original host network for Straight Talk. Yet that is not the case. As Phil Goldstein of FierceWirless reports, the Precedent will run on Sprint’s network. This makes sense, since the Galaxy Prevail, which is identical to the Precedent, also runs on Sprint’s network via Boost Mobile.
 
If you get decent Sprint reception in your area and want to pick up the first Android handset from Straight Talk, you can head to Straight Talk’s website to buy one for $149.99. It works best with Straight Talk’s $45 unlimited everything plan.

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You can now reserve the Galaxy Precedent from Straight Talk

September 2nd, 2011   |    Straight Talk   |    5 Comments

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Just last week we heard that the Samsung Galaxy Precedent Android handset would be available from Straight Talk some time in September. The time is coming closer. You can now reserve your Galaxy Precedent by visiting http://reserve.straighttalkandroid.com/. Technically it’s not a reservation, though. It will put you on a list, and Straight Talk will inform you when the handset is available in your area. Still, if you’re looking to get your hands on one you might as well put in for the notification.

Via PhoneNews.com.

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Nokia E71 smartphone a great Straight Talk deal, with a catch

August 30th, 2011   |    Straight Talk   |    No Comments

You might have noticed that since the beginning of the month Straight Talk has been offering a refurbished Nokia E71 for just $99.99, which is half off the brand new price. As expected, the unit has sold well, but it hasn’t come without issues.

PhoneNews.com reports that Straight Talk has been shipping, and continues to ship, the E71 with an invalid SIM card. That makes activation impossible, which certainly explains a number of the one-star reviews Straight Talk has received.

For their part, Straight Talk is dealing with the issues as they come up, though it doesn’t appear the issue has been solved at the root yet.

That said, you can still take advantage of the E71 offer at Straight Talk website. Just realize that you might have to take a few extra steps before you can activate.

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StraighTalk to add Android handset in September

August 23rd, 2011   |    Straight Talk   |    4 Comments

Not to be outdone by their prepaid competitors, Straight Talk is preparing to launch an Android handset. Dubbed the Samsung Galaxy Precedent, it is a near match to the Galaxy Prevail, which hit Boost Mobile earlier this year. That is, it has a 3.2-inch screen, 2 megapixel camera, and runs Android 2.2 (Froyo). According to the report, from BTIG Research via FierceWireless, the device will drop in September for $150. Furthermore, the report indicates that Straight Talk has “negotiated a new data wholesale agreement with a major wireless carrier in order to offer these data hungry products.” That’s presumably Verizon, which operates a CDMA network, which is what the Prevail runs on.

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Notice a lack of Nokia smartphones from Straight Talk?

June 2nd, 2011   |    Straight Talk   |    2 Comments

This is the kind of thing that can fly under the radar without anyone noticing. In fact, even in this FierceWireless report, there is no known date when Straight Talk stopped offering its two Nokia smartphones, the 6970 and the E71. They’re still available at Walmart stores, but if you’re looking for one on Straight Talk’s website, you’ll come up empty. Neither of the parties is saying much about the matter, though Nokia indicated that it’s no big deal. The reason it’s a shame for consumers is that those handsets best took advantage of Straight Talk’s unlimited web plan — which, if you think about it that way, might be the reason for the devices removals.

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Straight Talk now providing loyalty discounts

April 12th, 2011   |    Straight Talk   |    4 Comments

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On its blog last week, Straight Talk hinted that it would provide discounts to its loyal customers. They teased the promotion by posting a link to log into your ST account — which means that non-ST users were left in the dark. Of course, a trip to Howard Forums yielded an answer, which you see above. Paying up front for multiple months of service now gets to a small discount compared to the normal month-to-month arrangement. The three-month commitment is $42 per month, the six-month commitment is $41.67 per month, and the 12-month commitment is $41.58 per month (so, in all reality, you’re best off with a six-month commitment). Apparently you need to already be a Straight Talk subscriber, so head to Straight Talk’s website if you want to take advantage.

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Samsung T404G now available from Straight Talk

March 7th, 2011   |    Straight Talk   |    7 Comments

It feels as though I’ve seen this handset before, and considering how basic it is I’m sure I have (the logo above the OK button indicates that it was probably at Tracfone, which makes sense). For those in Straight Talk‘s GSM areas, the Samsung T404G is now available. It’s a basic handset, as you can probably glean from the photo. You can still access the web and play music while snapping pictures from the 2 megapixel camera. It also features a sliding QWERTY keyboard. You can get the T404G at Straight Talk’s website for $89.99 (plus $30 or $45 for one month’s service).

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Straight Talk adds two smartphones to the lineup

October 22nd, 2010   |    Straight Talk   |    21 Comments

In our Straight Talk user reviews I’ve noticed two common complaints. First is customer service. Second is the lack of smartphones. Straight Talk addressed the second yesterday, announcing the Nokia 6790 and the E71 as part of its handset lineup. These both run on GSM networks. The 6790, a/k/a the Surge on AT&T, features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 2.4 inch screen at 320×240 pixels, a 2 megapixel camera, and microSD expansion up to 8GB. The E71 is a candybar device with a QWERTY keyboard. It has basically the same screen as the 6790, though it is 0.04 inches smaller. The camera is a bit better, at 3.15 megapixels. Both devices will cost $244.99, and both require Straight Talk’s $45 unlimited plan. You can get one of these smartphones at Walmart or at Straight Talk’s website.

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Visit Straight Talk’s Facebook page for customer support

October 18th, 2010   |    Straight Talk   |    9 Comments

If you go to our Straight Talk review and scroll down to the user review portion, you’ll see a number of complaints about the carrier’s customer service. This is nothing out of the ordinary. For starters, people are more likely to complain than to praise, so many poor customer experiences get documented while good ones go unmentioned. Customer service is also generally poor among prepaid wireless providers. If you’re looking for help with your Straight Talk phone or account, you might be best off heading to their Facebook page. From there you can head to Discussions and get your questions answered. Given the customer feedback I’ve heard and by looking at the page, it looks like a good place to seek help if you’ve had no luck with customer service on the phone.

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