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Boost Mobile Prepaid Cell Phones
Editor Rating
Overview
Boost Mobile targets the younger generation of prepaid cell phone users. Their main selling point is content, offering cheap or free mobile web, an array of downloads, and other services not typical of prepaid services.
Based in Irvine, California, Boost Mobile has been making a dent in the prepaid wireless industry since 2002.
Pros: These phones have a ton of features and downloadables. Boost offers a number of plans which can cater to almost all audiences. They operate on a nationwide iDEN network, which allows customers to use Nextel's walkie-talkie service.
Cons: Phones are a bit pricey compared to the rest of the prepaid marketplace.
Detailed Provider Information
Plans: Boost Mobile's pay-as-you-go plan offers service at 10 cents per minute all day, every day. The pay as you go plan also offers unlimited push to talk for one dollar per day, and wireless web available for 35 cents per day of use. The $1/day Chat Plan offers unlimited night minutes (9 p.m. to 7 a.m.), unlimited text messaging, and unlimited mobile to mobile minutes (to Boost and Sprint Nextel customers). All other calls are 10 cents per minute. As the name implies, there is a 1 dollar per day access fee. The Boost unlimited plan costs 50 dollars per month and comes with unlimited voice minutes, unlimited text messages, unlimited MMS, unlimited walkie-talkie, and unlimited mobile Web.
Customer Service: Customer service is available by phone (via a toll free number) or email (however, Boost states that email support may take up to 48 hours to respond to).
Credit Check: None
Contract: None
Payment Options: You can apply extra minutes to your phone via buying a refill card or charging your credit card and can be done by phone, online, at retail locations, certain supported ATMs, or automatically (based on scheduled charges).
Text and Picture Messaging: Text messaging is available on the pay-as-you-go plan at a cost of 10 cents per message to send and receive. Audio and picture messaging are both available for 25 cents, both to send and receive. The $1/Day Chat plan and the unlimited plan both offer unlimited text messaging. Audio and picture messaging are 25 cents each with the Chat plan, but included for free in the unlimited plan.
Data Plans: Web access is available with the pay-as-you-go and Chat plans for 35 cents per day. Mobile Web is included with the unlimited plan.
Downloadables: Ringtones, wallpapers, games, applications, etc are available for Boost Mobile phones. Prices vary.
International Calling: International calling is available. Rates for international calls vary depending on the destination country. Rates range from 10 cents to 5 dollars per minute. You will want to check the rates for the counties you may need to call before making calls to avoid a much bigger bill then you expected at the end of the month.
Roaming Charges: There are no roaming charges with Boost Mobile phones.
Calling Features: Voicemail, and caller ID are available with the pay-as-you-go and Premium Plus plans. Those features, plus 3-way calling and call waiting are available with Boost Unlimited.
Activation Fee: There is no initial activation fee for new Boost Mobile users. However, there is a 10 dollar re-activation fee if service is terminated (by either the user or Boost Mobile).
Nationwide Long Distance: Long distance calls are charged the same as regular calls.
411 Calls: Yes, for $1.29 per call plus airtime.
Earliest Minute Expiration: You need to recharge your account every 90 days to stay active. If you go inactive you have 60 days to recharge or your account is terminated.
911 Calls: Yes.
Phones: Boost Mobile caters to the younger crowd who want feature-rich phones. As a result, all phones are color screen and have downloadable ringtones, PTT, and speakerphone. Most of the models they offer are also flip phones. In addition, camera, video, and MP3 phones are also available. The prices start at $29.99 and range up to $179.99.
Some Available Cell Models:
Motorola Stature i9 (shown)
Motorola i776
Motorola i776W
Motorola i335
Motorola i290
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Boost Mobile
It's a very good phone service. Espicially if your parents are
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Boost Mobile
Hey April i have the same problem with my clutch. i called last
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Boost Mobile
i've read these reviews n i had to leave a good one because everyone
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ali
2009/11/06 |
i've read these reviews n i had to leave a good one because everyone is beating up boost. i have been with boost forever. i am so satisfied. i understand ppl have problems but when i was with sprint, t-mobile, & at-t, i had the same probs that i have occasionally had with boost. they were all minor, nothin to stop the earth's rotation n were fixed quickly....unlike with the mainline companies.... i also take care of my equipment and dont overload it or push it too hard. i recommend boost to everyone i know... im so much happier with my boost service than i am with any of the other companies i was with. im not with boost because of credit issues, i stayed with all the mainline companies for the service contract, was unsatisfied, and then went to the next one that i thought sounded great....only to b let down with costs, taxes, surcharges, and poor problem resolution. i'd rather get better service, a better plan, for a smaller price! i'm satisfied!
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Boost Mobile
WOW!!!Thank you guys for the reviews. I just purchased the clutch
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Carlyn
2009/11/05 |
WOW!!! Thank you guys for the reviews. I just purchased the clutch phone, but havent baught any mins on it yet. The phone is still in the box. After reading all your reviews im definietly taking it back to the store tomorrow to get my money back ASAP!
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Boost Mobile
I don't have a review, just a question... does anyone know if
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Boost Mobile
I have been with Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile, Nextel, Sprint and U.S
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Shawn
2009/11/04 |
I have been with Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile, Nextel, Sprint and U.S Cellular and Boost Mobile is by far the best for the money. Yeah the phones are limited and you dont have a very large choice, but do what I did. I bought a (Nextel, Sprint) Blackberry 7100i on ebay for $60.00 downloaded the "boostberry" software into it and loaded Opera mini. This phone now has the capabilities to do what all the OVER priced guys do plus walkie talkie for only 50.00 a month. I have google, facebook, myspace, outlook mail, gmail, comcast.net mail and yahoo ALL come through with no problems. Full web browsing just like on my PC at home. I was thinking about checking in on the new Straight talk by Wal-mart.... Buyers beware about that deal... BOOST MOBILE Rocks for us here in Illinois.. Oh and the guy that doesnt get service in Chicago, you must have a bad phone because I go there ALL the time and the service is flawless!!!
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Boost Mobile
if i could rate boost mobile 0 stars i would do just that! the
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monica
2009/11/04 |
if i could rate boost mobile 0 stars i would do just that! the service stinks, the phone stinks, and the customer service is horrible! every time i call its someone who doesn't speak a lick of English and pretty much don't understand what i am saying either..ugh.. text msgs are unlimited but you can never send or receive them to even take advantage of what they offer. the web sucks because its slow and its basic mobile web no html browser. please save your time and money, i warn you!
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Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile...all i can say is wow. They do make it sound like
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NICKNACK
2009/11/03 |
Boost Mobile...all i can say is wow. They do make it sound like they have the best service but they absolutely dont. I swear it takes between two to five minutes most of the time to send one text message. And half the texts sent to my phone..ha! I can forget about getting those. Of course it sounded good because that's how they lure you in but their service SUCKS! Sometimes to get a little you have to give a little. And if you want to get a better phone service then you'll have to roll out a little extra cash.
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Boost Mobile
I have the $50/unlimited on the Motorola Clutch.. All was great
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April
2009/11/02 |
I have the $50/unlimited on the Motorola Clutch.. All was great with my phone & service for about a week.. The clutch is a Piece.. OMG.. It doesnt work half the time, it freezes all the time.. I dont get half of the text messages sent to me.. And when I try to send messages I have to let it go to my outbox, turn my phone off, turn it back on, then resend the message from the outbox.. I called Boost & was told that there was nothing they could do.. && service.. what a joke.. As long as you stay on the main highway in our county & surrounding counties you are great.. but get off the highway & you wont have service.. I am not satisfied with the phone nor the service... I went & bought a new phone today and change service in the morning..
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Boost Mobile
i like it because I had nextel and i was paying $70 almost $80
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Boost Mobile
I have been a Boost Mobile customer since they started. I've
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ANTHONY D
2009/11/01 |
I have been a Boost Mobile customer since they started. I've had past issues and found that the customer service people get this I could care less attitude in helping customers. Now the latest news...In the New York City area Boost customers have been having problems with their older phones....the reason is Boost Mobile Inc. has been doing an upgrade of the network & related hardware....but catch this.. The older phone may not work. So they make you come up with $20 plus dollars for a newer SIM card so your phone can work. Not even offering any full credit. Yes I'll grant you that you get a miserly ten dollar call credit but the simple fact is more $$ coming out of your pocket for a situation BOOST MOBILE should eat the total cost of. It is not the consumer fault that BOOST decided to change to a better system. Why should we the consumer bear the cost? I think not
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Boost Mobile
" If it sounds too good to be true.." 50 per month
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adkpugmom
2009/10/30 |
" If it sounds too good to be true.." 50 per month for everything and no contract !! i did it and now regret it..if you want to use it ONLY for phone calls then its ok BUT texting , pics, interent NO WAY ! In a nutshell its like going from an xbox360 to the old atari ( that doesnt even work right ! ) lost 200 bucks...thought I would post to save someone else the money and aggravation.
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Boost Mobile
I've had it for 6 months, gave it a fair try. I would recommend
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Tony
2009/10/29 |
I've had it for 6 months, gave it a fair try. I would recommend people stay away, unless you manage to get one of the older CDMA phones. Nothing but problems with call quality and especially lost texts. I'm changing asap.
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Boost Mobile
I've been having a great diffuculutie ith boost mobile phones.
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Boost Mobile
My texting fails all the time!! Cant read or send! I keep getting
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Boost Mobile
i use boost mobile unlimited 50/mo i am wondering why if theis
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Boost Mobile
After being a customer for 4 months, they changed my phone number
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nancy barrett
2009/10/24 |
After being a customer for 4 months, they changed my phone number and turned off my service.
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Boost Mobile
Horrible! I had the motorola slider & my sister had the clutch.
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Anonymous
2009/10/24 |
Horrible! I had the motorola slider & my sister had the clutch. The battery dies really fast when in use. I never had any other phones die so quick. Lets just say if the phone is going to be in use for more then 30minutes make sure you have it plugged in. Mesages take forever to go out. Service is not as good as others but I guess you cant expect it to be the best. Internet goes quite fast. Pictures in both phones ive used could hardly see. Other then that the motorola i856 is a very nice looking phone with features and a nice screen. The motorola clutch is ok but has a rather small screen and cramped keypad. I just had to go back to metro pcs.
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Boost Mobile
The unlimited calling rocks. I do occasionally have issues with
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Boost Mobile
I have had Boost for about 8 mo. Phone isn't the best, but the
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Boost Mobile
It was great for about 8 months, but I keep not being able to
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Kelsey
2009/10/23 |
It was great for about 8 months, but I keep not being able to receive text messages--I now only receive 1 of every 3 messages sent to me! I'm currently shopping for a new plan, but have $67 on my account, so I'll have to wait a month, which is SUPER frustrating.
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Boost Mobile
Telephones are horrible. The service it is not unlimited calling.
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Boost Mobile
wow this plan sound greAT AND MY FRIENDS AS ONE IT AND IT WORKS
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Boost Mobile
worst service and phone that ive ever had. dropped almost every
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jason
2009/10/19 |
worst service and phone that ive ever had. dropped almost every call couldnt receive most texts that were sent to me. boost is a huge waste of money and a giant headache to deal with. AVOID!!!!
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Boost Mobile
I had boost for 3 months approx. at first I liked but eventually
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Boost Mobile
I have had Boost Mobile for about 1 year and before that i had
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Javier
2009/10/17 |
I have had Boost Mobile for about 1 year and before that i had verizon which was good service but way too expensive. So ever since i switched to Boost i have never had a dropped call and i go from Los Angeles to San Diego and over the border and i can still receive texts and calls. I have also been all the way up to San Fransisco and i never got a dropped call. I receive texts normally and all the time. I can always view them and send them out too. I have the Motorola Krzr I do not know if people have bad service because of their phone or not but my service is great. I would recommend this to ANYONE if you are paying to much for you service get this. -I pay $50 a month plus $ money I add to call to mexico. - I get Internet - Unlimited Calling and Texts(pix,vids) - You can also get Unlimited Walkie-Talkie but the Krzr doesnt have it. The service is great the only downside of Boost is the small selection of Phones. So now Im going to Get the nextel i8350 and unlock it. :)
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Boost Mobile
0/10 stars, even. Don't get boost mobile. Their customer care
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Ashley.
2009/10/17 |
0/10 stars, even. Don't get boost mobile. Their customer care reps are rude and poorly trained, the service sucks, and the phones are horrid. Texting takes too long because messages have a tendancy to just SIT in your outbox, and never get sent. :/ And half the time, I don't recieve texts people send me. It drops too many calls, has no service in the most illogical places, and is just generally a waste of time and money.
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Boost Mobile
Boost mobile is a scam and a rip off i Purchased a 129.00 phone
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jackie
2009/10/17 |
Boost mobile is a scam and a rip off i Purchased a 129.00 phone for my 16 year old she mainly texts i wanted something that she could get unlimited texting with and we would have control over the cost well the phone got no service where we live it worked in town but does not work 2 miles out of town so we took the phone back to the retailer less than 24 hours after i purchased it. I already paid ahead for the unlimited service for a month they will not refund any of the money or even let me transfer the service to a different boost mobil phone which my older daughter has so basically since there service sucks you pre-pay and they keep the money it's a RIP OFF!
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Boost Mobile
STAR RATING 0- out 10 ill give it a 0 10 being the highs and
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ReddVelvet
2009/10/16 |
STAR RATING 0- out 10 ill give it a 0 10 being the highs and 0 being the lowers...I'm thinking getting Metro-PCS I have Boost Mobile now. for 3 year's now. I'm sick tried of Boost Mobile. Drop Calls. I had problem with them all the time its like I call them every month with a problem people say they call me an it never shows up on my headset, call last only 15 min at the most. cheap phones. not that many to pick from. they only have 3 phones to pick from if you want the unlimited boost c29 q385 qarzy or whatever it call i had all of them. its sucks the phone always breaking down. that's why i want to go with metro-PCS they have many phones i want the blackberry or touch phone. I read all the reviews some are like i know its real like the talking to them over the phone its very poor English but the service is that that bad i know some people with them now and they never have problem with they service it seem like they happy with it. I'm for real about this people i call boost mobile so mush at time i get the same person an i don't know if i talk to them they say hi you again having the same problem lets see what we can do. boost mobile is good customer in way but bad service what i mean in away is when i was having problems with the drop calls and people call me and at times it wont show up or pic wont come to my phone they sent me a new phone they said they was going credit me after the report is close they they lied. i didn't get shit but $5 and i just paid my bill i was not with working service for 3 weeks only credit me $5 and i paid $53.33 for Unlimited text messaging, Unlimited pic and Internet. the Internet sucks so it time for a change. i have boost mobile to much of my money i always had problem with my service even the 1st week i had them now 3 years later still having problems. i gave boost mobile $1,919.88 so far an i not getting what i paid for so I'm done with them. so here come metropcs! hopefully i would not have any problem with them. by the way the only problem i have it the phone i want cost $300-500 BlackBerry® Curve™ $$399.00 and the Samsung Finesse $$349.00 i don't know which one to pick maybe you people can help me . i want to get on yahoo IM search the web, download youtube video or even better watch it without downloading.. thing like like a little mimi computer but a phone i know its metro like like that in the smart-phone just yet but it a lot better then the phone boost mobile haves. so anyone can help me which phone you think good for me i like the touch phone but everyone telling me blackberry is so much better but i like to touch some one tell me which one is better and why and why not thanks email me if you like to tell me so reddvelvet1986@hotmail.com in the subject put in metro-PCS or just say it on here but it would be a lot easy if u email me tell me thank you again
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Boost Mobile
Bought a motorolla I335 on Oct 1st for a total of $150.00 upfront
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Tony Little
2009/10/15 |
Bought a motorolla I335 on Oct 1st for a total of $150.00 upfront money, and by Oct 14th the phone quit working and the retail store, as well as motorolla were not willing to help. The closest thing that resembled assistance was sending my phone back to motorolla which would result in not having a phone for 8 to 10 business days. $150,00 for 13 days is no bargain. Dedinitely designed for people that are perceived to be with out credit or the means to rock the boat. Huge rip off
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Boost Mobile
I know people who have boost mobile or cricket and have such
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Boost Mobile
The phones are priced to high and the reception is very very
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rep
2009/10/13 |
The phones are priced to high and the reception is very very bad. Im in Chicago and 98% of my calls out going or in coming had a bad reception or dropped call.
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Boost Mobile
i have boost mobile and i really like it, i have the motorola
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Boost Mobile
I have the I465. While I really like some of the features and
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Melanie
2009/10/07 |
I have the I465. While I really like some of the features and the sound quality is good, I am completely annoyed with the texting. Whenever I send a text, it goes to my outbox and STAYS. It never gets delivered. I am an avid texter so this is more than annoying. I expect my phone to work and to work everytime. When I first got the phone a few months back, this was not a problem. Texts went just fine. But now, it's a problem.
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Boost Mobile
THIS IS VERRY GOOD SERVICE IF YOU LIKE TALKING & WEB $50.00
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Boost Mobile
After reading the review, I am not going to have a boost mobile.
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Abderrazak
2009/10/07 |
After reading the review, I am not going to have a boost mobile. Thank you very much for all of you because you save me a lot of hassle, time and money.
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Boost Mobile
Boost wants to charge $299 for the I9 phone. Have they lost their
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Tom
2009/10/06 |
Boost wants to charge $299 for the I9 phone. Have they lost their minds? Send a text message can be a nightmare. Sometimes I get 10 texts all at once. Most of them were sent hours prior to actually receiving them. I also try and send a text message and receive an error message that says, "transport error". What's up with that? Boost rarely works outside of larger cities and bigger towns. I am going back to Verizon and pay MORE.
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Boost Mobile
Just FYI, I paid on a prepaid phone I had through Alltel and
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Belle
2009/10/05 |
Just FYI, I paid on a prepaid phone I had through Alltel and LOST the entire amount after 90 days. They told me on any prepaid phone with ANY carrier there is no such thing as prepaid $ being rolled over...I thought I was paid ahead for almost a year, not wanting to bother with it...and they KEPT my $$$. Went in to a retail store and they couldn't help me. I pay monthly now, it's a hassle, but keeps ANY cell carrier from literally STEALING your money!!! BACK TO BOOSTMOBILE. My experience with them has been crappy, cheaply made-overpriced phones, dropped calls, dropped txt messages (incoming AND outgoing), duplicated charges/withdrawals, undependable reception, etc. I know a LOT of people that have went to BM, and at one time or another, they always have encountered problems. I think the problem with cell phone carriers is in regulating. Someone is NOT doing their job. PLEASE, follow through with any complaints with your local BBB, the BBB in Sunnyvale, CA (for Boostmobile), the Attorney General's office in your home state, and any other agency, FCC, etc. Remember, cut/paste your complaint and keep it in a Word Processing file on your machine. When you start going into these online sites to file complaints, you might need it, plus, it saves time. Honestly look for Boostmobile to end up in a class-action suit, but how will that help us individually? That will simply serve to pad some attorney's pocket, and spread across the board, consumers will get ZILT.
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Boost Mobile
Boost mobile is great for the unlimited plan except for the service.
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Raymond
2009/10/05 |
Boost mobile is great for the unlimited plan except for the service. Most places have no service which sucks and it drops alot of phone calls. I can't even do three way calling and I have the 50 dollar unlimited plan. I am trying to switch to sprint but they wont take the number since it is the same company which makes no sense. I might have to switch to verizon.
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Boost Mobile
I have had Boost three different times over the past 5 years
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Will
2009/10/03 |
I have had Boost three different times over the past 5 years and nothing ever changes. They have not expanded their coverage area and I am still have the same messaging issues today I experienced the first time I got a Boost phone. I prefer to pay ATT $90 a month for better coverage and no messaging issues.
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Boost Mobile
I live in colorado and the service is not good at all. They offer
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Anthony
2009/09/27 |
I live in colorado and the service is not good at all. They offer Unlimited Web and GPS but the service is BAD!. Internet (or web as they call it), is only access to their own little group of sites and not the actual real web like google, etc. The GPS is horrible! Accurate directions but updates too late. By the time I got to my destination it is barely telling me to exit on next right... UGH!.......
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Boost Mobile
BOOST MOBILE GOOD FOR MONEY SPENT $50.00 FLAT & NO SERVICE
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Boost Mobile
Really...? This service is horrible! I've had the Monthly Unlimited
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Alex
2009/09/26 |
Really...? This service is horrible! I've had the Monthly Unlimited plan for almost 3 weeks and have had nothing but problems since the first day. After 6 calls to customer service I still can't send or receive text messages. I've tries the "master reset" and the "feature reset" and still have problems everyday. This would be a good plan if the service actually worked, but I doubt that even after spending $200 on a phone and service that I will renew this service next month.
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Boost Mobile
You do know Boost mobile is pre paid nextel, which is owned by
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Boost Mobile
Looking for a cheaper plan I have had Nextel for 9 yrs b-4 that
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Laurie
2009/09/17 |
Looking for a cheaper plan I have had Nextel for 9 yrs b-4 that ATT when Att merged they went from great service to one of the worst so I switched to Nextel 8 great years now since Sprint took over and merged with nextel the service stinks plus it costs $$$$$ LOOKING TO MOVE ON was thinking of Boost but all these comments have scared me off a little. How is survice in Los Angeles and Oakland, ca. areas?
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Boost Mobile
Rating should be 0 star!I have Boostmobile pre-paid plan for
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Michelle S
2009/09/16 |
Rating should be 0 star! I have Boostmobile pre-paid plan for a few years. I always recharged within 90 days, but because I don't use it that often I have a pretty big balance in my account ($114.35 on 9/4/09). In September I inadvertantly missed the deadline for recharging. I did it 1 1/2 day later on 9/6 morning. I found that they have taken the entire $114.35 from my account! I called them immediately to inquire. The customer rep couldn't figure out what happened. I was transferred to a tech rep who said I missed the recharge date and they removed all balnace from my account. I protested that I have been good customer for a long time and this is the very first time I missed it by only 1.5 days, I asked them to waive the 'penalty' just once and restore the balance to my account. But I was told she could not do it so she transferred me to her supervisor on my third request to speak to the super. The super insisted she couldn't help so I insisted on speaking to the manager. The manager said she could only submit a case to the executive and I could check the result after 24 hours. That phone conversation lasted 24 minutes. One day later I called to check. Again I went through the entire explanation process and several clerks later Iwas told the case's verdict was: complete, closed, valid. I then went to their website's contact form to complain and requested the contact info for their director of 'Care Management'. The reply came one day later and asked me to call their customer rep.! I called and was put through the entire loop again to no avail. They robbed me of $114.35 just for being 1.5 day late for the 1st time in years! I plan on filing complaint to FCC and BBB. I will also broadcast this to every board I can find. Boycott Boostmobile!
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Boost Mobile
I was using Cricket and really liked the service, but the calling
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Boost Mobile
Ive had verizon for 6 years, i got tired of paying $150 a month
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Boost Mobile
I have had the i335 for a week now and from day one the service
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VERONICA
2009/09/11 |
I have had the i335 for a week now and from day one the service is the worst yet. Customer service was very polite but that doesn't change the fact that I cannot use the phone in peace. I have had t-mibile for 5 years with maybe 2 dropped calls while traveling 800 miles from NY to ATL and that's it. While trying to save money I chose boost mobile. I must have been spoiled by t-mobile. Go figure
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Boost Mobile
ABSOLUTE WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. I had Boost for a week and
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Liam
2009/09/10 |
ABSOLUTE WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. I had Boost for a week and then moved my number to Helio. I literally dropped EVERY call the 72 hours prior to switching. Even the customer service was a joke just to get my real account number so I could port my number. Seriously not worth your time.
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