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Cricket Wireless Prepaid Service Plans
Editor Rating
Overview
Cricket is a subsidiary of Leap Wireless International and is based in San Diego, California. Cricket has been gaining popularity as a prepaid provider with its rich plans and up to date phones.
Pros: Cricket prepaid offers flat rate plans that offer unlimited calling without requiring a contract so you can go month to month on your service without any comitment.
Cons: Cricket unfortunately has a limited coverage area. It only serves 29 states and coverage areas are only found within certain sections of those.
Detailed Provider Information
Plans: Cricket offers six different plans, all of which include unlimited anytime minutes. The 30 dollar plan offers unlimited local voice minutes, no long distance. The 35 dollar plan adds unlimited long distance and unlimited text messaging. The 40 dollar plan adds unlimited picture messaging, unlimited texting to Mexico, plus a number of calling features. The 45 dollar plan adds unlimited directory assistance, mobile Web, and includes Cricket's premium extended coverage. The 50 dollar plan adds unlimited global text, online backup, and 30 monthly roaming minutes. Finally, the 60 dollar plan adds 200 monthly roaming minutes. Cricket also offers three pay as you go plans, dubbed PAYgo, which charge a flat daily rate, but only on days the phone is used. For 1 dollar per day customers get unlimited local calling. For 2 dollars a day customers can add unlimited text and picture messaging, and Cricket's premium extended coverage. For 3 dollars a day it adds unlimited long distance, directory assistance, and mobile Web. PAYgo is currently only available in select markets.
Customer Service: Customer service is available via a toll free number.
Credit Check: None
Contract: None
Payment Options: Cricket offers customers the ability to pay via automatic bill payments that deduct your balance from a credit or debit card each month. You can make payments by phone with a credit or debit card, but you'll be charged an additional 2 dollar processing fee to do so. Paying in cash at an authorized payment location for a 3 dollar fee is another option. Payment by mail may be made with check or money order and you can also make payments online through their customer care website.
Text and Picture Messaging: Cricket offers unlimited text and picture messaging with all plans 35 dollars and up, and with the 2 and 3 dollar PAYgo plans.
Data Plans: For plans that do not include unlimited mobile Web, an add-on is available for 5 dollars per month. For PAYgo 1 and 2 dollar plans, mobile Web is 1 dollar per day.
Downloadables: You can download ringtones to most phones offered by Cricket for $1.99. Screen images (also known as wallpapers) are also available for download for 99 cents each.
International Calling: Internationall calling is available and starts at ten cents per minute, but varies depending on the destination country. You should request the rates for the countries you may need to call when you sign up for service or by contacting customer service.
Roaming Charges: Roaming minutes cost 39 cents each. Cricket's roaming area has been greatly expanded, now including areas covered by MetroPCS, in what is termed Cricket's premium extended coverage.
Calling Features: Caller ID, is available on all plans. The 40 dollar and higher plans have voicemail, call waiting, and 3-way calling. The 45 dollar and up plans add call forwarding. Voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, and three-way calling are available with all PAYgo plans.
Activation Fee: There is an activation fee of 15 dollars to get started with Cricket wireless.
Nationwide Long Distance: All plans, except the 30 dollar one and the 1 dollar PAYgo plan, include long distance calls at no additional charge, as long as the caller is within his or her home calling area. For long distance calls with the 1 dollar PAYgo plan it costs 10 cents per minute.
411 Calls: Yes, directory assistance is available for one dollar per call. If you use 411 frequently, you can get unlimited directory assistance calling for 3 dollars per month. It is available for free with the 45 dollar per month plan and with the 3 dollar PAYgo plan. For the 1 and 2 dollar PAYgo plans, directory assistance is 1 dollar per call.
Earliest Minute Expiration: Any unused portion of Cricket Flex Bucket minute purchases will expire 12 months from when it was added. The initial 5 dollars added to the account upon activation will expire in 30 days.
911 Calls: Yes
Phones: Phones start at $29.99. All phones available through Cricket have color screens and some are flip or slider phones. You should note that not all phones are available online and some are only available through retailers. All phones available are capable of text messaging.
Some Available Cell Models:
Samsung MyShot (shown)
UTStarcom CDM7126
Samsung R211
Cricket TXTM8
Motorola Evoke QA4
Coverage Map: Cricket Prepaid Coverage Map
Latest News: News about Cricket Wireless Prepaid
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Cricket Prepaid
Cricket wireless is super sloppy. What a terrible company.
3
Cricket Prepaid
I think every one on here works for some kind of wireless company.
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sasha
2009/11/04 |
I think every one on here works for some kind of wireless company. Get a life.
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Cricket Prepaid
The absolute worst customer service with the additinal charge
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Guest
2009/10/29 |
The absolute worst customer service with the additinal charge to pay your bill at a location, the web site conveniently down so you can't get aq free pay, you never talk to a customer service person, you have to leave your name, number and other information and they will call you back, but when. I'm going to drop them asap. The probably won't answer the phone.
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Cricket Prepaid
i think that cricket is byfar better than ay&t phones cricket
5
Cricket Prepaid
Cricket is cheap but the service is lousy, a lot of dropped calls
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Demuel
2009/10/26 |
Cricket is cheap but the service is lousy, a lot of dropped calls and almost impossible to speak to a person at customer service, I pushed the button to buy a new phone and that's how I got a person. I bought a new phone about 3 months ago have yet to receive rebate, they sent me a letter saying I haven't had service long enough, but when I finally got a person they said oh don't worry you'll get your rebate and haven't received it yet. If you can afford it spend the extra money for a plan with another carrier.
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Cricket Prepaid
incorrect info on coverage. Cricket Wireless now has nationwide
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Cricket Prepaid
The only issues I've had with their service is when I am in a
5
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JGREEN
2009/10/17 |
The only issues I've had with their service is when I am in a area where I don't receive coverage, which is what I was told upfront. I have a Cricket plan, and have had it for going on four years now. The coverage area is constantly expanding, last time I traveled, on a $65/mo plan, I got internet, phone and text service in five major cities, and it is GREAT! I don't know what previous posters expect as far as customer service is concerned, obviously, they've never stood in LONG lines at an AT&T store just to not have major issues resolved, or pay a $400 stinking bill where overage fees cost 40 cents/minute, but never notify you. If I get unlimited everything for $65 a month, no late fees, no overage charges, and no increase unless I change my bill, I am willing to put up with an international accent while talking to customer service.
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Cricket Prepaid
Well, I'm considering switching to Criket from a Net10 prepaid
3
Cricket Prepaid
I've had nothing but trouble with Cricket. My bill is never the
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rockstarcycling
2009/10/14 |
I've had nothing but trouble with Cricket. My bill is never the same every month and unless you go to a corporate store they scam you. The phones are cheap. You get what you pay for! Cheap service cheap phones. Beware!!
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Cricket Prepaid
YES CRICKET IS GOOD WHEN IT WANTS TO BE BUT IT COULD DO A LITTLE
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Cricket Prepaid
Worst cell phone service period. Terrible customer service both
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Ruby
2009/10/06 |
Worst cell phone service period. Terrible customer service both instore and when calling the 1 800 number. Even though I live in a major city, my neighborhood usually gets NO SERVICE. I have to constantly go online via my phone to see if I have any text messages, I receive about only 20% of my phone calls and when I am trying to use my phone it usually drops the call. Whenever I go instore to pay my bill I swear its a dollar more than the month before.
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Cricket Prepaid
I just got the wireless internet from cricket and i am very disappointed
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marin
2009/10/05 |
I just got the wireless internet from cricket and i am very disappointed from it.I have internet only in couple big cities.
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Cricket Prepaid
Came from MetroPCS service area with whom I'd never had a real
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Nick
2009/10/02 |
Came from MetroPCS service area with whom I'd never had a real problem besides customer service to Cricket - this has to be the most ridiculous company I've encountered. My phone has begun to die after less 6 months, I normally keep phones for about yrs - called Samsung for warranty replacement, rep runs my ESN and tells me the phone I paid full price for is a refurb...she says it's common with Cricket, the phones are not new. Meanwhile, wanted to pay my partner's phone bill and mine at the same time by phone - automated system wouldn't let me pay hers b/c I was calling from my phone; finally got a rep after almost 30 mins and was offered the opportunity to pay $5 for the privilege of giving them money. Last night, looked at upgrading myp partner's phone and attempted to change her calling plan on the website; the refurb phones are too expensive and I would have been charged a $10 migration fee for the price plan change. My partner and I went to the Boost Mobile website. We're switching today.
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Cricket Prepaid
expensive and obsolete cell phones,poor customer service, hidden
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bob-e
2009/09/08 |
expensive and obsolete cell phones,poor customer service, hidden fees ,($3 conveniece fee $15 reactivation fee) most dropped calls i have ever had, if someone is trying to reach you they r equally fustrated by having it ring ten times on their end and your phone still has not rang once. like the saying goes "you get what u pay for" in this case a boat load of garbage,headaches and indian c.s. shinanigans. honestly stay away if u can
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Cricket Prepaid
I'm one of those people that never rates anything, but because
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Cricket Prepaid
All the reviews below with 1 star are quite suspicious to me--ie
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Cricket Prepaid
I have Cricket and I love it. I pay $38 bucks a month for unlimited
5
Cricket Prepaid
Cricket is good for local area coverage. As for roaming, not
3
Cricket Prepaid
I have been disappointed with Cricket and experience many dropped
3
Cricket Prepaid
What to do? I currently have Alltel prepaid which Ive had for
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SheShe
2009/08/16 |
What to do? I currently have Alltel prepaid which Ive had for 6yrs, but Ive moved from NC to MD and Im roaming. I have the 1 dollar a day plan but its getting expensive so I need some help on which 1 for MD I should choose: Boost or Cricket,HELP!
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Cricket Prepaid
service is excellent. i had it for about 9 months no problems.
5
Cricket Prepaid
Where in America can you make and receive unlimited calls, unlimited
5
Cricket Prepaid
These reviews are painful to read. Chris: Maybe it's not the
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Cricket Prepaid
My wife & I are looking for a cell phone because of some
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chris
2009/07/28 |
My wife & I are looking for a cell phone because of some trips we are going to be taking.After reading comments on different sites,I'm now convinced of two things: 1) there are NO good/decent phones or plans out there and 2)the American public has the IQ of a tomato! Learn how to spell,use punctuation and complete sentences,will ya?? Jeesh, my head hurts just from reading your comments!
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Cricket Prepaid
AT&T GoPhone is the best choice, period.AFter reading all
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michael
2009/07/25 |
AT&T GoPhone is the best choice, period. AFter reading all these nightmares, I'm glad I never got bitten by the Cricket.
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Cricket Prepaid
I bought their "wireless" computer service for my computer
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Jerry Martin
2009/07/25 |
I bought their "wireless" computer service for my computer under the promise that all downloads were to be instant. They are not. As slow, if not slower than my former land service. All the reports I read here about poor to non-existence service are true. I don't see how a company can stay in business like this. Zero recommendation.
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Cricket Prepaid
This has been the worst phone company I have ever delt with.
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mark
2009/07/24 |
This has been the worst phone company I have ever delt with. There paygo is nothing but a bait and switch scam as far as I can see. The phone has never worked since day one and has charged long distace fee on every call regardless of dialing area. Customer service is no where to be found. All they say is some one will get back to you in 24 hours till your time runs out. When your time gets to low they will not even answer only saying "all lines are busy" Go to the store and they say just move up in plans to solve things..ya right. After 10 days of waiting for some one to call me back, I will try to get my money back.....
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Cricket Prepaid
IF I COULD GIVE THIS COMPANY ZERO STARS I WOULD THIS IS THE WORST
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dre
2009/07/15 |
IF I COULD GIVE THIS COMPANY ZERO STARS I WOULD THIS IS THE WORST COMPANY EVER U CANT REACH A LIVE REP VIA PHONE I EMAILED AND THEY TOOK 2 WEEKS TO EMAIL ME BACK TAKE IT FROM ME ITS NOT WORTH THE TIME MONEY OR HEADACE
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Cricket Prepaid
Have had a phone for about 6 months.Paid all my bills on time,no
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preston gallatn
2009/07/06 |
Have had a phone for about 6 months.Paid all my bills on time,no big problems till now..No service called customer service No speak english,Asked to speak to someone whom speaks are tougue,or a supervisor,whom,speaks English,placed on hold,I waited,waited,waited,Hung up called back...Same story,,Hey what gives with customer service with these folks,Da,well when its cheap,its cheap,I have a sugjustion,how about a five day waiting grace period..Now adays people are using thier cells at home,as thier primary phones,I guess what, Cricket is leaving its self wide open for a lawsuit if someone needs the police,ambulance,or Doctor in an emergency..So a warning to you fokes,and wake up,and smell the roses before I or another Lawyer sues the hell out of you..Customer service is deployable,service is fine..When you manage to get it.Get someone working there who speaks anything besides broken english,after all the primary language in the United States is english and please stop puting people on hold for hours at a time..All told I was on hold for 2hrs and 16 minutes only to be rudely transfered,to another person whom couldn"t speak english,and they still did"nt answer my questions,,So I finally gave up..So I guess I'll just go to another service,I don"t have the time for the run around..Don"t get a Cricket phone..GO FISHING !!!!with a live Cricket..
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Cricket Prepaid
Anybody who sayas Cricket is a fraud is just plain wrong. I had
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John O'Neill
2009/07/03 |
Anybody who sayas Cricket is a fraud is just plain wrong. I had Sprint for 7 years in Las Vegas and I had dead AREAS, not dead spot but whole areas of town that had bad or no service. Now true, I could drive from Las Vegas to Charleston, SC and stay on the ASprint phone the whole way but get of of the interstate and they suck. Cricket has been a real save for my business. Now all of my employees have unlimted text, talk, and web for $40 a month each. That's fully one third less than Sprint. Sprint is the ripoff as well as Verizon and all the other so called "big" companies. Criket and Metro PCS are going to eat up these big guys, just watch.
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Cricket Prepaid
cricket has alot of flaws in its service and should of merged
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Cricket Prepaid
had unlimited data plan had two modems that both broke within
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scott
2009/06/20 |
had unlimited data plan had two modems that both broke within a month. . wanted me to pay to replace even under warranty . . the network was terrible . . what a scam this Cricket or Leap should be ashamed of themselves. .went with Virgin wireless. . it rocks . .
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Cricket Prepaid
I have left and returned to cricket several times. 1st. it was
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Floyd
2009/06/06 |
I have left and returned to cricket several times. 1st. it was the terrible service. Then when service improved. I needed roaming. But, I was charged roaming when I was in a service area like my home, (Big bumber) So I droped cricket again. Now it is custormer care. I needed to make an insurance claim. Cricket only sends claims to a few stores in it's areas. So, when you go to make a claim. You have to take a number and wait in a line longer than at the DMV. Only to lied to so cricket does not have to loose money, My phone stoped letting me make calls. I only had it a week. And I took Premo care of it. They said I had water damage (A LIE!) When the sticker in the phone was the same color as it was when I got it. Cricket custormer care service is worse than a one. About a -10 in my book. I can say one good thing only about cricket. There mobil broad band is a good deal. Lord help me when that stops working. I'll just buy a new one. As crickets insurance is completely worthless and there service is too. I'll only use there broadband but NOT there cell phone service. I'll go back to prepaid. I recommend buy cheap phones you can afford to replace and don't get insurance if you use cricket. You will never collect on it. And you will loose 1/2 a day of your time trying in a DMV office type of enviroment. OH, They will send you to differnt people and make you get back in line as they did me. Bad bad service to custormers.
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Cricket Prepaid
I have had Cricked since 2003. I get buy used Verizon phones
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So Frazzled
2009/06/02 |
I have had Cricked since 2003. I get buy used Verizon phones that have been flashed over because the quality is so much better. For a fraction of the price too.
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Cricket Prepaid
Freedom to speak freely!
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Cricket Prepaid
Buffalo,Ny GregSTFUSprint has the worst service ever.and stop
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Cricket Prepaid
I love my R211 simple and rocks
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Cricket Prepaid
cricket is really making money. they charge you for every text
3
Cricket Prepaid
I walked into a cricket store for the past few days on my lunch
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Cricket Prepaid
Never buy their service. I have made a huge mistake buying their
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Jawed Memon
2009/05/17 |
Never buy their service. I have made a huge mistake buying their services. Please go for boost mobile if you want a better and cheaper service. I had no service for two months and after two months they charged my credit card with out my consent. Down with cricket wireless.
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Cricket Prepaid
Look i just a cricket phone i dont liv in a remote area or anything
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Cricket Prepaid
If I could give them a 0, I would. If you're smart, you would
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OhioAnonymous
2009/05/09 |
If I could give them a 0, I would. If you're smart, you would avoid Cricket like the plague. I called to order my Cricket phones and service(family plan) on Mar 31st. When I asked about the unlimited talk and text family package, that I had seen advertised on television, I was told that plan did not have texting. I told the guy never mind then, as we used a lot of texting, and a plan without it was useless to me. He told me about another family plan that did have texting. I asked him if he was sure it included texting, or else I didn't want it. He assured me it did. By Apr 3rd, the phones had arrived, and I activated them. I kept one phone number from a previous cell phone provider I had...and it took Cricket about 12 hours to switch my old number over. First week, the only issue I had was that my outgoing texts were not being sent. I could receive incoming text (including ones Cricket kept spamming me with). But the ones I sent out were not being received. I called customer service on April 11th (a little over a week from when I activated the phones) to tell them about my texting problem. Their reply to me? I did not have a texting problem. I told the guy that my texts not going through were a problem. He told me that no, it wasn't a problem, as my plan did not include texting. I told him I was told it did include texting. He said there was nothing he could do. I told him he needed to fix it. He said it wasn't their fault. I asked him how it wasn't their fault since the guy worked for them and had promised me that the plan did include texting. He proceeded to get rude with me and told me that they could not fix it, and if I wanted texting, I would need to pay $20 extra a month, per line (3 lines), if I wanted to have texting. I told him I would be switching. His reply was "If that's what you feel you want to do". So, after I got off the phone with them, I went to Sprint and signed up with them. That SAME day, I called Cricket back, canceled my account, and made arrangements to send the cell phones back. No problems, until I see my online bank statement where Cricket took $117.65 from my checking, for May's bill. Not sure why they would charge me for the next month, when I canceled over two weeks before. I called customer service, again, and it took more than five different calls, pressing every button I could think of, to get a hold of someone real. Her explanation? That when I canceled on the 11th, they had already processed the payments for May's bills in their computer, which why I still got charged for the next month. She wanted me to fax her a copy of my bank statement so she could process a refund. I asked her why she needed a bank statement, and she told me it was because my payment info was taken out of the computer when I canceled my account. Really? Then how did they charge me on the 27th, if my payment info was taken out on the 11th? I gave her the information she needed to process a refund. She told me it would be refunded to me within 7 business days. 7 business days was this past Friday. I tried calling customer service again. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get a hold of anyone real. So, the only other number I knew was the new sales line. Some guy there gave me a number for their fraud department. The fraud department guy, quite rudely, told me that if I wanted something done about it, I would need to go to my bank. I went to my bank this morning (May 9th). I explained everything to them, and they're filling for the refund on my behalf. It helped that I kept a log on my dealing with Cricket. I may contact a lawyer soon, though. The phones I shipped in Apr 13th, I still have not received a refund for. I have tried calling their number for that, and they keep giving me the run around. DO NOT SIGN UP FOR CRICKET!!! IT'S NOT WORTH THE HEADACHE!!!
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Cricket Prepaid
These phones are great. There are so many ways to get around
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Cricket Prepaid
everyone should get cricket and its really great service.you
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Cricket Prepaid
From the beginning i had troubles.Its like once you buy your
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BIG MIKE
2009/04/28 |
From the beginning i had troubles.Its like once you buy your phone they just don't care.Customer care just about comes out and calls you a liar. Supervisor's can't help he didn't even speak very good English could not understand what i was talking about. The stores try and run you out with no resolve.DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY
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Cricket Prepaid
cricke it is a good company but the signal for the phones dont
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Cricket Prepaid
Poor phone service and poor customer service...nothing more to
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Sadie
2009/04/21 |
Poor phone service and poor customer service...nothing more to say! I'd rather eat the cost of the phone and switch to another carrier than deal with this. I do not recommend them at this time. I am in Chicago and have poor service for calls, texting and web. I also incur roaming charges (?) in the Chicagoland area and out of state regardless that a call does not go through.
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Cricket Prepaid
I think cricket is awesome as long as u tick to the plan and
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Cricket Prepaid
I just ordered my new phone from cricket it was cool and easy.
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Cricket Prepaid
I made changes to lower my account bill because $243.17 seems
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Janalva
2009/04/16 |
I made changes to lower my account bill because $243.17 seems crazy to me. So the cricket representitive tells me what to pay. $181.52 So I did on March 26th early by the way was not due until April 12th My services were shut off on the April13th mabye 12th unsure about that,did not try use it til 13th April The billing computer or whatever does that messed up. I was told. So I called customer service who told me to pay a different amount, so I did. Then I later get disconnected. I email cricket for help, they say go to local office. I do, then I am told that they will not refund my money or give me services and that this is there policy! Because they are no refunds on prepaid services. So I just unknowingly gave them $181.52 wow how nice of me . And I had their broadband and 3 cell phones they just shut of. I was using the net for printing my homeschool papers. Anyway apparantly the computer did not understand a payment I had made and put it on something else. Isn't that not my fault? Give me my money or give me some services but why charge me recconect fees for their errors. Also they did take off the services I requested but not the prices/amounts. So bill still high , but wait they charged me $15 dollars for each change that did occur on two lines. so theirs an extra $30 dollars. Fine but they need to remove the incorrect charges but did not. So they told me I need to pay $106.00 to turn it back on for past due amounts WTF i paid 181.52 So the total would be $287.52 wow thats not cheaper. Before I leave he says to me you need to pay your bill on time? It's like it was for effect for the other customers that where there. wow it shocked me I just left Am I the only one this has happened to?
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