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US Cellular Talk Tracker Prepaid Service Review
Last updated: January 19, 2022 by Rachael Hoffman
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Overview
US Cellular is a big name cell phone carrier serving 26 states that also entered the prepaid cell phone market with the launch of Talk Tracker. US Cellular was founded in 1983 and is based in Chicago Illinois.
Pros: Since Talk Tracker is provided by US Cellular, calls occur on their national network. The service supports modern features and you can activate any compatible cell phone; you do not need to purchase their phones.
Cons: US Cellular is a regional provider, so they don't have service in all areas. Charging 10 dollars per month to get a 10 cents per minute rate is above the industry average, as is the 50 dollar activation fee.
Detailed Provider Information
Plans: US Cellular offers three tiers of prepaid plans. The voice, messaging, and data tier has two plans. The first provides unlimited minutes and messaging plus 2GB of data for 65 per month. The other provides the same, but 1GB of data, for 50 dollars per month. The voice and messaging plan provides 400 minutes, 400 text messages, and 400 picture messages for 35 dollars per month. Overage minutes are 25 cents each. THe pay-as-you-go plan requires a monthly payment of 10 dollars, and all minutes are 10 cents each.
Customer Service: Customer care is available airtime free from your cell phone, via email or by calling their toll free customer service number.
Free Nights: Unlimited available.
Credit Check: None
Free Weekends: Unlimited available.
Contract: None
Daily Access Fee: No
Payment Options: You can refill your account at US Cellular retail stores (there is a 5 dollar minimum on refills). You can also automatically refill your account from credit card, debit card or checking account by calling customer service. Refills can also be done via Western Union stores.
Text and Picture Messaging: The voice only plan offers text and picture messaging at 25 cents each. That is also the overage rate for the voice and messaging plan.
Data Plans: US Cellular offers 2GB of data with its 65 dollar plan an 1GB with its 50 dollar plan. Data is not available on the other plans.
Downloads: Downloadable ringtones available only on the Kyocera KX-9b phone.
International Calling: U.S. Cellular does offer international calling capabilities. Calls to Mexico and Canada are charged at 50 cents per minute. Calls to other international destinations start at $1.25 per minute. You'll want to call customer service to find out the rates to the destination country you plan to call before placing calls.
Text Messaging Available: Yes
Roaming Charges: Calls made from outside your service plan area are charged at 69 cents per minute.
Shop Phones and Plans: Shop for US Cellular
Text Messaging Charge For Incoming: No
Calling Features: Voicemail, caller ID, 3 way calling and call waiting are offered with all of US Cellular's prepaid plans.
Unlimited Text Messaging Plan Available: Yes
Activation Fee: The 65 and 50 dollar voice, messaging, and data plans require no activation fee. The voice and messaging plan requires a 20 dollar activation fee, while the voice only plan requires a 50 dollar activation fee.
Nationwide Long Distance: All US Cellular prepaid plans include nationwide long distance. Calls made to destinations within the United States are treated as regular calls.
Unlimited Plan Available: No
411 Calls: Directory assistance is available for a cost of $1.50 per call.
Earliest Minute Expiration: There are no pay by the minute plans with US Cellular. All minutes expire at the end of the monthly billing cycle for your chosen plan. Unused minutes do not rollover.
911 Calls: Yes.
Phones: It appears that U.S. Cellular has many phone models listed under their prepaid section. Most are very basic models which are best used for just talking and texting. They do have a number of higher end phones for their postpaid service, which can be purchased at full price and activated on a prepaid plan. However, full retail price can get very expensive, which may deter some cost-conscious shoppers.
Standard Calling Features: voicemail, 3 way, caller ID
Some Available Cell Models: Motorola Grasp (shown) LG Mystique Samsung Profile Motorola Quantico
Coverage Map: US Cellular Talk Tracker Prepaid Coverage Map
Cheapest Phone Model: $79.95
Latest News: See the latest news about US Cellular
Average Rating By Users
Most Recent Reviews
Consumer Review
thank you for changing your computer system so it could totally keep me out of touch with everyone even though I paid my bill. I own a prepaid phone and up until this point I was very happy with the service. Yesterday I called because the system deleted all information for those of us who wished to have monies taken from our accounts as we do not always remember to pay on time. I talked with a very nice customer service person who assured me that my service would be restored, he failed to tell me that they would take the money from my account only then let me use the phone for less than 24 hours before they shut me off again. No a happy customer at this moment and have been waiting on the phone for over 30 minutes today.
Consumer Review
As far as their prepaid system goes they are the lowest on my list as of three days ago and I will switch to someone else (Track) This system has been down for three days as far as I know and no one will tell you anything. Today i will research a new phone and plan for my son. I was on hold for one and a half hours because no one wants to deal with those of us that can't pay for our service because your system is down. Shame on you. I have nothing good to say about you.
Consumer Review
Last summer (2012)I paid $350 for a Motorola Electrify 2 because the $65/month price sounded great. Nobody at the US Cellular store told me that when I was out of my normal service area I would have to dial phone numbers twice. Also no one told me that I would not be able to access my voice mail when out of the area. Then, to really top it off, when you are out of your area your internet that is normally 3G will drop to 1X. This is about the speed of old dial up. The phone was good enough. The service was good enough when in your area. But when you leave the area forget it. Leaving my normal area means driving 40 miles away. I tried to live with it. I lasted almost a year. But the frustration was to much. I made several calls to USC's tech support trying to get my internet to work at all while I was on vacation in Sedona Arizona. They told me that the problem was with there ‘partner' service in the area. Very frustrating while on vacation. Luckily, my wife's Straight Talk phone worked without a problem. I do not recommend US Cellular's prepaid plan.
Consumer Review
the prepaid refill card does not take my number and refuses to do a refill
Consumer Review
I just set up a prepaid plan on march 4ht @6:42 pm amd its now 6:08am and its telling me that my service has expired..i will not ever use this phone company again its ridiculous to pay ahead and you only have your phone for 12hr…and customer service is terrible they take forever and don't fix the problem.. completely dissatisfied..
Consumer Review
I need to know why my. Phone gets shut off before the due date