How to File a Complaint Against Consumer Cellular

What is it? Many customers filing a claim against Consumer Cellular want to cover the cost of fixing or replacing a broken phone. If you purchased your insurance from Consumer Cellular directly, it came from a company called SquareTrade. The website to make a Consumer Cellular phone claim with SquareTrade is here.

Other options for purchasing phone claim insurance include the following

• Geek Squad (make a phone claim here; you should know that Geek Squad plans are sold by Best Buy and may say they come from Assurant Solutions)
• Apple Care (claim information here)
• Samsung Premium Care (call 1-800-SAMSUNG or learn more here)

When to try it: If you have a damaged Consumer Cellular phone that falls under the coverage offered by your device insurance.

What you need to do: Go the website of your phone claim insurer (such as SquareTrade, Apple Care, Samsung, SquareTrade, or Geek Squad) and answer a series of questions about the damage done to your Consumer Cellular device.

What to expect: You’ll probably have to wait until the insurance company reviews your claim. If the insurer approves your, the company might offer to repair your Consumer Cellular phone or pay for a replacement device.

What is it? You’re not allowed to bring a claim against Consumer Cellular in most courts. However, the exception is small claims court, which is an opportunity to bring your claim before a judge.

When to try it: You have have time and energy, and you want the make your case against Consumer Cellular public knowledge.

What you need to do: Follow the steps laid out here in FairShake’s Guide to sue Consumer Cellular in small claims court.

What to expect: If you follow all the steps precisely and have a strong claim against Consumer Cellular, there’s a good chance you’ll receive compensation.

What is it? Any time you pay for something with a credit card, you and the company you are buying from agrees to follow a set of rules from the company issuing the credit card. In cases such as fraud, overcharges, or when the product or service is not actually provided, credit card companies have a procedure for you to dispute a charge.

What you need to do: Most credit card companies will let you do this process entirely online. Log in to your credit card account and look for more information on how to dispute a charge. You’ll have to identify the charge, describe your claim, and provide evidence to support the claim.

What to expect: The credit card company might temporarily remove the charge from your bill. They likely will ask Consumer Cellular for a response. The credit card provider might ask for more evidence before it makes a final decision.

What is it? The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is a government agency that regulates much of Consumer Cellular’s business. The FCC provides an informal channel for consumers to submit claims against Consumer Cellular.

What happens to these claims depends on the procedures used by the FCC. The FCC also provides a more formal complaint process, but it charges a fee to consumers that want to go through the more formal process.

When to try it: You’re frustrated with Consumer Cellular and you want to make your complaint known to the government. An FCC complaint is not a way to pursue compensation.

What you need to do: File an informal complaint against Consumer Cellular on the FCC’s public website by following the instructions here.

What to expect: Your complaint posts online in a public database. It may be used in setting the FCC’s priorities for regulating companies like Consumer Cellular. The FCC might ask Consumer Cellular to respond to your complaint.

What is it? The Better Business Bureau and its local chapters are private organizations that collect and publish complaints against a wide range of companies. They are mainly funded by affiliate fees from businesses, and usually offer these business an opportunity to respond to consumer complaints.

When to try it: When Consumer Cellular’s BBB page show that it is actively involved in responding to complaints. In addition, when you want another way to present your complaint online.

What you need to do: Go to Consumer Cellular’s BBB profile here and follow the instructions for submitting a complaint.

What to expect: This depends on whether the company actively responds to its BBB complaints. If it does respond to complaints, you might receive a response directly from the company. The BBB can ask for more documentation to support your complaint. Ultimately, it is up to Consumer Cellular to decide whether the company chooses to acknowledge a claim.

What is it? Remember clause in the fine print of your Consumer Cellular terms of service contract? The clause allows you to file a claim that goes before an independent arbitrator.

Because this process costs Consumer Cellular money, they will probably try to settle your claim after learning you plan to file for binding arbitration.

When to try it: Any situation in which you believe Consumer Cellular has misled you, violated the contract with you, or violated the law can be pursued through arbitration. Arbitration claims involve a specific request for how Consumer Cellular can fix an issue, which might include financial compensation. FairShake helps clients pursue claims up to $10,000.

What you need to do: Fill out our form below to start your binding arbitration claim against Consumer Cellular.

What to expect: For more details about arbitration, click here.