How to File a Complaint Against Tracfone

What is it? A lot of people looking to file a claim against TracFone are looking to make a claim with the insurance covering their broken TracFone phone. If you purchased your insurance from TracFone directly, it is managed by a company called Service Net, and the site to make a TracFone phone claim with Service Net is here.

Other options for purchasing phone claim insurance include:

• SquareTrade (make a phone claim here)
• 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 TracFone phone that fits within the situations covered by your device insurance.

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

What to expect: You’ll probably be asked to wait while the insurance company reviews your claim. If your claim is approved, they may offer to repair your TracFone phone or to pay for a replacement deivce. Follow their instructions carefully to make sure you are able to get this repair or replacement phone paid for.

What is it? You’re not allowed to bring a claim against TracFone in most courts (it’s true — it’s there in the fine print of your contract with them). But the exception is small claims court, which is an opportunity to bring your claim locally before a judge, up to a certain monetary limit.

When to try it: You have have time and energy on your hands, and you want the chance to make your case against TracFone in public.

What you need to do: Follow the steps laid out here in FairShake’s Guide to Sue TracFone in Small Claims Court.

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

What is it? If you made a purchase with your credit card, or used it to pay for your monthly phone bill, you entered into an agreement with TracFone whereby you both agree 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 the charge.

When to try it: If your claim against TracFone is about a one time charge that was made using a credit card, and when you will be able to provide documented evidence that TracFone charged you more than they were allowed to, or for a service they didn’t provide.

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 and challenge a charge. Typically you’ll have to identify the charge, describe your claim, and if possible provide evidence to support it.

What to expect: The credit card company may temporarily remove the charge from your bill. They will then likely ask TracFone for a response. You may also be asked for more information or evidence before they make a final decision.

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

What happens to these claims depends on the internal procedures of the FCC. The FCC also provides a more formal complaint procedure, but there is a monetary charge for this.

When to try it: You’re frustrated with TracFone and want to make your complaint available to the government and the public. An FCC complaint is not a way to pursue compensation but at least you know someone listened to your complaint against TracFone.

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

What to expect: Your complaint will be posted online in a public database. It may be used in setting the FCC’s priorities for regulating companies like TracFone. The company may be asked to respond to it. You will not necessarily receive an individual response.

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 collect the reviews and complaints filed by people like yourself and use that to give an aggregate score or rating for a business like TracFone. This is a also a space where TracFone can read those complaints and respond to them.

When to try it: When TracFone’s BBB page show that it is actively involved in responding to complaints. Or, alternatively, when you want another way to get your dissatisfaction out there on the internet.

What you need to do: Go to TracFone’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, you may receive a response directly from them, or via the BBB. You may be asked for further documentation or clarification on your complaint. Ultimately, it is up to TracFone whether they choose to acknowledge and offer compensation for your claim.

What is it? Remember that thing about the small print of your TracFone contract? Well instead of most courts, what their contract allows you to do is to file a claim that will be argued before an independent individual called an arbitrator.

Because this process costs TracFone money, often they’ll try to settle your claim once you put them on notice that you plan on taking them to arbitration. That’s what FairShake can help with!

When to try it: Any situation in which you believe TracFone has misled you, violated their contract with you, or violated the law can be pursued through arbitration. Typically claims involve a specific request for how TracFone can fix the situation, which may include financial compensation. FairShake will help you pursue claims up to $10,000.

What you need to do: Fill out our form below, to start your claim against TracFone. Or, for more information on the steps in pursuing an arbitration claim yourself, click here.

What to expect: For more details about arbitration, click here. Or start your claim below and let us help!