I've spent the last 2 weeks porting my parent's lines out of Total Wireless, here's a post mortem guide to everything I wish I knew beforehand. This was with total wireless, but it may at least somewhat apply to other tracfone brands. After probably taking years off my life I've got the numbers ported.
It is total wireless policy not to give you your account number. It's technically a number you already have, your IMEI, which would be great! Except its the IMEI of the first phone you activated on that SIM. You can contact support to verify if IMEI is right, I had one rep tell me he couldn't even confirm that! A few told me you can find it on your account page, but this is false, it only shows the IMEI after you port the number off the line. You can text IMEI to 611611 and you will get a reply with the last 4 of the IMEI on file, so that's helpful (thanks /u/DryDirection8316 ).
All of our lines had IMEI's in the system that were about 5 years old, this policy caused us so much trouble.
An important note is that even if the lines are in the same group, each line has its own account number.
If you no longer have access to the original phone to get its IMEI, your only option is to purchase a new SIM (you can find them for $0.99). When support swaps your line to the new SIM, it updates the IMEI in the system. You basically have to sim swap yourself to get your own account number in this case. You may be able to find a rep who will just give you your IMEI, but each refused for me.
If you have multiple lines you don't have access to the IMEI for, the good news is Verizon based SIMS are reusable, so you only need to buy one. Also if you can't find a SIM for Total you can just buy the Tracfone 3 pack and use the red one, any tracfone brand SIM will work with any other tracfone brand so long as the actual network carrier matches.
They also only approve port outs during their business hours of 8AM - 11:45PM (EST). If you attempt to port outside of those hours you will get an error. (can be annoying for west coast)
If your line is older your port out information is your IMEI and account PIN you set on the website. If you activated after a certain date or get a "Port Protection" error you need to text NTP to 611611 to get your Network Transfer PIN to use for the port.
If your port out is getting denied and you don't understand why, you can call 8
... keep reading on reddit ➡I know that you can use TW phones on TF, since they are related. But when it comes time to unlock the iPhone, in case I need to, who do I go to? And is it automatic after 1 year or does it need to be requested? It's been a year already.
And how can I verify that it is unlocked?
Thanks!
https://imgur.com/a/AIPlcBt
There's this option on all the TFW brands for a location based network optimizer. You are automatically opted in, so you have to turn it off to opt-out. (Edit: It appears this feature is part of the app. See comments.)
I disable location based services as much as possible, only leaving them on for services that I want to track me. I always assume that they will track my location and sell it to advertisers -- and that that's the least of evils with location tracking.
I had a chat today, not expecting much, and got these presumably company provided responses. Interestingly, there is absolutely nothing I can find on any TFW brand site or blog about what this option does.
I asked about video, because I wanted to make sure it was not the same as DATAOPT, which removes the cap on streaming video. If anything, it seems important to turn off Network Optimization as well as DATAOPT.
Me: What is the Network Optimizer? It says it measures your network connection based on location. This allows for continual imporovements to call reception and network quality.
But what exactly does it do?
TFW: Network Optimization refers to the tools, techniques, and best practices used to monitor and enhance network performance. Network performance monitoring includes measuring traffic, bandwidth, jitter, and latency caused by the likes of insufficient infrastructure or inadequate network security.
Me: Does it have anything to do with limiting video quality to 480p?
TFW: Yes, it could cause that. If the signal in your area is not sufficient to handle higher resolution videos, it will lower the quality to avoid interruption on streaming.
If this is accurate, will it apply to existing phones that are locked to Tracfone, Total Wireless, or Straight Talk? If so, will those phones be eligible for unlock after 60 days starting from initial activation or 60 days after the new policy goes into effect?
I haven't enrolled in autopay because it offers no discount on the $50 Super Unlimited and I have 6,000 ($60) bonus points coming available next month.
The app was slow so I switched to browser Firefox on Android to purchase my plan, and this appeared:
https://imgur.com/VmXpwUg
I didn't take it because I may not be on this plan for 3 months. But if I settle in I'll surely take it if they offer it again.
Has anyone else has seen this "limited time offer"? Maybe even on a different brand, like Total Wireless or Straight Talk?
IMO Net10 Super Unlimited is a great value for truly unlimited data with free international calling. You can get Net10 on all the towers: VZW, TMO, ATT and even SPR.
If you ever sign up for Net10 or Total Wireless, feel free to PM me for referral codes to get $50 or more in points redeemable for service.
I have ported a landline to Total Wireless (Tracfone), and want to keep the phone number but don't need it active.
It's active now, but when I run out of service how long before they recycle the number?
I may port it to Google Voice, but am open to other suggestions on where to park a number.
I like Tracfone's wide variety of plans and networks available between all the brands, which will give me a lot of flexibility when I activate and de-activate as I wish.
I activated an HSN Tracfone A51 and instead of assigning a new number to me it took one of my Total Wireless numbers. Very strange sine the two accounts are not connected in any way, even with different e-mail addresses.
It never asked me if I wanted to transfer my number or if I wanted a new number. I did do a Samsung transfer from my Note 9, but the Note 9 is not on any Tracfone brand, it's on Red Pocket.
To undo all this and get it right it took Tracfone/Total Wireless, two days, and nine phone calls to fix the problem.
Getting the iPhone back on my Total Wireless Account took the representative about an hour.
The biggest issue was getting data working on the A51. Calls, SMS, and even MMS worked (since MMS worked it obviously had data service). But getting LTE data service was elusive.
The Tracfone SIM card from the A51 worked fine in my Total Wireless iPhone Xr, so I was pretty sure that the SIM was okay.
The Total Wireless SIM card from my iPhone worked fine in the Tracfone A51, so I was pretty sure that the A51 was okay. The Tracfone SIM card from the A51, in the A51 just would not connect to LTE data.
I must have repeated the same steps twenty times.
- Yes, Wi-Fi is off.
- Yes, Mobile data is on.
- Yes, Data Roaming is off.
- Reset the network setting multiple times.
- This morning, one tech support person said that the APNs were incorrect, but they actually were correct.
- I could not edit or add any other APNs since the SIM card disables that capability. Then they were going to push new APN settings to the phone, though nothing appears to have changed.
- I have no idea what the 12th person I talked to actually did to get data working, but it was something on the Tracfone side of things.
The A51 will eventually be on my Total Wireless account It works now, but I will keep it on Tracfone for a year so I can get it unlocked. It was a very good deal, $90 from HSN, with a year of service.
I know that when I added a new line last year I had to purchase an additional plan mid-month to get the deal on the phone.
So I added that plan to my account and stored it for later usage.
A few weeks ago I stumbled across the part of the website where it was stored, and was surprised that Auto-Pay had ignored it.
So I cancelled Auto-Pay, and now I can't find where I stumbled on that unused plan.
They're sneaky.
I was given a Moto G Power 2020 kit with phone, sim w/ 365 day, etc. I use Total Wireless. If I put my TW sim in the Tracfone one, would it work? My total wireless phone shows tracfone on the loading screen.
Since Tracfone owns most of the prepaid cellular carrier brands like Simple Mobile, Straight Talk, Total Wireless and more will they all be shut down since Verizon bought Tracfone?
If I were to buy a plan from mint would I be able to just swap out the Sims once my total wireless runs out and put in the mint and it would work? (Note this phone was purchased from Kroger with the plan) or is there something I'm missing
Surprised I have not seen this on here. Thought you guys might like this. I have done this & successfully got my Venmo payment today. Copying & pasting basics here but the link has more detailed info.
https://slickdeals.net/f/14431031-amazon-100-unlocked-cell-phone-stack-promotion-0-01
"Tracfone/Simple Mobile/Total Wireless has just released a deal that if you buy any $100+ Unlocked Cell Phone, add a SIM Card on same purchase, and activate that SIM you get $100 back as a Gift Card (Amazon, Venmo, or MasterCard GC)."
"This promotion is valid for a $100 Reward when you purchase a $100+ unlocked smartphone with a qualifying SIM Kit and activate service on Tracfone, SIMPLE Mobile or Total Wireless between 10/12/20 and 12/31/2020. The Unlocked Smartphone and Tracfone, SIMPLE Mobile or Total Wireless SIM Kit purchase must be on the same receipt. Purchases must be sold and shipped by Amazon. This promotion cannot be combined with any other eGift card offer and is for new Customers Only. $100 Reward will be delivered based on your choice of an Amazon eGift Card, Venmo payment, or MasterCard eGift Card."
I don't believe so. But my dad seems confused after talking to people there. They probably meant to a Total Wireless phone.
This might be a really dumb question but i know that they are sister companies and both are on verizon so i was curious if it would work anyways.
The phone i was thinking of is down below
I hate this stupid phone guy and his smug, smarmy attitude. Let my mans have his panda phone case https://youtu.be/hL-AQBDVxxg
I read here somewhere that there is a keyword you text to 611611 to remove the video speed cap. But now I can't find it.
If this is accurate, will it apply to existing phones that are locked to Tracfone, Total Wireless, or Straight Talk? If so, will those phones be eligible for unlock after 60 days starting from initial activation or 60 days after the new policy goes into effect?
Does anyone know if a phone locked to Tracfone will work on Total Wireless?
Since Verizon bought TracFone will all the various prepaid plans be shut down like Straight Talk, Total Wireless, Simple Mobile, etc?
