Budget Mobile California Lifeline cell phone Not a FREE phone!! Internet

I am sorry that it is still happening. Here's an update on what happened with my Budget Mobile phone: more of the same. After many, many emails and phone calls to them, they kept saying they won't give a refund. The only reason they ever contacted me was because I called their phone # on the bank statement. This department called me back to get me on a recording admitting that I had ordered the phone and intended to pay for it, and that I did give my information to do that. Well yes, that was my mistake. I should never have put in card information to get the phone.  I was too happy in thinking I could have a working phone to keep in touch with kids and family, and to be safe. They did charge me for a "data phone." The first one I got was the free one that I took a photo of. After all my complaining they finally sent me the data phone that is a low-end Galaxy type. What they don't point out when you order is no other function works on the phone other than calling, texting, and voice mail, so paying for that nice phone is a scam. The phone worked some but then would have no service. I called Verizon to see if I could use the phone and pay the monthly service, but it couldn't be used that way either, it's a locked phone on to be used with Budget. After a few weeks of all that, calling and complaining again when I would have no service for days, I had to get back to my life. There it sits, dead: 2 useless phones. I traded in my very, very old still working, cell phone and guess what? I got a new one free, and now pay every month for my service to have a working phone I can count on. It is shameful that companies like this one are making money off people who can't defend themselves, and I'm sure lots of those phones are ending up in the trash.

don't feel you have to defend yourself.  First, many lower income people NEED to have a data phone, they need to look for jobs etc and this is cheaper than a computer they can't afford (besides that person not knowing your circumstances has NO right to judge you) but even though you DID pay for the phone just FYI the service cost is subsidized by the government thru phone taxes but the point your critic failed to address was that the phone company (which because it IS subsudized makes it worse) gives it's customers (yes that's what we all are) non working phones and then non existent service for the complaints (you were lucky you were told you could come to the store, I was told that they wouldn't help and to ship it back, one person wrote a yelp report on one outlet, saying because they get a commission for signing you up but nothing to help, they don't want to help people with problems for their phones and he says while he was sitting waiting, nobody was ordering service but just bringing back non working phones.)

I was lucky in the fact that the VERY nice phone rep (it's easy to get one when you are signing up although he was in tech support not sales) maybe because HE knew the problems their phones had talked me out of paying for their android phone, saying first see how I liked the free one, they may have changed their policy of making you buy a phone, because of numerous complaints such as yours.

Although, I too, am filing a report on this company with Rip Off, I urge that you and anyone not just file a report online but file a complaint with the PUC, here's their online application https://appsssl.cpuc.ca.gov/cpucapplication/

(for good back up call and talk to a rep but it takes more time but it can be documented again) they can then forward the report to the FCC and maybe have them removed as a provider for the lifeline.

Taxpayers didn't pay for anything - there was nothing for "FREE" because the application required my credit card.  WHY? Maybe you can't read the details of the report?  Charging a card = paying, doesn't it? You're pathetic for not being compassionate and seeing that this company is setting many up for service they won't ever get, charge for something I have no receipt for, and so cannot get the money back. They charge me for something I never ordered and I don't have a receipt for, then sent me the phone that they offer to be "free" with "free" minutes, and it doesn't hold a charge or work at all anyway. Why don't you tell me what to do when I PAY for something and then get ripped off? What happens if you get YOUR "FREE" latest iphone and it doesn't work but now your credit card is charged for it, and now will have monthly charges for a broken phone, but you can't get a working phone from the company? The time you spend insulting someone who got ripped of with a company using "YOUR" taxpayer money could have been time you spent helping someone out who needs it. Grow a heart-- and maybe use your mind for something less pathetic than attacking someone who you don't know at all, circumstances you obviously CAN'T KNOW, and now YOU, the most awesomest Taxpayer ever with a most original opinion, maybe your tax dollars this year will pay again for this CEO to keep running business that takes advantage of those who can't do anything about it. So be very happy and proud of yourself knowing that you're helping criminals charge the government for defrauding people--AS USUAL, by giving out old used broken phones and charging someone for it, then charging for monthly service those customers will never have. KEYWORD here is "PAY>"

 You got a free phone paid by the taxpayers yet you have money for internet service??  What did you expect?? An IPHONE?? You are pathetic

LifeLine is a government assistance program and potential subscribers must meet certain eligibility requirements. You may qualify based on household income level or if you participate in programs such as Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), National School Lunch Program (NSL), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and more