Straight-Talk Tracfone Stole my old phone number two times in two days to new numbers. Unlimited data is not unlimited as advertised. The thirty day contract each month is foolish for those on fixed income. Before long your renewal comes before your check arrives and they will steal your number if late. Tuscaloosa Alabama

 I find it kinda odd that Straight Talk would "steal" your number after ONLY two days. As someone who sells prepaid phones I can tell you that YOU as a consumer had missed your payment byATLEAST 30 days. After 30 days of holding your account open, THEN they assign that number to a new customer. While Im sure it makes you feel better to tell a pack of lies online, there is a REALITY that you are ignoring in favor of playing a better victim. There IS a process in place. It hasnt changed in almost 5 years. The number is taken away after YOU the consumer have not paid on your prepaid plan for MORE then 30 days.

I would give you props on a fanciful story but as someone in the know, I can tell you that it is just that, a story. YOU DO NOT OWN ANY PHONE NUMBER. A number being ported over is a courtesy that is given to the consumer. There is NO LAW that states that you own ANY phone number. YOU must come to terms with reality at some point. You are bashing THEM for YOUR problem CAUSED by YOU.

As for your data usage, it IS unlimited but at a slower speed. Which means YOU have blown through roughly 2.5 gigs of data playing with your phone. Which means that YOU as a consumer have used MORE then the usual US average. At THAT point they cut your speeds. You can STILL download all you like, it just takes time to do so. Throttling IS NOT illegal it IS used to punish those consumers who treat prepaid services like a waterfall. At some point they HAVE to stop those consumers from abusing cellular data. In the future switch to a more WIFI based action. I personally am a super user. I have a contract phone with unlimited data. I use roughly 50G a month. But I had to switch to a finite data package, which means that when I get home I switch on wifi, when I get to work, I switch on wifi. I use free wifi because I dont do anything that has sensative or secure information. My point is that if you want a faster speed, switch to your wifi while at home and at work. That way you can leave your cellphone data for use when AWAY from any wifi.

As for your government check arriving, hey the cellphone company DOESNT CARE!!! And its neither their place OR responsibility to do so. Putting your inability to pay for your phone service on them is childish and immature. YOU are an adult and its YOUR responsibility to pay YOUR bills on time. If you are having that much trouble I would suggest that you see what YOU can do without. Its NOT like the dates on the calander are going to change IN ANY WAY. So with a little planning YOU should be able to plan for those months when your check comes AFTER your payment date.

Oh, Really!

Just search Straight Talk complaints about data use.  Complaints and lawsuits are abound.  I tried to copy and paste but was unable to do so.

My main complaint was the theft of my phone number.  The number that I had for years before straight talk was taken because I was two day late.

What fool would offer the lowest price service that would likely attract the lowest income customers with many likely to be on assistance or SS and they set it up on a 30 day plan.  The time of renewal slowly shifts and becomes impossible for some.  I receive SS.  Hundreds of my contacts had to be notified.

Furthermore, using fine print to defend big business and allowing them to cheat their own customeres out of what was advertised is sorry to say the least.

David

Straight Talk is not "stealing" your phone number.  This is a prepaid service.  Because ST is prepaid, they have no way of knowing if you're going to be a returning customer - and they have no incentive to keep your "account" open waiting to see if you come back.

It's in the fine print - you don't pay before the service end date, then they can't guarantee you'll keep your phone number.  You might not have read the fine print, but you agreed to it.

The data is unlimited, it's just not going to be high speed data.  You'd know that too if you read the fine print.

You get what you pay for.  If you thought you were going to get unlimited high speed internet on your phone AND keep your line active even after your service has expired, all for $45/month, you were mistaken.

There are plenty of post-paid services that will work with your "monthly pay checks" (which I assume is governnment assistance).  These services will not discontinue your service or release your phone number for being a couple days late in payment.  

Really, you shouldn't blame a prepaid service because they don't extend a few extra free days so that you can have enough time to get your paycheck and probably pay for another 30 day service.