View Full Version : Google Fi: My Experience
Bailey Guns
07-07-2021, 15:15
I don't need a new phone and I don't need to pay for Verizon's high-priced service. So, I started looking around. Google Fi seemed like a good choice. Inexpensive, no contract, $20 month, good service, good coverage. I'd been lusting after a new S21 Ultra...even though I don't need a new phone...and with the promos and the monthly savings the phone would cost me very little. So I started service and ordered the phone.
The phone arrived and I tried to port my number over from Verizon. That's when the trouble started. Verizon gave me the info I needed to pass on to Google Fi right away to port the number. Google Fi promptly fucked everything up. It took over 24 hours just to activate the phone. Then I kept getting an error message when I tried to make a call: "Your phone's not registered to a network." Thus began the over 24 hours of trying to resolve the issue with Google Fi tech support. Tried all the normal stuff with no success. I kept telling them I thought it was due to no cell signal because I was only getting one bar on the signal strength meter or the no service symbol. "Oh, no. We have the service there. There is another problem and we are working to have it resolved quickly for you to enjoy your phone." Yeah? Well I'm not enjoying it. I'm getting more irritated by the minute.
Finally, after removing/reinstalling the SIM card numerous times and trying all the canned tech support advice without success my issue was "elevated" to a "Dedicated Support Team". I was told it was so important this team would reach out to me via email...within 24 to 72 hours. Your Dedicated Support Team can kiss my ass.
They can best support me by cancelling my service and refunding my money. What a pain in the ass.
Then, after I'd already cancelled the service, the "Dedicated Support Team" sends me an email and says I have no indoor coverage at my location. No shit? Really? Why didn't I figure that out? Oh, wait...I did. I told you that in my initial round of emails...and it showed "no service" on the screenshots I sent tech support. No wonder you're on the "Dedicated Support Team". For fuck's sake...
I'm gonna try Pure Talk USA. They seem to get good reviews and they use AT&T networks and I know AT&T works at my home.
So beware of Google Fi if you're thinking of new cell service. They use T-Mobile networks and T-Mobile apparently doesn't do coverage well in rural areas. Signal boosters don't work with them, either, because of the frequency band of their signals apparently.
Zundfolge
07-07-2021, 15:47
I've been happy with Straight Talk (Walmart) ... $30 for the phone, and $35/mo for unlimited talk, text and data (although there is a data limit
I've had fi for a few years and no complaints.
BushMasterBoy
07-07-2021, 15:55
I have been using Tracfone for years. Under a $100 a year, I buy time in 90 minute increments. I use an iPhone. I have every kind of phone system except satellite phone. Tracfone has served me well so far. YMMV
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TracFone_Wireless
eddiememphis
07-07-2021, 16:14
I buy my own phone. I was with Virgin for years then went to Verizon Pre-pay. $35 a month. Very few problems, mostly finding dead service zones occasionally.
Bailey Guns
07-07-2021, 16:56
I'm guessing Fi service actually is fine in most areas. My bitch is with them saying it's solid 4G coverage in my area and then the piss-poor customer service when I had issues. The Pure Talk USA plan is only $18 month for unlimited Talk/Text/Data (for 2GBs at full speed...slowed after that...but I've never used anywhere near that much data in over 7 years with Verizon).
I just hate shitty support and/or service.
I'm guessing Fi service actually is fine in most areas. My bitch is with them saying it's solid 4G coverage in my area and then the piss-poor customer service when I had issues. The Pure Talk USA plan is only $18 month for unlimited Talk/Text/Data (for 2GBs at full speed...slowed after that...but I've never used anywhere near that much data in over 7 years with Verizon).
I just hate shitty support and/or service.
That is because Sprint/Tmobile gave them shit maps.
Sprint grossly inflates it's own maps, even to their employees. They told me I could not get an extender or whatever because I was in a good signal zone, even if I couldn't send a photo if I was standing on my roof.
If you have any Comcrap/Xfinity products get Xfinity Mobile. That qualifier leaves some out in the cold but if you already use them for internet (like us) their mobile is dirt effing cheap and I have yet to see a single difference from our service w/ VZW for like a decade other than our bill is now pennies on the dollar to what we paid w/VZW. Our bill is generally under $30 total, tax and everything. Sometimes it's like half of that depending on our mobile data use. Every time I see some killer deal on a new phone w/ VZW or one of the other carriers I crunch the numbers and find out that it would cost more to go back after only a few months of service even with the "deal" we got for new devices. Our two-year-old devices are working amazing as is our service. No need to change anything anytime soon and every month we get our bill it puts a smile on my face. Only regret is I didn't listen to others sooner.
p.s. lots more info posted on this very topic from me on this forum if you want more details.
If you have any Comcrap/Xfinity products get Xfinity Mobile. That qualifier leaves some out in the cold but if you already use them for internet (like us) their mobile is dirt effing cheap and I have yet to see a single difference from our service w/ VZW for like a decade other than our bill is now pennies on the dollar to what we paid w/VZW. Our bill is generally under $30 total, tax and everything. Sometimes it's like half of that depending on our mobile data use. Every time I see some killer deal on a new phone w/ VZW or one of the other carriers I crunch the numbers and find out that it would cost more to go back after only a few months of service even with the "deal" we got for new devices. Our two-year-old devices are working amazing as is our service. No need to change anything anytime soon and every month we get our bill it puts a smile on my face. Only regret is I didn't listen to others sooner.
p.s. lots more info posted on this very topic from me on this forum if you want more details.
I'm holding out to get a phone upgrade included with transitioning from VZW to Xfinity Mobile. Good to hear you're not seeing any difference in service level.
I'm holding out to get a phone upgrade included with transitioning from VZW to Xfinity Mobile. Good to hear you're not seeing any difference in service level.
FWIW Xfinity Mobile just recently had a pretty solid deal on Pixel phones and it was available for new or existing users. From what I've seen from Xfinity, they don't really do new phone deals for new subscribers since they're largely a bring-your-own-phone type carrier. Also, think about it this way, we save easily $100 per month every single month we're on Xfinity Mobile now. How long are you willing to wait paying more to save a couple hundred bucks on a device? Just port your current device(s) over now and be done with it. No sense waiting when you can start saving now. Like I closed that last post out with: our only regret is not doing it sooner. Learn from my regret. If you're considering just make the jump to savings since you really have nothing to lose.
Delfuego
07-08-2021, 09:29
I have had Google Fi for 5 years (since beta). It has changed some over the years and the CS is not great. I have always used the Google Pixel/Nexus phones. These are multi carrier unlocked. Google Fi does network switching, so it sometime runs and depending on your location T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T and local rural GSM carriers. It isn't great in rural areas for internet, but usually has phone service. My bill is usually $25+/- per month because I don't use much data on my mobile. If you use a lot of data, it is no longer the cheap option anymore. If you travel a lot (domestic/abroad) it can come in handy. If you do the math on the cost, I have saved $40-$80 per month over most carriers. I have saved thousands compared to most people I know.
That said, I am transitioning to a different carrier. The reason is for more data and better privacy. I should be mostly google-free relatively soon.
If anyone decides to switch to Google Fi, buy a Pixel. I have heard lots of issues using other phones. The Pixel 4a is $350 full price, works great and has a bicthin' camera. Don't worry about getting 5g, as it's mostly marketing vaporware in 2021. Even if you are getting "5G", the technology is under-leveraged and it's not much better than LTE (4G). Fi will give you a deal on a phone for new account and if you port a number in.
If you live in the city, don't use a ton of data and are cheap, it's still a good option. Customer service with all mobile phone and internet providers sucks donkey-dick and likely will never improve.
If anyone is considering Google FI, I will sent you a discount/invite and save you a couple bucks.
I've used total wireless (verizon towers) and Mintmobile (tmobile towers) with little complaints, both are excellent values. Except tmobile coverage sucks in some places, but other then that...
Everything Delfuego said about the Pixel is true, except they are also delicate. I've never broken a smart phone in my life until I broke 4 of those in a row.
My wife and I have the old fogey plan on T-Mob. $60 a month unlimited talk, text, and data for 2 lines. 50 GB tethering data.
Yeah if I had to pay what it sounds like most people are paying, I'd be switching as well.
When I bought my Pixel #3a phone I decided to give Google FI a try - price wise it was fine, cheaper than AT&T and even cheaper than AT&E month to month.
Service is a crap shoot; which is about the same as my AT&T service. When I use to work east of the city, AT&T was king, best service you could get.
I need my phone for about 3 things, and using it as a phone is the 3rd on the list. In my basement I am lucky to get one bar on AT&T while google FI I get about 2.
The fact that my phone has an e-sim made it easy to see if Google Fi would work for me...no fuss, no muss.
Can you use Wifi calling at home with Google Fi? I didn't see that mentioned and figured home service wouldn't be a huge deal if you can just call on Wifi.
Bailey Guns
07-08-2021, 19:15
You're supposed to be able to use WiFi calling. I couldn't place an outgoing call from inside the house. At all.
What's really funny is I cancelled my service with Google Fi yesterday morning. Today I've received two phone calls...while inside. You know your phone service is fucked up when it works better after it's been cancelled than it did when it was active. I can still text on the cancelled service, too. I've received several voicemail notifications today...maybe 3 or 4. But naturally I can't connect with my voicemail because "The Google Fi customer you're calling has an account that is no longer active." SMDH...
Sounds like you should have waited 24-48 hours!
Delfuego
07-08-2021, 21:45
Google Fi does WI-Fi calling, SMS and all other services over Wi-Fi. It will do VoIP over Wi-Fi international too. The service is pretty slick if it works. Carrier hopping, Wi-Fi to mobile and mobile to WI-Fi hand off. Voice to text, text to voice, live-translation, no bloatware, good blocking/screening, auto-hold service for when your waiting for customer service to answer. They try to do some cool shit.
If data was cheaper and Google didn't track every 1 & 0 used by the phone, I might keep it. I still might keep the line of service for international travel and backup. Suck that it didn't work out for Bailey, but coverage always trumps features in my book.
Aloha_Shooter
07-08-2021, 23:14
I wouldn't sign up for GoogleFi simply because it's Google. Those bastages are compiling more than enough information on me and mine without my permission. Verizon and AT&T make their money by selling overpriced "services". Apple makes their money by selling overpriced hardware. Google makes its money by selling you. I use Ting on my old phone as my backup service and for foreign travel (I don't give anyone overseas my regular use phone number, not hotels or anything).
I wouldn't sign up for GoogleFi simply because it's Google. Those bastages are compiling more than enough information on me and mine without my permission. Verizon and AT&T make their money by selling overpriced "services". Apple makes their money by selling overpriced hardware. Google makes its money by selling you. I use Ting on my old phone as my backup service and for foreign travel (I don't give anyone overseas my regular use phone number, not hotels or anything).
I take it that, based on what you said, you think that Apple is NOT farming your information/data to use for their purposes?
Aloha_Shooter
07-09-2021, 08:12
I take it that, based on what you said, you think that Apple is NOT farming your information/data to use for their purposes?
They do some farming but nothing like Google, Facebook, and Amazon do. Farming your data is how Google makes money. Apple makes its cash hand-over-fist by charging an order of magnitude more than cost for their hardware.
Delfuego
07-09-2021, 08:17
They all collect data and store and sell that data. Some just do it better than others.
They do some farming but nothing like Google, Facebook, and Amazon do. Farming your data is how Google makes money. Apple makes its cash hand-over-fist by charging an order of magnitude more than cost for their hardware.
If you think that Apple isn't doing EXACTLY what Google is you need to do more research. Saying Apple charges more for the same lack of privacy isn't a selling point.
I'll just put this here...
Apple’s iPhone is so good at protecting privacy, advertisers are giving up and switching to Android (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/apples-iphone-is-so-good-at-protecting-privacy-advertisers-are-giving-up-and-switching-to-android/ar-AALR3kH)
Apple views iPhone privacy as a key iOS feature
Because Apple views privacy as a cornerstone feature of the iPhone, app tracking on iOS is turned off by default. As a result, users who are okay with apps tracking their activity must now opt-in. Early reports suggest that 96% of iOS users aren’t opting into app tracking, which is exactly the scenario platforms like Facebook were afraid of. A more recent report indicates that more than 75% of iOS users aren’t opting into app tracking. Regardless, the takeaway here is clear: most users aren’t keen on app tracking when pro-actively presented with a choice.
That's just bad reporting of statistics. What I read, is that 95% of people don't meddle around in the settings section of their apps.
Delfuego
07-09-2021, 09:10
Apple is collecting, don't kid yourself.
They are also have plans for distribution of data within their own echo system. It appears they are building an advertising platform (to compete with FB, GOOG, ETC) so the data they collect can be leveraged, by Apple, for it's own competing products. The simply aren't "giving away" collected data to FB anymore. Once their Apple advertising platform is built their story will change.
Remember when Google was "Don't be evil"?
I never said Apple was above reproach. Just throwing it out there for discussion. I like the idea of making people opt-in since it's usually the other way around.
I never said Apple was above reproach. Just throwing it out there for discussion. I like the idea of making people opt-in since it's usually the other way around.
That's the more reasonable way for sure. I get pissed every time Google tells me I'm running out of data storage. Really Google? As long as I'm not running out of personal data to sell, then I shouldn't be running out of storage, thank you very much.
Aloha_Shooter
07-09-2021, 13:40
Apple isn't above reproach but they are not doing it anywhere near as intrusively or at the scale of Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Apple has nowhere near the investment in data mining that Google or Facebook have put in and you need to do more research yourself if you think they're anywhere near equal to Google in this. All the tech oligarchs have levels of evil in what they do but the scales aren't even in the same ball park. Apple is like the baseball backstop in my neighborhood park while Google is Yankee Stadium merged with Fenway, Candlestick, and the Astrodome.
Google Fi user for about 3 years. Zero complaints.
O2
Apple isn't above reproach but they are not doing it anywhere near as intrusively or at the scale of Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Apple has nowhere near the investment in data mining that Google or Facebook have put in and you need to do more research yourself if you think they're anywhere near equal to Google in this. All the tech oligarchs have levels of evil in what they do but the scales aren't even in the same ball park. Apple is like the baseball backstop in my neighborhood park while Google is Yankee Stadium merged with Fenway, Candlestick, and the Astrodome.
I'm not here for a debate about which company is farming data at a higher rate but your initial post that veered of course insinuated that Apple wasn't doing it at all because they didn't need to because they made their money on their overpriced hardware. That's not accurate. If you want to protect 100% of your data you need to not use a smart phone, computer, camera, smart device or internet aware device of any kind. That ship has looooong since sailed. Acting like you're somehow good to go because you use an iPhone instead of an Android device is crazy talk and I'm sure you don't believe that.
There's a new database of 700 Million Linked In users.
Everything you shared with Linked In.
Personally I have my credit locked on the back end. Nobody can open an account in my name.
(so he says)
Apple, Android, are not secure.
You should make sure your credit is locked down on the back-end.
I will make a post in a second.
You expressed interest in what I did to freeze my credit, etc., in response to the Equifax breach, so here is a compilation of the resources I used and procedures I followed.
You basically have to call these 4 credit bureaus and follow the prompts. They want to try and sell you a service to monitor your credit, but you don’t want that. You just want to freeze your credit and or place a security freeze on your account. The voice prompts go real fast, and if you need to hang up and start over, do that.
They didn’t charge me anything to place the freeze, but theoretically if/when I lift the freeze temporarily if/when I legitimately need credit, they will charge me a $10 or so fee to do that/reinstate the freeze.
You will need to have your social security number, and your current street address (number portion only) handy as security responses. I would call from your home phone and not a cell phone (or a cell phone while at home) so they can recognize the phone number you are calling from.
Finally, have a piece of paper and pen handy to write down confirmation numbers, and most importantly the PIN (Personal Identification Number) that they may give you over the phone (or in some cases mail to you.) These PINs you will need to keep in a very secure place. Watch your mail for the companies that do not give you the PIN over the phone but rather mail them to you. Make the voice prompt repeat the PIN several times so you can check that what you wrote down is correct. They will likely send you a confirmation of the PIN in the mail, too.
Equifax — 1-800-349-9960
Experian — 1 888 397 3742
TransUnion — 1-888-909-8872
Innovis - 1-800-540-2505
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0497-credit-freeze-faqs
I then opted out of pre-screened credit offers. These are those junk mails you get where they offer you a new credit card, etc. You can opt out for five years online, or permanently by filling out the form online and mailing them a letter to confirm. I opted out permanently.
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0148-prescreened-credit-and-insurance-offers
I checked that my phone numbers (both home and cell) were on the national do not call list. This is far from perfect, as I still get plenty of junk/spam/fraudulent phone calls, but I still do it. If you get too many of these phone calls, there is a device I own that answers the phone before ringing it and makes the “person” on the other end press a key before it will truly ring the phone. This is a life saver device for those that get too many spam/junk/fraud phone calls on their home phone. Ask me if you want a link to purchase this.
https://www.donotcall.gov/
Finally, I opted out of direct mail from members of the direct mail association. They charge $2 for this service and only do it for 10-years at a time, but it is better (hopefully) than nothing.
https://dmachoice.thedma.org/
That’s it. A big “go away/leave me alone/stop doing stuff without my permission” to them all and an attempt to clamp down on privacy and credit fraud using the best resources that I am aware we as consumers have available today.
Freezing your credit is free. Unlocking it permanently or temporarily is also free. If you ever pay anything (yes, even "only" $10) to do any of this you're doing it wrong.
My 20 year old niece is scared to death she has been hacked,
She probably has been, but she still has recourse available to her.
Bailey Guns
07-10-2021, 00:03
I freeze, un-freeze my credit all the time. I've never been charged for that.
Delfuego
07-10-2021, 09:25
Nice thread derail arbol. You answered a bunch of questions no one asked and none were about Google Fi mobile phone service.
References to security are valid whether it be a phone or a computer.
Freezing your credit is free. Unlocking it permanently or temporarily is also free. If you ever pay anything (yes, even "only" $10) to do any of this you're doing it wrong.
Yep, just like when you get that paper in the mail to renew your LLC every year and it's only $110. It's $10 to the state and takes 2 minutes online. I hope nobody falls for that one, but I'm sure they do.
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