Google Fi: My Experience

[Bailey Guns]

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]

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

[izzy]

I've had fi for a few years and no complaints.

[BushMasterBoy]

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]

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]

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.

[00tec]

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.

[Jer]

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.

[Gman]

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.

[Jer]

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.