tracphone problem

[JFB]

I am hoping some one can help me with a problem that just started with my TracPhone Samsung 336.
I called tech support and Rahji was a waste of time.

the problem, when I select a contact from my list and hit send, that normally places the call. Today I get a message to "please reenter the 10 digit number you are dailing, do not hit send....plus more"
this cost me minutes every time and no call is ever made

Just spent 45 wasted minutes on chat....never could get tech to understand.

 

[Pat-inCO]

Try turning off your phone and then pull the battery. Leave it out for ten
(or so) minutes to discharge various capacitors. Re install the battery,
charge it, and try again.

If it is a bit that got twiddled, the above process will fix it. If that doesn't,
you have gotten something over written and you will have to do a "factory
reset" to clear it.

For a factory reset, BE SURE you save your contacts list to your home
computer. Once there, you can review the entries to verify they are
correct. Do the reset and then reload your data.

If that doesn't work, pick up your case and drive a new phone under it. :roll:

 

[Kevin]

Is a Trac phone one of those pre paid phones you can buy at a Wal Mart?

I've noticed phones are becoming more and more disposable. After a year or so, they start to develop little tic's and minor annoyances. Might be best to just go get a new phone. Especially if this one is costing you time without even making a call.

 

[JFB]

Tracfone is a prepaid provider like one can get at WalMart. I got this one online, mailed to me first of this year. (I was cutting back on expensise). I only use a phone about once a day to place food take out order so I can get back home quicker.

While I was chatting with tech support last night, the d$#@ thing worked proper a couple times, but went back to not placing the call with message.

I have a "Hunch" what might be going on...I think I noticed the roaming indicator on. we had severe thunder storms yesterday and maybe the towers were acting up. thus my first attemp from list connnected me to a roaming service (that immediately charged me minutes), then that service was informing me to place my call.....Just a hunch, I'll see what happens today when I order "stew beef over rice" (Monday's special at local diner)

 

[GP100]

I use "StraightTalk". Not bad for $45 a month. Unlimited Talk/Text/Data.. Phone was $300 back when I bought it 4 years ago.. Still working though..

I dislike contracts on a phone.. It's not the greatest smart phone out there. But it serves my needs..

 

[Ordguy]

Tracphone website has online chat, doesn't use up your minutes.

 

[JFB]

The online chat tech I had last night was absolutely no help. after 45 minutes I just gave up.
I call from land line at first and that tech simple said he didn't have a clue and hungup on me.
I have not tried the phone today.

 

[coach]

I'll second shutting down the phone if you haven't done it yet. I have an iPhone and computers that need it occasionally. I just had to do it to my laptop this morning and my phone a week or so ago.

 

[pete44ru]

.

I have a Samsung phone on a T-Mobile pay-as-you-go non-plan that, because I use a phone much like a spare tire on a vehicle, costs me an average of $2.00-$3.00 per month for minutes.

At $35/year, I'm not in any hurry to get into a "plan", because IMO a "plan" is just another way a company can get into my wallet.


.

 

[5of7]

We, my wife and I each have track phones and use them only for what a cell phone used to be used for....making phone calls when we are away from home. The are both flip phones and work very well for what we have them for.

The advantage of a flip phone is that when we go out for dinner on Saturday evenings, we talk to each other.

Call me old fashioned but I do not feel the need to be connected to the internet during all of my waking hours.

 

[Viking Queen]

Try turning the phone completely off for a few minutes then back on. That completely disconnects from the network and then reconnects when you turn it back on.....sort of resetting the connection.

Then go into settings and turn off your roaming feature. Sometimes, even in your "home" area, when your phone is supposed yo connect with your "home" provider/towers, it will pick up a stronger roaming signal from another provider and cost tou roaming charges. This can also affect things like what you are experiencing as it thinks you are out of your own network.

If you don't know how to turn off and on roaming then call track phone cust service and have them talk you through that. Remember, if you travel you will want to turn roaming back on and be aware that you might have roaming charges.

It is unlikely a hardware , phone, issue....it is likely a network connection issue causing this problem.

I worked customer service for a BIG cell phone company for 8 years and took about 120 calls per day for trouble shooting.

Best of luck, Viking Queen.

 

[wheelgun1958]

Cricket works for me, and the local store has always been helpful.

 

[JFB]

I believe my hunch was correct.

Paying attention to the "roaming" indicator, the phone works normal when it is not roaming.

....
I have a "Hunch" what might be going on...I think I noticed the roaming indicator on. we had severe thunder storms yesterday and maybe the towers were acting up. thus my first attemp from list connnected me to a roaming service (that immediately charged me minutes), then that service was informing me to place my call.....Just a hunch, I'll see what happens today when I order "stew beef over rice" (Monday's special at local diner)