Google Fi - Don't waste your time if you want new phones

[LDM]

I was planning on switching from Tmobile to Google Fi due to both Tmobile raising it monthly fees on older plans and the fact that my parents needs new phone after about 5 years on their current ones. Got signed up for the plan without any issues and put in the order for 4 new phones for each person on my plan. First thing I get is a need to verify the payment option, which even though I selected my credit card for payment, they changed it to Paypal for some reason. Order gets cancelled immediately after doing the payment verification. Tried to place the order again, they do the same thing and use Paypal instead of my selected credit card, again it gets cancelled. I called to try to figure out why, they can't give any answers and need to escalate the issue. I don't receive anything in regard to this escalation, so I tried deleted my Paypal account as an option and redoing the order to make sure it uses the credit card like its suppose to. Again, cancelled order for the phones.

At this point I'm done wasting my time and have cancelled everything for Google Fi. Its isn't worth the headache of dealing with their inept customer service that can't answer why they keep cancelling my order for phones for no reason. They had no issue using my credit card to setup the service plan but getting me the phones I ordered is apparently an issue. As a result, does anyone have a recommendation of a provider that is offering deals on new phones and costs less than Tmobile? I no longer travel and don't really need a unlimited plan with huge data allowances. Tmobiles service is very good in my area so any MVNO that uses their network should work fine for myself and the other users on my plan. While I don't really need a new phone my parents absolutely do because of the age of their current phones.

 

[Furious]

Metro is T-Mobile but is no contract, prepaid Starter Plus $100/month 4 lines

Cricket Wireless which is my favorite is AT&T no contract. $100/month 4 lines

 

[Boomer]

Try Consumer Cellular.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I was planning on switching from Tmobile to Google Fi due to both Tmobile raising it monthly fees on older plans and the fact that my parents needs new phone after about 5 years on their current ones. Got signed up for the plan without any issues and put in the order for 4 new phones for each person on my plan. First thing I get is a need to verify the payment option, which even though I selected my credit card for payment, they changed it to Paypal for some reason. Order gets cancelled immediately after doing the payment verification. Tried to place the order again, they do the same thing and use Paypal instead of my selected credit card, again it gets cancelled. I called to try to figure out why, they can't give any answers and need to escalate the issue. I don't receive anything in regard to this escalation, so I tried deleted my Paypal account as an option and redoing the order to make sure it uses the credit card like its suppose to. Again, cancelled order for the phones.

At this point I'm done wasting my time and have cancelled everything for Google Fi. Its isn't worth the headache of dealing with their inept customer service that can't answer why they keep cancelling my order for phones for no reason. They had no issue using my credit card to setup the service plan but getting me the phones I ordered is apparently an issue. As a result, does anyone have a recommendation of a provider that is offering deals on new phones and costs less than Tmobile? I no longer travel and don't really need a unlimited plan with huge data allowances. Tmobiles service is very good in my area so any MVNO that uses their network should work fine for myself and the other users on my plan. While I don't really need a new phone my parents absolutely do because of the age of their current phones.

Why is this Google's fault and not your credit card?

 

[dishdude]

I've had Fi for years, never had a problem with them or ordering phones through them.

 

[k1xv]

They use PayPal as an intermediary payment mechanism. You pay with your credit card through PayPal

 

[I<3oil]

They use PayPal as an intermediary payment mechanism. You pay with your credit card through PayPal

First thing I get is a need to verify the payment option, which even though I selected my credit card for payment, they changed it to Paypal for some reason. Order gets cancelled immediately after doing the payment verification. Tried to place the order again, they do the same thing and use Paypal instead of my selected credit card, again it gets cancelled. I called to try to figure out why, they can't give any answers and need to escalate the issue. I don't receive anything in regard to this escalation, so I tried deleted my Paypal account as an option and redoing the order to make sure it uses the credit card like its suppose to. Again, cancelled order for the phones.

 

[LDM]

Why is this Google's fault and not your credit card?

So then why did Google have no issue using my credit card to setup the service plan? Issue is clearly not with my credit card, which I use for multiple things like every day purchases as well as paying bills. The only problem is them doing the phone order, which I also do not understand why it is separate from the service plan setup.

 

[LDM]

They use PayPal as an intermediary payment mechanism. You pay with your credit card through PayPal

While you can choose to do that, I never did once. The first 2 times I used my credit card and they changed to Paypal for whatever reason. It was never something I selected. The 3rd time I removed Paypal from my account entirely so they could only use the credit card that I wanted used. Still end up with my order cancelled with no reason at all.

And searching the web I've found I'm not the only person who has had this issue with Google. For whatever reason they seem to have issues with the phone order part but not the service plan. With all these reading it seems Google customer service is trash and they don't seem to have much interest in helping resolve the issue either.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

Just use PayPal to pay. What’s the issue here?

 

[LDM]

Just use PayPal to pay. What’s the issue here?

It doesn't work. They cancel my order every time.

 

[Fitter30]

I've been using att prepaid yearly $300 for the year on line only 16 gig data left over will roll to the next month 32 is max, unlimited phone and text

 

[MurkyAsparagus]

I use USMobile and would highly recommend it. Upfront pricing, annual plans to save money, and I can choose any major cell tower (T Mobile, ATT, Verizon) and switch between them depending on where I’m going.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

It doesn't work. They cancel my order every time.

Is the order appearing as canceled? Is there a reason? Do you see a hold on your credit card recent transactions? Is your card carrier being a little too aggressive with fraud prevention? Can you try a different card?

 

[scrllock]

put in the order for 4 new phones for each person on my plan

How many people are on the plan? That's a lot of phones for one order.

If you're having issues with the payment going through, then try a different method (which charges the same card) and it fails, you've probably just triggered fraud prevention. Which isn't a google thing necessarily.

In general though I agree, Fi (google in general) support is pretty bad. My coworkers really like US Mobile, I'm considering moving my plans over to that soon.

 

[LDM]

Is the order appearing as canceled? Is there a reason? Do you see a hold on your credit card recent transactions? Is your card carrier being a little too aggressive with fraud prevention? Can you try a different card?

Order appears cancelled on the Google side. I can see the hold on my credit card when I log into my banking site. If they were going to do a fraud hold, they would call me as I have my cards setup for fraud alerts to verify if it was me or not. And just for fun I called my credit card company and asked them if they were putting a fraud hold on the transaction. No. The issue is with Google and they can't tell me why. So apparently they just don't want my business.

 

[LDM]

How many people are on the plan? That's a lot of phones for one order.

If you're having issues with the payment going through, then try a different method (which charges the same card) and it fails, you've probably just triggered fraud prevention. Which isn't a google thing necessarily.

In general though I agree, Fi (google in general) support is pretty bad. My coworkers really like US Mobile, I'm considering moving my plans over to that soon.

4 total but the total cost of the phones is only $200 with tax. Not something that is going to cause an issue like say a $2500 charge. And I already had Google run my credit to verify my credit is good (800+ in case anyone asks, I have excellent credit) and was approve for the purchases. Yet they cancel the order without any reason and their support can't tell me why.

 

[LDM]

Thanks to those who have given me some suggestions, just ran into a problem with my 89 Camaro having a low charging alternator and a stuck auto antenna. So now I have to deal with those things as well as figure out the phone options. At least I'll get some research done with the options that have been mentioned so far.

 

[factorytuned2012]

i would look into cricket wireless backbones off Att network.

 

[Donald]

So Google Fi uses other carriers cell towers. Mostly T- Mobile. I have had them since they were called Project Fi. No real problems. Typically get Pixel phones through them. Or earlier Nexus phones.

They are great overseas. The service works in most of Europe just like you were in the US. I am sure more than just Europe.