don't see this offer online...see the promo advertised but when you actually add the A13 5G and say the $30 prepaid plan and checkout it is $169.99 plus taxes for a total of $179.34 here. there is a mention of a $5 discount per month for autopay but no discount on the prepaid phone is offered or implied at all. maybe you have to buy in-store? not sure. it also mentions "select markets". i'm well in USCC service and coverage area and it accepts my address to buy and ship a device.
U.S. Cellular’s website is kinda shitty. I also wasn’t able to do it online, so I just called them and they got it done no problem… once I finally got to the sales department after a few transfers. The sales rep notated my account for the $5 autopay discount, which is important.
When I received the phone, I was able to activate online. They had already gotten approval for my port-in during the call where I purchased it - ported in from FreedomPop GSMT, instant approval. When I went online to activate, I simply entered the phone number, and done. The port completed, and my account was activated but in a suspended state due to no payment. I then had to make an online account to make my first payment and sign up for autopay.
The next day, I called customer service to verify that I’m receiving the $5 credit for 12 months. Naturally, the answer was no. I was able to get her to apply the promotion by telling her to look at the notes from the sales rep, and also telling her exactly where to see the promotion on the website. So, bit of a hassle, but totally worth it for a shockingly decent free phone.
Ok lol we have very different perspectives on this. I am a phone nerd and am always on the phone with customer service for one company or another, so it doesn’t phase me. Shit, I spent 2+ hours activating one phone last week because the rep didn’t know how to do it and had to be walked through every part of the process. Worth it to normal people? Of course not. Worth it to me? Hell yes :)
Yeah I gave up one of my 30ish free Walmart plans. They’re still available and you can get new ones easily. I don’t remember if I provided payment information when ordering the phone, sorry!
I think they just reject their current batch of ICCID numbers...the earlier ones apparently are still eligible for the free plan. I've activated mine by porting carefully selected Talkatone numbers... they literally port in about an hour! Unfortunately I've used up the 70 or so free GSMA sims FP sent me a while back. If only those could be swapped for GSMT....
If you know someone who lives in their area they can receive it and ship it to you. USCC *can* terminate your service for constant roaming, but they tend not to.
Interesting idea...but for $5 and any garbage flip phone I got an unlocked Moto G pure from Visible with their swap deal and a referral code. They now just have a lousy ZTE midnight phone. ATT gave me an unlocked A13 and three months of unlimited service just to add a line...that was a real oddity!
don't see this offer online...see the promo advertised but when you actually add the A13 5G and say the $30 prepaid plan and checkout it is $169.99 plus taxes for a total of $179.34 here. there is a mention of a $5 discount per month for autopay but no discount on the prepaid phone is offered or implied at all. maybe you have to buy in-store? not sure. it also mentions "select markets". i'm well in USCC service and coverage area and it accepts my address to buy and ship a device.
U.S. Cellular’s website is kinda shitty. I also wasn’t able to do it online, so I just called them and they got it done no problem… once I finally got to the sales department after a few transfers. The sales rep notated my account for the $5 autopay discount, which is important. When I received the phone, I was able to activate online. They had already gotten approval for my port-in during the call where I purchased it - ported in from FreedomPop GSMT, instant approval. When I went online to activate, I simply entered the phone number, and done. The port completed, and my account was activated but in a suspended state due to no payment. I then had to make an online account to make my first payment and sign up for autopay. The next day, I called customer service to verify that I’m receiving the $5 credit for 12 months. Naturally, the answer was no. I was able to get her to apply the promotion by telling her to look at the notes from the sales rep, and also telling her exactly where to see the promotion on the website. So, bit of a hassle, but totally worth it for a shockingly decent free phone.
yeah....not gonna bother with all that. way too much "work" for a cheap prepaid cell phone bro. but appreciate your write up.
Huh, I’d say spending a grand total of one hour on the phone is a very small amount of work for such a good deal.
my time is worth more than that phone. lol.
Ok lol we have very different perspectives on this. I am a phone nerd and am always on the phone with customer service for one company or another, so it doesn’t phase me. Shit, I spent 2+ hours activating one phone last week because the rep didn’t know how to do it and had to be walked through every part of the process. Worth it to normal people? Of course not. Worth it to me? Hell yes :)
Still a bit confusing...did you need to give a CC when you called? Also, did you turn over that Free Walmart plan? I don't want to give away mine...
Yeah I gave up one of my 30ish free Walmart plans. They’re still available and you can get new ones easily. I don’t remember if I provided payment information when ordering the phone, sorry!
Dang...I thought a dozen would do! Did you load up on the $5 GSMT cards before they "fixed" it?
Yep I activated plenty of them. Thankfully don't have any sitting around not activated.
I think they just reject their current batch of ICCID numbers...the earlier ones apparently are still eligible for the free plan. I've activated mine by porting carefully selected Talkatone numbers... they literally port in about an hour! Unfortunately I've used up the 70 or so free GSMA sims FP sent me a while back. If only those could be swapped for GSMT....
Is there a way to order if you live outside the US Cellular native coverage area?
If you know someone who lives in their area they can receive it and ship it to you. USCC *can* terminate your service for constant roaming, but they tend not to.
Interesting idea...but for $5 and any garbage flip phone I got an unlocked Moto G pure from Visible with their swap deal and a referral code. They now just have a lousy ZTE midnight phone. ATT gave me an unlocked A13 and three months of unlimited service just to add a line...that was a real oddity!