A few years ago, consumers didn’t have that many options for free government cell phones. In fact, in some states, there were no options at all. In others, there was a handful at best. Now, though, many states have several providers, and some, such as Arkansas, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Kentucky, have more than a dozen different companies to choose from. The biggest providers are Budget Mobile, Assurance, and Safelink, but there are now many other providers to choose from such as:
•Access Wireless
•Blue Jay Wireless
•Cellular One
•EnTouch Wireless
•QLink Wireless
•Tag Mobile
Some providers service states all across the country. Others may be focused on just one region, or even a single state. Generally speaking, the more impoverished your state is, the more likely you are to find a lot of different options. You may be tempted to just go with the first one you see, but it is wise to do some research and take advantage of your options to choose a provider and plan which is right for you.
Another issue is trust. It isn’t just the quality of plans which can vary, but also the quality of providers. In recent years, a number of cases of fraud have come to light. The FCC is cracking down on fraudulent providers, but they can inconvenience customers. Most recently, an Oklahoma Lifeline Assistance company called Icon was convicted of stealing close to $25 million from the Universal Service Fund which reimburses free government cell phone providers. Icon of course will no longer be providing customers with free government cell phone service.
4 Steps to Picking the Right Provider
How can you avoid dealing with a scam company that is not going to respect you? How do you find a plan which will actually fulfill your needs? Here are 4 steps to choosing the perfect free government cell phone provider.
1. First, determine what your needs are.
Only one free government cell phone is allowed for every household. How many people are in your household, and how many minutes is each of them likely to need each month? Do people in your family prefer to chat using voice or text? Who will you be communicating with, and what kind of long distance needs do you have? Do you need to be able to place international calls to Mexico and other countries, or will domestic minutes be enough? Are you looking for a plan which is 100% free, or are you willing to
pay a little extra to enjoy more voice time or texts? Once you know what your needs are, you can go on to choosing a plan.
2. Compare plans from different providers.
Once you have figured out roughly how many minutes a month you are likely to use, and whether you need more voice minutes or texts, you can cross-compare plans offered by providers you are interested in. While many Lifeline plans are comparable across providers, you may discover that some plans are significantly better than others. Most companies offer only around 250 free minutes, but you may live in a state where 1000 minute plans are available for free. Also make sure you check out Tribal plans if you live on Tribal lands. Tribal plans are typically far superior to ordinary plans!
3. Look up a company’s reputation.
You do not want to deal with a company that already has a shady history. While many fraudulent Lifeline providers such as Icon are pulled off the market, many others are still operating. Some of these companies may have made mistakes and may be making an effort to correct them, but others may be up to no good. Try to choose a provider with a clean record, or a record of improvement. Doing so protects the reputation of the Lifeline Assistance program as a whole, and also protects you. Also make sure the company you are dealing with really is an authorized Lifeline provider! There are companies out there offering “free cell phones for seniors” that are nothing more than scams trying to confuse seniors who are searching for Lifeline.
4. Call up customer service.
This is a smart move to make any time you are going to be dealing with a company on an ongoing basis. Actually take a few minutes to call up a customer service agent and ask them for more information about their plans, billing procedures (where applicable—you may be interested in a subsidized paid plan), and so forth. Try to choose a company with a patient, thorough, knowledgeable and transparent customer service team. That way you will not run into hassles in the future with re-certification or service changes.
The Lifeline Assistance program is rapidly expanding, with service available in many more states and outlying rural areas than ever before. Plans are increasingly competitive, and companies are striving to offer superior service. Taking a few extra minutes to research your options can save you time, hassle and money, and give you access to more free cell phone time and texts!