Let me preface this by saying that I had been with Consumer Cellular for 10 year (since before the hostile takeover by GTCR in October 2020 for $2.3 billion.
We had been with Consumer Cellular for 10 years and were happy with them for the most part. Until we needed home internet service and Consumer Cellular does not offer it. We had no choice but to switch to AT&T who offers under their 55+ plan, two lines unlimited and cellular home internet for $99.00 per month.
As soon as our two phone lines were ported from Consumer Celluar to AT&T, the AARP 55+ discount was reversed and the socked us with a bill much higher than the last 24 bills. When I called about this, they said that since we left Consumer Cellular, (4 days before the end of the billing cycle) we no longer receive the AARP discount. I have since filed complaints with the Michigan State Attorney General, BBB.org, FTC, and have been posting everywhere I can.
I urge you all to do a simple google search on Consumer Cellular complaints and see for yourself. This is FAR from a reputable company, and AARP should sever ALL ties with them. See the complaints on BBB.org as well.
Just read â7 Easy Ways To Lower Your Cell Phone Billâ. I have had Consumer Cellular for many years. There is no separate auto-pay discount for the basic plan the AutoPay and nonâAutoPay prices are the same. I have this plan. I had to use AI to find this out. It is available on higher data plans.
I donât use my cell phone a lot since retirement, I had an old by the minute AT&T account for decades which actually cost me just over $8/month on perpaid. I had a unresolved issue with AT&T and decided it was time to change. Everything online suggested that Consumer Cellular would be best for me. Signed up for the $20 package and auto pay, which is supposed cut $5 from your bill. I was expecting with that discount that my bill would be under $20/mth UNTIL I got my first full month billing at $27.+ so, this is actually going to cost me $20 month more than I paid with AT+T. Not a pleasant surprise.
The main negative with Consumer Cellular that we ran into was that there is a limit of 10 people you can text in a group. We received text from family but cannot respond, because the group is more than 10 people. When we called customer service, they said thatâs the limit. The âworkaroundsâ are not workable for us.