Consumer Cellular is a bad choice

[bc64473800]

Why do you continue to promote Consumer Cellular?  They did not treat me fairly after I joined them on your recommendation.

I moved my cellular service from AT&T thinking I would get a better price with better service.  I also needed a new phone.  After buying a new Consumer Cellular Apple Iphone and having their service for nearly 4 weeks, I decided to discontinue my relationship with Consumer Cellular because I had continued problems with its service.  When I went to move my service back to AT&T and to activate the new apple phone I got through Consumer Cellular with AT&T, I learned that my new phone was locked and needed Consumer Cellular to unlock it.  Consumer Cellular informed me that in the contract that was displayed on their web page, it says that if I buy a new Apple Phone through them, I can’t have it unlock for six month after I purchased it.  This means that, even though I can cancel my service at anytime, I can’t unlock my new phone for six months, locking me into a relationship with Consumer Cellular for six months.

I hold you somewhat responsible for me being in this situation because you recommended them to me.  Shame on you.

[BradS601356]

It's now been over 5 years of bad reviews of Consumer Cellular, yet AARP hasn't ended their endorsement of the crooks at Consumer Cellular. I'm still dealing with a lowered credit score due to Consumer Cellular's greedy business practices. I've just informed AARP that I'm going to cancel my membership if they can't get this resolved. Maybe they will reconsider their Consumer Cellular affiliation if those wronged by Consumer Cellular cancel thier AARP memberships. With all of the horrible CC reviews, why do AARP members persist in considering CC as a viable carrier? I don't know how much money AARP earns on thier association with CC, but they should be ashamed of what they are doing. How much longer does this have to go on before AARP ends the harm it is doing to its unsuspecting members by the greed and incompetance of CC??? It was over four years ago that I was harmed by CC and the anger is still marinating. This experience leads me to believe that AARP doesn't care about thier members or their brand.

[WR264421]

Hello all,

I keep reading some sad stories from senoirs and prior clients and iwould like to let everyone know some truths and facts about Consumer Cellular as a previous employee.

Consumer Cellular primarily runs on AT&T's network (and in some areas T-Mobile's network). The representatives are hourly employees with commission opportunities, and the sales environment is heavily focused on selling add-ons. Representatives are trained and pressured to sell seniors products such as fall detection devices, smartwatches, accessories, protection plans, and other services.

Some other concerns I want to mention for anyone considering Consumer Cellular or who currently has service: if you ever see a representative's computer while they're assisting you, you'll notice your account includes an internal customer rating or score. Every customer is evaluated using internal metrics.

A lot of representatives are focused on commission, and many can make thousands of dollars through aggressive sales and by heavily pushing additional products and services. While there are many honest employees who genuinely want to help customers, the sales pressure is real.

From my experience, the company places a strong emphasis on sales numbers, performance metrics, and meeting quotas. Representatives are closely measured on their performance, and that pressure often carries over into customer interactions.

If you read employee reviews online, you'll also see recurring complaints about micromanagement, constantly changing performance expectations, heavy sales pressure, high turnover in some locations, and a stronger focus on metrics than customer satisfaction.

I also think it's fair for consumers to ask questions about endorsements. AARP has promoted Consumer Cellular for years, and many seniors trust that recommendation. I believe consumers should do their own research, read customer and employee reviews, understand the phone unlocking policy, and compare other carriers before assuming an endorsement means the experience will be right for them.

My advice to anyone considering Consumer Cellular is simple:

• Read the phone unlocking policy before purchasing a device.
• Review every add-on before agreeing to it.
• Ask for a complete breakdown of your monthly bill.
• Don't let anyone pressure you into making a decision during the call. Take your time and make sure you understand exactly what you're paying for.

This post reflects my personal experience as a former employee along with concerns that have been raised repeatedly by other employees in publicly available reviews on glassdoor but i recommend people look elsewhere as consumer cellular has high turnover and high turnover means they dont care.

[jeffreya423870]

Consumer Cellular does NOT give good customer service!  No store in our area now sells their phones or gives you service.  They discontinued Target after I purchased the phone through them.  This is no longer a good phone service for seniors and AARP needs to discontinue their support of them!!!

[FranciscoN440042]

I make AARP , Responsible of this situation. Consumer cellular are not ELDERLY FRINDLY  at all. 

they are misleading people on buying something that is going to obsoleted in 6 month. 

[FranciscoN440042]

You are Right. They  steal from we the elder. I bout a GRANDPAD on 05/15/25 and 6 month later I can activated it because is not useful no more and have it for 6 month only, today I took the time to see if i can talk to them , but they make an issue just because i give only the my mom first name and no the second name, so they blocked me from doing accessing her account?? now wwe got stocked with a Grandpad that is no good at all. 

[BradS601356]

The terms and cost of Grandpad sounds like elder abuse. They are probably owned by the same crooked private equity company that owns Consumer Cellular. 

[AngleS694104]

Tbh the “cancel anytime” thing feels pretty misleading when the phone’s basically locked to them for 6 months. Always worth checking the unlock policy before signing up, learned that the hard way too.

[ArielA563799]

Consumer Cellular has been extremely disappointing to deal with. After closing my account, I was initially informed via email that my final balance would be $2.40. However, this later changed to $17.03, with the explanation that billing is processed one month behind.

The lack of clear and consistent communication throughout this process has been very frustrating. Based on this experience, I do not plan to return to this company in the future ever again, and I will say:  STAY AWAY

[BradS601356]

If you don't pay them the $17.03, they will turn it over to collections and lower your credit score. It's a real shame how CC treats people. Hopefully Mint Mobile or some other carrier will eat their lunch one day.They are owned by a private equity corporation and it's nothing more than a cash grab. Don't even think about considering them as an option.

[usolfarts]

we have been with consumer with 20 + years.   have just through 5 days of hell . 

don't purchase their phones on line and don't purchase phones over the phone.  

customer service has gone into the toilet.   had to get corporate office involved and

was told I expect too much, too high expectations on trying to get it shipped,  in a nut shell ended up purchasing a phone at a store.   now a new process to get our money back.  good thing we can have help with the finanacial institution for the card.     again buyer be ware.

[EdwinaH855820]

Consumer Cellular did not honor a stop payment issued by my bank (that screwed up my billpay- which I caught in 3 days), then they suspended my account 2 weeks after I paid the bill (which was paid 2 weeks ago immediately upon discovery of screw up), then demanded my birth date before they would "reinstate' my account. An account that should never have been suspended according to their own records! What **bleep**! Supervisor "Rob" was particularly arrogant A-hole. BTW, I am a 20-year customer!

[Wheresthebeef]

  I have been using Consumer Cellular for over 10 years and have no complaints.  I buy phones separately (can find better deals on ebay) and have auto pay set up with a credit card.  Never an issue with phone usage or billing.  Would that everything in life would run as smoothly.   

[DoniaS423338]

Hope you never have to cancel, that's when they get you

[c164030c]

Agreed.They pushed a second line on me when I didn't need it. Only $5.00 extra, they said. What they didn't say was that the second phone line made me ineligible for their best rate, which was $35.00 a month and it actually cost me $15.00 extra, plus tax. I ended up paying $70.00 a month which was double what I could have been paying and when I figured it out, they refused to change it until the end of the billing cycle and all the extra payments? Just gone.

[DoniaS423338]

I canceled my service iMarch 30th, then I got charged a full month April 17. Now I get another bill for a full month, please tell me how they are helping seniors. Biggest mistake was switching to Consumer Cell

[m433841d]

Consumer Cellular sucks.  I mailed a payment 12 days ago that they haven't posted. They called me at work saying I was one month late and the woman asked me to get a copy of the check front and back from my bank.  Within 30 minutes, they turned my phone off. I cannot use my home alarm, get codes to sign in for work..... They are also refusing to transfer a phone number that I have had for about 20 years unless I pay them immediately over the phone plus a restoration fee. How long does it take them to enter a check? They have the worst service possible. 

[EdwinaH855820]

Similar heavy-handed experience here with Consumer Cellular.  They've become a horrible company. AARP should rethink their affiliation with Consumer Cellular for sure.

[jt53034901]

Update 1-18-2026

I received a call from Joshua N from Consumer Cellular today. I always record all of my calls since history shows that most companies are unscrupulous. That includes Consumer Cellular, and as I found out in this call, so is AARP.

Joshua told me that "Once you remove a line or close your account, you are NOT eligible for the $10.00 discount per our agreement with AARP." That includes your final bill when you have only 4 days left. So Consumer Cellular pins this problem on AARP. No adjustment, no credit, no apology. Joshua N. may be reached at: 888.345.5510 or 971.478.0445. - Not that it will do you any good.

He told me that this call was required because I filed a complaint with BBB.org. I let him know that there is another complaint with the Michigan State Attorney General. He said he will be calling me again for exactly the same resaon. Basically, go to hell.

Dealing with a disreputable company such as Consumer Cellular was one thing, but to be informed that this policy was due to an agreement with AARP is at the very least, disheartening.  Any future support of AARP is now in question.

Jim Todd

[DoniaS423338]

I have cut ties with AARP and Consumer Cellular, NEVER will I give either company another. CC charged me for 2 months of cell service AFTER I discontinued my cell service, they said I went over my billing date.

[claywatson]

With every new or replacement phone now coming direct from CC via UPS 2nd day air, why would anyone go to Target any more?
Many years ago, when upgrading to a new phone, it was delivered with a SIM card for T-Mobile network which has poor reception in my area. Consumer Cellular apologized when I complained that we had always had ATT network, and apparently henceforth I need to explicitly tell them ATT when I order a new phone. (We have had many phones from them for over ten or 15 years, for all our family members and have been 100% pleased with their *American English* customer service and their pricing.) CC said their coverage map showed we should do equally well with ATT or T-Mobile, but all I had to do was go to a nearby Target store to have the replacement ATT SIM card swapped.
Since then, phones use an eSIM (embedded SIM) which is a digital SIM card built into your device, eliminating the need for a physical plastic card; it stores your carrier info digitally, allowing for easy online plan activation, carrier switching, and the convenience of using multiple numbers on one compatible phone, offering benefits like enhanced security and space-saving for manufacturers. I have no idea why you would go to WalMart for a SIM card; only Sears and Target sell and service CC's phones. Well unless you were wanting an "unlocked" phone so you could jump around between cell phone service providers.

[jt53034901]

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.

[DanK356458]

I have been with consumer cellular for about 2 to 3 years.
Bought a new phone for the wife $180 Motorola power.
Phone comes up for sale for $150 3 weeks later,asked if they would credit my account for the 30 dollar difference,
They said I can send the new phone back and they will sel l me the $150 phone.WTF ,what kind of service is that?
Do not use Consumer cellular they have lousy customer service

[SantoshL211308]

Lower monthly cost if you use plans frugally. However, horrendous customer service if you want to cancel your service. I was a customer for 11 years and when I cancelled my service on October 2025 - all lines were ported out, but they billed me until December. I called and asked and they said just because line were ported out didn't mean service was cancelled. Basically they charged me 2 extra months for no service at all. Very disappointed!! Be careful they will get more money one way or other.

[DoniaS423338]

Same thing happened to me

[mponcy]

Same thing happened to me.

[YuryB977828]

I am not receiving any group messages. I am missing a lot of individual messages. Their technical service is useless. Rep in the store suggested to go to another provider as CC servers are prone to problems. after multiple attempts they couldn't resolve my issues and I am switching to t-mobile.

[AARPConsumerCare]

@YuryB977828 I'm sorry to hear of your experience with Consumer Cellular. We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team, they're part of AARP Services, and act as liaison for AARP service providers. - Christy C. 

[JeanG793569]

 Every states has different taxes and fees.  The fed has charges above that.  Get over it.  I still saved 50% over my AT&T bill.  I still have the same coverage.

[BradS601356]

Sounds as if you are either an employee or a shill for Consumer Cellular.They are vile, greedy and have no concern for their customers.