Tracfone Unregistered SIM errors |
Twice in the last week my wife’s new Tracfone has displayed the error: Unregistered SIM as shown to the right. In this mode no calls can be received or made and it’s necessary to call Tracfone technical support to fix. The first time we got through to customer service right away and were told the problem was “on [Tracfone’s] end.” This morning I called and had to wait 12 minutes on hold to reach customer support.
The same fix on Tracfone didn’t work the second time around and Tracfone investigated if there was a problem with the signal in our area first by gathering our zip code. After a minute they transferred me to another guy (a higher level tech support person?) who did some magic on their end and had me turn off and back on the phone again. This time it worked.
I reminded them to note on our account that this was the second time this happened in the last week and the guy apologized and credited the account with 10 units. He said we shouldn’t have to call again on this particular problem.
A quick Google search for tracfone unregistered sim revealed a few other folks with similar problems, one who posted at Amazon berating the outsourced customer support quality.
To read the outsourced call center reply, PlanetFeedback has a thread with comments like this one allegedly from someone who works at one of these call centers in Latin America:
“The cultural barriers are never to be crumbled down, I know that, some lucky people can reach a good rep and have the phone under
correct operation, but the most of the times, in the most of the calls, customer has to say things ( that by the way we hate) like “do what now” or “i can`t understand you” to stablish a barely good communication, the saddest thing is that tracfone knows that, tracfone knows that our first language is not english, but they do NOTHING to keep on their lines the good workers, that`s why in 20 days, 190 reps left the call center i work in.”
All I know for a fact is I’ve had to contact Tracfone customer support three times in the first month of being a customer. The first time was in relation to problems activating the account. The second and third with this “unregistered SIM” error. The outsourced reps, for the most part, have been somewhat understandable on the foreigner accent scale.
The problem with outsourcing customer support is they are representing your company. Tracfone, which I still think is a pretty good deal for those who don’t use cell phones that much should consider the percentage of their customers who actually like outsourced customer support.
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Just thought I’d add something to this issue. I was having the same problem; i.e. Unregistered SIM. In the process of sitting on hold with tech support, I decided to pull the SIM card out of the handset. I noticed that the metal contacts on it showed that good contact was being made. Then I reinserted it and removed it a couple more times. Then finally, took it out and rubbed the metal contacts (carefully, because you can break a SIM) against some carpet. The goal here was to clean off any oxidation that may have accumulated. Long story short, I put the SIM and battery back in, turned it one, and right away I started to see strong signal. Within 20 seconds, it registered my new airtime PIN and updated the expiration date.
Not sure if this could be causing you issues too, but thought I’d mention it anyway.
Edgar
Comment by Edgar — September 2, 2007 @ 8:32 am PST
I have a question. It really doesnt have much to do with this blog but any how I was wondering if anyone might know how to over ride a security code on a trackfone. I cant get my code to work and now I cant get into my phone. I had a guy at the store tell me to buy another trackfone just like the one I have and put my sim card in it out of my phone but that didnt work either. If anyone would know how I could get into my phone I would appreciate it if you would let me know. Thanks, Cindy
Comment by Cindy L — September 12, 2007 @ 10:58 am PST
No need to override anything, Cindy, just contact Tracfone support and they’ll move your settings.
Comment by TDavid — September 12, 2007 @ 11:02 am PST
Thanks TDavid I will do that.. Never thought about that so I will do that.
Comment by Cindy L — September 12, 2007 @ 5:22 pm PST
to get people who speak better English, dial 1-800-339-9345
Comment by Patrick — November 1, 2007 @ 12:43 pm PST
My trackfone is sayingsevice diabled when i call or text someone so my phone is pretty much useless
Comment by alexis — April 21, 2008 @ 4:46 pm PST
I have the same tracfone but it never said that exscept for when I first bought it.
Comment by adam — July 29, 2008 @ 6:31 am PST
got disconnected the third time while on hold with tracfone in India !
the call sounded like the gal in India was taking a shower !
very poor connection via tracfone 800 number to India support center.
online help says have to call them, enter my good imei but it is rejected.
not worth the hassle, going to recycle this moto c139 and buy newer model $10
Comment by james — October 23, 2008 @ 11:43 am PST
Well I just had the same problem, googled it, came here, read that and saw that customer support did some magic and said “okay turn your phone off and back on” and it worked. I HATE calling tracfone’s tech support, so I thought well… maybe a good restart will fix this issue. And so I turned it off, waited a couple seconds, turned it back on and voila, it works perfectly.
Comment by Talon — December 20, 2008 @ 1:11 pm PST
TracFone doesn’t *outsource* their customer support to a Latin American company — instead, TracFone itself is a Latin American company (owned by América Móvil of Mexico, which is a sister company to Telmex).
Comment by Tom — April 2, 2009 @ 2:03 pm PST
I just got a new tracfone and it’s doing the same thing. I have been on the phone with tech support yesterday and today and I’m getting absolutely nowhere. It did work long enough to activate the phone, get the number and I hit the web button on accident and it went through and deducted .50 minutes both times, then the phone rolled over to the “Unregistered SIM” error that I’m getting now, they told me to remove the SIM card and put it back in and that didn’t fix the issue, I’ve done this on my own even before calling them on the advice of my brother but still getting nothing. This is the 3rd tracfone that I’ve had and never had any issues. The phone shows zero bars but my old one shows 4, this is depressing, I think I just want my money back after all of this.
Comment by Scott — October 6, 2009 @ 9:21 am PST
I am having the same SIM problem. If I could shove this phone up Manuel’s A$$ right now I would. Then I would “thank him for the information” and let him know that I was “working his account”.
LOL
As I am sitting here I called the 800 number listed above for better english and I did speak to a lady that spoke english well enough to help me. She asked me about my problem and I told her that I had called earlier and talked with Manuel. I then had to shut the phone off and turn it back on to get it to say (sim unregistered) which I had already done 50 damn times. It came back on and is working now. WTF….anyway Trac Fone sucks.
Comment by Danny — March 2, 2010 @ 2:18 pm PST