ALLTEL Wireless User Reviews

Pros: Good Coverage Area

Cons: Lack of Stylish Cell Phones

Summary: I was with another competitor for 4 years and I got the impression that the quality of mobile phone calls were horrible. About a year ago, I switched to Alltel and I couldn't be happier with the quality of the signal strength.

Summary: I had a sprint cell phone for almost four years and never had a problem. I am in the military and was transfer from VA to SD. I was very unhappy when my sprint phone started to roam.

The only two cell phone companies in the area are Alltel and Verizon. I've had problems with Verizon in the past with both home telephone service and almost DSL internet. Because of these reasons my husband and I decided on Alltel.

As you are about see my first impression of Alltel is not good. We wanted to keep our old VA numbers and were told that we would be able to do so. The salesperson was very knowledgeable on the different plans available and was also knowledgeable about the different alltel phones. However, he did not seem to know a lot about programming the phone or porting over the old numbers. We were helped right away when we walked in the door, but we were at the store for almost two hours while he attempted to set the phones up. He ended up giving us temporary phones numbers and told me to call customer service to have them "port" the old numbers to the new phones. I should have just kept the new rapid city numbers.

I spent most of today on the phone with both tech support and the department that does the porting. The port department told me the port was complete and transfer me to tech support to help me program my phone because it was not working. When I was transfered the tech support told me that the port was not complete and transfer me back and so on. I final was able to get someone at tech support who was willing to help me. Unfortunatly after spending some time typing in what he told me to and powering on and off my phone, he told me that I would have to go back to the sprint store where I bought the phone to have it manual programmed. Also, after following some of his instructions he gave me I now have a flashing "R" on one of my phones, but I will get to that later.

So, I left immedately after talking to tech support to go to the Alltel store. This time everything worked out great. The salesperson was about to help me and we were out of the store within fifteen mintues with working phones. I asked him about the flashing are and he assured me that it did not mean that it was roaming only that it was looking for a tower. I was so happy to have working phones I just got out of there, but after thinking about it I started to worry and called customer service about the flashing "R."
I should also mention that I bought two identical phones last night. One has the little tower symbol with lines and one has the flashing "R" even though they are right next to each other. I spoke with customer service twice tonight. Each person I talked to walked me through some steps on my phone, but the "R" did not go away. Both of their response were "Are you still able to make and receive calls from your phone?" I was told to go to a Alltel store to have the phone "flashed." So I will be going back to a

Pros: Great service, large coverage area on the greater freedom or the nationl freedom plans, and great add on plans that save you a bundle.

Cons: A better selection of phones would be nice.

Summary: My husband and I have had Alltel for YEARS! As with any cell provider we have had some rough spots, but all in all the service had been dependable and from the looks of it, very reasonibly priced. We are considering a move to Missouri and I have been told there are no Alltel providers in the area in which we want to move, so I have been researching their main provider, Verizon! I really want to cry! They show to be the top rated, but how can that be? Theior prices and plans are less than great, and their service and coverage areas seem to be horrible. Our Alltel phones will pick up anywhere and anytime we want them to. Like others have said, we get service when friends of ours can't. I can keep my alltel phone and it be no different since I have National Freedom, but i won't have a local number... I think that would be better than having a crumy provider though!

PS- everyone needs to remember that ALL cell providers are going to make mistakes on billing from time to time and are going to have problems. You should always way the long term advantages and not the once in a blue moon mistake.

Pros: Good service area.

Cons: Everything else.

Summary: In light of what's happened recently with our Alltel phones I feel as a service to the community to write a descriptive review.

We purchased a family mycircle plan 3 months ago with alltel. It had three phones. 2 of which were the new car shaped cellular phones, and one was the new and wonderful (sarcasm) Wafer.

We got them home and immediately within 20 minutes of being activated my brothers phone (the car shaped phone) began receiving hundreds upon hundreds of gay, derogatory text/pic messages. Obviously the phone number given to that phone had been someone else old number, who had made the mistake of signing up with god knows what. So we had to call the company (Alltel) and explain the situation. After talking with them they said it was not a problem and they would give him a new number, and credit back the text messages that were received.

After that happened I realized my phone (The Wafer) had a well known defect. Whenever you talked to someone both you and that person heard a constant loud echo of themselves/yourself. So finding this out, as it's unignorable I called Alltel. I explained my situation.

They agreed that the phone did have a defect and that they would be happy to send me a new phone comparable to the previous. I selected a GREEN LG8600 AX. They told me this would be a free of charge exchange, that I would receive my new phone within 2-3 Business days and it would have a return label to send the previous phone back to them so we would not be charged for it. So I did receive it and I sent it back.

Less then a month later we see a bill for an insane amount of text messages and the wafer phone that was already sent back to them which they received.

Assuming this was a easily correctable mistake, we called them, and once again explained the situation. They agreed that it was a mistake, they had receieved the phone back, and that they would adjust the bill to fix both the phone, and the text message issue.

A couple weeks go by and all three of our phones are mysteriously disconnected/turned off. We call Alltel asking them what the deal is and they tell us we have unpaid bills of approx. 700 dollars. They tell us it is from the text messages and the phone, that should have already been taken care of. So we explain yet again to this new person the situation, we write down their name and badge number, and time that we spoke to them. This person tells us as well that they see where the phone was returned, that they had made a mistake and that they would adjust the bill that it was not a problem.

Couple weeks later SAME THING HAPPENS YET AGAIN. We call in AGAIN. We explain AGAIN. We write down name and badge number AGAIN. They say AGAIN that it is a mistake and it will be fixed.

Couple weeks later (yesterday to be precise) 700 dollars is taken from our bank account, WITHOUT ANY AUTHORIZATION. Which overdraws us at the bank, and will make all of our payments we've sen

Pros: Good sound quality, excellent phones

Cons: 59 cent/minute roaming charges, return shipping not reimbursed by company.

Summary: I go to school at OSU in Columbus, Ohio (population 400,000+). I researched Alltel for a few weeks previous to purchasing service, and I even called their customer service line to ensure that I would be covered without roaming in Ohio's largest city. The customer service rep was seemingly very kind and helpful, and she ensured me that I would be in Alltel's network and not charged for roaming (yes, I specifically asked about roaming) in Columbus... so I went ahead and bought the phone. The phone worked wonderfully in my hometown prior to moving back for school... but when I arrived to campus I noticed that I was roaming, so I called customer service, and they told me that I was not in their coverage area and that the representative I spoke to earlier had been mistaken. So obviously, I'm going to cancel, I'm still within my 15 day trial period..... BUT I have to pay 20$ to ship it back to Alltel (because they won't process the return at a store) and I won't even be reimbursed.
So untill I find another carrier I am stranded without a phone at school with a useless 350$ dollar piece of equipment that I have to pay to return because a customer service representative lied to me. As far as I can tell, Alltel will say anything to get you to switch to them...even outright lie. I personally would suggest that anyone searching for a carrier only purchase from one that allows you to veiw their coverage at a street level (verizon, att, and t-mobile all do this right from the main page of their wireless website). I really hope that the tale of my customer service fiasco will influence you and perhaps this company to fix their service and alter their manipulative customer service tactics.

Pros: Great coverage area, very few dropped calls.

Cons: Lack on newer phones, no deals on new phones when you get service.

Summary: I have used Alltell for over 4 years, using the same phone as when I signed up and same plan. I travel all over the US and have found very few places my phone does not work. My phone will work when most people I am with can not get service. Does not seem to work good in Virginia but no troubles anyplace else. I have a 900 minute plan with two phones but with circle of friends and calling people on Alltel service, I never come close to using my minutes. Only dropped a call a couple of times while driving, mostly in locations away from anything. Very pleased with the service. Better than the two other companies I tried prior to switching to Alltel.

Pros: The old, grandfathered "Unlimited Plan" for $59.95 per month. Call as much as you want in your "local calling area". Unlimited Axcess Package - send/receive as many text, picture and video messages as your heart desires - along with mobile web - all for $19.99 per month.

Cons: Quite frankly, the customer service sucks. It's like pulling teeth to get a "warm, live body" on the phone - automation HELL. Exuberant roaming charges if you're not on a National Freedom Plan. Roaming and airtime charges for accessing the mobile web when not in your local calling area. Limited number/styles of phones available. Not keeping up with current trends and promotions of other carriers.

Summary: I have been an Alltel customer since June of 1993...yep, started out with that big, bulky BAG phone - LOL! Alltel service is okay for the most part, but can truly stand some improvements and more cell towers. I work for AT&T and have been in the telecom industry for 16 years, so I'm somewhat of an 'insider'. I have a company phone, which of course, is AT&T and let me tell you - there is NO comparison to the network coverage, dropped calls (lack thereof), promotions, phone/PDA offerings, etc. The straw that broke the camel's back with me is that I recently traveled to Houston for a week. I called and paid $10 for the 'Free To Roam' package of 100 roaming/LD minutes. Well, I get my bill and I have $293 worth of roaming charges - WHOA! They were all mostly for internet usage. I don't know if a switch got hung up somewhere or what, but the charges aren't valid. I was out enjoying my vacation and NOT on the internet from my phone. Alltel basically refused to research the issue or issue any goodwill credits (remember, I'm a 14 year customer!). Mind you, this is by far the first 'roaming' issue I've had with Alltel. Another thorn in my side is that they are trying to 'strong arm' the customers still on the old, grandfathered "Unlimited" plan to switch over to a new National Freedom Plan. If you're on the old plan, they tell you that you're on another network technology and you can't upgrade to certain phones, but can only use the old, cheap, below standards unless you switch over to a new, more expensive plan. Additionally, when My Circle of friends came out, I tried to enroll and they told me you had to be on a plan that was at least $59.99 or more per month. Well guess what? My plan is $59.95 per month and I couldn't use My Circle - this is all a marketing strategy to FORCE people off of that plan where they're making no money. Those are my gripes! But overall, through the years, service has been good - room for improvement though.

Pros: I can reach everywhere!!

Cons: Occasional dropped call.

Summary: I can reach out in the middle of no where on a Louisiana back road and talk to my sister-in-law who has another cellular service (her cellular service doesn't work in the area she lives)Also, I went with them because my mom, lives across the state line into Arkansas, and she gets wonderful reception, so we joined. I get reception just about everywhere. I love Alltel!

Pros: It works on occasion.

Cons: Drops calls all the time, not necessarilly in the same location. Horrible all the way around.

Summary: I'm trying to call them on land line right now to cancell. (Their phones aren't working.) Has to be done today or I have to pay another month. As soon as I get them to cancel I'm calling AT&T to set up my new phone with them! I didn't have near the problems with AT&T. They told me they were putting up new towers,so the reception would be getting better. That was 2 years ago!

Pros: Very decent Coverage Area, MyCircle, 1Year or 2Year contract options,very few actual roaming areas you will be charged in.

Cons: Long wait at some stores, long holds on customer service, My Account on Alltel.com sometimes isn't working.

Summary: I have been using Alltel Since 05/04/2006. I have never had a roaming charge on my bill. I travel from South Dakota clear down into Texas and never been charged for roaming. When I leave my home state of Nebraska my roaming indicator comes on and starts flashing. The Alltel people told me as long as it is flashing I will not roam. Guess what, they were right! Alltel is very fair with its' plans and phone prices. A lot of the bigger companies, Verizon, Cingular, Sprint do not offer 1 year contracts. Alltel does. This meens I can get a new phone every 9 months so I am never in an outdated phone. Alltel's mycircle lets me talk to my family members who have Verizon for free! With Mycircle I can talk to any land line number I choose for free also! I have a 900 day time minute plan but with mycircle, and mobile to mobile, I only use about 300. Alltel also has an unlimited text plan for $19.99. The bigger cell companies unlimited text is like $6.00 a month but they will charge you a ton if you send pics or videos. With alltel Pictures, videos, instant messaging, and audio sound messinging "like ring tones" are counted as text messages. With my unlimited text packet I also get mobile web! I can see weather radar, maps, directories, I can do my yahoo email and face book all from my razor. For everyone that thinks they are roaming check your indicator, if it is flashing or blinking you are okay. I would recomend alltel to anyone.