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Support & FAQs
Helpful answers to frequently asked questions.
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If you have questions about a particular cellphone model, check out our Manuals & Videos section below for detailed instructions about your specific phone.
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Samsung A697
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Wireless Home Phone Base
Cellphone plans are measured in minutes, and both incoming and outgoing calls use minutes. You are billed only if you answer the call.
If you hear the message, "Your call cannot be completed as dialed," check the number you dialed. Cellphones require 10-digit dialing for local and long distance calls.
If the call still does not go through, make a note of the recording and call our Customer Support team at
When you start or stop service, we pro-rate your minutes, messages and web data. While you pay less for that short month, it also means that your minutes, messages and web data are reduced for that month as well. You may want to watch your usage carefully to make sure you don’t exceed your plan.
If you are starting service, your second invoice will show the full monthly charge and services. Remember, you can check your current usage or change your plan any time. Just log in to My Account or use our My CC app on your smartphone. You can always call our Customer Support at as well.
Phones sold by Consumer Cellular are designed to work specifically on our service. To allow us to make them more affordable for our customers, Consumer Cellular sells them at a price that is actually below cost. To help offset this loss, phones can only be used with Consumer Cellular service for the first six months they are in use. After that, customers may request that the phone be unlocked so long as the device has been paid in full, and the account in question is not past due.
Consumer Cellular offers Internet access through our Connect plans, which allow you to browse news, sports, weather, updates, and more. You can also use this service to purchase and download ringtones, wallpapers, and games.
Internet access is only available for web enabled phones (not all phones are web capable). If you have any questions about your specific phone, please visit the Videos & Manuals page for your individual phone.
You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Most people can transfer their existing cellphone number to Consumer Cellular. It depends on where you live and your old service provider. Follow these guidelines for a successful transfer:
- Do not cancel your number with your old service provider. Your phone number must remain active during the transfer process. Once the number is transferred to Consumer Cellular, it should automatically be disconnected by your old service provider. Once the transfer is complete and you are receiving calls to your Consumer Cellular phone, you may want to call them to confirm cancellation.
- If the number is in a contract, you may be charged an early termination fee by your old service provider.
- When you set up your Consumer Cellular account, you will need to have all of the account information for your old service provider, including the account number, account holder’s name, billing address, and any password or PIN on the old account. You may want to have an old invoice with you when you set up your new account.
- For your convenience, your number transfer will automatically be started 7 days after your phone ships. You can also start your number transfer by giving us a call at
We offer protection plans starting as low as $2 a month. For information about our protection plans, visit our Protection Plans page.
Yes. Text messages sent to an international phone number will not be deducted from the number of texts on your Consumer Cellular Connect plan. However, there will be a charge of $0.05 for any international text messages you send.
Text messages you receive from outside the U.S. are treated like standard text messages. They will be deducted from the number of texts on your Connect plan, but there are no additional charges.
If you are traveling abroad, you will not be able to use the Consumer Cellular service network for texting. Our service is designed to only work within the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii). Once you leave the US, your phone should not work. If by chance it does, the rates are completely unregulated and set by the country in which you are traveling.
Yes. Text messages sent to an international phone number will not be deducted from the number of texts on your Consumer Cellular Connect plan. However, there will be a charge of $0.05 for any international text messages you send.
Text messages you receive from outside the U.S. are treated like standard text messages. They will be deducted from the number of texts on your Connect plan, but there are no additional charges.
If you are traveling abroad, you will not be able to use the Consumer Cellular service network for texting. Our service is designed to only work within the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii). Once you leave the US, your phone should not work. If by chance it does, the rates are completely unregulated and set by the country in which you are traveling.
Yes. Text messages sent to an international phone number will not be deducted from the number of texts on your Consumer Cellular Connect plan. However, there will be a charge of $0.05 for any international text messages you send.
Text messages you receive from outside the U.S. are treated like standard text messages. They will be deducted from the number of texts on your Connect plan, but there are no additional charges.
If you are traveling abroad, you will not be able to use the Consumer Cellular service network for texting. Our service is designed to only work within the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii). Once you leave the US, your phone should not work. If by chance it does, the rates are completely unregulated and set by the country in which you are traveling.
You can send picture or video messages using your cellphone if your phone is capable of capturing pictures and video. A data plan is required for your account in order to send picture or video messages.
Every phone is different, so please visit the Videos and Manuals page for your specific model of phone. There you can watch a video on text messaging, or find instructions in the phone manual. You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
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In many cases, yes, you can use your own phone with your Consumer Cellular plan. To be compatible with our service, your phone should be a phone previously used with AT&T or T-Mobile, or an unlocked GSM phone:
Please understand that while our Customer Service representatives do everything they can to help solve problems, we can’t guarantee every cellphone model can be configured with our service.
If you currently have Consumer Cellular service, you can simply insert your SIM card into the new phone. If you need to start service, call our Customer Service team and they will open an account and send you a free SIM card to use.
Our service is designed to only work within the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii). Once you leave the US, your phone should not work. This includes cruise ship travel. If by chance it does, the rates are completely unregulated and set by the country in which you are traveling. Generally, it will cost at least $1-$3 per minute. To make matters worse, if your phone rings, you are billed — even if you don't answer it. Our advice is to leave your phone at home when traveling outside the US or on a cruise ship.
All phones on one of our Family plans share minutes, messages and data. Calls between phones on the plan are free! For more information, see Do you offer family plans?
Yes, you can set up AutoPay to automatically charge your credit or debit card when your balance is due. Just take the following steps:
- Login to My Account.
- In the Billing menu, click “Edit Billing Info”
- Under “Payment Type,” select “AutoPay”
- Enter your credit/debit card information
- Click “Save Changes”
Your next billing statement will be automatically charged to the debit or credit card you used to set up your account.
To use a different credit or debit card:
- In the Billing menu, click “Edit Billing Info”
- Enter the new credit/debit card information
- Click “Save Changes”
You can also call our Customer Support at , and we will be happy to assist you.
When you become a Consumer Cellular customer an initial set of Usage Alerts are defined for you by default. You can change these settings at any time:
- Log in to My Account
- Go to the Alerts menu, and then select “Manage Alerts”
- Choose your alert type(s):
- Text message
- Choose when you want to be alerted:
- 50% of your included minutes, text messages or wireless web usage.
- 75%
- Click “Update Now”
charge you for the text messages. Not only that, unlike other cellphone companies, we let you change your plan retroactively to the start of your current billing period so you can get the best possible pricing. That’s all there is to it. The alerts are free — we won’t even charge you for the text messages. Not only that, unlike other cellphone companies, we let you change your plan retroactively to the start of your current billing period so you can get the best possible pricing.
automatically upgrade you to the next plan that covers your usage to give you the best rate, with no overage fees. You will receive an additional alert if this occurs. Also, with Consumer Cellular, if you reach 100% usage on your current plan, we automatically upgrade you to the next plan that covers your usage to give you the best rate, with no overage fees. You will receive an additional alert if this occurs.
Our plans start over every month. Since we provide you with more anytime minutes, there’s actually no need to rollover. If you’re on a rollover plan and have accumulated more minutes than you can use, you’re probably paying too much for your plan. With our plans, you can change at any time, for any reason.
The phone we recommend for seniors is our Doro PhoneEasy This phone has many of the features our senior customers prefer:
- Large screen with an easy to read display.
- Large keypad with raised, separated buttons make them easy to dial.
- Emergency SOS button automatically calls your trusted contacts if you need help.
- Vibrating ringer lets you know when you have a call.
- A flip design, which protects the keypad from accidental dialing and makes it easy to answer or end a call.
With our risk-free-guarantee, you can order one and test it out. If you don’t like it, we will exchange it for another model that might be a better fit.
Consumer Cellular also offers family plans that provide free calls between all phones on the same Consumer Cellular account. You can add family members to your plan for just /month, per line. For more information, see Do you offer family plans?
Other than calls between phones on the same account, we do not provide free mobile-to-mobile calling. Our plans offer anytime minutes, so you don't have to worry about whom you're calling and what network they're using.
Many of our phones are compatible with hearing aids. For a quick overview, visit the phone comparison chart or call our Customer Service team at to find the phone that will work best for you.
Consumer Cellular offers family plans, featuring shared minutes and free calls between all phones on the same Consumer Cellular account. For only a month per line, you can add additional family members to your cellphone plan. You can make this change at any time; just add a line by logging in to My Account or call our Customer Support team at and we will walk you through the process.
All of our plans have Anytime Minutes. You don’t have to worry what time of day or what day of the week it is when you’re using your phone. Our plans don’t have free nights and weekends because we’ve found that most customers use very few minutes during those times —which is why other carriers give them away for free.
All cellular companies bill in full-minute increments. This means that a call for 1 minute and 10 seconds will appear on your billing statement as a 2-minute call. Calls are billed from when you answer until a few seconds after you hang up.
We will automatically upgrade your Talk Plan or Connect Plan anytime you go over the minutes, texts, or data allowed by your current plan. This will give you the best possible rate for your current use, and eliminate any overage fees. Through our ‘Usage Alert’ system, you’ll be notified when an upgrade has occurred. You will remain on the upgraded plan unless you choose to change to a different plan after the current billing cycle is complete.
Refer as many people as you want — there is no limit. This is our way of saying “Thank You!” for spreading the word about Consumer Cellular. Receive a $10 credit for each friend who sets up an account. Your friend will also receive a $10 credit on their first bill, so you both win. To get started, just email a friend and tell them what a great deal this is.
You can add text and picture messaging to your phone through our Connect plans, which also include wireless web access. Just follow these steps:
- Log in to My Account.
- In the Plans & Usage menu, select “Change Connect Plan.”
- Select the Text & Data plan that best fits your needs.
- Click “Save Changes.”
You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to walk you through the process.
Calling across the world is as easy as calling across town. Simply dial the international number just like you would from your home: 011 + country code + number. For many countries, our affordable international rates start at only 10 cents per minute. View our complete list of international rates. All international calls use minutes on your plan.
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You can choose whether or not you receive your invoice by mail or by email, just take the following steps:
- Log in to My Account.
- In the Billing menu, click “Edit Billing Info.”
- Under “Billing Type,” select:
- “Paperless Billing” or
- “Extended Detailed Billing ($2)” or
- “Standard Paper Invoicing”
Your next invoice will be sent to you by the method you chose. Once you receive your invoice, you can mail the payment to us, pay online, pay via our My CC smartphone App, or call with your payment, whichever works best for you.
Every phone is different, so please visit the Videos and Manuals page for your specific model of phone. There you can watch a tour of your phone (including adjusting the ring volume), or find instructions in the phone manual. You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
To charge the battery, plug the home or car charger cord into the phone, and plug the charger into an outlet. You can charge the phone any time—while it is turned on or off, or even while you are using it. Every phone is different, so visit the Videos and Manuals page and consult the phone manual. It will tell you how long your phone needs to charge.
You can check your voicemail from your cellphone or from another phone. Please remember that checking your voicemail on your cellphone uses minutes from you plan.
Every phone is different, but in general, you can check your voicemail by following the steps below.
Checking voicemail from your cellphone (uses minutes from your plan):
- Press and hold 1.
- Enter your password.
- Follow the voice prompts.
Checking voicemail from another phone (does not use minutes from your plan):
- Dial your 10-digit cellphone number.
- Press * (star) when you hear your personal greeting.
- Enter your password.
- Follow the voice prompts.
Time-Saving Tips: While listening to a message, you can press:
- 5 to check time/date of message
- 6 to play message faster
- 4 to play message slower
- 3 to fast-forward
- 33 to fast-forward to the end
- 1 to rewind
- 11 to rewind to beginning
- # to skip to next message
- 337 to erase message quickly
- 339 to save message quickly
After listening to a message, you can press:
- 9 to save message
- 7 to erase message
- 5 to check date/time of message
- 0 to get help/more information
For more information on using voicemail for your specific phone, go to the Videos and Manuals page to view the Voicemail video.
Every phone is different, so please visit the Videos and Manuals page for your specific model of phone. There you can watch a tour of your phone, or find instructions in the phone manual. You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
To create a password or reset a forgotten password, go to the Create Password page. We’ll send you a message which you can receive by text message or email. If you don’t have text messaging on your phone but want to receive your temporary password by text, Consumer Cellular will turn on text messaging for your phone long enough to send you your temporary password. There is no charge for the message or for temporarily turning on text messaging.
Once you’ve created a password, you can change it any time by logging into My Account with your current password and going to your Profile page.
If you need a copy of your invoice, just log in to My Account and click “View Current e-Invoice.” in the Billing menu. We keep 18 months of invoices on our website. To view past invoices, just go to the Billing page and click on the month you want to view in the Invoices section. You can also contact our Customer Support at , and we will be happy to assist you.
We bill according to the rate plan that is in place on the last day of the billing cycle. So, if you change your rate plan in the middle of the billing cycle, your next invoice will be based on the new rate plan. If your plan has been automatically upgraded because you’ve gone over the minutes, texts, or data provided on your current plan, the upgraded rate plan and price will remain in place unless you change it.
Depending on how you set up your account, your invoice will either arrive by email or by standard mail:
- If you signed up for “Paperless Billing,” your invoice will be emailed to you directly.
- If you signed up for “Extended Detailed Billing ($2)” or “Standard Paper Invoicing,” your bill will be mailed to your mailing address.
If you want to change how you receive your invoice, see “How do I change my billing method?”
Every phone is different — for specific instructions on locking and unlocking the keypad, visit the Videos and Manuals page. and consult the phone manual for your phone model.
You can log in to your account by taking the following steps:
- Click My Account in the menu at the top of any page or on the home page, click the “Login to My Account” button in the main area.
- Enter your cellphone number.
- Enter your password
- Click “Log In.”
Once you’ve logged in, you can:
- Check your usage.
- View or change your plan.
- Pay your bill.
- Set up Usage Alerts.
There are several ways to make your payment:
By credit or debit card-
- Over the Phone: call
- Online: log in to My Account and click “Pay Now.”
- AutoPay: set up automatic payments from a credit or debit card.
By check-
- Mail your check to:
Consumer Cellular
P.O. Box 7175
Pasadena, CA 91109-7175
You can also pay your bill with your smartphone by using the My CC app.
It's a little different on every phone and every Bluetooth device. Start by turning on the "pairing mode" on your Bluetooth device. Then, go to your phone and finish the pairing process.
Please visit the Videos and Manuals page for your specific model of phone. There you can watch a video on using a Bluetooth headset or find instructions in the phone manual. You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
For your security, the voicemail system requires that you enter your password every time you listen to your messages. However, if you choose, you can turn this feature off when accessing your voicemail from your cellphone.
- Using your cellphone, dial your voicemail.
- If you have new messages, you can either listen to them or press * (star) to go to the Main Menu. If you don't have new messages, you are already at the Main Menu.
- Press 4 for Personal Options.
- Press 2 for Administrative Options.
- Press 1 for Passwords.
- Press 2 to toggle between Password On and Password Off.
If this process doesn’t work for you, please contact our Customer Support team at , and we will walk you through the process.
Every phone is different, so please visit the Videos and Manuals page for your specific model of phone. Our Customer Support team is also available to assist you, so please call , and we will walk you through the process.
If you miss a call, your phone will display a "Missed Call" message. The Caller IDs of incoming calls are stored in your phone's memory, with the most recent call listed first.
Every phone is different, so please visit the Videos and Manuals page for your specific model of phone. There you can watch a video on making and receiving phone calls, or find instructions in the phone manual. You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Voicemail records messages for you when you’re on the phone or when your phone is turned off. Before using voicemail, you will need to complete the setup process. It’s very simple; just
You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and they will be happy to walk you through the process.
Please remember that setting up your voicemail uses minutes from your plan.
Signing up for AutoPay is easy. Just change your Account settings and we will automatically charge your credit or debit card when your balance is due. Just complete these steps:
- Log in to My Account
- In the Billing menu, click “Edit Billing Info”
- Under “Payment Type,” select “AutoPay”
- Enter your credit/debit card information
- Click “Save Changes”
Your next payment will be automatically charged to the debit or credit card you used to set up your account.
If you need to change the credit or debit card used for AutoPay, just do the following:
- In the Billing menu, click “Edit Billing Info”
- Enter your credit/debit card information
- Click “Save Changes.”
To stop unwanted messages, you have two options.
First, you can remove the messaging feature from your phone by calling us or taking the following steps:
- Log in to My Account
- Click on the menu of the phone that you don't want to receive text messages
- Select "Manage Messaging/Data"
- Uncheck "Messaging"
- Click "Save Changes"
You can also change your phone number. Please understand that even if you remove messaging from your phone, your phone may still be able to receive text messages simply by being connected to the cellphone network. We currently have no way of completely disabling the phone’s ability to receive text messages because the cellphone system uses the same method to send necessary service-related downloads and information to your phone.
Every phone is different, so please visit the Videos and Manuals page for your specific model of phone. There you can watch a step by step video on storing your contacts, or find instructions in the phone manual. You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Every phone is different, so please visit the Videos and Manuals page for your specific model of phone. There you can watch a step by step video on transferring your contacts, or find instructions in the phone manual. You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Every phone is different. In general, to turn your phone on or off, press and hold down the red key or power button until the screen turns off. We recommend that you visit the Videos and Manuals page to see a complete tour of your specific phone, or to consult your phone’s manual for instructions.
To update your credit card information, login to My Account, select “Edit Billing Info” in the Billing menu, and enter your updated credit card information. Or, you can always call our Customer Support at as well.
3-way calling is a way of having a phone conversation between three different phones. Please remember that both calls use minutes from your plan.
Every phone is different, so please visit the Videos and Manuals page for your specific model of phone. There you can watch a video on making and receiving phone calls, or find instructions in the phone manual. You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
If you have a Caller ID compatible phone, look at the display when your phone rings to view the phone number of the person calling you. If the area code and phone number are not displayed, you may see one of several messages indicating a private number, an unavailable number, etc.
Caller ID Blocking prevents your cellphone number from being transmitted when you place a call. There is no charge for using Caller ID Blocking on a per-call basis. Every phone is different, but in general, you can enable Caller ID Blocking by following these steps:
- Press *67.
- Enter the 10-digit phone number you are calling.
- Press the green call button.
If this process doesn’t work for your phone, please contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to help you.
Call Waiting lets you receive an incoming call when you're already engaged in a conversation on your cellphone. When you hear the call waiting signal, you can put the first call on hold and answer the second call. You can also decide not to accept the second call. In this case, the caller will hear a message that you are not available or the call will be routed to voicemail.
Please remember that if you answer the second call, you will use your plan’s minutes for both calls simultaneously.
Every phone is different, so please visit the Videos and Manuals page for your specific model of phone. There you can watch a video on making and receiving phone calls, or find instructions in the phone manual. You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
You can use your cellphone to send and receive text messages of up to 160 characters.
To exchange text messages with another cellphone that is capable of text messaging, simply use the 10-digit cellphone number as the message recipient address. For picture messaging, you will simply attach a picture to a text message.
Every phone is different, so please visit the Videos and Manuals page for your specific model of phone. There you can watch a video on text messaging, or find instructions in the phone manual. You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Every phone is different, so please visit the Videos and Manuals page for your specific model of phone. There you can watch a tour of your phone (including the speakerphone feature), or find instructions in the phone manual. You can also contact our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
You can eliminate the worry and surprise of big cellphone bills by using our Usage Alerts service. It will inform you when your usage approaches your plan’s limits. Then you can decide if you need to upgrade your plan or reduce your usage. It’s easy to set up and it’s completely free. You can eliminate the worry and surprise of big cellphone bills by using our Usage Alerts service. It will inform you when your usage approaches your plan’s limits. Then you can decide if you need to upgrade your plan or reduce your usage. It’s easy to set up and it’s completely free.
Log in to My Account, go to the Alerts menu, and then select “Manage Usage Alerts”. You can choose your alert type (email or text message), and choose when you want to be alerted. You can be alerted at 50% and 75% of your plan.
You can also manage your Usage Alerts with your smartphone by using the My CC app.
The alerts are free—we won’t even charge you for the text messages. Not only that, unlike other cellphone companies, we let you change your plan retroactively to the start of your current billing period so you can get the best possible pricing. The alerts are free—we won’t even charge you for the text messages. Not only that, unlike other cellphone companies, we let you change your plan retroactively to the start of your current billing period so you can get the best possible pricing.
With Consumer Cellular, if you reach 100% usage on your current plan, we automatically upgrade you to the next plan that covers your usage to give you the best rate, with no overage fees. You will receive an additional alert if this occurs. With Consumer Cellular, if you reach 100% usage on your current plan, we automatically upgrade you to the next plan that covers your usage to give you the best rate, with no overage fees. You will receive an additional alert if this occurs.
You can easily view your usage and manage your account online, just log in to My Account.
The Plans & Usage section of the main My Account page displays a summary of your Account Usage so you can see how many minutes you’ve used, as well as text messages and web data. Most usage records are received within 24 to 48 hours. However, it can take two to five days and sometimes longer for all usage records to be available.
For a more detailed look at your usage, select “View Usage Details” from the Plans & Usage menu. This will display detailed information about your voice, text, and data usage.
You can set up automated usage alerts to track your usage. We’ll let you know whenever you approach your plans included minutes. In My Account, go to the Alerts menu, then select “Manage Alerts”.
If you find you are using more minutes, texts or data than you thought, you can easily change to a different plan. In My Account, go to the Plans & Usage section and select “Change Plan” to change your plans. If you go over the minutes, texts, or data provided on your current plan before changing it, we will automatically upgrade you to the next plan that covers your usage to give you the best rate.
We post payments as soon as we receive them. You can check your balance online any time, just login to My Account. Allow 8-10 days for a check to get through the mail. Credit card payments are posted the same day. If you need to pay your bill immediately, you can pay online or via our My CC smartphone app using a credit card or call to use our automated payment system at .
In general, it takes one to two days to transfer an existing cellphone number to Consumer Cellular. This process could take longer depending upon your old provider. Several factors influence the transfer — your old provider, and the accuracy of the account information we are provided.
Transferring land line or other non-wireless numbers can take longer. These can take approximately 7 to 10 business days, depending on your old provider and the accuracy of the account information we are provided.
Consumer Cellular offers several cellphone plans designed to meet a wide range of needs: from minimal monthly usage to plans that offer thousands of minutes each month. We have a plan to fit every situation, and you can change plans whenever you want, risk free.
If you are having trouble placing or receiving calls:
- Make sure your phone's power is on and the battery is charged.
- Make sure your phone's display says "My Network" or "Other Network" and that you are receiving a signal.
- Verify that you have dialed the number correctly by clearing the screen on your phone and attempting the call again. Make sure you dial the area code + number.
If you are still unable to place a call, note the message on your phone's display and use a land line to call our Customer Support team at
There is no need to pick up your new phone—we will ship it to you for free. In addition, we can help you with any issues that might arise with your Consumer Cellular phone. Just call us at
You can change your cellphone plan at any time, just take the following steps:
- Log in to My Account.
- In the Plans & Usage section, select “Change Plan”.
You can also call our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to assist you. On your smartphone, you can change plans by using the My CC App.
You can change your cellphone plan at any time, just take the following steps:
- Log in to My Account.
- In the Plans & Usage section, select “Change Plan”.
You can also call our Customer Support team at , and we will be happy to assist you. On your smartphone, you can change plans by using the My CC App.
As an added benefit, if you go over the minutes, texts, or data provided on your current plan, we automatically upgrade you to the next plan that covers your usage to give you the best rate, with no overage fees.
Consumer Cellular’s Access Point Name (APN) will need to be installed in the phone in order for it to connect to cellular data. Consumer Cellular operates on two different networks: AT&T and T-Mobile. Select the network you’re using below to access the settings that need to be installed in your phone. If you’re unsure which network you’re using, please feel free to contact us at .
APN Settings for AT&T Network
To create or edit an APN:
Please note, the location of the APN settings is dependent on the make and model of your phone. These are general directions that will apply to many phones, but the verbiage may vary. In general, APN settings are found by navigating to your Menu and these subsequent sections: Settings; Wireless and Networks; More; Mobile Networks; Access Point Names.
From Access Point Names, tap the “Menu” or “Options” button then “New APN”, “Create APN”, or a circle with + to add an APN.
3G phones:
| Name | CC |
| APN | att.mvno |
| Proxy | 66.209.11.32 or proxy.mvno.ccmobileweb.com |
| Port | 80 |
| Username | Blank or Not Set |
| Password | Blank or Not Set |
| Server | Blank or Not Set |
| MMSC | http://mmsc.cingular.com |
| MMS Proxy | 66.209.11.32 or proxy.mvno.ccmobileweb.com |
| MMS Port | 80 |
| MCC | 310 |
| MNC | 410 |
| Authentication Type | Blank or Not Set |
| APN Type | Choose "Internet + MMS", "All types" or manually type: default,mms,agps,supl,fota |
LTE phones:
| Name | CC LTE |
| Proxy port | Blank or Not Set |
| Proxy push | Enabled or None |
| Authentication type | secure, none, or not set |
| Username | <Blank> |
| Password | <Blank> |
| APN | ccdata |
| MMSC | http://mmsc.mobile.att.net |
| MMS Proxy | proxy.mobile.att.net |
| MMS Port | 80 |
| Authentication Type | None or Not Set |
| APN Type |
default, mms, supl or default,mms,agps,supl,fota |
As an alternative, for many phone models, we are able to remotely configure your phone to our data service. Contact a customer service agent with the IMEI number (serial number) of your non-Consumer Cellular phone to receive the settings via free text message. If your cellphone is not remotely configurable, we often have instructions specific to your model of cellphone. We can instruct you over a phone call or we can provide these instructions to you via email.
Important notes!
- APN Type: Some phones have an “APN All Types” or “Internet + MMS” option to select or you can type “default,mms,agps,supl,fota” as the APN type to set this as all profiles. Use commas and do not use any spaces.
- Most Android phones have MMS and Web settings combined to be entered in one profile. If not, separate profiles will need to be created for data and MMS to both work.
After entering the APN settings above, you’ll need to complete the following steps:
- From the “Access Point Name” screen, verify the Consumer Cellular (CC) profile you just created is selected. If it hasn’t already been selected, simply tap the circle/radio button to select it.
- In order to verify the settings were entered correctly, you’ll need to disable Wi-Fi, and then power cycle your cellphone by turning it completely off for a few minutes.
- When you turn your cellphone back on, it’s possible that you’ll still see the old error message when you try to access the internet. If this happens, please click on the address bar and enter a different URL to see if you can access a different website. If you’re still in need of assistance, please feel free to contact us at .
Non-Consumer Cellular iPhones:
If you have an Apple iPhone 4 or newer, manually entering data settings is not required, however you may need to take a couple of steps if data is not working automatically once the phone is activated on Consumer Cellular service. In order for cellular data to work on a non-Consumer Cellular Apple iPhone 4 or newer, follow these steps:
- The iPhone must have iOS 7 or above
- Connect the phone to Wi-Fi
- Check for a carrier profile update by navigating to Settings; General and About. If an update is available, a pop up will notify you to install it. Once this is done, turn off Wi-Fi, power the iPhone completely off then back on, and then test the data.
If you have an iPhone 4 or higher and data is not working after taking these steps, please contact customer service for assistance at .
If you have an Apple iPhone 3GS, data can be configured once the
phone has been updated to iOS 5 or higher. These phones can then work for cellular
data, however picture messaging cannot be configured. Follow these steps to configure
data:
Connect to Wi-Fi, open the Safari browser, navigate to www.consumercellular.com/iphoneAPN, click “install”.
Unfortunately, Apple iPhone 3G or older models cannot be configured for data other than that of the original carrier.
Other notes:
- Our Connect service is a great deal for casual data use. However we do not offer unlimited plans for heavy data use, such as watching videos or listening to streaming audio.
- Please understand that, while our Customer Service representatives do everything they can to help solve customers’ problems, we can’t guarantee every cellphone model can be configured with our data service.
- Many phones that are compatible with our service will allow you to modify the settings and begin using our picture messaging and web service. However, there are some phones that will not work. If you have difficulties we can help you select one of our affordable data capable phones that will arrive fully programmed.
- A non-consumer cellular phone must be fully unlocked in order for our data settings to be installed.
APN Settings for T-Mobile Network
To create or edit an APN:
Please note, the location of the APN settings is dependent on the make and model of your phone. These are general directions that will apply to many phones, but the verbiage may vary. In general, APN settings are found by navigating to your Menu and these subsequent sections: Settings; Wireless and Networks; More; Mobile Networks; Access Point Names.
From Access Point Names, tap the “Menu” or “Options” button then “New APN”, “Create APN”, or a circle with + to add an APN.
| Name | CC |
| APN | wholesale |
| Proxy | none or not set |
| Port | none or not set |
| Username | <blank> |
| Password | <blank> |
| Server | none or not set |
| MMSC | http://wholesale.mmsmvno.com/mms/wapenc |
| MMS Proxy | none or not set |
| MMS Port | none or not set |
| MCC | 310 |
| MNC | 260 |
| Authentication Type | none or not set |
| APN Type |
default,supl,mms or default,mms,agps,supl,fota |
After entering the above, if applicable, tap “Save” or tap the menu button then “Save”
Important notes!
- APN Type: Some phones have an “APN All Types” or “Internet + MMS” option to select or you can type “default,mms,agps,supl,fota” as the APN type to set this as all profiles. Use commas and do not use any spaces.
- Most Android phones have MMS and Web settings combined to be entered in one profile. If not, separate profiles will need to be created for data and MMS to both work.
After entering the APN settings above, you’ll need to complete the following steps:
- From the “Access Point Name” screen, verify the Consumer Cellular (CC) profile you just created is selected. If it hasn’t already been selected, simply tap the circle/radio button to select it.
- In order to verify the settings were entered correctly, you’ll need to disable Wi-Fi, and then power cycle your cellphone by turning it completely off for a few minutes.
- When you turn your cellphone back on, it’s possible that you’ll still see the old error message when you try to access the internet. If this happens, please click on the address bar and enter a different URL to see if you can access a different website. If you’re still in need of assistance, please feel free to contact us at .
Other notes:
- Our Connect service is a great deal for casual data use. However we do not offer unlimited plans for heavy data use, such as watching videos or listening to streaming audio.
- Please understand that, while our Customer Service representatives do everything they can to help solve customers’ problems, we can’t guarantee every cellphone model can be configured with our data service.
- Many phones that are compatible with our service will allow you to modify the settings and begin using our picture messaging and web service. However, there are some phones that will not work. If you have difficulties we can help you select one of our affordable data capable phones that will arrive fully programmed.
- A non-consumer cellular phone must be fully unlocked in order for our data settings to be installed.
A beeping sound usually indicates one of the following:
- Your battery may be low. Check the battery-charge indicator.
- If you have Call Waiting, someone may be trying to reach you. Press the green key (above the 1) to answer the second call. See Call Waiting for more details.
- One of the phone keys may have been pressed accidentally.
- You may have a voice or text message in your mailbox.
- Your alarm clock feature could be activated.
If you hear a fast busy signal, the cellular network (or the land line network) of the party you're trying to reach may be temporarily busy. Turn your phone off and on. Then call the number again.
If you hear static when you make a call, check the signal-strength indicator on your display. You may be in a location where reception is weak due to geography, weather, limited coverage, limited network capacity, or other reasons. If the static is specific to a certain location, chances are your phone is fine and the location has a weak signal.
If you continue to hear static in all locations, there may be a problem with your phone. Use a land line to call our Customer Support team at
If you selected a plan where you pay by the minute, you will begin receiving alerts once your usage reaches levels where you could save money by selecting a different pricing plan.
In general, if you plan to use your phone more than 20 minutes a month, you are probably better off with one of our monthly plans. You can upgrade your plan at any time:
- Log in to My Account.
- Select “Change Plan” from the Plans & Usage section.
Or call our Customer Support team at .
You are not charged a long-distance fee for calling an 800 number; however, you are still using minutes on your plan.
Our phones come with a one year warranty with the manufacturer. It is up to the manufacturer’s discretion as to whether the phone should be replaced or repaired if there is an issue.
If your phone is not working, contact our Customer Support team at and we will walk you through the warranty process.
When the phone is first turned on, it displays "No Service" for about 30 seconds while it connects to the cellular network. This is normal. The message should disappear after 30 seconds.
If the "No Service" message stays on, you may be in a location where the cellular signal is too weak, such as a subway or mountain valley, or where a cellular tower is not close enough to your phone. Weather or environmental conditions may also be a factor. Try your call again from another area.
If "No Service" stays on in an area where you think you should be getting reception, turn the phone off and back on. If you still get "No Service," use a land line to call our Customer Support team at
When not in use, your cellphone is designed to conserve battery life by dimming the display screen. This is called Standby Mode. Although the display is dark, the phone is still on and ready to use.
The SIM card is a small chip located in the back of your phone. It is responsible for providing service and registering the phone to the signal towers. We have already placed the SIM card in the phone for you.
This message "Unregistered SIM" means your phone is not properly active in the cellular system. Please call Consumer Cellular’s Customer Support team at and report the problem so we can correct it.
Yes. You can change back to your old plan at the end of the current billing cycle. If you are satisfied with the upgraded plan and believe you will continue to need the additional minutes, texts, or data it includes, no action is required. You will remain on the new plan unless you choose to change it. You can always change your plan with Consumer Cellular, and with no additional fee.
You used more minutes, texts, or data than your plan allowed during the billing cycle. To guarantee you the best possible rate, we automatically upgraded you to a plan that covers the amount you used, with absolutely no overage fees.
All our prices are listed before taxes and surcharges. There are federal, state, and local taxes on cellphones. Taxes can range from 15% to 35% of your total balance, depending on where you live. Many of the taxes on a cellphone invoice are the same as those you would see on your home phone bill. If you would like a full list of applicable cellphone taxes for your area, contact your local government taxing authority.
Consumer Cellular offers both calling plans and messaging and data plans. To find the plan that best fits your needs, please visit our Plans page to see the different options.
“Roaming" refers to those times you are using cellphone services when traveling outside the geographical coverage area of your network. "Long distance" refers to the area code you are calling.
- Roaming. On Consumer Cellular plans, there are no roaming charges, no matter where you are in the U.S.
- Long distance. On Consumer Cellular plans, there are no long-distance charges for any calls within the U.S. Just like local calls, long distance calls simply use minutes from your plan.
If you travel outside the U.S., your phone should not work (this includes cruise ship travel). If it does, you should plan on paying at least $1-3 per minute. To make matters worse, if your phone rings, you are billed — even if you don’t answer it. Our advice is to leave your phone at home when travelling outside the U.S.
If you go over your plan’s limit of minutes, texts, or data during the month, we’ll automatically upgrade you to a plan that covers the amount you’ve used. This way, you are guaranteed to get the best possible rate for your monthly usage, with absolutely no overage fees. Your bill for the month will include the upgraded plan.
Consumer Cellular offers a wide variety of text and data plans to fit all lifestyles. To easily manage your data, download our free My Account app for your iPhone or Android smartphone.
Our biggest plan offers 4GB of data. One you have exceeded the 4GB maximum, you will be billed an additional $10 for each extra GB used. You may also experience slower data speeds after 4GB of use.
The maximum amount of data available in any billing cycle is 10GB. If you do reach this amount, your data use will be suspended until the next billing cycle starts.
To conserve data and avoid reduced speeds, we recommend connecting to a Wi-Fi network whenever possible. Visit our Manuals & Videos page section for phone-specific videos on how to connect
to Wi-Fi.
With our 100% Risk-Free Guarantee, you can cancel your service and return your phone within 30 days or 300 minutes of use (whichever comes first) and pay nothing. We'll even send you a mailing label so you can ship the phone back for free. Once your phone is received, you can expect a credit to post to your credit card account within 10 business days.
If you go over the 300 units of usage, or are outside the 30 days, you can still cancel your service at any time. We will prorate your final invoice and send it to you in the next billing cycle.
Regardless of the units of usage, you can return your phone anytime within 30 days of purchase. The phone must be undamaged and all accessories returned in the original box with the manuals.
If you are an AARP member, you receive an extended 100% Risk-Free Guarantee, with 45 days or 450 units of usage (whichever comes first.)
It is responsible for providing service and registering the phone to the signal towers. We have already placed the SIM card in the phone for you.
Please visit the Videos and Manuals page for your specific model of phone. There you can watch a video on inserting and removing the SIM card or find instructions in the phone manual.
Our AutoPay Program allows you to set up automatic payments for your bill using your credit or debit card. That means one less check to write each month. Once you sign up, we will automatically charge your debit or credit card on the due date. You will still receive an invoice each month detailing all your charges. To learn how to sign up for AutoPay, please see How do I sign up for AutoPay?
The $10.00 plan is our emergency plan. It's a great plan for someone that just wants a cellphone in case of an emergency or to keep in the car. You pay the lowest monthly fee possible and only pay for minutes if you use them. It's $10 per month, plus tax, and $.25 per minute of use. Calls to 911 and Consumer Cellular are free. Most customers on this plan use less than 20 minutes per month, and sometimes none at all. If you feel you would use the phone more frequently, we have many other plans would be a better fit. You can view our Phones & Plans page here.
Most cellphone companies apply activation fees to offset the cost of activating and programing the phone through their system. Consumer Cellular has free activation for all our phones.
When you want to place a call in the U.S., we’ve got you covered. Consumer Cellular cellphone plans cover just about everywhere you want to be. See our extensive coverage map to view the service in your area.
If you are having coverage issues, please call our Customer Support team at , and we can assist you with options that may improve your service.
The PIN is a security feature built into the phone by the manufacturer. It is used to lock the phone when it is first turned on. We do not recommend locking the phone. If you feel it necessary to use the lock feature, please call our Customer Support team at so we can walk you through the process.
Consumer Cellular has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 1999. Throughout this time period, Consumer Cellular has consistently been rated highly with numerous A+ and A- ratings. In fact, Consumer Cellular has earned such ratings for 14 Consecutive years!
We have a 100% risk-free guarantee for all our phones. If you are not satisfied within 30 days, 300 minutes, 300 texts, or 300 MBs of usage (whichever comes first), just cancel and pay nothing. No questions asked. If you use more than 300 minutes, 300 texts or 300 MBs you can still return your phone if it is within 30 days.
For AARP members, the risk free period is even longer: 45 days, 450 minutes, 450 texts or 450 MB of data, whichever comes first.
All our prices are listed before taxes, which include federal, state and local taxes. Generally these taxes can range from 15% to 35% of your bill, depending on where you live.
Other charges may include:
- 411 calls you’ve made
- International calls and texts
- Calls made while traveling outside the U.S.
- Calls made from cruise ships
- Content downloads from the internet
We offer text messaging and web data through our Connect Plans. To view our plans and find the best one for you, please visit the Connect Plans page.
Your minutes start over on the first day of your billing cycle. To find your billing cycle, please see When is my invoice balance due?
Your invoice is posted to your account 4 days after your billing cycle ends.
Your due date depends on your billing cycle. You can always log in to My Account to find the due date for your current invoice.
- The due date is generally 19 days from when the invoice is mailed.
- Minutes, messages and web data start over on the first day of your billing cycle.
- Rate plan changes backdate to the first day of your current billing cycle, even if you changed it on the last day of the cycle
- Your invoice is based on the plan you have in place on the last day of your billing cycle, regardless of how many times you change your plan during the cycle.
- AutoPay accounts are charged on the due date of their invoice.
If you need to change your billing cycle due date contact our Customer Support at
Your account number is located in the upper right corner of your invoice. It is also displayed on the Profile page in My Account.
When you want to place a call in the U.S., we’ve got you covered. Consumer Cellular cellphone plans cover just about everywhere you want to be. See our coverage map to view the service in your area..
Cellular networks operate on a nationwide grid that divides cities or regions into smaller cells. A cell might cover a few city blocks or up to 250 square miles. Every cell uses a set of radio frequencies, or channels, to provide service in its specific area. The power of these radios is controlled in order to limit the signal's geographic range. Because the shape and size of cells vary, there may be gaps between the areas covered by two or more cells. These gaps, or "dead spots," can also be caused by trees, tall buildings, or other obstructions that block the signal from reaching a nearby antenna. If a local government or landowner won't allow placement of a cellular antenna, that too can create a dead spot.
We pride ourselves on offering quality phones that are easy to use. Our easiest phone to use is the Doro PhoneEasy. You can find out more about it by visiting the Doro PhoneEasy page here.
If you're not receiving email from Consumer Cellular, start with going to My Account. Confirm that the correct email address is listed in your Profile. After you've confirmed the email is being sent to the correct email address, check the spam folder in your email account. Occasionally, spam filters incorrectly classify valid emails as spam.
To ensure you receive important email, please add the following addresses to your address book:
- Billing@ConsumerCellular.com
- Info@ConsumerCellular.com
- Service@ConsumerCellular.com