With the advent of modern technology, mobile phones have become part and parcel of our day-to-day lives. Unlike other devices, there are a plethora of activities that you can do with your mobile device. From doing business online to communicating with your family and friends, there are a myriad of activities you can carry out with your handset. With the proliferation of mobile devices in the market, there are many carriers that have come up. TracFone is one of the reliable service providers in the US. From having no contracts to having affordable monthly plans, there are many benefits of choosing this carrier as your preferred service provider.
Although you may have purchased a Tracfone mobile phone in the past, chances are that you may want to replace it over time. Whether it has got damaged or you want to upgrade it, there are several reasons that may prompt you to replacement your Tracfone devices. In this article, we shall take a closer look at how to replacement the TracFone phone for free, alongside other related ideas:
Reasons To Replace Your TracFone Phone
Before we outline the various steps that you ought to follow when replacing a TracFone mobile phone, it is important that you know some of the reasons that can prompt you to replace it in the first place. Some of the leading reasons include:
1. You misplaced your phone
Just like any other mobile phone, TracFone phone is not immune to such issues. It may get lost when you are traveling to the workplace or even when you are in the marketplace. Other times, you may be pickpocketed and thus inconvenience you greatly. Since you may have vital contacts and documents on your mobile phone, you have to replace it as soon as possible.
2. You are not getting OS updates anymore
Typically, mobile phones usually get updates from the developer every now and then. With these updates in place, the phone is now able to work optimally. Moreso, if you are using an Android phone, you will need to get these updates every now and then.
From allowing you to surf the internet smoothly to allow you to communicate with friends on social media platforms, there are many benefits of using a mobile phone with an updated OS.
Although these updates are periodic, there are instances when your mobile phone may not get these updates anymore. This is a clear indication that your mobile phone is slowly becoming obsolete and might need to be replaced soon.
3. Battery issues
The battery is an important component of any mobile phone. During the first few months, the battery may be storing enough charge for several hours or even days. However, over time, the battery may no longer store charge for that stipulated time period.
In fact, it may reach a point where you must carry your charger in case you have to use your Tracfone mobile device. If the battery is a non-removable one, you have no alternative but to replace the mobile phone.
.On the other hand, if you have a removable battery, you may replace it on the go. However, finding older batteries might be a tall order as they are not readily available out there. Therefore, the only lucrative option here is to replace your mobile device.
4. Freezing or crashing issues
The above-mentioned problem is very common whenever your mobile phone is corrupted by malicious malware. Other times, your device might get bugs from external sources such as your SD card and thus make it start hanging every now and then.
Other times, your RAM might be the issue, and thus, some programs might not run as expected. With all these problems staring at you, the best thing to do is to replace your mobile device on the go. Once you get a better model, all these issues will a thing of the past.
5. Broken screen
Since we are in the era of using smartphones, having a model whose screen is broken is the last thing that you would wish for. This is because you may not be able to use it the way you please. Although some sections of the screen may be working, there are some that might fail to work.
You may have problems typing messages and so forth. Since screen repair might be quite expensive, you may opt to replace the entire model so that you can get a better one with incredible features. Therefore, if your Tracfone phone has a broken screen, you may have to replace it as soon as possible.
Does Tracfone Allow You To Replace Your Damaged Or Lost Phone
Yes. The good news is that this carrier now allows its customers to replace their damaged or lost handsets. However, this must-have happened during the warranty period as this carrier usually sells its models with a one-year warranty. When it comes to free replacement, be sure that this only applies to new or reconditioned Tracfone phone models.
For instance, if your model gets damaged on the 4th month from the date of purchase, you can readily get a new one free of charge. Besides the phone itself, all the accessories that come with the phone are also covered by a 90-day warranty in case they get damaged when they are under normal use by the purchaser.
It is imperative to note that certified pre-owned models are not covered by a limited warranty. However, one can return them and get a refund within a period of 30 days from the date of purchase. Finally, a mobile phone that is registered with Tracfone and is under the Bring Your Own Phone program is not covered by a limited warranty from Tracfone.
How Do I Get A Replacement TracFone Phone For Free
Since we have established that you can now replacement your Tracfone phone for free if at all it is covered by the warranty, time is ripe for you to know the procedure that you ought to follow in order to acquire a new one. Some of the steps that you ought to follow include:
1. Contact the Tracfone customer support service
Once you have misplaced or damaged your Tracfone, you should contact the customer support team of this carrier right away. The good news is that you can reach them on phone at 800-867-7183. Better still, you can reach them online by visiting “tracfone.com”.
Once you are able to reach the agent on the other side, be sure that you will be asked an array of questions. From your phone number to the reason why you want to replace your phone, there are many questions that you will be asked.
Your personal details will also be required in order to ascertain that you are a legit owner of that phone model.
If your reason is convincing enough and your phone is still under a limited warranty, be sure that a replacement model will be mailed to you. Here, you will be at liberty to keep your current phone number or better still, ask for a new one. The choice is solely yours.
2. Wait for a replacement model
Once you ask for a replacement model, you will not get it immediately. Rather, you will have to wait for a couple of days for it to arrive. It is important to note that it will be sent to the address that you submitted in the previous step. Once you get it, follow the directions that you will get so that you can activate your new model. Here, you should call the support team so that your device can be activated.
During the activation process, you will have to provide the serial number you will find on the activation card and the code on your SIM card. The latter is located at the back of the SIM. By doing so, you will be able to transfer your Tracfone minutes seamlessly.
It is imperative to note that the replacement may contain a charger and a battery. However, there are instances when these components might be missing. In case these components are not present, you can remove the old battery from the damaged phone and then use it on the new model.
3. Return the damaged phone to the carrier
If your phone was not lost but rather got damaged, you can now return it to the carrier. Here, you should put it in the package that came with your new model and then seal it well. In most instances, these packages come in form of prepaid envelopes.
Therefore, you will be required to put the damaged model in that envelope, seal it and then drop it at your nearest post office so that it can be returned. Better still, you can liaise with the mail carrier and hand over this package to him or her on the following day.
In case you want to purchase a new Tracfone phone, you can readily do so at either of the following stores:
- Walmart
- K-Mart
- Eckerd
- Kroger
- Radio Shack
TracFone Free Phone Replacement Rules
Before we sum up, it is imperative that you know some of the rules that govern how TracFone replaces damaged or lost phones out there. These rules include:
- As far as the limited warranty is concerned, it is important to note that it starts from the date one purchased the phone from TracFone. Besides this, the warranty is only applicable for damaged caused on the device when it was under normal usage.
- The only person who gets to enjoy the limited warranty is the person who originally purchased the phone. This is because the limited warranty is not transferable to any other buyer. The buyer in this case must have bought the TracFone device from an authorized retailer or dealer for his or her to enjoy the limited warranty. Once the buyer wants to get a replacement from TracFone, he has to prove the date he purchased the phone using a dated itemized receipt or a dated bill of sale.
- In case you lose vital detail such as your passwords, personal information, pictures, contacts, applications, videos, and any other form of content, be sure that the limited warranty will not cover such.
- TracFone will not be held liable for the loss of service during the period that the mobile phone is returned for replacement. In addition, it will not be held liable for the loss of personal information, videos, password, and other vital contents once you choose to return the device with these details.
Tricks That Can Help You Locate Your Phone If You Have Lost Or Misplaced Your Tracfone Phone
As we previously mentioned, it is now possible to replace your misplaced or lost TracFone phone in case it is covered by a limited warranty from the manufacturer. However, your phone might not be misplaced per se. This means that your phone might just be around you or within the vicinity, but you can hardly locate it. Perhaps, you may have lowered its ringing tone or just set it in a way that it will only vibrate. In case it is misplaced or lost, there are certain techniques that can help you find it on the go. Some of these techniques include:
1. Call your number using another phone
This is actually the first initiative you should take once you misplace or lose your phone. Once you call your phone, it will ring on the other end if at all it is not switched off. As you make the phone call, listen carefully and establish if you can hear it ringing within your proximity.
In case someone answers your call, request them to store the mobile phone for you so that you can pick it up later. Better still, you can ask them to send it to you. Either way, you will be able to get your misplaced Tracfone phone.
2. Use Google Android manager
Besides calling your phone number using another phone, you can now locate your misplaced Tracfone phone using Google Android manager. This tool is very effective if at all you had used the lost Android phone to access mobile apps such as Chrome browser, Google Play, or even your Gmail account.
If you have a tablet or a laptop, you can log in to your Google account and then visit the Google search bar section and key in ‘Find my Android phone’. Navigate down until you come across a result that says ‘Fine your phone-My Account-Google’.
Click it and then follow all the instructions that you will find on your screen. However, this step is ideal for those who have misplaced Android Tracfone mobile devices. If you have misplaced an iPhone, you may have to use the ‘Find my iPhone’ feature or iCloud feature in order to locate your lost device. The good news is that this feature works the same as one of the Android devices.
3. Contact your mobile service provider
If the above-mentioned options fail to work out, feel free to contact your service provider and ask them to help you locate your lost device. Once you give them the finer details about your handset, they will be able to find it on the go and alert you about its whereabouts.
Instances When You May Not Enjoy The Limited Warranty From Tracfone
From the ideas we have discussed above, it is clear that you can now get a free replacement anytime your Tracfone phone is damaged or lost within the warranty period. However, there are instances when you may not enjoy this limited warranty and thus might have to either purchase a new phone from your own pocket or consider other viable alternatives. Here are some conditions that can hinder you from getting a free replacement Tracfone phone:
- Your device was subjected to abnormal conditions, abnormal use, exposure to dampness or moisture, improper storage, or unauthorized repair.
- Your device was damaged as a result of external causes such as fire, collision with an object, windstorm, flooding, lightning, sand, dirt, or even earthquake. Better still, if your device was damaged as a result of improper connection, internet viruses, or battery leakage.
- You failed to notify TracFone in writing of the alleged malfunction or defect within 14 days after the applicable limited warranty had expired.
- The serial number of your phone is no longer there or has been removed.
- Your device got damaged months after the warranty period is over
- Your mobile phone was damaged as a result of inadequate signal reception, defective cellular system, or software problems caused by external components such as SD cards.
Final Words
Being connected has now become more important than ever. With a Tracfone mobile device, you will remain not only connected but also be able to work online, do business online access emergency healthcare services, and so much more. This can be attributed to its great network coverage, better cell phone plans, among other incredible offers. In case you misplace your device, you can take advantage of its warranty and replace it, as illustrated above. Consider all the ideas we have mentioned above, and you will not stay in the dark.
