Google Customer Support- A nightmare in Action

heap1

New member
Oct 31, 2021
4
0
0
I recently purchased a Pixel 5a from the Google Store which has a promotion of 3 free months of Google Fi as part of the purchase. The only problem is that there is no way to activate the promotion without first porting in a number to Google Fi. This is not a requirement of the promotion as listed in the description and Google Support agrees that I should qualify for the 3 free months of Google Fi. I have been on the phone with support for hours and they have no clue how to activate the promotion. Their first level of support is all window dressing. Also, their support is so chaotic they have no way to escalate my complaint to someone that might be able to resolve it. Fortunately I do like the phone. However, after my experience in the future I think I will probably avoid any purchases or interactions with Google.
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2021-12-06 at 12.58.17 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2021-12-06 at 12.58.17 PM.png
    440.5 KB · Views: 23

J Dubbs

Well-known member
Jun 4, 2016
4,005
1,155
113
Can't blame you there, you have to base your opinion of a company off of how they treat you ;)
 

Chuck Finley69

Trusted Member
Feb 22, 2015
470
0
0
I recently purchased a Pixel 5a from the Google Store which has a promotion of 3 free months of Google Fi as part of the purchase. The only problem is that there is no way to activate the promotion without first porting in a number to Google Fi. This is not a requirement of the promotion as listed in the description and Google Support agrees that I should qualify for the 3 free months of Google Fi. I have been on the phone with support for hours and they have no clue how to activate the promotion. Their first level of support is all window dressing. Also, their support is so chaotic they have no way to escalate my complaint to someone that might be able to resolve it. Fortunately I do like the phone. However, after my experience in the future I think I will probably avoid any purchases or interactions with Google.

Do you already have a Google Fi account?
 

heap1

New member
Oct 31, 2021
4
0
0
I was finally able to access the promotion for the 3 free months of Google FI. Because of complaints maybe Google did something to fix the link? Anyways thanks for your reply to my original post. One thing I notice is that the data speed is extremely slow compared to my T-Mobile account. Not sure why that is, because I assume that FI would be using the T-Mobile network too. Anyways even though it would be nice to have a usable data speed during the promotion, I plan to drop FI since it's $30 more a month than my T-Mobile account. It doesn't add anything except having access to a second phone#
 

B. Diddy

Senior Ambassador
Moderator
Mar 9, 2012
167,730
7,975
113
Welcome to Android Central! Glad you were able to sort it out, but it's too bad to hear about the data speeds. That's one of the reasons I've been hesitant to switch from T-Mobile to Fi -- my understanding is that Fi users can be deprioritized on the T-Mobile network depending on traffic conditions.
 

heap1

New member
Oct 31, 2021
4
0
0
Thanks for replying to my post. I just wanted to let you know that has been sorted out too. I am now getting data speeds similar to what I get with my T-Mobile account. Not sure why it was so slow at first.
 

B. Diddy

Senior Ambassador
Moderator
Mar 9, 2012
167,730
7,975
113
Thanks for replying to my post. I just wanted to let you know that has been sorted out too. I am now getting data speeds similar to what I get with my T-Mobile account. Not sure why it was so slow at first.

Great to hear!
 

sixty_four

Well-known member
Nov 29, 2011
510
3
0
I was finally able to access the promotion for the 3 free months of Google FI. Because of complaints maybe Google did something to fix the link? Anyways thanks for your reply to my original post. One thing I notice is that the data speed is extremely slow compared to my T-Mobile account. Not sure why that is, because I assume that FI would be using the T-Mobile network too. Anyways even though it would be nice to have a usable data speed during the promotion, I plan to drop FI since it's $30 more a month than my T-Mobile account. It doesn't add anything except having access to a second phone#

I just picked up a 5a and am seeing the same problem with this promotion with my account. When I select the "Get a new number" option, I'm told the promotion is invalid. Did you do or say anything special with support to get this working? I'd like to compare Fi to my current service with Verizon to compare speed and coverage, especially in the sticks.
 

heap1

New member
Oct 31, 2021
4
0
0
I just picked up a 5a and am seeing the same problem with this promotion with my account. When I select the "Get a new number" option, I'm told the promotion is invalid. Did you do or say anything special with support to get this working? I'd like to compare Fi to my current service with Verizon to compare speed and coverage, especially in the sticks.

I was able to click through on the link to get a new number, even though it said it was invalid for the promotion. Support was a waste of time as far as I'm concerned. They weren't really very helpful at all.
 

sixty_four

Well-known member
Nov 29, 2011
510
3
0
I was able to click through on the link to get a new number, even though it said it was invalid for the promotion. Support was a waste of time as far as I'm concerned. They weren't really very helpful at all.

Support advised clicking through to get the 3-month promo. I tried that but the promo code wasn't present in my cart when checking out. I'll keep bugging them.
 

sixty_four

Well-known member
Nov 29, 2011
510
3
0
Fi support said this was a Google Store issue and bounced my case to them. Store tried half-heartedly to help then said it was Fi and bounced it back to Fi. Fi support's latest instructions was to activate Fi before using the promotion, which may likely make me ineligible for the promotion. So far Fi support has sucked the big fat hard one.
 

J Dubbs

Well-known member
Jun 4, 2016
4,005
1,155
113
Fi support said this was a Google Store issue and bounced my case to them. Store tried half-heartedly to help then said it was Fi and bounced it back to Fi. Fi support's latest instructions was to activate Fi before using the promotion, which may likely make me ineligible for the promotion. So far Fi support has sucked the big fat hard one.

Unfortunately I've heard that a lot about Google/FI support lately.... I guess they're trying to catch up to Samsung :eek:
 

Forum statistics

Threads
951,166
Messages
6,951,885
Members
3,162,274
Latest member
Blogtechnology