Tracfone's iPhone SE 3rd Gen

**ChristInMe** · 07-24-2023, 07:45 PM

I got my device successfully activated today by a CSR. As with all things TF, YMMV!

So this morning I decided to give customer service a try. I called the toll number, 800-867-7183, chose option 2 to activate a new device. The system prompted me to enter the IMEI and zip code which I did. I was then transferred to the appropriate CSR. Luckily, the CSR was knowledgeable and explained to me what was going on. The device was erroneously registered as eSIM; however, the device is not provisioned to work with eSIM on TF. The agent asked for my email address to setup a new account and then asked for the IMEI, SIM ID, and zip code. She then removed the wrong registration and properly re-register the device. I then gave her the code for my service plan and she activated the device. In all it took about 20 minutes. The only snafu was that somehow the activated device was not linked to the account she initially created. I could care less about that since I could do that myself online.

My advice is that don't call Corporate. You need to reach a knowledgeable CSR who knows about the issue. Call the 800 number and choose option 2 and follow the prompts. Good luck!

**AMCJ** · 07-24-2023, 08:15 PM

1st CSR I talked to for phone #1 did exactly what you did after some digging on his part. SE3 #1 is now activated. That said, it is now showing as BYOD so I think all of us will eventually need to fight again after 60 days to get it unlocked. Text unlock to 611611 will confirm as much. They don't think the SE3 they sold us is in their system at all.

My CSR roulette luck ran out for phone #2. I have spoken with at least 9 people (3 of them "corporate" or 2nd-line CSR) and none of them could figure it out. At this point, I gave up and am waiting for enough people complaining so that they realize someone screwed up.

**vartanarsen** · 07-25-2023, 02:12 PM

I was able to activate too finally but they forced more money out of me. When I told them I already paid 1st month $15 as part of the package , they couldn’t find it , so I had to pay another $15. But atlesst now it’s a phone number and works . Final hurdle is online account , it refuses to let set up online account : “error please call customer service blah blah )

Sent from my iPhone using HoFo

**AMCJ** · 07-26-2023, 09:02 PM

Finally success. I called corporate again after supposedly 24-48 hour callback (from Sunday). The person I spoke to today appears to know the process. Asked serial, SIM, zip code, email for account, and 4 digit security PIN. Told the person I have a pre-paid PIN for the service. It only took about 5-7 minutes for him to get all things going.

BTW, before that I tried first-level CSR roulette again and after 30 minutes, the person still couldn't help me. So this is really a problem needing the right person doing the right process. The phone can be activated with the same information we all have.

**haydeecm1** · 07-28-2023, 04:02 PM

I havent been so lucky with CSR, and they have not been able to activate for me. What is the phone number for corporate that I should call ? Any tips on getting a knowledgeable CSR? time of day?

**SlowLoris** · 08-08-2023, 11:13 AM

Are people still having trouble activating the SE3? My referral points vested so I now have enough to purchase one, but not sure I want to if it will be a huge hassle to activate.

**vwnut13** · 08-09-2023, 01:51 AM

I bought a Straight Talk / Total Wireless iPhone SE 3 from Walmart for $149.99 and was able to activate it on TracFone no problem, I didn't even need to "rebrand" it.

**SlowLoris** · 08-09-2023, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by vwnut13

I bought a Straight Talk / Total Wireless iPhone SE 3 from Walmart for $149.99 and was able to activate it on TracFone no problem, I didn't even need to "rebrand" it.

Thanks for the reply. I'm trying to use up my reward points, so want to buy directly from Tracfone even though the price is higher. Several people have reported activation issues with the phones from Tracfone due to the way the devices were registered in the system. I was hoping that had been resolved by now.

**haydeecm1** · 08-09-2023, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by SlowLoris

Are people still having trouble activating the SE3? My referral points vested so I now have enough to purchase one, but not sure I want to if it will be a huge hassle to activate.

Definitely still having trouble, I purchased over a week ago and still have not been able to activate. I would return it if it had been my own money but like you I used reward points and I dont think I can get those back. The website is still not recognizing the IMEI this morning. Looks like some people have been lucky and found a knowledgeable rep, but chances it will be a hassle.

**cwshop** · 08-09-2023, 06:10 PM

I'm having problems activating se3 bought from tracfone on tracfone... they are asking for imei2 but I don't want esim ...

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**cwshop** · 08-09-2023, 06:20 PM

The rep I had tried harder and"fixed an error" and was able to activate with my physical sim. I did give him my order number to prove I had bought it from tracfone, before that he was trying to tell me tracfone didn't work with this phone.

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**brg** · 08-09-2023, 06:23 PM

Purchased the Straight Talk SE3 from Walmart on the $149 deal.

Today, used chat to "rebrand" it as Tracfone. That took forever, but CSR reported success.

CSR then scheduled a "callback" to complete activation and transfer (from my old SE2); wouldn't do activation by continuing the chat.

Callback never came.

This afternoon I gambled to see if the TF website would recognize and activate-with-transfer my service from currently-active SE2 to the new SE3. It did. Activated quickly and basically painlessly. Text to "balance" resulted in all the correct bucket numbers and service end date. Old SE2 promptly went into "SOS-only" mode. (I just put the FreedomPop/Target/ATT 100/100/100 SIM into the SE2 and it works fine).

**vwnut13** · 08-09-2023, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by brg

Purchased the Straight Talk SE3 from Walmart on the $149 deal.

Today, used chat to "rebrand" it as Tracfone. That took forever, but CSR reported success.

Your actually needed to be rebranded?

The one I activated gave no issue using the regular activation on the TracFone website.

**brg** · 08-09-2023, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by vwnut13

Your actually needed to be rebranded?

The one I activated gave no issue using the regular activation on the TracFone website.

Rebranding was recommended to me if I wanted the simple 60-day automatic iPhone unlock.

I'm told that absent the rebrand, activating a Straight Talk phone on Tracfone might not trigger an unlock, and that it might even never happen...

**hpham** · 08-09-2023, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by vwnut13

Your actually needed to be rebranded?

The one I activated gave no issue using the regular activation on the TracFone website.

When you log into your TF account that has the SE3 phone and select Manage Lines-->Device, does it show a picture of the SE3 and its IMEI number, or it says "Unknown Device" and shows the SIM number?