Boost Mobile just ripped me off to the tune of $225. On 4/22/24 I paid $300 for 12 months of cellular service ($25 per month). On 7/4/24 I lost my phone. I immediately ordered a new phone, which arrived and was activated on the Boost network on 7/6/24. Since then I have not received "short code" SMS messages. Short codes are used by numerous web sites for two-factor authentication. Banks, Amazon, PayPal, Ebay, Samsung, Google, and many other web sites text a five- or six-digit numeric code to your phone when you attempt to log in if two-factor authentication is enabled in your account settings.
I've since placed at least a half dozen calls to Boost Mobile technical support in a vain attempt to resolve the problem. I'd estimate the cumulative duration of those calls to be at least 3 to 4 hours, possibly longer. Their technical support personnel seemed to have no idea how to resolve the problem. They directed me to make all sorts of changes to my phone's configuration, most of which could not possibly have anything to do with the problem. They were flailing, telling me to do this, that, and the other thing, none of which had any effect.
During my last call to their support line (7/16/24 at approximately 5:00 PM Central time), I demanded to speak to a supervisor. After about 20 minutes on hold I was connected to someone. After explaining the problem and the many failed attempts to resolve it, I asked her to issue a refund for the remaining 9 months on the contract (from 7/22/24 to 4/22/25). Given that I was making the request for no reason other than that Boost Mobile's service was not working as advertised, I thought it was a reasonable request. (I left aside the period from 7/6/24 to 7/16/24, during which time their service did not work as advertised and in accordance with the terms of the contract. I was willing to let that go for the sake of an amicable resolution.) The representative stated no refund could be issued, even as she acknowledged that the problem was on Boost Mobile's end.
I'm sure if I examine the fine print of the agreement I'll find that Boost Mobile is not technically, legally required to issue a refund in this circumstance. But that doesn't change the fact that it's fundamentally wrong and bad business practice. If a customer prepays for 12 months of trouble-free service and you can provide only 3 months, you should issue a refund for the remainder. Period.
There are dozens of other cellular providers out there. Stay away from Boost Mobile. read more