Tel3 Reviews

Similar experience as the other recent reviews of Tel3. I have been locked out of my account. Reset my password online but still WAITING FOR A TEMPORARY PASSWORD for more then 72 hours?!? The online chat, another laughing JOKE!
Their telephone 800.482.8353 has a busy signal and then the line goes dead every day I try to call Tel 3.
As usual, TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. A Chimp can provide better service then Tel3. Seriously ridiculous...

Date of experience: May 06, 2024

Month and a half w/o service. Nothing works to try to contact. Are they out of business. Owed $121. Lots of complaints on their website.

Date of experience: May 08, 2024

Similar experience as the other recent reviews of Tel3.
Not able to log into my account. None of the Access #’s are working. Calls just drop.
Website & App is still up.
I was reading some of the older reviews with the all the Circuits are Busy and also had several experiences over the years with that.
Eventually they come back!
But this seems like a whole different thing.
I have over 1,000 mins & maybe $50 or $60 lost.
They send a million annoying promo emails.
However, when the service is on & working, no complaints. Very easy to use!
I’ve been with them for about 10 years.

Date of experience: April 14, 2024

I have been locked out of my account.
and have around $400 in it.
Tried to retrieve my last password given to me by Tel 3,
but every time they said they would send it to me, it
never shows up in my e mail...so unable for weeks now
to make a call to Europe.
I have sent multiple e mails to the Tel 3 support group, but no answer. Their telephone #800.482.8353 has a busy signal and then the line goes dead every day I try to call Tel 3.
This is more than bad service!

Date of experience: April 18, 2024

I would rate it lower but the stars don't register in the minus category. I would like to thank Trustpiolet for this site and for providing the opportunity for people like myself to have a viable resource to try to get problems fixed. This has been an ongoing problem most likely caused by lack of payment to the airtime providers required for them to be able to process calls I went through this with them when my wife was dying of Cancer and I needed to call long distance for Dr. appointments as they were out of town. Now I am again in need of it for my own medical care . It worked for a short time after I complained and spent days trying to right the service 1 1/2 years ago. I have no other long distance capability . I have hearing assisting devices on this landline that require the landline. This company hastened her death as well as her suffering by my inability to contact the Dr's for her care , not to mention the agony I myself endured while trying to deal with her relentless sickness and at the same time wasting valuable minutes away from my wife's care trying to get the service fixed. As you see to some a phone is a very essential service in many different ways . I wish Tel 3 were closer #$%&* . Here are the Emails I have sent so far not counting the hours I have wasted researching and trying to call them and receiving confirmation of all the Emails I have sent stating someone would respond within 24 hours. When they are forced to respond , they put a band aid on the issue ,throw some free minutes your way to appease you . They are well practiced in what to say to make you go away. As others have stated, what good is free minutes that amount to empty air you will never be able to use. They forget all we ask is that we get what we contracted for as we did so for a reason. I suggest you all contact the BB Bureau. They won't do anything themselves for you only mediate but last time when I had this problem Tel 3 did not like the heat that the BB Bureau was laying on them. Here are the Emails I have sent so far , with disgust ,I might add.
1. I have a profound hearing loss and do not wish to engage in multiple go nowhere bantering as took place 1 1/2 years ago on the phone unless it is required to make it work . What I need is , for my service to work when I need it as I have no long distance not in the UsA or anywhere with out it .The first few years was trouble free. Now it is a useless waste of time. I would like it to work , Not for a day , week. or month !!! I need it to work when needed to make medical and important long distance calls . It's lack of reliable operation is a safety issue for me as I am 75 and all alone having a severe hearing loss as well. You have the details and what I want to happen . NOW all that is required is to FIX THE DAMN THING AND KEEP IT WORKING., No hot air and BS about the problem please!!! FIX IT !!!

2. I have calls to make. What is the time frame on unblocking my phone number from going through any of your site?

3.How long will it take you to make my phone number valid again so it will go through . Now it is saying I have it is blocked but even when I use the unblock *82 number I hear it unblock and it still says it is blocked. It does this with any related number to Tel 3, so you must have it blocked on your end so I can' t call any of your numbers .

Date of experience: March 30, 2024

I've used them for years but now it's impossible to use their service any day or anytime. For a week now, when I try to call Canada, I get the same message "All circuits are busy". I'm beginning to think they have been taken over by fraudsters as their "fix-it" guy is no longer with the Company.. I would not deal with these people unless you don't care about wasting your money.

Date of experience: April 06, 2024

I have used Tel3 when it was still Setrate. Some 20 yrs. I can not make a call, it says all circuits busy. I have tried to contact customer service and only get a message that says all customer agents are busy, try again later.

Date of experience: April 01, 2024

I have been a customer for years. Now, for the last 7 days any numbers I call in Germany do not connect. Customer service is so busy the disconnect to call back later and report a problem on the web site is not working.

Date of experience: April 06, 2024

I was a Tel3 Agent. They changed their back end years ago and their agent relations never replied to me on how to get logged into their new system. After many attempts I gave up on promoting their services. Additionally now I couldn't even log into my tel3 personal account but it works so i didn't bother trying since nobody at customer service over the years replied. Now I changed emails and just changed my phone number though I have sms access to the old phone number. So now I need to update my personal tel3 account but so far nobody replies to the support ticket. The world is going down the tubes for customer service and business practices everywhere!

Date of experience: January 20, 2024

I have been TEL3 customer sincve2008 and all my long distance calls were more than satisfied.
There was some interruption in service due to some Technical difficulties but TEL3 working hard to fix those issues. Had an issue with adding new CC and recharge my account, send an email. Kary Baker replay with in 24hr, asking me to reach out to him. Few days later made a call, left a message, minute’s later Kary Baker call me back, explain an issue and my problem was fixed in less than two minutes.
Thank you Kary for prompt response and excellent customer service.
Jerry Genda

Date of experience: July 05, 2023

I needed to call France, but hadn't accessed my account for several years. I left both a text and an email message to Tel3, and Kary responded withon one hour. Amazingly quick return call! Kary spent several moments with me - insuring the reset, activation, new access number, and account balance. He was able to get me back on Tel3 services with one phone call, and even informed me of a special bonus to which I was entitled.
I have read all the negative reviews of Tel3, and just wanted to say "don't believe all you read" when it comes to reviews. Personally, I rate the company a full and unequivocal 5!
Thanks, Kary.

Maria Young
Subscriber since 2012

Date of experience: August 28, 2023

This is very frustrating, day 4 now and still not able to call Germany, Tel3 support is supposedly reviewing the issue, their website is now down as well, can not access my account.

Date of experience: March 18, 2024

My service person was Kary. Response to my problem was fast, and followup was also very fast and responsive. He carefully listened to my rather complicated problem and understood it after a lively back-and-forth. He gave me a free 800 access number to use until he can get the problem solved. Kudos to Tel3.

Date of experience: July 05, 2023

Things were looking hopeless when I tried to recharge my account: my old email address (required) no longer worked, and besides that I had changed my home address and wanted to use a different credit card. The published phone number for tel3 rang and rang without being answered by an operator. I found an alternate number on a Trust Pilot review, namely 800-611-3622, and spoke to Kary, who corrected all of the information on file, recharged my account, and gave me a $70 bonus in my account. Problem solved! Thank you, Kary! I couldn't be happier with the service you gave.

Date of experience: October 10, 2022

Been using the service for a number of years; at least 5. WHEN it connects, the sound is perfect. The app is full featured. As others report, the problem is "All circuits are busy. Please try your call when Hell freezes over." Often re-entering the number gets through on the second try, or the third. After that I just use my Constipated Communication account and eat the 10cents per minute.
I am concerned that they are offering 200% and today 300% bonus because they may be desperate for operating cash and my 19,000+ minutes may be imaginary.

Date of experience: July 16, 2020

I have been using Tel3 for many years without any significant issues, but lately I get this recorded message "all circuits are busy ...". The support team created a support Ticket #20266642, but so far no luck! The annoying part is they keep closing the ticket every 2 or 3 days hoping the issue is magically resolved because they have not heard anything from me - LOL. What a joke Tel3 has become lately! It is truly sad and frustrating.

Date of experience: December 26, 2019

We used this for years and then the calls to Honduras, the only reason we used the service, would never go through. Filed "numerous" forms with them and had numerous conversations reference our issues and asked for a refund of 50+ dollars left in our account. We were told many times this would be handled and over two years later, still nothing. Was once told they had a cash flow issue and the refund would be processed in the near future.

Date of experience: January 01, 2022

Is there a negative scale of stars? If so Tel3 gets a negative 1,000,000,000,000. WAAAAAY(!!!!) over priced garbage. And if you fall for their bs promises and advertised rates and buy minutes -- do not expect to get through to your intended party on holidays -- "circuits are busy". Also ...no make that ALSO(!)...it's as inexpensive or even cheaper if you have Vonage just to use your phone without Tel3 and in some instances call on any cell or landline service. Oh and I've been calling customer service for 4 freaking days -- no answer then disconnects!

Date of experience: June 24, 2021

I have been a customer for at least 14 Years, was an excelent service, now it's having some issues!!
"All circuits are busy now" " you have dialed an invalid number"
Called Cust. Service, 1hour on hold and cue, then I get disconnected.
After posting this review, Kerry from Mgt. called within an hour and resolved the issue, thanks for addresing the problem at hand, it show a strong commitment to resolve cust. service problems, very friendly and resolute.
Thanks again

Date of experience: December 03, 2019

My phone number changed and I cannot access my long distance, even when I submit my pin# Called customer service, left on hold for 1 hour then they hung up. tried again, same thing, tried online, no response

Tel3 responded to my review and said they would send an email, they don't have my updated contact info. Is there any way through Trustpilot to give tel3 my email so we can communicate.

Pat Harriss

Pat Harriss

Date of experience: December 03, 2019