iPhone SE (2016) iPhone SE 2020 NOT fully supported by Consumer Cellular (for Visual VoiceMail on T-Mobile)

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-- REVISED --

After posting this, several people in this forum suggested that I have them switch my SIM to one on their AT & T Network, instead of T-Mobile because they were able to use it without issues.

So, I picked up an Activation SIM Kit from Target, and after calling them they moved my account from their T-Mobile to the AT & T Network and everything works as it should, including Visual Voicemail AND WiFi Calling.

That's great news for anyone else having trouble with Consumer Cellular. Until very recently, they only supported WiFi Calling using their T-Mobile SIM... so I was forced to use the T-Mobile Network... leading to my original problem.

In summary: If you are having trouble using voicemail on the new SE with Consumer Cellular, change your SIM to one on the AT & T Network. They sell both in Target, just check for a BLUE CIRCLE on the top right for the AT & T... NOT PINK (T-Mobile.


---- ORIGINAL POST ----

After spending about an hour or so with Consumer Cellular trying to get my Visual Voicemail to work, they finally responded with the following:

Thank you, so T-Mobile inspected your features and they have the visual voicemail enabled as well but with this not being a Consumer Cellular device it appears that the phone is not compatible with our Visual voicemail feature, you will not be able to use this feature on this phone with our service.

I explained that this is a brand new device, so I have no intention to get rid of it to buy one of their phones..

I understand but even with a brand new phone that is unlocked, and GSM compatible, the phone should work when an active Consumer Cellular SIM card is installed but we can’t guarantee that every cell phone model can be configured with our service properly.

Followed by:

But if there is nothing else I can assist with today, I want to thank you so much for your time. I really appreciated the chance to chat with you today, joe. Please end this chat session by clicking "Options", or the options symbol of 3 dots, in the bottom left corner of the chat window below your text box, then select "end chat". If you're on a mobile device, options is in the top left corner of the chat window. Have a fantastic rest of your day!

Then I wrote: "I guess I need to switch carriers again"

I am sorry, I wish we could provide you the visual voicemail feature but non-Consumer Cellular phones are not always compatible with all of our services but if there is nothing else I can help you with today, thank you for chatting with Consumer Cellular.

That's it... no support. Beware.

 

[polotska]

Visual voicemail is working fine for me with my 2020 SE—though I’m using an AT&T Consumer Cellular SIM.

 

[CouponPages]

I‘m using the T-Mobile SIM because they made me switch a few months ago so it would support WiFi calling.

So as it stands now, there’s no way for me to know I have voice messages unless I call in to check my messages.

At least older phones had a little indicator to tell you there’s a message.

I asked them if I should switch back to the AT & T SIM and they told me it was no longer active. I guess I may need to ask them to switch again. Of course that will mean turning off WiFi Calling... because they said it wouldn’t work unless I use the T-Mobile SIM.

 

[polotska]

That’s odd—Wi-Fi Calling is also working fine for me with the AT&T SIM.

So it may well be worth trying an AT&T SIM again if you’re otherwise happy with Consumer Cellular—I can totally understand a lack of Visual Voicemail or Wi-Fi Calling being a deal-breaker, but it may be something you can resolve (though it’s a shame their support hasn’t been more helpful).

When you change between AT&T and T-Mobile SIMs, they do terminate service on the old SIM—but you should be able to get a new one from them.

Good luck!

 

[CouponPages]

I told them I kept the old SIM and asked them if it was worth trying it, but they dismissed the idea because it was deactivated months ago. It’s strange that they didn’t offer to make the switch back. Clearly their tech people lack the resources to resolve problems like this.

The way they dismissed the whole situation as an unsupported third party device is laughable. This isn’t a no-name Android device from China. It’s an Apple, and it’s going to be one of the best selling devices of the year. What I expected was at least an indication that they’re going to work on a solution. Their solution was to leave me in a position where I need to call my own voice mail a few times an hour just to see what calls I’ve missed.

Meanwhile, I used to have better reception with the AT & T SIM but the lack of WiFi Calling was the only reason for switching.

Now it seems I have a few options:

1. Pay for a new SIM (because they won’t turn on the old one), and wait a week or so for it to arrive (that’s how long it took when I waited for the T-Mobile).. then try their AT & T network again (hopefully voicemail and WiFi calling will work this time).

2. Try to convince them to re-activate my previous CC SIM.

3. Try another carrier.

 

[rui no onna]

Now it seems I have a few options:

1. Pay for a new SIM (because they won’t turn on the old one), and wait a week or so for it to arrive (that’s how long it took when I waited for the T-Mobile).. then try their AT & T network again (hopefully voicemail and WiFi calling will work this time).

2. Try to convince them to re-activate my previous CC SIM.

3. Try another carrier.

For what it's worth, I have regular AT&T postpaid and I don't think they let you reuse deactivated SIM cards. They always just give you new SIM. Consumer Cellular's hands may be tied on this one.

 

[CouponPages]

Strange... all they should need are the numbers on SIM, or shown on the General—About settings.

It takes them a long time to ship a SIM. Meanwhile, the SE is supposed to support two phone numbers, using a built-in Apple eSIM (built-in)... so if they had a full service tech support staff should be able to use that one too.

Not being able to check for Voice Mails is a definite deal breaker. I may need to use my old SE while I wait to either get a new SIM... or a new carrier.

 

[polotska]

Target carries Consumer Cellular SIMs in store (just look for one that says “For AT&T phones” or something to that effect)—if you get in touch with support again, they might recommend this as an option. When I’ve done the swap that way in the past, I had to pay for the SIM up front but Consumer Cellular put a credit on my bill for the cost of the SIM.

I could be wrong, but I think MVNO support for eSIM is limited or nonexistent at this point (aside from travel-oriented data plans from Truphone, etc.).

 

[CouponPages]

Good idea. It’s worth a shot. I just hope they’re clearly labeled As AT & T or I’m back to square one.

As Apple ships millions of these new models, they’re going to eventually need to support this phone or they will lose a lot of customers.

I’m getting tired of calling my voicemail a few times an hour just to see if I’ve missed a call. Even phones from the 90s had an indicator to tell you there was a VM.

 

[rui no onna]

Strange... all they should need are the numbers on SIM, or shown on the General—About settings.

It takes them a long time to ship a SIM. Meanwhile, the SE is supposed to support two phone numbers, using a built-in Apple eSIM (built-in)... so if they had a full service tech support staff should be able to use that one too.

Not being able to check for Voice Mails is a definite deal breaker. I may need to use my old SE while I wait to either get a new SIM... or a new carrier.

In this case, it's likely more AT&T policy than technical restrictions. I once had an AT&T SIM on an older iPad. Used once during travel and didn't use again until after a year or something. SIM card expired and I had to get a new AT&T SIM card.

eSIM, I think only T-Mobile supports it on prepaid right now. Don't think any domestic MVNOs support it yet.

As for SE (2020) support, I expect that's coming. Probably just haven't properly identified all the new iPhone SE IMEIs in their system yet.

 

[ray6088]

After spending about an hour or so with Consumer Cellular trying to get my Visual Voicemail to work, they finally responded with the following:



I explained that this is a brand new device, so I have no intention to get rid of it to buy one of their phones..



Followed by:



Then I wrote: "I guess I need to switch carriers again"



That's it... no support. Beware.

Visit t mobile Facebook and messenger them to setup esim. Very easy and straight forward. My t mobile esim have zero issues with voice mails

 

[Rubbertoe68]

After spending about an hour or so with Consumer Cellular trying to get my Visual Voicemail to work, they finally responded with the following:



I explained that this is a brand new device, so I have no intention to get rid of it to buy one of their phones..



Followed by:



Then I wrote: "I guess I need to switch carriers again"



That's it... no support. Beware.

I just got mine ordered from T-Mobile. The guy said that consumer Cellular wasn't getting all the features as they were slowly phasing that company out. That's how I understood it.

 

[jetsam]

After spending about an hour or so with Consumer Cellular trying to get my Visual Voicemail to work, they finally responded with the following:



I explained that this is a brand new device, so I have no intention to get rid of it to buy one of their phones..



Followed by:



Then I wrote: "I guess I need to switch carriers again"



That's it... no support. Beware.

Sounds like a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.

Consumer Cellular is selling the new iPhone SE:

Consumer Cellular Cell Phones & Plans | Consumer Cellular

Explore available cell phones and plans from Consumer Cellular. Stay in touch with affordable, no-risk cell plans and phones from Consumer Cellular.

www.consumercellular.com

You might try calling them back and pointing this out to them.

 

[CouponPages]

Sounds like a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.

Consumer Cellular is selling the new iPhone SE:

Consumer Cellular Cell Phones & Plans | Consumer Cellular

Explore available cell phones and plans from Consumer Cellular. Stay in touch with affordable, no-risk cell plans and phones from Consumer Cellular.

www.consumercellular.com

You might try calling them back and pointing this out to them.

That's crazy... They made me feel like it was my fault for using an unsupported device. I'm going to try to reach them again. If nothing else, to get a free AT & T network SIM because it's clearly their fault.

It draws attention to the reason companies like Consumer Cellular are able to give you access to the exact same networks as the big companies at much lower prices... they have much lower quality customer service. It's nearly impossible to reach them on the phone without a long wait.

In my case, I asked for a callback option. Ironically, when they called back, the phone didn't ring, it went to voicemail, and I didn't even know it until a half hour later when I called to see if I missed any calls.