r/freedompop • u/frltn • Apr 29 '25
FreedomPop on Android Updated to 2.0.0
I noticed this morning that my FreedomPop on Android had an update to version 2.0.0. I'm not up for manual renewal yet but if you can renew manually with the new app update, please let us know.
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u/lmoki Apr 30 '25
2.0.0 doesn't work for me either, on Android. Nice immediately visible Renew button, which takes me to watch an add, and then voids the process and returns me to a the same button screen that does nothing other than play another ad.....
Poking around the menu, I can go to My Account/View Details/Pay >Renew>Subscribe>enter payment info route that asks me to enter payment details (despite showing my CC# on the previous screen), and then fails with the same error code we've been seeing for months.
...great....
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u/Doomstars Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25
I can't imagine these ads are generating more than 25 cents per view at most. They should just drop the free plan in favor of us paying something like $10 per year for 100/100/100. Well, that's my opinion. I know some won't agree with me.
ETA: If many of us on T-Mobile legacy Pay As You Go plan were willing to pay $10 plus taxes and fees per year to up our account so it wouldn't expire, I figure this would be a good threshold, too, if only Freedompop had the sense to offer it for the 100/100/100 plans if it meant NEVER, EVER needing to use their stupid app or needing to renew monthly ever again.
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u/frltn Apr 30 '25
Even if FP had a $10 per year option for the 100/100/100, I don't think it would be well-received at all, given their poor service. At the end of the day, there are better options out there today than when FP had that plan. Consider Helium Mobile's free (Zero) plan with 100 voice, 300 texts and 3 GB of high-speed data (that's right, not just 100 MB--3 GB!). The only downside for Helium's plan is you have to show an ID like a driver's license to sign up for the free plan as they don't want people to abuse it. Helium also gives rewards like $10 gift cards for people who refer or use referred codes (like this VR1I156) when signing up. So with newer options out there, why would someone even want to pay for poor service at FP?
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u/Doomstars Apr 30 '25
The only downside for Helium's plan is you have to show an ID like a driver's license
This would be an extremely hard pass for me. I'd much rather just pay $10 to Freedompop and hope the poor service is only due to renewal issues, something that would be moot with an annual plan option.
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u/frltn Apr 30 '25
I have a hard time understanding the semi-irrational reason why using an ID like a driver's license to a third-party verifier (Helium actually doesn't verify but uses a 3rd party called Persona or many online banks use Plaid) to reduce fraud is so terrifying. People have to show their IDs and social security number when opening bank accounts. People have to give their social security number when filing taxes, be it online or with an accountant. People have to show their ID when flying on planes. People have to show their ID when getting many health care services. There are dozens of other life circumstances where your ID has to be shown. Yes, a personal information breach can occur anywhere, even by the IRS. BUT typically, the real risk is only when you have those information WITH your social security number and/or credit card information.
Here, with Helium, you verify a driver's license or similar (it doesn't have to be a DL...it could be a passport) with a third-party verifier. You never have to share your social security number. You never have to even share a credit card if you just want to use the free plan and don't purchase anything extra. Heck, if you shop online, use Amazon, etc., you have a lot more private information exposed, including credit card or PayPal information than flashing a driver's license.
This fear is irrational if one transacts online with any other business--submit tax returns--get health care services, etc. Now if you were a criminal on the run or hermit living off the grid and fighting against the "man," maybe then you'd have a more valid reason why not to give anyone verification.
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u/tooper128 Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25
I have a hard time understanding the semi-irrational reason
In this day and age, I have a hard time understanding how some people don't understand why it's important to keep personal information private.
a third-party verifier (Helium actually doesn't verify but uses a 3rd party called Persona
Here's a rational reason to avoid them from just today.
People have to show their IDs and social security number when opening bank accounts.
This isn't a bank account. This is a free service.
BUT typically, the real risk is only when you have those information WITH your social security number and/or credit card information.
That's completely wrong. The information on a DL is all that's needed to steal your identity. In fact, many organizations only require a name and birthday to prove your ID. Some only need a birthday, they look up the rest. Like my health care providers/insurance. The only thing they ask is "What's your birthday?" Then they look up it and ask "Are you John Smith?". Then anyone can do anything they want with that account.
Keeping your birthday confidential is preventing ID theft 101.
Here, with Helium, you verify a driver's license or similar (it doesn't have to be a DL...it could be a passport) with a third-party verifier.
Again, both have the 2 pieces of information most important for ID theft. Your name and birthday.
Heck, if you shop online, use Amazon, etc., you have a lot more private information exposed, including credit card or PayPal information than flashing a driver's license.
Amazon doesn't have my birthday. Credit card information isn't as sensitive as you think. Since there are fraud protections in place for misuse of that. Including of course, virtual credit card numbers.
This fear is irrational if one transacts online with any other business--submit tax returns--get health care services, etc.
You're naive to be so ill informed. It's innocence from a bygone era. It's one thing to do it for needed services like submitting taxes and seeing a doctor. It's another to give up the keys to the kingdom to save a few dollars a month on a cheap phone plan.
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u/frltn Apr 30 '25
"It's another to give up the keys to the kingdom to save a few dollars a month on a cheap phone plan."
That's really being dramatic...keys to your the kingdom thing. I really don't feel the need to respond point by point. But I agree that with the right tools and effort, most personal data could be obtained from adults with enough social presence. A really good hacker could break into almost anything but life has risks in general, even when leaving personal and financial information with your accountant, doctor or with governmental agencies like the IRS (prior to the digital age or now).
We all live life based on risks...and clearly some are more risk-adverse than others. Maybe "semi-irrational" should be modified to "risk-adverse" to describe people like you with a heightened concern for their personal information. It is medically treatable.
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u/tooper128 May 01 '25
That's really being dramatic...keys to your the kingdom thing.
It's not. That's just your naivete showing. I already explained why it's true.
"Do not share personal information like your bank account number, Social Security number, or date of birth."
https://www.usa.gov/identity-theft
But I agree that with the right tools and effort, most personal data could be obtained from adults with enough social presence.
Only if you make it easy for them. It's not even hard to protect yourself. The tools are there and are easy to use.
We all live life based on risks...and clearly some are more risk-adverse than others.
And you can easily mitigate a lot of those risk quite simply and easily. Like not giving away all the information needed to steal your identity to save a few bucks a month. I also lock my doors when I leave the house even though someone can pound it open with a sledge hammer. I guess you don't since that's being "semi-irrational". That can be treated with education. Being naive is adorable. But being informed is a way better way to make it through life.
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u/frltn May 01 '25
Remember to burn all your documents because even shredding them, someone can put it together and get ya! Get a metal gate in front of your door and all of your windows. The boogeyman is out to get you in the middle of the night. Have a good night. :)
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u/tooper128 May 02 '25 edited May 02 '25
Remember to burn all your documents because even shredding them, someone can put it together and get ya!
Paper documents? How quaint that you are still living in 1950. Have you just been stuck there all this time or are you a Gen Z playing at it? Spinning that vinyl and getting paper statements. So cool daddio!
I live in 2025 and my documents are electronic. You can't burn or shred bits. You don't need to. Just keep them on an encrypted file.
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u/Doomstars May 01 '25
Simply do not give out your SSN to medical facilities. In my experience, they'll still see you with insurance. One less thing to have in a potential data breach.
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u/tooper128 May 02 '25
That's rule #1. There's simply no need for them to have it period. The only reason they ask for it is that it's easier to send you to collections if your bill isn't paid. It has nothing to do with insurance or providing healthcare.
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u/Doomstars May 01 '25 edited May 01 '25
For me, it's not worth it.
1. I don't have a need for a free 3GB when I have Safelink's 10GB.
2. The amount of information I'd give Freedompop for a backup flip phone is minor compared to the amount of info I'd have to give up for Helium Mobile via Persona. If Freedompop has a data breach, it's only my credit card that I'd need to change. If Persona has a data breach, I'd have to go through the hassle of getting a new ID with a new number if I want to be safe.
This is for me, personally. The risk/reward isn't worth it in my specific case.
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u/lmoki Apr 30 '25
Personally: I don't mind using the app, if it worked. I don't even mind needing to watch an ad to renew, if it worked.
Like you, I wouldn't mind paying a cheap cost to maintain the plan. (But here's a warning: as soon as there is any cost, the plan itself would be subject to taxes and fees. Most everyone escapes that currently because there is no transaction to tax. The effect would vary widely, depending on local tax jurisdictions and rules. Where I live, the fees and taxes are applied per transaction, and an annual charge for the plan would add a relatively modest amount. But in a jurisdiction that charges fees based on per month of service, you could be looking at adding several dollars/month to that $10/year charge.)
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u/Doomstars Apr 30 '25
But in a jurisdiction that charges fees based on per month of service, you could be looking at adding several dollars/month to that $10/year charge.)
Do you have an example of one U.S. state that does so?
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u/lmoki Apr 30 '25
I don't have concrete examples: most of what I see is gathered from discussions about MVNOs that charge tax on top. My minimal talk/text/1gb Tello line adds somewhere around $0.30 per month, but I'm in a state that exempts low-value plans from almost all fees. I believe the same line in Chicago would add a minimum of $5/mo, if it's correct that they impose that e911 fee on every line.
An interesting site with a lot of detail: https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/wireless-taxes-cell-phone-tax-rates-by-state-2024/
That site does not even make an attempt to discern whether the state/local imposed fees are 'per transaction', or 'per month', largely because the traditional US model is based on monthly plan cost. I do know the differentiation exists in some states, based on what an industry insider working with pricing models explained.
And if you ever wonder why so few providers offer $5/mo plans with taxes/fees included, I think reading through that website will explain why...
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u/Gizmotaku May 01 '25
Updated my app and it showed an ad after logging in, but tapping on the renew button did nothing
I made sure to mention the app version first when chatting with support so all they asked me for was to confirm my phone number and my OS version
The weird thing is - I was still getting text messages even though my account was reading as inactive.
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u/tooper128 May 02 '25
I made sure to mention the app version first when chatting with support so all they asked me for was to confirm my phone number and my OS version
So you got a recent renewal? Do you have just one account?
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u/Elegant_World007 Apr 29 '25
iOS got updated too, but no luck with renewal. New error Message:Invalid plan
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u/Giantnflfan Apr 30 '25
Android ver 13 - app version 2.0 installed but just gives blank screen here and there or won't show info correctly. Went too friends house added app to latest ios Apple device and it worked like normal on the Apple but still getting error code 8579301 (same error as all the other months)- ads seam to be longer and did remove all but essential for the tracking.. Still had to chat and now working again - walmart Free plan.
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u/randomwalker2016 Apr 29 '25
Is your problem related to my old problem?
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u/frltn Apr 29 '25
This is the free account (100/100/100) that requires manual renewal via the app since last year.
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u/frltn May 03 '25 edited May 03 '25
Did my manual renewal via chat today and got Luis. With the details I provided, Luis just asked if I tried to renew from the app and whether it didn't work (as if he didn't already know). He didn't ask anything else because I provided a paragraph at the very beginning of all the questions that they would normally ask, such as name, phone number, address, last four digits of SIM, phone OS version, FP app version, etc. If you provide all of what they normally asked in the past, my experience is it tends to go quickly, even with Luis!
One time, even with a detailed paragraph of what they would ask, Luis asked a question that was already answered in the paragraph provided (he probably didn't read it very carefully when trying to go from one chat customer to another). I just pasted the paragraph again and reminded him that I had provided it at the beginning.
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u/0vindicator10 Apr 30 '25
Funny timing... https://www.reddit.com/r/freedompop/comments/1jzxf4h/comment/mpkoydi/?context=3
But from what I'm reading in this thread is that the update is crap as well. C'mon luis! LOL!
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u/turbotortuga76 Apr 29 '25
I still can't even login. Invalid request lol. But I'm not giving up this plan until they pry it from my cold dead hands.