Waaaaaay back in March 2009, we ran a story headlined Safelink Wireless: Exposing the government’s cell-phones-for the-poor scam. Is there anything in that headline that would make anyone think we support this gross giveaway?
It was all about a company called SafeLink Wireless and the fact that they will give you a free cell phone and free monthly minutes as long as you’re already receiving other government assistance.
For some reason we are apparently unable to comprehend, this is our all-time most popular story. Day in and day, 365 days a year, it’s our one of our top five most read and most commented on stories.
But even more amazing, we constantly get emails from readers who think IHateTheMedia.com is giving away these phones, or that we are Safelink Customer Service.
For example:
[ad-1985977]
From Pamela: i have a safelink phone u sent me and 1 it was someones phone b 4 I got it & 2 now its saying i have to reapply, so i tryed and it wont let me. so how can u say u are helpping people by giving them free phones now i have no phone im almost 60 and im disabled and live alone so if i need help ill just have to sit here and die cuz i cant use a safeliknk phone to call for help. lets see what our gov, thinks of all this mess u done now. thanks for not helping me.
From Raymond D****: my name is raymond d**** i misplaced my cell phone please send a reply asap sincerely raymond d****
From Raymond O: i am from Ghana life in my village is really not good i really need you to help get a handset
And so it goes. Dozens of requests for a free cell phone. One after another, they just keep rolling in. Everyone want a free government cell phone.
So, just in case we haven’t made this clear, let us be blunt:
We are not SafeLink Wireless. We are not affiliated with SafeLink Wireless in any way. We don’t like their service. We don’t approve of their service. We don’t sell cell phones. We don’t give away free cell phones. You won’t find a cell phone from the government here. Absolutely nothing.
We’re hanging up now.
Click.
This post was last modified on August 18, 2014
View Comments (129)
I got a free safelink phone 6months ago threw ant Mti Scam on Lake central Chicago 60644 It stop working the next day it was in poor condition but Ha Free is Free I ask the guy about another Phone He basically Looked at me You Ghetto Rat Call the Company and had no more to say But Ha what can I expect Another Rip Off in the Big City
SafeLink Wireless is NOT the only company using the USAC subsidy to give phones to the poor! ALL large companies offer the Lifeline and Linkup programs. The only difference is that SafeLink Wireless is the only one that bundles everything for free! The large companies give discounts with their subsidy so that they can lock people into expensive contracts for those fancy phones. SafeLink phones are VERY basic! NO CAMERAS, NO INTERNET, NO MUSIC, OR RINGTONES. So, as you will see, it is NOT fair to portray SafeLink Wireless as some anomaly in this market. Carlos Slim did not create this program; the federal government did and all states are on board!!!
AT&T: http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/articles-resources/community-support/lifeline-link-up.jsp
VERIZON: http://www22.verizon.com/residentialhelp/phone/billing/special+billing+services/information+about+your+service/95830.htm
SPRINT: http://shop2.sprint.com/en/services/calling/universal_lifeline_program.shtml
LIST OF COMPANIES IN ILLINOIS ALONE!!!: http://www.icc.illinois.gov/Consumer/LifelineAndLinkUp.pdf
LIST OF COMPANIES IN CALIFORNIA ALONE!!!: http://www.consumer-action.org/downloads/english/Lifeline_Wireless_Plans_v2.pdf
LIST OF COMPANIES IN NORTH CAROLINA ALONE!!!: http://info.dhhs.state.nc.us/olm/manuals/dss/ei-35/man/FSISs503f3.pdf
No wonder Pamela is on public assistance. My G** what a moron.
call them i did and got a new phone hope that helps
The gall... free warranty?! disgusting
The hits just keep on coming:
LESS income MORE minutes?!
Maybe if I quit working so hard, my cell phone bill will go down?
Today's:
THIS "SAFELINK" IS A FRAUD!! MY PHONE ONLY WORKS WHEN SOMEONE CALLS ME -- OUTSIDE OF MY HOME I GET "RESTRICTION 34"!!
AFTER HOURS WITH IGNORANT, NASTY "TECHNICAL SUPPORT" WHO ASKED ME OVER AND OVER THE SAME QUESTIONS THEY SAY THAT "MY PHONE IS WORKING"!! YES, PHONE IS WORKING BUT SERVICE IS RESTRICTED OUTSIDE OF MY HOME!!
THEY ALSO SUGGEST TO GO TO THE LOCATIONS WHERE I AM NOT ABLE TO MAKE A CALL AND... AND CALL THEM!! HOW?? WITH WHAT???
WHAT GOOD IS A "SAFE" SERVICE WHEN YOU CAN'T USE IT WHEN YOU NEED IT????
IT'S JUST GOOD FOR TRACFONE TO GET OUR TAX MONEY TO MAKE TRACFONE RICHER!! FRAUD, FRAUD, FRAUD!!!
hey i have an idea. how bout we do an experiment. we go through and list all the things that the right hates about the left then compare with what the muslims hate. i bet its not far from being the same.
i bet you wont do it though. im not a liberal but i tell ya this new republicon party is a sham. nothing like the one i grew up with.
the right hates anyone who disagrees with their religion
the right hates gays
the right hates abortions
the right hates letting people live free without persecution
the right hates helping people
the right hates peace
the right hates equality
they both love blowing stuff up
they both love guns
they both are war freaks. etc.. haha. i was just being serious since i sopent more than 20 years a republicon i feel i can poke fun at it. you can thank the new repub party for pushing me away. they are idea-less whiners..
Republicon,
I do not understand how you can spend 20 years with a group and have no idea what they stand for and what they exist for.
"the right hates anyone who disagrees with their religion"
false: it was in fact this Christian based country that added a part to the constitution that anyone can practice their religion. It is actually the left who have all the weird religions like waco environmentalist, looney progressives, and of course the great Obamphiles, who hate anyone who disagree with them.
" the right hates gays"
false: many people on the right believe that homosexuality is wrong, but they don't hate homosexuals. And hate them or not..they don't behead them.
the right hates abortions
mostly true...abortions kill people. Planned Parenthood was started by a lady who wanted " blacks and other undesirables" to stop producing. The only people who win are the abortionist and those who work to keep abortion legal. They make millions from the women they exploit, and care little for the emotional trauma they leave behind.
"the right hates letting people live free without persecution"
This neither makes sense, nor do I understand what you are saying...again I say..it is the left who persecute anyone who disagrees with them.
"the right hates helping people"
false Look around you, most of the shelters and food kitchens are run by people on the right. However, many on the right feel that entitlements don't help people. Keeping people dependant on the government sucks the life, soul and hope out of people. That does not help anyone. It does keep them enslaved to the democrats.
"the right hates peace"
Define peace...Peace is not defined as "the absence of war". Peace through strength is what most people on the right are looking for. We have learned through history that appeasement to a group that does not want peace will not bring about peace.
"the right hates equality"
Define equality of what. The republican party started because they wanted to get rid of slavery. Everyone is equal under the law. Equality to pursue your dreams...all of these things the right believe in. But equality of outcome? people are not equal. Everyone does not have the same dream, the same, pursuits, and they don't put the same efforts into those pursuits. A person who works harder, should get greater rewards.
"they both love guns"
Why do you hate guns? What is wrong with a very functional tool that can be used for hunting and protection, as well as a recreational hobby. But Muslims don't love guns, people in Muslim countries are not allowed to own them.
As to blowing stuff up and loving war..that goes back to wanting peace. We love peace and don't want war. But we will not back down from our beliefs and we will look after our own interests. And if anyone wants to destroy us..then yes we love blowing stuff up.
Okay I'm Conservative. I'll take on this list.
I don't hate people that disagree with my religion. (Which is Christianity, for those of you that don't know.) In fact we are taught not to hate those that hate us. I may disagree with them and think they are wrong, but I don't hate 'em. I have plenty of friends that aren't Christian.
I don't hate homosexuals either. I do think I have the right to think what they do is wrong, which I do. But I don't hate people in general, even those I disagree with...such as homosexuals.
I do hate abortions. It is murder... Yet i Don't hate the people that get abortions. I've met quite a few women that have had abortions and they either get really cold and callous to the idea, or deeply regret getting an abortion. I've met more that deeply regret it then that are cold to it.
I think people should be able to live free. However if you are going to ask me what I think about something, I will tell you. Unfortunately I've been told that is persecution. If that is what you consider persecution then I guess I can't let people live with freedom without persecution. You ask me a question I will tell you. I tend to keep my mouth shut otherwise, but I am not going to lie about my beliefs. Funny that I've felt more real persecution for my beliefs then I've ever meted out. Just saying "Christian" Offends some people. God help me if I say "Conservative Christian." I might have well killed their child.
I honestly know more conservative people that help people then liberal. But their help tends to be under the table; they don't ask to be recognized for it. They don't write a 5 million dollar check just to be seen on TV. They actually get in there and help their friends and neighbors when it is needed. Often they are living life helping real people, not some cause... We need to remember the people around us as well as those that are left wanting.
I do love equality. However it seems that the left doesn't love equality. If I say (as I mentioned before) I have issues with homosexuality in principle, I am called a homophobe. Even if I treat the people that are homosexual just like I would anyone else. God forbid I exercise my right to actually disagree? I must be a bigot.
....I gotta admit I like blowing stuff up. I mean I'm a man, what man doesn't? However I do not like blowing up innocent people, committing an act of war and terrorism. But I do love blowing stuff up. Yet I can say I am not the same as a terrorist.
I love guns too. Yet I think it is the right of every American to own a gun. Once you have an unarmed populace, you have that much more control over the people. I don't think they should be used until you have to use it, to defend yourself. But I do love going out and target shooting...it's fun.
I am not a war freak. I hate war, I wish it wasn't something that we had to do. Unfortunately we live in a world that is war torn: We have to commit to warfare just to survive. Just to help some people. War sucks but it is a reality we have to deal with.
So this is the list from a Conservative Christian. Everything you said is pretty idiotic and generalized. I wouldn't even generalize about my enemies or those I disagree with. It is also blatantly stereotypical. You need better ammunition for that gun, because I am sure each and every conservative person on this blog could go through that list and show you that you are way wrong.
See you in November, lunatic.