Google Project Fi Warning!

[2Birds1Stone]

I discovered Google's project Fi phone service through MMM almost two years ago.

My fiance switched over since she doesn't use much data and the $20/month seemed reasonable for a smartphone plan with pay as you go data @ $10/gig.

She chose the Nexus 6P since we are usually using our phones for 4+ years. This was not a cheap phone though Google offers 0% interest financing for 24 months.

About 18 months into ownership, her phone suddenly goes into a bootloop, where it just tries to boot up over and over again in perpetuity. After contacting Google, and doing a lot of research online, it looks like this is a hardware issue with the Huawei hardware....which even though slightly out of warranty Google will not do anything about. To top it off, Huawei won't even fix this issue if you opt to pay for it!

Google's response was that they have a great promotion on new hardware.......yea go fuck yourself. Off to Cricket Wireless we go.

[sokoloff]

This seems only tangentially at best related to Google Fi mobile service. It relates entirely to a particular piece of hardware a user bought to use with the service.

Not a GFi user, but I know several colleagues who use it quite happily.

[CoffeeAndDonuts]

Bummer.

My 5x met a similar untimely fate (13mos) with no support. Turns out it was a known defect and had it happened a month earlier, an informal warranty from the mfg would have covered it. Dang.

On the plus side, it was a cheaper phone than the 6p.

Google fi's response was the same. I picked up a motorcycle x4. Quite happy with it.

I also changed an old usbank credit card into their generically named platinum visa and then moved payments over to it. That card provides cell phone insurance with a small of deductible of $25 or $50 (I forget). There are other credit cards that do similar. Regardless of your carrier, this may be a good idea. My only cost is the rewards I'm not getting using a card with a better bonus structure.

[Rosy]

Bummer - It seems to be the way our throw away society operates - "here, we've got a deal on the next new thing for ya".

Like Coffeeand Donuts, I switched our cell phone payments to a rewards debit card offered by my CU that provides free cell phone insurance and gives me points.
Beats paying $20 to T-Mobile any day and if I get a new phone, I don't have to worry about paying myself for a replacement if it is stolen. We tend to keep our phones about five years.

[MrGreen]

I discovered Google's project Fi phone service through MMM almost two years ago.

My fiance switched over since she doesn't use much data and the $20/month seemed reasonable for a smartphone plan with pay as you go data @ $10/gig.

She chose the Nexus 6P since we are usually using our phones for 4+ years. This was not a cheap phone though Google offers 0% interest financing for 24 months.

About 18 months into ownership, her phone suddenly goes into a bootloop, where it just tries to boot up over and over again in perpetuity. After contacting Google, and doing a lot of research online, it looks like this is a hardware issue with the Huawei hardware....which even though slightly out of warranty Google will not do anything about. To top it off, Huawei won't even fix this issue if you opt to pay for it!

Google's response was that they have a great promotion on new hardware.......yea go fuck yourself. Off to Cricket Wireless we go.

Do you think another manufacturer would have been different on another carrier? Or is it that you only had to buy that expensive phone to be compatible with Google Fi.

[neo von retorch]

Agreed that this is a phone issue, not a Google Fi issue. I have a Nexus 6P that I bought used, and have been lucky enough so far to have no issues.

I had Google Fi (Nexus 6 at the time), and I also had no issues. If I was switching away from Google Fi, but still a low data user, I strongly recommend Consumer Cellular over Cricket. Much better company, and with your low data usage, you'll pay very close to what you were paying with Google Fi.

[2Birds1Stone]

I guess I'm ticked off because Google sold this device under their brand, through their own site, and it's a known issue that seems to happen right after ~12 months for many people. Poor quality hardware, that they essentially force you to buy if you want to use their service.

As a Google fan/advocate you would think that they would at least knock off the last $100 owed on the phone they charged a retail of $550 on and lasted 18 months....

I've seen many friends drop an Iphone, walk into the Apple store and get a free replacement as a courtesy.

Google didn't offer to do ANYTHING, I guess coming from a sales/customer service background I hold companies to a higher standard.

[mrigney]

So up front...I've been a Nexus/Pixel user basically since the beginning (Nexus S, Nexus 5, Nexus 6P, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 XL). The Nexus 6P has/had some serious issues. I think the problem you're encountering is a result of the Google/Huawei partnership (and Google/LG on the Nexus 5X side). From everything I've read, there was a constant back and forth between Google and Huawei/LG over the the issues with those two phones. The infinite bootloop became a pretty infamous problem w/the 5X. Google insisted it was a hardware issue. LG/Huawei insisted it was software. As a result, neither company wanted to deal with it. I know that LG, if still in warranty, would replace 5Xs if you pestered them enough. When i had issues with my 6P (not bootloop issues, but randomly turning off + terrible battery life), I called Google and they sent me a Pixel XL, no charge. Good timing? Probably. But not the first time Google has helped me out. Back when I had a Nexus 5, I cracked the screen. Called to see about getting it fixed, and they sent me a brand new re-furbed Nexus 5 free of charge.

So yeah, I think the bootloop problem could've been handled way better by Google, but in general, I've had good (albeit anecdotal) experiences with their customer service.

[neo von retorch]

Yes, I don't think it's apples to apples to compare an Apple store to a Google Fi store. Ever see that graphic where all the Microsoft departments point guns at each other? Google Fi does have strict phone requirements, but they don't require you buy the phone from them, and they do not create the phones or the software. Google does. Small (and yet, big) difference. I don't know if you'd be able to contact a different department (i.e. Google hardware/store) and have better luck like mrigney did.

My bigger point was to give Consumer Cellular your consideration if you haven't already tied yourself on to the Cricket train ;)

[Phoenix_Fire]

The Nexus 6P has boot loop and battery issues.  There is actually a class action lawsuit about it:
https://chimicles.com/google-nexus-6p-battery-early-shutoff-bootlooping-class-action-investigation/

My phone had the battery issue.  I tried contacting Google about it, and was given the run around for a couple of days before finally being told it's Huawei's issue, you need to deal with them.  Huawei said the phone was past warranty.  My issue had started right after an OS update, so I patiently waited for Google to update their software thinking it would fix it.  My bad, won't ever happen again. 

Anywho, I signed up for the class action, which will probably take a few more years to resolve.  I love Google, but the Nexus 6P was advertised as made by Google, and they need to be held accountable for it.  There were ads for it by Google that didn't reference Huawei at all. 

I ended up buying a new phone and traded in the Nexus.  Any phone I have from now on that has issues will result in me contacting the manufacturer immediately. 

[HBFIRE]

has anyone here tried google fi with an apple phone

[Phoenix_Fire]

has anyone here tried google fi with an apple phone

You can't.  Needs to be Pixel, Pixel 2, Nexus 6P/5x, and Moto X4.

[HBFIRE]

has anyone here tried google fi with an apple phone

You can't.  Needs to be Pixel, Pixel 2, Nexus 6P/5x, and Moto X4.

Well I read there is a hack for that, but just wanted to see if anyone has tried it.

[KBCB]

Random Unrelated Story of a Project Fi user:

I have project fi and use a nexus phone I bought through them for $200 a couple years ago. One day the phone was on the bed and the baby puked on that bed. The comforter got rolled and put into the washer and happily went through it's normal wash cycle. Phone was unhappily washed with the comforter. It instantly died. Luckily I brought it into work where we have vacuum pots. Then magic happened. After pumping down for most of the day to suck out the water, and another co-worker taking it apart and cleaning the board, IT STILL WORKS!

At the time they only has a $600 dollar phone available for purchase (looked in case mine didn't revive). But it looks like they now have another $200 dollar option.

[OtherJen]

has anyone here tried google fi with an apple phone

You can't.  Needs to be Pixel, Pixel 2, Nexus 6P/5x, and Moto X4.

Well I read there is a hack for that, but just wanted to see if anyone has tried it.

The Google Fi SIM card works in an iPhone. I used a family member’s old iPhone for a few days last year until Google could replace my bootlooped Nexus 5x (fortunately under warranty). I was able to make/receive calls and texts. You don’t get all of the features, though: it’s T-Mobile signal only and voicemail is screwy. Also, the SIM card must have been activated in a Project Fi compatible phone before it will work in another device.

[dragoncar]

If you made all the payments with the same credit card, you might be eligible for an extended warranty.  This is one good reason to pay it all off on a good card -- many will add a year or two to the warranty.  Maybe call.

[MrMoneyAbsent]

Google Fi is awesome, the Nexus 6p (or 5x) is not. My wife and I have been Nexus users since the beginning. We got her a used Nexus 6P last year, and although we never had the bootloop, the phone was extremely buggy. After breaking the screen on that, we got a used Pixel on eBay. That has been a phenomenal phone. Everything just works. I strongly recommended that phone, especially for $200 used.

Note:
I am still using the Nexus 5 from 2013 on Ting.

[Dexterous]

We had the Nexus 6p and two Nexus 5x phones, and all failed with bootloop issues.  I got a repalcement for one of the 5x phones out of warranty from Project Fi, but received nothing for the other two.

[scantee]

The exact same thing happened to me with my Nexus. Mine only lasted 15 months though. I did nothing to it — didn’t drop it, didn’t get water on it — it just went into a boot loop that I couldn’t get it out of. Google’s response? Sorry, there is nothing we can do and your warranty is only a year.
I’ve switched to Ting and am much happier.