What Questions Should I Ask Google Fi When Shopping for a Cellphone Provider?

Cellphones can be used for a variety of tasks, and every phone owner uses theirs in a different way. Before signing a contract with Google Fi for cellphone service, evaluate how much data you use each month with your phone. Don't forget to factor in other costs to your monthly bill, such as a leased phone, insurance, or sales taxes.

Dec 9, 2022

If you're in the market for a new Google Fi cellphone plan, you'll want to feel assured that your plan is the best possible one. Here are questions you should ask the Google Fi customer service representative about cellphone service.

How Much Data Can I Use?

Take some time to think about how you use your phone, and where you use it. Do you mostly take it where there's Wi-Fi? Do you send a lot of text messages or media messages? How many minutes a month do you spend on phone conversations? And don't forget mobile apps! A map or GPS app, like Google Apps or Waze, can use up a lot of data (and usually not where there's a good Wi-Fi connection), as can streaming entertainment apps like Netflix or HBO Go.

What Are the Overage Penalties?

No matter which plan you choose, likely there will come a month in which you use more data or minutes than you paid for. In this case, it's good to know how much you might be expected to pay. While you're asking about overage penalties, also ask about options for tracking your data usage. Many services will send you a text when you've used up 75% or 90% of your monthly data.

If the overage penalties seem steep, make sure you check how good the coverage is in your area.

How Much Are Extra Lines?

Many cellphone providers, including Google, let you add additional phone lines, usually at a discount. However, make sure to check in with anyone who would be on this 'family plan' with you, and ask how much data they themselves use.

Do Phones Come With the Plan?

Some plans come with a subsidized or even free cellphone. For other plans, you may have to sign a separate lease agreement.

If your plan comes with a free or discounted cellphone, check out the specs before signing. Make sure that the offered phone has the features you need. For instance, if you plan to use your phone for TikTok or Instagram, you'll want to make sure the cameras are top-notch. Whereas if you like using your phone to play mobile games, storage capacity becomes a priority. And don't forget headphones! Some models are moving away from including a 3.5mm jack and require you to have Bluetooth earbuds. Customers are sharply divided on the question, so whichever you prefer, make sure the phone model has the feature you want.

Either way, be sure to ask if you'll be expected to pay extra for a phone, either upfront or every month (or sometimes both). That leads into the next question you ought to ask.

Are There Any Extra Fees?

In many places, the number given on the plan may not be what you end up paying. As indicated previously, some plans include a separate lease for your phone. Other sources of extra fees might be state taxes, insurance coverage, or even the ever-present but vaguely worded service charge. Always ask your Google Fi customer service rep what extra charges you might expect to see on your phone bill, and factor that into your overall budget decisions.

Further questions?

Ask a followup or related question and we will try to provide an answer in seconds.
Jeff truly believes that all customers deserve good service. He’s been building tools, inventing phone tree hacks and helping customers since before his days at GetHuman. He's also a Google GDE and involved in the Angular community.
What Questions Should I Ask Google Fi When Shopping for a Cellphone Provider?

Why does GetHuman Write How-to Guides for Project Fi Problems?

GetHuman has been working for over 10 years on sourcing information about big organizations like Project Fi in order to help customers resolve customer service issues faster. We started with contact information and fastest ways to reach a human at big companies. Particularly ones with slow or complicated IVR or phone menu systems. Or companies that have self-serve help forums instead of a customer service department. From there, we realized that consumers still needed more detailed help solving the most common problems, so we expanded to this set of guides, which grows every day. And if you spot any issues with our What Questions Should I Ask Google Fi When Shopping for a Cellphone Provider? guide, please let us know by sending us feedback. We want to be as helpful as possible. If you appreciated this guide, please share it with your favorite people. Our free information and tools is powered by you, the customer. The more people that use it, the better it gets.

Project Fi

Asked 3 years ago
Updated a year ago
Viewed 1,480,739 times
Project Fi
shopping for Google Fi cellphone
Google Fi customer service questions
Was this page helpful?
Thank you and please share!
Thank you and please share!
Needs work
Sharing is what powers GetHuman's free customer service contact information and tools. You can help!