r/redpocket

Hi,

For the past 2 1/2 weeks I have been having an account login problem. I've been back and forth both via email and phone support with all suggestions tried and nothing has helped, including suggestions I've found here.

They keep asking me where I am located. They have insited that I am using a VPN and yesterday customer support walked me through how to disable it on my phone. It was off. My phones are Moto Stylus 5G with RP service and Samsung Galaxy A15 with Mint service, of which both use GSMT SIMs and I get roughtly two bars on signal strength.

I usually use a VPN changer and have never had problems with using it while logging into Red Pocket in the past, and I've always used my username for login, never my email associated with RP, which is Mailfence provider. I just don't know what changed. If I don't use a VPN or change Private DNS under Network & Internet from Automatic (recommended) to Off, I still have the problem. With these off, when using my phone's hotspot, it shows a private IP address when using my Mint phone.

I've sent them Wifi information via Windows for both phones that shows mac address, ip addresses, dns servers and that didn't seem to shine a light on the problem for them.

I've done a factory-reset on both phones (so fun, ha) in case I changed some settings, besides initially trying Network reset and have not been using any DNS changer. I've tried using incognito mode on my desktop browser after clearing history, cache, cookies. And when trying in Linux operating system, I've disabled the service OpenVPN via the command line and clearing the DNS cache under systemd. I'm not using a firewall in Linux. I've tried Firefox, Floorp which is a Japanese Firefox flavor, I've tried Chrome from my phones.

So, I think, like the forum link I attached, it may be that I've been blocked and they have no way to unblock me, or don't know how. After yesterday's phone help and me sending them screenshots of the errors, "invalid credentials", "authentication error. The username is not acitve", I was advised to wait and hour and try again due to the failed attempts. So, I waited until this morning to try again, the same problem, "invalid credentials". Using the Reset Password link never sends a link to my email, not in spam or inbox.

I suggested having my account email changed which is what I plan to do next time I contact them. I've read that some website accounts have problems with certain email providers, especially those that allow aliases. I use mailfence, which is based in Denmark or Belgium, not sure and they allow aliases. I do not want to use gmail and I'm getting so sick of Cloudflare verification endless loops at some websites.

So, I wanted to know which VPN, if any, do you use when logging into your RP account?

Thanks for your time and feedback, ya'll, from out in the country in Arkansas.

I couldn’t find this post a month ago when I needed it, so I’m making it for some other parent who wants a cheap way for their kid to call home, without paying Straight Talk every month what you could pay Red Pocket once a year.

I have an unlocked Nokia 2760 Flip (N139DL) from Straight Talk (Verizon) that I wanted to put on the $30/year Red Pocket plan from eBay, which seems to use their GSMA/AT&T network.

Red Pocket’s compatibility checker wasn’t sure about the phone, and support directly told me it wasn’t compatible. Cricket’s IMEI checker, however, said the phone was compatible with their AT&T-based service. The phone also supports VoLTE and looked like it supports the right LTE bands, so like the stubborn moron I am, I decided to try it anyway.

As you might have guessed from the title, it works.

I did have to manually set up the Red Pocket APN. The automatically configured AT&T APNs that automatically showed up in the phone didn’t work for me. After adding the correct Red Pocket APN, I also turned off automatic network selection and manually selected Red Pocket. After that, calls, texts, and cellular data all work. I haven’t tried Wi-Fi calling yet.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone save a few extra bucks.