Complaint Review: Cricket - Internet Internet

I had a hard time deciding what company to file a complaint about since I am being screwed by several different companies in this situation but I will begin with Cricket... I cringe as I type their name!

Back in December 2012 I purchased a Cricket PayGo phone (a Huawei Pillar) from Walmart Store number 3799 (Baseline and Country Club in Mesa, AZ) for $32.58. I purchased the cell phone for my ten year old, diabetic, daughter because I need to make sure she has a way to contact me in case of a medical emergency related to her type 1 diabetes. This is not a phone she can do a lot with other than text and make calls; it has "internet" on it but it's horrible.

The first phone died completely in March 2013; it would not power on at all. I contacted the manufacturer, Huawei,  by phone and I was told the phone was still under their warranty but the only way I would be able to exchange it would be to go to a Cricket service center. I went to my local Cricket service center and was told that I had the following options:

1. Pay $10.00 and they would exchange the phone, under the manufacturers warranty, for a "refurbished" phone. It would arrive in their store within two days.

2. Pay $20.00 and they would exchange the phone, under the manufacturers warranty, for a "refurbished" phone. It would be shipped overnight.

3. Pay $30.00 for a new battery and hope that fixed the problem.

I didn't really think that the problem was the battery so I opted to pay the $10.00 and pick up the phone in two days at their office. I handed the woman helping me $10.00 cash and she said that a credit card was required. I questioned her about this and she stated that because it was a warranty return, they could only accept a credit card. I thought this was really odd and I don't hand over my bank card to just anyone; for all I knew there would be "other charges" that I didn't authorize so I said never mind and I left.

I was frustrated and didn't think I should receive a "refurbished" phone, nor have to pay anything since the phone was only three months old. On April 12, 2013 (after saving up some money) I ended up just buying another new phone which was identical to the first phone. It's now May 7, 2013 and this phone is doing exactly what the first phone did! When I stopped by the Cricket store tonight they were closed but I already know what my options with them will be and they are NOT what I am looking for. I am trying not to drag the other companies involved in this in to this post but at this point in thestorey I don't really have much choice.

When I bought the second phone, I also bought an extended "warranty" through... CRINGE....... Walmart Care Plan which is actually Asurion Service Plans Inc. I already ran their name through Ripoff Reports and saw all the horror so I'm not surprised at the way they treated me. Basically I am out a grand total of $69.16 for both worthless, dead, phones and I don't have any more money to go get my diabetic daughter another phone right now. Cricket SUCKS and this is the LAST PHONE I will buy that uses their service. My other daughter has service with another company and I will stick with them from now on!