Verizon Family 4+

Issue with requests sending

Overall I’d say it’s an app. A little confusing, but generally functional which is just fine for an app that’s supposed to be functional. I’m not spending a lot of time messing around on it, so 🤷‍♀️.

Where we have had repeated issues is with app requests. I have it set up so my kids have to request every app or App Store purchase they want, but we’re now a few weeks into yet another spell of those requests not making it to me. We’ve gone through this several times. We reboot all the phones, try checking all the settings on all the phones. I’m still getting notifications if they’re on during the night or school hours, just not their app requests. Then all of a sudden previous times, the requests will start coming through again and we won’t have a clue if some combination of the phones in question rebooting after running out of battery or just absolute randomness caused it.

This wouldn’t be quite as big a deal if I could open the parent app and see a list of the requests to review. While I’m on the subject, my preference would be sorted, showing those pending approval, but also an option for seeing historical requests for maybe the past month whether approved or denied, in case of appeal etc.

Developer Response ,

Can we suggest you open a ticket using the in-app help center? Getting a ticket via the app, provides us with the supporting information like phone number, model, OS etc. You can also check back in the help center for response to your issue. This can be found under the App settings, Help Center, Send Feedback.

Many glitches

When my child reaches their data limit for the month, it locks up my data (the parent) on my phone as well. This has happened for numerous months. The child can still use the phone on wifi so even if you purposely block their phone, they can still use all functions. The location services that you pay extra for is not accurate. Compared to the “Find Friends” app, which shows my child’s EXACT location, this Verizon app shows their location a few hundred feet or a mile away for their actual location (differs daily). I have yet to see it place their location accurately in the past month or so since upgrading to this service. Even though we have time limits on their phone, it stopped working a few months ago and my child can use their phone at all hours now. And all the other options only work if the child has the app on their phones. The child can simply delete the app and all bets off. I still keep the app because it does show me when/who my child calls/texts (even if my child deletes their app... although it only shows for the phone’s basic Call/Text and not if my child uses WhatsApp or other apps) and I can block numbers if needed (again, only for Call/Text).

I have never seen such a horrible app

It is utterly awful! Seriously, for instance with the time restrictions, you can’t even tell what you’re restricting. Is the time that you restrict the time the phone is off, or on? You really have no way of knowing, until you do it, and then your kid complains, or not. It actually says “set custom hours“ and then has a start time and stop time. That’s it! What does that mean!? Plus you can’t set different times for different nights, like different for weekdays and weekends, but who would ever want to do that? (Heavy sarcasm).
Plus, you can set a limit on your kid’s data. But then it just shuts off! It doesn’t throttle down so they limited access to data. The purpose most people want is to limit their use so they only use their share and don’t use up all of the family plan, not cut them off completely when they reach their limit. That should obviously be an option. Unbelievable!
But wait, there’s more! It doesn’t work and less you install an app on their phone! That’s idiotic! All they have to do is delete it! Of course there are ways to set up the phone so they can’t do that, But I shouldn’t have to.
I really can’t believe someone with even a high school diploma could’ve come up with such an awful app. What’s even worse is they charge you 10 bucks a month for this awfulness when it should be included with your plan!

Developer Response ,

We are sorry you are having issues using the app.
The time restrictions are the time windows when usage is 'restricted' / blocked.
You can setup more than 1 custom restriction - e.g. one for weekend and another one for weekdays, or one for each day of the week. Each such custom restriction can have its own start & stop time for when restriction is in effect
Even without the companion app installed you can still monitor and control call, text and data usage activity over LTE. We are constantly looking at ways to prevent tampering and notify you if Smart Family Companion app is uninstalled.
Can you please email us at verizonsmartfamily@verizonwireless.com so we can help you further? Please mention this review in the email so we have the context.