Verizon Family 4+

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.

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.

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!

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.

This is the worst app! It’s not even an exaggeration. It’s not even counting the times it does allow me to log in. I have my log ins saved
And for some reason every time I try to log in to change or monitor restrictions, it doesn’t let me log in. It all starts with imputing log in and password the app then tells me it’s wrong. So then I reset password I screens shot to make sure I’m not loosing my mind. Then I proceed to reenter the new password into the app!!!! Then you guessed it it’s wrong once again! Insane then it tells me my account is locked. So the app prompts me to unlock it through the Verizon app and this game starts all over again. Yes the app doesn’t work you will have better luck going through an third party app. Because after paying Verizon so much money and trusting they are providing you with equal amount of valued product, they are not they just want your money. And care less if we are paying extra for this specific service it’s insane. If you have no other option but to get your kid the phone because your locked in with Verizon due it but don’t get the kid line. Get a regular one and then get a 3 party app to help with parental controls for your kids. Or wait all together and look into bark for them. This is insigne I can’t even add or remove contact because I can’t log in.

We're sorry you are having issues with the app. Please email us at verizonsmartfamily@verizonwireless.com with the parent & child device types, OS versions and mobile numbers, so we can help further. Please mention this review and provide, if available, any ticket information that you have previously opened so we have the full context.