I've been dealing with Cricket for several years now, and I've never had a problem with customer service, nor their wireless service.
I use a VPN (whether I am using Wi-Fi or not). However, when I am on Cricket's service, I always seem to have 100% signal strength.
When a severe thunderstorm is overhead, my signal strength never drops any lower than 60%.
I've never completely lost signal, nor had my phone switch to roaming because of poor communication with cell towers.
I would definitely never go back to Verizon Wireless.
There was one point in time when I was working offshore as a Hydrographic Surveyor. I couldn't use my phone, simply because there are no cell towers located in the Gulf of Mexico for my phone to ping. (I was only able to use my phone as an alarm clock.) However, when I came in from the water to pay my phone bill, (Verizon) gave me a bill for over $800!!!
My bill with Cricket for three phones - with unlimited talk, text, and data - is $90/month.
EVERY month.
It's a no-brainer, ladies & gentlemen. 😏