I tried to sign up for the $30 100 minute/unlimited text/5GB of 4G, and after trying to dodge the fact that this plan even existed at all, the activation rep tells me that this plan is exclusive to BlackBerry devices! What the hell happened? There is NOTHING on T-Mobile's website to indicate this!
T-Mobile $30 plan is for BlackBerry only?! WTF is this?
- Thread starter KineticMD
- Start date
- Apr 17, 2012
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I don't trust Tmobile. Alot of odd things like this plus their device payment plan is like a ETF. If you leave early you have to pay for the device.. Which I'm not blaming them for if you do the payment plan... Yet... What's the difference in that and a ETF? Lol.
Sent from my Sprint S3 using AC forums.
Sent from my Sprint S3 using AC forums.
And they're facing legal action for misleading customers like that. T-Mobile is making a pretty horrible first impression so far.
JHBThree
Well-known member
- Feb 15, 2012
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They're not advertising it as etf free. They're advertising it as a way for you to upgrade whenever you want without having to front the cost right away. And you're not bound to a contract.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
Well, the chat rep I talked to got me switched over to the $30 plan. Glad that got taken care of!
You can get the $30 by ordering a SIM kit from their prepaid website (SIM Card details from T-Mobile), putting it in your phone, and then activating on the their website by following their directions. I didn't have a problem doing this with my HTC One at all, and the plan is clearly visible on their activation page.
I've seen the $30 plan referred to in some third party articles as a Walmart-and-web-only deal, which if true may explain why some reps seem confused by its existence.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Yeah they're trying hard to hid the $30 plan, probably just need to try CSRs until you find one that'll do it.
The fact that some people are confused is certainly a problem, but that doesn't mean the TMo plans don't make sense. I will concede the no contract marketing is a bit disingenuous, BUT:
It's different from an ETF because the ETF is tied to your service agreement not your handset. Additionally, on TMo, once you've paid off your device, your monthly bill goes down (since you're no longer paying for the device) - not true on other carriers even IF you pay the ETF.
I'm sorry but at some point customers need to take some responsibility and understand what they're agreeing to before signing on the dotted line. Not to mention the fact that it's absurd to believe that TMo would practically give away high end devices and not expect the customer to pay it off. In fact TMo is taking it one step further toward being pro consumer by not charging interest on the payment plan.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
The fact that some people are confused is certainly a problem, but that doesn't mean the TMo plans don't make sense. I will concede the no contract marketing is a bit disingenuous, BUT:
It's different from an ETF because the ETF is tied to your service agreement not your handset. Additionally, on TMo, once you've paid off your device, your monthly bill goes down (since you're no longer paying for the device) - not true on other carriers even IF you pay the ETF.
I'm sorry but at some point customers need to take some responsibility and understand what they're agreeing to before signing on the dotted line. Not to mention the fact that it's absurd to believe that TMo would practically give away high end devices and not expect the customer to pay it off. In fact TMo is taking it one step further toward being pro consumer by not charging interest on the payment plan.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
The fact that I'm on T-Mobile, on the $30 plan, and using a phone that I paid for instantly with no payment.
In your comment, you complain that "If you leave early you have to pay for the device." You can't possibly expect them to allow people to cancel service and keep the phone without paying for it.
Sent from my pure Google Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums
That's what I was using, an activation kit. The rep I spoke to while porting my number over from Verizon tried to tell me that this plan was exclusive to BlackBerry phones. I did an online chat with another rep and explained the situation and she set me up without a hassle. I can't help but feel that with the way this plan is "hidden" on their website, how it isn't even mentioned in the booklet of plans you get with the activation kit, and how I had to bend over backward just to get the rep to acknowledge the plan even exists, that T-Mobile is trying to hide it.
I'm glad I could get my situation rectified so quickly though, kudos to T-Mobile for that.
What you're describing isn't what is misleading to the customer, or at least shouldn't be. What T-Mobile never clarified was that if you leave their service you can't continue making payments to them for your phone while getting service from another carrier. Unless you pay for the device up front it's either do the payment plan and be on T-Mobile, or leave T-Mobile while on the payment plan and immediately have to pay the rest of the phone off.
It's not unreasonable for people to think that a payment plan could still be in effect even if you don't get service from the carrier you bought the phone from. After all, it's just a payment plan, not a contract, right? If T-Mobile truly was the "un-carrier", this would be an option. But even so, I still think they're the least of the 4 big evils solely because more than one payment option exists. Hopefully it sways a lot of customers to switch.
- Apr 17, 2012
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You quote half of what I said and responded leaving out the rest of my comment .. I said which I understand.. But what's the difference in that and a ETF? Either way you leave early your paying a lump some somewhere.
So in my opinion it's the same thing. Tomato Tamoto. Also to your comment of keeping the phone after canceling.. I understand why they are doing this lump sum otherwise everyone would go to Tmobile for a month or 2 and get a new device cheap. My comment strictly meant it's basically a ETF with a different reason behind it.
Sent from my Sprint S3 using AC forums.
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I think the difference is that Tmobile is being more transparent in their pricing breakdown. Other carriers basically do the same thing, where they allow you to buy a phone with at discount and then roll the rest of the price of the phone into their monthly service payment. At least Tmobile is being upfront that this is what they're doing and gives you the option to either buy your phone outright or bring a phone you already have, in order to lower the monthly payment. At other carriers, you will pay the full phone-subsidizing monthly service fee even if you brought your own phone and will continue to pay it even after you finish paying off your phone. "ETF" is a nebulous term. Tmobile is calling it what it is.
I'm using the $30 plan with my HTC One right now. Just go to a Walmart store and they'll set you up.
I wish I would've done that from the start. Going through T-Mobile directly was a pain in the *** trying to get them to fess up to the plan's existence.
When I order my ONE online, the $30 plan was not available. So I signed up with the $50 simple plan instead. Can I just call tmo and switch to the $30 plan? And would they still unlock the phone if I switch immediately after I activate with the simple plan?
Sent from my ADR6300 using Android Central Forums
Sent from my ADR6300 using Android Central Forums
I agree but I think the point is whether a carrier says you have to pay an ETF or the full price of the phone upon termination, they are basically the same in the sense that you still have to pay. So yes, it's not a contract but you still make a 2 year commitment to repay. If you bail early, you pay what's left. Same thing when you sign a contract. And I agree with the earlier sentiment that customer should be aware but at the end of the day you get a phone on discount from ANY carrier, you will have to pay some sort of lump some payment if you leave early. As a customer, I don't see ETF or phone purchase. I see $300 due LOL.
But they weren't initially and that's why they are modifying their advertising because it was misleading. Sure customers need to make sure they know what's going on. That's no question, but t-mobile has already admitted to it so they must have been omitted something? I mean, why else would they concede so quickly they have provided full disclosure?
T-Mobile quickly gives in to WA Attorney General, agrees 'UNcarrier' is misleading to consumers | Android Central
You mean signed up for one of the new "uncarrier" plans? If so, that's entirely different than the $30 prepaid plan. They aren't going to switch you from a post paid to prepaid especially if you purchased a device during the process. Did you buy the phone full price? Because you'll need to do that as well to use on the prepaid plan.
Paid in full...tmo told me I'll have to port my number.
Sent from my ADR6300 using Android Central Forums
Sent from my ADR6300 using Android Central Forums
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