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T-Mobile Prepaid Phones - Tax Amount Increased!

  • 27 March 2018
  • 5 replies
  • 947 views
M

I refilled my T-Mobile prepaid (pay as you go - legacy) phone.  I added $10 to my phone account which gives me an additional 35 minutes added which will expire in one year for gold members.  I used to only pay the NYS tax (8.875%), therefore on a $10 refill, you would think the total with tax should've been $10.89.  Something changed, I was charged an additional $1.20, making the tax amount $2.09.  The total refill amount paid was $12.09.  I had to find out why.

After being bounced around by 5 different T-Mobile reps, I managed to speak with a payment supervisor (in U.S.), she (Katie) indicated that there were two additional "flat rate" charges (included in tax) which were added effective 12/1/17.  They are as follows:  PSCS STATE = $0.90 & LOCAL PREPAID WIRELESS = $.30 .

Has anyone else experienced this change in their prepaid tax amount recently?  Where is this stated with the amounts listed above on the website?  I don't like to be surprised, they should've highlighted all charges up front and not lump under "TAX" without supporting details.

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Best answer by tmo_mike_c 28 March 2018, 23:31

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5 replies

tmo_mike_c
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Userlevel 6
Badge +15

Hey there and thanks for posting. With local and state taxes not being a fixed cost, we don't have a master list you can reference of what they'll be and if/when they'll change. Sorry to hear you were surprised by the change, but tax changes are controlled by your state's government.

J

I had the same thing happen to me a couple of months ago. With those added FEES, taxes are like 20%. The way to avoid these fees is just buying refill cards and redeeming them on your account. You can find them with retailers online and some drug store chains.

dc5fan
Userlevel 4
Badge +11

I live in Illinois. Since last September 2017 I have purchased 3 $10 cards from a T-Mobile store and 2 from the app. I was charged 90 cents for IL tax. No other tax. It has been hard to find the T-Mobile Refill cards in either Walmart or Walgreens where I live. Walmart may sell them online, but no physical refill cards in either Rantoul, Champaign, or Urbana, IL stores. I noticed yesterday I can use my T-Mobile account to purchase a refill amount with my credit card. Well, at least yesterday I could. 

M

Yeah I noticed this too via an online refill too.
I thought at first it was "Washington State" sales tax, since their headquarters are located there I think.

But you're answer is very thorough, thank you for posting.

Too bad about the extra charges though.

W

I also had paid an extra $2 for a $10 refill, so I stopped refilling through them. But you should be HAPPY that you get automatic 1 year extension for being a Gold Rewards Legacy member and refilling $10. I have been Gold Rewards (Legacy) member since day 1 for over 10 years, but just today the CSR told me I must refill $100 or I only get 3 months extension for a $10 refill. It's a hit and miss with T-Mobile. After I told her that I am Gold Rewards member ever since … then a long talk later she did me a favor by putting me on hold in complete silence for a few minutes and came back on the line to tell me that she had noted on my account that I could call back and get 1 year extension for $10 refill, BUT I must talk to an agent for it. I should be able to refill with $10 for 1 year expiration through automated system. I thanked her for the help, but I also believed lots of T-Mobile agents are not trained right. All the extra stress really shouldn't be because I ran through all these what-ifs with the CSR when I opened the account and I was assured that there would be no problems if I became a Gold Rewards member right away. So, there, you should be happy you didn't have to pay more.

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