I just literally signed up for a new plan - debit cards have fees for providers too - accessing my bank account isn’t a good approach from a security perspective (noting that T-mobile has been hacked - i wouldn’t have shared this directly with T-mobile customer service but there is not email or chat and I don’t have time for phone calls
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Best answer by syaoran
View originalI’ve been a loyal T-Mobile customer for 20+ years. Will be switching to Verizon next month based on the Autopay discount that now will only be applicable to debit/checking payments. I don’t think that T-Mobile understands that I don’t want them having my debit card or bank account due to their poor data security record. This is s very poor business decision on T-Mobile’s part and extremely incongruent with what has been for the past 20 years been a very positive customer experience with them.
I don’t carte what you call it. If you are saying that to take my credit card, you won’t give me the $15/month discount any more, that means you are raising my rates! If you talk to a T-Mobile rep, they say the discount is going away and that my rates are not going up. I don’t care how you want to spin it, more money out of my pocket for Sub par service is an increase in my expenses and raising my rates! There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY that this 20+ year T-Mobile/Sprint customer is giving you guys my checking account information! What do you think your customers are? Stupid? You cannot even keep my credit card data secure. AT least I can fight bogus charges with my credit card. There are NO protections for customers when you are given their checking account information (debit card # is the same thing). Once the charge is assessed to a debit card/checking account, the money is GONE. How stupid for a cell phone carrier to lose a 20+ year customer over taking a credit card, which you have done for many years! Bye Bye T-Mobile. I am looking for a new carrier.
I’ve been a loyal T-Mobile customer for 20+ years. Will be switching to Verizon next month based on the Autopay discount that now will only be applicable to debit/checking payments. I don’t think that T-Mobile understands that I don’t want them having my debit card or bank account due to their poor data security record. This is s very poor business decision on T-Mobile’s part and extremely incongruent with what has been for the past 20 years been a very positive customer experience with them.
so its safe to say you did zero research into V and the fact that they ALSO dont give a auto pay discount for CC cards? your options are….
use your CC card and not get the auto pay promo..
for the auto payment promo you must use...
debit card/bank info.
Verizons own CC card
from V themselves…
That was announced months ago. It is because credit card companies charge a service charge that is based on the percentage of every transaction, which eats into T-Mobile’s revenue. Removing the auto pay discount for credit cards negates that.
A question for T-Mobile: Does T-Mobile consider the Bluebird Debit card an eligible payment method for the Autopay discount?
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This is simply a money grab plain and simple, I calculated the (maximum current) credit card fees on my monthly payment of $147.11. The (Maximum) T-Mobile could be charged on my Master Card is ($6.98). I have been with T-Mobil for 20 years and I’m switching. I refuse to give them my bank account information and think them very arrogant to think us all so foolish as to do so. The lack of integrity of simply adding the Credit Card fees to the transaction and thinking us foolish enough to think it’s anywhere near their increase, insults my intelligence and that of any intelligent person. Keep in mind my calculations are based on maximum fees which I can assure you, T-Mobile does not pay near the maximum, they are too big a customer.
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This is simply a money grab plain and simple, I calculated the (maximum current) credit card fees on my monthly payment of $147.11. The (Maximum) T-Mobile could be charged on my Master Card is ($6.98). I have been with T-Mobil for 20 years and I’m switching. I refuse to give them my bank account information and think them very arrogant to think us all so foolish as to do so. The lack of integrity of simply adding the Credit Card fees to the transaction and thinking us foolish enough to think it’s anywhere near their increase, insults my intelligence and that of any intelligent person. Keep in mind my calculations are based on maximum fees which I can assure you, T-Mobile does not pay near the maximum, they are too big a customer.
so whats Verizons excuse for not allowing it? money grab as well?
I just got the message too. It’s stupid. Especially since I use Apple Pay which gives me the additional 3% cashback on top of the $20 discount
And the credit card I pay with has phone insurance covering theft and accidental damage. As long as I pay the bill with it...
Tmobile best rethink this decision.
The same! So even if I do accept this change and pay with my debit or bank account, I will STILL lose money.
I have been with T-Mobile, essentially, since before they were T-Mobile (VoiceStream), and I have mostly enjoyed the perks of having their service. However, over the recent years, they have been steadily doing things that cause me to think about other carriers.
I just got the message too. It’s stupid. Especially since I use Apple Pay which gives me the additional 3% cashback on top of the $20 discount
And the credit card I pay with has phone insurance covering theft and accidental damage. As long as I pay the bill with it...
Tmobile best rethink this decision.
The same! So even if I do accept this change and pay with my debit or bank account, I will STILL lose money.
I have been with T-Mobile, essentially, since before they were T-Mobile (VoiceStream), and I have mostly enjoyed the perks of having their service. However, over the recent years, they have been steadily doing things that cause me to think about other carriers.
i recommend doing your research on those carriers then. for the bigs the only one allowing a discount for auto pay with a CC card is ATT..V doesnt do the CC card deal either..you must use their own CC card in order for this to happen.
I just got the message too. It’s stupid. Especially since I use Apple Pay which gives me the additional 3% cashback on top of the $20 discount
And the credit card I pay with has phone insurance covering theft and accidental damage. As long as I pay the bill with it...
Tmobile best rethink this decision.
The same! So even if I do accept this change and pay with my debit or bank account, I will STILL lose money.
I have been with T-Mobile, essentially, since before they were T-Mobile (VoiceStream), and I have mostly enjoyed the perks of having their service. However, over the recent years, they have been steadily doing things that cause me to think about other carriers.
i recommend doing your research on those carriers then. for the bigs the only one allowing a discount for auto pay with a CC card is ATT..V doesnt do the CC card deal either..you must use their own CC card in order for this to happen.
Yeah...I know, but it is just the principle of it all. Why can’t it only be applied to new customers? Or be based on if you have had issues paying your bill and you lose the “privilege” that way? I’ve been with them too long and would appreciate a grandfather clause or something...
i would think that making a decision like this would be something that would affect everyone and not just new accounts..not overly sure the full reasoning behind it..but they are not the only one doing it either.. V started doing it years ago..furthest back i cared to even look at was 2014 for them. wonder if at some point TMO will do what V did and do their own CC? which doesnt make a ton of sense to me other than they probably get some kind of kick back for it being their own CC?
I’m leaving T Mobile when my 24 months are up in October. To me this is a way of getting a price increase. I don’t have a debt card only credit cards and I don’t do online banking. T Mobile has been hacked. Until then I’m changing to paper bill. Good bye T Mobile
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This is simply a money grab plain and simple, I calculated the (maximum current) credit card fees on my monthly payment of $147.11. The (Maximum) T-Mobile could be charged on my Master Card is ($6.98). I have been with T-Mobil for 20 years and I’m switching. I refuse to give them my bank account information and think them very arrogant to think us all so foolish as to do so. The lack of integrity of simply adding the Credit Card fees to the transaction and thinking us foolish enough to think it’s anywhere near their increase, insults my intelligence and that of any intelligent person. Keep in mind my calculations are based on maximum fees which I can assure you, T-Mobile does not pay near the maximum, they are too big a customer.
so whats Verizons excuse for not allowing it? money grab as well?
So we play the they did it!, excuses. Our parents taught us about those silly games. I do not care what Verizon does, this is about T-Mobile access to peoples banking information in time for their next data breach and the lack of integrity and honesty about the Credit Card service charges. This is far above CredtCard fees and will rake in an additional ($156.24 to $213.36) per year. Facts and numbers don’t lie and integrity is lacking in the corporate world of 2023. Don’t wet on my leg and tell me it’s raining. Show integrity, speak truth and charge the actual fees. What a concept!
This is 100% a money grab by T-Mobile.
My cost will increase $35/month on a $255 bill. That’s a 13.8% fee on my bill! At most TM is paying Amex 3.5% and likely lower.
Like someone else said, I use Amex because they provide $500 per phone insurance if you use an Amex Platinum card to pay your bill.
I called Customer Service yesterday to complain and got 3 months of credits to offset the added cost after A LOT of complaining to a Supervisor. When those are done I will call back again, if they don’t continue to give me the credits I will take as many lines as possible to another carrier. In the meantime I will be writing my state AG about the usurious fees and will be writing letters to the CEO, CMO & Chairman of the Board expressing my disappointment and displeasure.
Fireguy, you keep referring to Verizon doing the same. If the woman down the street has an affair you would likely say that’s between her and her family to sort out If your wife has an affair you would differently. My point is what Verizon did to their customers in the past is down to them and doesn’t make Tmobile’s behavior to me acceptable to me, especially as the TMO decision was made after their third hack.
I respect you for trying to defend your employer.
+14
Fireguy,
I respect you for trying to defend your employer.
I haven't seen the mod or a Tmobile employee post on this board in almost 2 weeks. Tmobile employees need to have an identifier in their profile that shows in their post per the forum terms.
https://community.t-mobile.com/site/terms
T-Mobile Employee
T-Mobile employees may participate in the T-Mobile Support Community, but are required to be identified by a T-Mobile logo or badge. All T-Mobile employees are bound by the T-Mobile Employee Handbook and T-Mobile Code of Business Conduct, as well as T-Mobile’s Privacy policies and Security policies when accessing, using, or participating in the Community. Except Community Specialists described below, T-Mobile employees may not ask Community members for any personal information via a post in a community forum or via Private Message (PM). T-Mobile employees are not authorized to access customer accounts in any capacity or for any reason. T-Mobile employees that participate in the Community do not represent T-Mobile, may not claim to speak on behalf of T-Mobile, and their views and opinions do not necessarily reflect those of T-Mobile. A T-Mobile employee’s failure to comply with this Agreement, these Terms of Use, and/or the T-Mobile Support Community Usage Guidelines will result in corrective action up to and including termination
Just un-enroll from autopay. Let them mail you a paper bill and send them a check for payment. See what that does to their costs.
The problem with that is that you then lose the $5.00 per line discount, $25.00 in my case.
i would think that making a decision like this would be something that would affect everyone and not just new accounts..not overly sure the full reasoning behind it..but they are not the only one doing it either.. V started doing it years ago..furthest back i cared to even look at was 2014 for them. wonder if at some point TMO will do what V did and do their own CC? which doesnt make a ton of sense to me other than they probably get some kind of kick back for it being their own CC?
This is about (Money, Deception and risking the Security of their customers (BANKING) information. T-Mobile’s access to peoples banking information will expose their banking info to their (NEXT and frequent data breach). They lack truth & integrity about their Credit Card service charges, T-Mobile implies a lie. These increases are far above current CredtCard fees, based on my calcs. Using current min/max MasterCard fees, it will rake in an additional ($156.24 to $213.36) above service fees per year from me, multiply that by their 110 million US customers and you get additional income above CC fees of (1.718 to 23.469) Billion dollars. Facts and numbers don’t lie and integrity is lacking in the corporate world of 2023. Don’t wet on my leg and tell me it’s raining. Show integrity, speak truth and charge the actual fees. Truth and honesty, what a concept!
Payment network Average credit card processing fees
Visa 1.29% + $0.05 to 3.29% + $0.10
Mastercard 1.39% + $0.05 to 3.29% + $0.10
Discover 1.58% + $0.05 to 3.28% + $0.10
American Express 1.50% + $0.10 to 3.15% + $0.10
Providing debit card or bank account to T-Mobile looks dangerous to me :)
Considering multiple data breaches from t-mobile - latest few happened 2023
“T-Mobile hacked to steal data of 37 million accounts in API data breach”
- https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/t-mobile-hacked-to-steal-data-of-37-million-accounts-in-api-data-breach/
“T-Mobile discloses second data breach since the start of 2023“
- https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/t-mobile-discloses-second-data-breach-since-the-start-of-2023/
I think it is really dangerous to provide BANK account info to T-Mobile - because in few month hackers will get it for sure according to T-Mobile data breaches history. Credit card charges - you can dispute - bank, debit card charges - go to court ...
For anyone thinking this is a scam, IT IS NOT. It’s very true. Your account page should now have an alert bar at the top of it about the change coming July 25th, 2023.
Personally, I’m not going to worry about it. If they don’t raise my rates- ever, as they promised, I’m probably just going to pay the extra $5 for my $50 internet via my current credit card setup and call it a 10% money grab.
I’ll just tip the delivery guys/gals a little less, not order out as much altogether, or skip that one extra Venti coffee. I’ll make it up over the month in other ways.
I’ll just give them the smaller tip with a note on it saying “Sorry, due to T-mobile removing my monthly auto-pay discount, I have no choice but to reduce your service tip. Any questions or issues should be directed to T-Mobile Customer Service by calling #1-800-T-Mobile. Thank you for your understanding and continued support in this matter.”
No big deal. Two can play at that game. I’ll pass those charges on to someone else. So, if the pizza guy doesn’t like it, he can get a better paying job.
For anyone thinking this is a scam, IT IS NOT. It’s very true. Your account page should now have an alert bar at the top of it about the change coming July 25th, 2023.
Personally, I’m not going to worry about it. If they don’t raise my rates- ever, as they promised, I’m probably just going to pay the extra $5 for my $50 internet via my current credit card setup and call it a 10% money grab.
I’ll just tip the delivery guys/gals a little less, not order out as much altogether, or skip that one extra Venti coffee. I’ll make it up over the month in other ways.
I’ll just give them the smaller tip with a note on it saying “Sorry, due to T-mobile removing my monthly auto-pay discount, I have no choice but to reduce your service tip. Any questions or issues should be directed to T-Mobile Customer Service by calling #1-800-T-Mobile. Thank you for your understanding and continued support in this matter.”
No big deal. Two can play at that game. I’ll pass those charges on to someone else. So, if the pizza guy doesn’t like it, he can get a better paying job.
Interesting concept, just stick with it and get shafted as long as you can shaft someone else that has nothing to do with it. I guess that is why outfits do it, people will submit.
Interesting concept, just stick with it and get shafted as long as you can shaft someone else that has nothing to do with it. I guess that is why outfits do it, people will submit.
$60 per year isn’t worth complaining about. That is an optional perk I choose to give up for the good of my bank account. But it’s good that you understand now how a balanced budget works. It all evens out in the end so I won’t feel the shaft. I’ll decide where and when to spend my money, not you. Water finds its own level. It’s not like I’m paying more in total at the end of the month. Money just gets redistributed where I need it to go.
This is why inflation hits everyone in the money chain. I’ll pay the normal rate per month for my internet as long as I don’t have to allow T-Mobile into my bank, and I don’t even have to spend $5 of my time changing out a payment process. If I do change anything, it’ll be them sending me a paper bill every month.
I can also withhold the note and spare the pizza dude’s little feelings. If he don’t know, he can’t be butthurt. Don’t want him having a meltdown on my sidewalk because he didn’t get 50 cents more in a tip. Alternate idea, I can use the tip money for gas, and drive over and get the food myself. So whining about a few more bucks for Intenet isn’t worth it to me. I just readjust the money flow and it fixes itself. I have other internet options, so without a contract, I can go with someone else if I don’t like it.
Now, the phone plan folks definitely could have something to yip about. $20-35 or more in savings going up in smoke per month would suck.
In that case, it would be worth it to open a secondary checking account with its own debit card for T-mobile (or Verizon) only, use that account to only pay your phone/internet bill, and have an auto transfer from your main account put just enough money in the account over any required minimum balance a few days ahead of the payment date to cover the bill. So if your bill is 125 per month, say, then set up the secondary checking account to have $10-20 in there all the time, then have 125 auto transferred to the secondary account a few days before the phone bill is processed. That way, if any thief wants to get in your account, the most they could possibly get would be $135-145.
The reason I say to use a debit card for this is that SOME banks have some protections on the debit card (you need to check your bank policies) and also, the card number isn’t directly associated with your bank account number. So theives may not be able to get to your other bank accounts directly.
That’s how I’d do it.
Interesting concept, just stick with it and get shafted as long as you can shaft someone else that has nothing to do with it. I guess that is why outfits do it, people will submit.
$60 per year isn’t worth complaining about. That is an optional perk I choose to give up for the good of my bank account. But it’s good that you understand now how a balanced budget works. It all evens out in the end so I won’t feel the shaft. I’ll decide where and when to spend my money, not you. Water finds its own level. It’s not like I’m paying more in total at the end of the month. Money just gets redistributed where I need it to go.
This is why inflation hits everyone in the money chain. I’ll pay the normal rate per month for my internet as long as I don’t have to allow T-Mobile into my bank, and I don’t even have to spend $5 of my time changing out a payment process. If I do change anything, it’ll be them sending me a paper bill every month.
I can also withhold the note and spare the pizza dude’s little feelings. If he don’t know, he can’t be butthurt. Don’t want him having a meltdown on my sidewalk because he didn’t get 50 cents more in a tip. Alternate idea, I can use the tip money for gas, and drive over and get the food myself. So whining about a few more bucks for Intenet isn’t worth it to me. I just readjust the money flow and it fixes itself. I have other internet options, so without a contract, I can go with someone else if I don’t like it.
Now, the phone plan folks definitely could have something to yip about. $20-35 or more in savings going up in smoke per month would suck.
In that case, it would be worth it to open a secondary checking account with its own debit card for T-mobile (or Verizon) only, use that account to only pay your phone/internet bill, and have an auto transfer from your main account put just enough money in the account over any required minimum balance a few days ahead of the payment date to cover the bill. So if your bill is 125 per month, say, then set up the secondary checking account to have $10-20 in there all the time, then have 125 auto transferred to the secondary account a few days before the phone bill is processed. That way, if any thief wants to get in your account, the most they could possibly get would be $135-145.
The reason I say to use a debit card for this is that SOME banks have some protections on the debit card (you need to check your bank policies) and also, the card number isn’t directly associated with your bank account number. So theives may not be able to get to your other bank accounts directly.
That’s how I’d do it.
Yes, you spend and use (your version) of pay it foreword the way that you choose. As I said, (Interesting concept, just stick with it and get shafted as long as you can shaft someone else that has nothing to do with it. I guess that is why outfits do it, people will submit.) It appears as though I struck a nerve, maybe I’m mistaken. In my and many others situation, it’s not $60, it’s $240 dollars a year. I also have my plan, it involves reducing my bills, not giving out my Bank information and not treating others worse as a result. Follow your path, I’ll follow the one that I choose.
“ It is because credit card companies charge a service charge that is based on the percentage of every transaction”
I dislike the way this is stated because its comes off as anti-bank and pro-Tmobile, or like this is something new that got sprung on Tmobile.
Transaction Fees ALWAYS exist, are not anything new, the % is between 1 to 4%, typically. For a giant company like Tmobile with their volume of customers and transactions, their transactions fees will be on the lower side of the average, not more.
its very simple: Some data analyst at Tmobile pulled a report of how many users pay Autopay via credit card, they calculated the total merchant fees paid and then compared to the discounts offered and some exec somewhere didnt like the math. “We gave them $5 and had to pay $1 to the bank...”
If they are good at analysis, they would forecast the inevitable increase in aging AR due to people dropping out of auto-pay and/or loss of subscribers. That also means the money they make from not paying fees offsets whatever hit they take to their AR or customer loss. So in the end, Tmobile is really saying the # of people paying auto-pay with a CC is enough to save a few bucks on fees, but not impactful enough where the increase in AR and loss of customers will be felt.
I mean, that's assuming they were thorough. But unfortunately, they may be predicting right. After the initial wave of anger and people dropping in and out subsides, that line graph will just continue with barely a blip. The other reality is they can always just raise price anytime, so they could give us back the $5 while increasing the plan price by $5. There’s no way to beat Tmobile at this game other than to just leave.
A great time to remind people that they can file a complaint with the FCC and contact their local politicians. Specifically about TMobile trying to save a buck at the expense customers data. With several hacks in the last few years and no real compensation for consumers other than some official statement and/or credit monitoring, its far past time these companies face some form of consequence. Even if it's just bad publicity in the end. On the other hand if enough people contact political leaders we could see the heads of TMobile dragged in front of congress to answer for their anti-consumer policies.
Or we can do nothing and just switch to another carrier and start the countdown until they get hacked or introduce some horrible policy as well.
My problem is this: I use a credit card to pay my cellphone/internet bill because the credit card company gives me an excellent cell phone insurance plan for all devices with very low deductible, theft and damage protection.
T-Mobile now forcing me to pay with a method that removes my phones insurance plan (T-Mobile insurance option is ridiculously expensive with very high deductibles)
It bothers me tremendously that it would cost me $360 a year discount (autopay) to continue with the credit card. T-Mobile doesn’t want to pay 2% - 3% fees to credit card companies, (costs of doing business) so go ahead and back out of an agreement (T-Mobile and customer agreement) I signed up for. Lame. Outsourced customer service to countries which are not English speaking personnel to save money as well. So tired of the customer suffers all for profit margins and wealthy share holders. Once again, “we offer you mediocre, substandard services, albeit overpriced (it’s the best we can do) so just shut up and pay your bill already…..”
Are there ay lawyers out there? I don’ think it is legal to change the rules after you already made an agreement. What about a Class action law suite ??? I have been using my CC since I started with T-mobile in 2022 Feb. Now I will lose my discount. I chatted with them and was told that it is because people will pay with CC, get the discount, then revers the charge, REally? I don’t think that is the case. How can they really expect someone to be forced to use a personal checking account or debit card to receive the discount. I can choose to use my CC but at a cost now of 20.00 a month, this is basically a charge to protect my checking account from being hacked.
let me know if you find one for a class action suit I am ready to sign
Unfortunately in Tmobile's terms and conditions they can change it. Autopay discount is a perk not part of the plan cost.
me too… this is ridiculous
I'm really disappointed with TMobile’s decision to force us using debit for auto pay! I believe this may be connected with their T-Mobile money, wallet or whatever it's called to push more people to use their service!
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