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Guys I just wanted to give you a forewarning about T-Mobile's business practices.
I apologize if anyone takes offense but I am simply posting my experience with T-Mobile. I understand I signed a 2 year contract but where I am moving I have horrible service and I am not asking for a sympathy boat either, but if you don't agree with the way T-Mobile handled this, please feel free to upvote this.
tl;dr - T-Mobile's map shows 4+ bars where I'm moving; we (my fiancee and I) get 2... outside and that doesn't include the many dropped calls we get either. I never got a dropped call until I went to the new location. I have to pay $300 in cancellation fees because they wouldn't budge because their map is supposedly "right."
http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/b5php/tmobile_trying_to_screw_over_their_own_customer/
If you guys are willing, please upvote. I'd really appreciate it.
Once your locked in....its pretty hard to get out.
Yeah I'm seeing that now. I honestly loved the service, but now that I am moving, it's no good to me.
Contracts blow. Stupidest thing you can ever do is lock yourself into a phone contract, especially when there is the possibility of moving, and the FACT that in a few months, some OTHER carrier will probably offer a better deal. Might as well avail yourself to the chance!
It is ALWAYS better to buy your phone outright.
Note: I suspect that eventually, the US carriers will be forced out of their contract practices.... we in CANADA even already have a new NATIONAL carrier that DOES NOT OFFER contracts.
I've never understood contracts personally, I hate being tied into anything just because they give you a sparkly new phone. That's why I'm thankful T-mobile have 30 day rolling sim only deals, I can get huge discounts after a year on a newer phone upgrade, get 350 minutes (any network) unlimited text and free unlimited internet (thank you rewards) for £15 a month and can walk away with only 30 days notice anytime.
Thank god for the sim only plan
thats why you get used phones and no contract.. plus being on an employee plan is always nice
You don't need to get a used phone... the carrier will still sell you the phone without contract, just at the "full price". You can also buy your phone from a STORE rather than from the carrier.
Note: The way the contract works, you end up actually paying SIGNIFICANTLY MORE for the phone through the contract than just buying the thing from a store for full price.
lbcoder said:
You don't need to get a used phone... the carrier will still sell you the phone without contract, just at the "full price". You can also buy your phone from a STORE rather than from the carrier.
Note: The way the contract works, you end up actually paying SIGNIFICANTLY MORE for the phone through the contract than just buying the thing from a store for full price.
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The problem is that the full price of these devices is quite high. A lot of people can only afford a decent phone by getting the contract.
Another problem I had when looking at the g1 initially was a lack of good data plans on non-contract deals.
The people that are telling you it's cheaper to buy your phone outright... this really isn't the case for the G1. At launch, I purchased my G1 for $179 in 2 year contract. Unlocked would have cost $399. I needed phone service regardless, so the fact that I was paying for service is moot.
Now, when I moved, I knew I wasn't going to still get service, and didn't want to stick with T-Mobile. So I paid the $200 to get out of contract. That brings the total cost of the phone up to $379. That's pretty damn close to the $399 price point I would have paid for an unlocked phone from the start .
To the OP, your only real choice is to live with it or pay the termination fees. Read every contract you sign carefully. Service outage isn't a reason to break the contract. It sucks, but that's US carriers for you.
I appreciate all of the responses but again, why pay for a service I cannot use? I had no intention of moving until after the contract; things changed, so I had no option. I'll just be glad when contracts like this are over with worldwide; cell phones could get away with murder if they wanted to. BLEH I say, haha.
We will see how things turn out with the FCC and FTC. Maybe my complaint will push them over the barrier and stop advertising fake signal readings? Roughly 5 phones report all the same exact thing, but their map is always right apparently.
BBB will probably just tell me to deal with it, so we will see on that too.
Again, thanks guys.
esmith972 said:
I appreciate all of the responses but again, why pay for a service I cannot use? I had no intention of moving until after the contract; things changed, so I had no option. I'll just be glad when contracts like this are over with worldwide; cell phones could get away with murder if they wanted to. BLEH I say, haha.
We will see how things turn out with the FCC and FTC. Maybe my complaint will push them over the barrier and stop advertising fake signal readings? Roughly 5 phones report all the same exact thing, but their map is always right apparently.
BBB will probably just tell me to deal with it, so we will see on that too.
Again, thanks guys.
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have you upgraded your radio ?
have you tried using EDGE instead ?
you seem more upset with the contract than the service, and one of those two might help things.
if you're at 2 bars with edge, ya, that's pretty bad. 2 on 3g is about average to bounce around at from my experience. 2 - 4 on 3g can mean a person standing between me and the tower.
good luck
That's why I hate contracts. You get a $600 phone for $150, but you're stuck with it for 2 years. And you envy evr1 who gets a new phone while you're stuck with yours and then in 2 years when you get a settle phone, a new one comes out a month later.
Just as an update, T-Mobile received my complaint from the FCC and took the charges off immediately. I'm only left with the last monthly bill.
Goes to show they do care about you... a little.
So how exactly did you get FCC to contact T-mobile, you write them a letter, eh?
The squeakiest wheel gets the oil.
Good to hear it mate . Generally they won't budge as far as cancellation fees, from my experience.
So, I ordered my nexus one with a contract from Google when the phone came out. I was not in a contract with AT&T and had not been for more than 2 years. When the service switched (ported my number) I called AT&T and confirmed that my service was canceled. Everything is all good. Well, a month later I got a bill from AT&T for a full month.... I called them and they said that since I was a week into my billing cycle they billed me for the FULL month and would not, will not, & cannot refund the time I could not use the phone. I called a few times and spoke with management (I was polite & professional the whole time!).
I then contacted my credit card company for the amount I thought I shouldn't have had to pay. Card Company gave me a temp credit. Few days later AT&T gave the amount back to me that I was seeking and the card company reversed my credit. All good I though. Then I received an email from AT&T saying I have a past due amount. THE EXACT AMOUNT THEY GAVE ME BACK!!!! So yeah, they gave me the money I was seeking and are now asking for it back???? I have yet to call them but it is due on the 19th.
This is one reason why I left AT&T. And they have the best reception in the area. I still left them and I get this kind of crap after being a loyal customer since 03. Stupid company.
Just wanted to Vent!
Thank you!
LOL, I still owe them like 300 bucks, most likely won't ever get it. With my android phone, I send them to voicemail when their collections company calls me ha.
Is there any phone company that is not a big jackass? I mean big 4 (Verizon - Lock down high way / even bigger jack ass, ATT - jack ass, Tmobile - their N1 pricing is wack, sprint - bad and slow service) I mean come on whatever happens to honest bunsiness???
I tried the iPhone 3GS on AT&T for a couple of weeks but cancelled without issues. Only had to pay a restocking fee and a prorated fee for what airtime I did use. My cousin did the same, but they charged her the restocking fee, the prorated amount, AND an ETF! And she cancelled during the remorse period! Took a couple of months for her to get everything straightened out, but it was a major PITA for her.
Actually Sprint is not bad at all from what I've heard from colleagues. And their pricing is extremely aggressive! I'd never leave a GSM carrier though.
mazzarin said:
Actually Sprint is not bad at all from what I've heard from colleagues. And their pricing is extremely aggressive! I'd never leave a GSM carrier though.
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Agreed... the only reason I haven't considered switching to Sprint thus far is because I would prefer GSM, but more imporantly LTE in the future...
uansari1 said:
Agreed... the only reason I haven't considered switching to Sprint thus far is because I would prefer GSM, but more imporantly LTE in the future...
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If you live in a Wimax area, Sprint's Wimax will be available on phones by this summer. It'll be about a year for LTE devices to start popping up for verizon. If you change your device every year, then you won't miss anything.
I'm not to worried about LTE right now because I have to get a new phone with in the next month or so. I wanna keep it for more than a year so LTE is two device's away, one now and one 18 months from now at the earliest.
Can anyone confirm is sprint still cancels contracts that exceed 5gigs. Easy way out of a contract when LTE comes out.
FWIW, its not just AT&T, its all of them.
I love AT&T and refuse to switch to anyone else. That being said, in November, I switched to VZW for the Droid. I had it 10 days and was miserable so I cancelled and switched back.
Needless to say, VZW has still yet to send me back the full amount they owe me for the rest of the month I paid for and never used. This is now 4 months later.
NexusX said:
Is there any phone company that is not a big jackass? I mean big 4 (Verizon - Lock down high way / even bigger jack ass, ATT - jack ass, Tmobile - their N1 pricing is wack, sprint - bad and slow service) I mean come on whatever happens to honest bunsiness???
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TMobile has nothing to do with the Nexus One pricing
If you want to *****, then ***** about Google's pricing scheme. TMobile is a business and when the day is over they need to make money... so they cannot just hand out Nexus Ones and take a hit for each one they sell.
deekjx said:
If you live in a Wimax area, Sprint's Wimax will be available on phones by this summer. It'll be about a year for LTE devices to start popping up for verizon. If you change your device every year, then you won't miss anything.
I'm not to worried about LTE right now because I have to get a new phone with in the next month or so. I wanna keep it for more than a year so LTE is two device's away, one now and one 18 months from now at the earliest.
Can anyone confirm is sprint still cancels contracts that exceed 5gigs. Easy way out of a contract when LTE comes out.
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I just left Sprint and can say that I haven't seen anyone successfully get out of a contract for that as far back as I can remember. A more successful way was to go into a Sprint roaming area and burn through minutes. The contract itself states that if you use > 50% of your minutes in roam they have a right to terminate your contract. On most phones you can just set it to Roam Only and then call movie phone or something similar and just let it run during the unlimited periods. It may take a few months but they generally send a letter stating they will terminate your service as you will end up costing them more than they are making from your plan in roaming fees to their roaming partners.
However, Sprint's service and network was actually quite good for my needs. Everywhere I went I either had Sprint service or roamed onto Verizon for voice (not as often as I would have expected). I even had coverage in areas that my wife did not with Verizon. Now, I think their choice of WiMax will eventually come back to haunt them, but they do have a decent sized rollout of WiMax currently and their plans are very aggressively priced.
They are quite the evil little company
Good to know that they do not pro-rate the monthly charge when you cancel.
I'm switching in a week!
Please I need some clarification on how the "Pay as you go" data plan works with Verizon for the XOOM. My only experience is with the iPad and AT&T, where it was very simply and user friendly, I just had to purchase the data from the iPad itself and pay with my Credit Card, no calls to customer service, and I can cancel it anytime from the iPad itself. Based on a quick conversation with a Verizon rep, with Verizon it's much more complicated, I have to actually setup an account with Verizon, use the XOOM with the monthly contract data plan, and when I want to cancel it I have to call customer service and close the account, the same thing to activate the plan again, is that true that it's so complicated ?, I think the way how Apple implemented it with AT&T is very effective and simple, I don't know if with the iPad 2 Verizon will have a different option. Please could you add your comments based on your experience ?, thanks
its true and will apparently incur an activation fee each time service is restarted. Verizon really wants you to get a data plan and keep it :-(
Today I was ready to buy the Verizon XOOM, and use the data as "pay as you go", but after I understood the way how Verizon manages "pay as you go data", I will never invest on something that it will be so complicated and expensive to use. I'll have to wait for the Wifi only XOOM.
Supposedly you don't have to pay an activation fee of $35 bucks but rather you can suspend your account for $15. Still a major deal breaker but maybe when the iPad 2 is released they will change their policy.
Ya it really sucks. I purchased my Xoom and returned it after a week. Day after i returned it i got a Bill from VZN for almost 60 bucks for my "activation fee" + "1 month Data". I actually had to call up VZN and speak to a representative to "see what they could do". Fortunately i got an absolute sweetheart of a rep and was sure to be equally as sweet back. though i didnt get %100 credit. She was able to reduce my bill to $2.39 for the cost of my prorated data for 2 days. While most people would probably argue about that i said that was fine and will pay that bill when i get it.
Im not sure if they do the same thing with the Ipad 3G for ATT(even though i own one) but with the Xoom your data plan actually has a Phone number in addition to the ACCT number associated with it. So thats where all these stupid fees are coming from, they treat it like your actually opening up a new cellphone contract. IPad was 1(setup),2(pay),3(Surf)
verusevo said:
Ya it really sucks. I purchased my Xoom and returned it after a week. Day after i returned it i got a Bill from VZN for almost 60 bucks for my "activation fee" + "1 month Data". I actually had to call up VZN and speak to a representative to "see what they could do". Fortunately i got an absolute sweetheart of a rep and was sure to be equally as sweet back. though i didnt get %100 credit. She was able to reduce my bill to $2.39 for the cost of my prorated data for 2 days. While most people would probably argue about that i said that was fine and will pay that bill when i get it.
Im not sure if they do the same thing with the Ipad 3G for ATT(even though i own one) but with the Xoom your data plan actually has a Phone number in addition to the ACCT number associated with it. So thats where all these stupid fees are coming from, they treat it like your actually opening up a new cellphone contract. IPad was 1(setup),2(pay),3(Surf)
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That was nice of her!
has anyone seen this? it is not the first time I've heard that Verizon wants to go head to head with AT&T (is no activation fee each time). Read in the comments.
We'll see tomorrow. I will go into a store and ask.
http://www.phonearena.com/news/iPad...from-AT-T-and-Verizon-go-head-to-head_id17305
The verizon rep i spoke to when I setup my month to month accounts that its simply$20 a month plus a little tax and the stupid 35 dollar activation fee. . . as long as you have them bill you for it - but without a contract.
If you want to pre-pay they charge you a $30 fee every month . . . thats right, if I want to be a thrifty consumer and pay as I go so I don't overspend, they charge a fee thats MORE than the cost of service.
Just to clarify, if you want to prepay as opposed to having them bill you (both options without a contract), they charge $50/month for 1GB.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Also note: the "suspension" option can be done online, I believe, without the $15 fee, but it can only be done twice a year for 90 days max each time. So, that's not an option unless you can plan your year pretty carefully.
I'm going to swap my 3G version out for the wifi-only version as soon as it's available. I was told when I purchased mine that data could be turned on and off as needed without any fees, and so I won't have any qualms about exercising the 90-day return policy at Costco.
It seems Verizon will enable "true pay as you go" capabilities for the iPad 2
http://news.vzw.com/news/2011/03/pr2011-03-09y.html
Why not the XOOM ?
I've called customer service several times today. I bought my xoom on contract because I wanted to have 3g data but was specifically told I couldn't activate it whenever I wanted and I was just better off keeping the minimum $20/1gb plan. So I said if I'm going to have to pay that anyway, I might as well get it subsidized. In other words I was specifically told that vzw would not have that option. Of course, my two weeks are up today and they may change it!!
I would be very mad. I would have definitely bought my xoom without contract. I have called several times and I keep getting different answers. I'm going to go to the store tomorrow and find out. If anyone finds anything definitive, I'd love to see it. Thanks.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
I activated my Xoom at the Verizon store on a month to month plan and it was $20/month/1GB and they did not charge me an activation fee.
I bought mine at costco.. the paperwork said 20 a month, activation fee with refund, unsubsidized.
I called VZW the next day and they had put me on a 2 yr contract that if I hadn't have called when I did would've been like 175 bucks ETF to get out of.
SO.. buyer beware, be sure to call vzw to ensure you are getting what you really wanted!
Be careful if your under contract my understanding was that if you suspend the data it also extends your contract until data is turned back on. This is why I just bit the bullet and bough the device. I know its not in everyones budget to do so, but it will save you money down the road.
zone23 said:
Be careful if your under contract my understanding was that if you suspend the data it also extends your contract until data is turned back on. This is why I just bit the bullet and bough the device. I know its not in everyones budget to do so, but it will save you money down the road.
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This is what makes me mad. Given the choices at the time, I got the device subsidized since I was going to have to get a data plan anyway (if I wanted data some months and didn't want to pay an activation fee). Now, two weeks after my purchase, they change the rules!
BTW - no activation fee on the ipad2. according to @Verizonwireless
http://twitter.com/#!/VerizonWireless
That's crap.
ok. i went to the store. the first three sales people had no idea what i was talking about. I finally spoke to my manager. They are running a promotion of no activation fee starting today for any tablet (obviously if you buy at full price). I still do not have clarity on whether there's an activation fee each and every time you turn on your device's mobile data. I have read that ipad2 will not have to pay (ie using mobile data whenever you want and pay only the mobile broadband plan) and Xoom will have to pay (ie pay activation fee each and every time you activate).
my takeaways:
1. VZW sales people either just plain dumb or not trained well
2. Apple is pushing VZW around and VZW is pushing Moto around
3. Flash or no flash, this is definitely going to lead to fewer Xoom sales
The ONLY reason holding me back to buy a XOOM today, it's Verizon NOT having a TRUE "Pay as you go" data plan, like the iPad with AT&T and now the iPad 2 with AT&T and Verizon. I think will buy an iPad 2 today.
I asked this in my other thread 3 times, but did not get an answer:
Which department has more authority at tmobile; Retentions or Customer Loyalty? or are they the same?
Thanks
My guess is no one knows. Maybe you would have better luck on the Tmob forums?
Keep asking.
We won't answer till you get to a certain threshold of times asked.
After speaking to customer loyalty/retentions 2 times in the past 3 days, I think they are really going down in customer service and they will be ATT in no time.
ive had 2 lines with them for over 5 years and never a day late in payments. currently im not under a contract with either line. Until recently, whether under contract or not, they have been able to change your rate plan up or down. now that they have gotten rid of their non contract plans, they said they can not change your plan/minutes without signing a new 2 year agreement. They have a plan with a few less minutes then mine at a cheaper price, but wont change me to it without signing a new 2 yr agreement.
second, Im on my 3rd vibrant, (all under warrenty), and with even another defective phone they wont even consider giving me a different phone; they are sending me a another vibrant.
third, even doing a warrenty exchange, for a defective phone, they want me to pay a $20 warrenty exchange fee, for a defective phone replacement that is under warrenty. At least I got this fee waived as a one time courtesy. but the point is that they are now "nickel and dimeing" customers just like the other companies.
fourth, if I do sign a new 2 year contract, they wont grandfather my myfaves like they used to.
fifth, they had web new specials on free Sensations for new customers. but they said that is not available over the phone.
Bascially my rant is about what made tmobile different from the other 3 companies: There customer service where they would go the extra mile to work with their long time customers. whether that was a rate plan change, different phone after multiple defective units..ect. And the other thing that set them apart was prices and that they did not "nickel and dime" the customers. It seems like this has changed too.
Basically I think tmobile is all about locking customers into contracts before the ATT merger and now they are more like ATT. I feel like their competive advantages, that we all love that made tmobile different (customer service, and prices) are over. Yes you may be on a great plan now, but going forward, they have changed. It makes me sad bc I think the tmobile we all loved is over; with or without the merger.
My rant is over. Thanks for reading. And no, im not trolling. I have a vibrant and love it and used to love tmobile. just frustrated and wanted to vent here in the general section
How did you manage to smash your phones up so regularly? You busting up the screens, or bricking them due to root shenanigans?
retentions definately lol because they try to keep you with the company by giving you incentives and any deal they can throw at you
kaintfm said:
How did you manage to smash your phones up so regularly? You busting up the screens, or bricking them due to root shenanigans?
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no. first one had for about 8 months and the volume down button randomly stopped working.
This second one has now started to randomly reboot; even when on stock.
both of my Vibrants i have kept in perfect condition without a scratch or drop on them. they have actually both looked 100% new when sending them back...
Im just sad that tmobile is not the same company they were a year ago. After speaking with them several times in the past few days, and all the ads and new plans with data caps, I see VERY LITTLE diff between tmobile now vs the other big companies. maybe a little cheaper plans. but the customer service and customer loyalty that I think we all loved is pretty much gone and the closer the merger is to going through and then once through, it will only get worse.
Im just ranting here because most of us that have vibrants have tmobile and this is the forum i am on most of the time.
kboater said:
After speaking to customer loyalty/retentions 2 times in the past 3 days, I think they are really going down in customer service and they will be ATT in no time.
ive had 2 lines with them for over 5 years and never a day late in payments. currently im not under a contract with either line. Until recently, whether under contract or not, they have been able to change your rate plan up or down. now that they have gotten rid of their non contract plans, they said they can not change your plan/minutes without signing a new 2 year agreement. They have a plan with a few less minutes then mine at a cheaper price, but wont change me to it without signing a new 2 yr agreement.
second, Im on my 3rd vibrant, (all under warrenty), and with even another defective phone they wont even consider giving me a different phone; they are sending me a another vibrant.
third, even doing a warrenty exchange, for a defective phone, they want me to pay a $20 warrenty exchange fee, for a defective phone replacement that is under warrenty. At least I got this fee waived as a one time courtesy. but the point is that they are now "nickel and dimeing" customers just like the other companies.
fourth, if I do sign a new 2 year contract, they wont grandfather my myfaves like they used to.
fifth, they had web new specials on free Sensations for new customers. but they said that is not available over the phone.
Bascially my rant is about what made tmobile different from the other 3 companies: There customer service where they would go the extra mile to work with their long time customers. whether that was a rate plan change, different phone after multiple defective units..ect. And the other thing that set them apart was prices and that they did not "nickel and dime" the customers. It seems like this has changed too.
Basically I think tmobile is all about locking customers into contracts before the ATT merger and now they are more like ATT. I feel like their competive advantages, that we all love that made tmobile different (customer service, and prices) are over. Yes you may be on a great plan now, but going forward, they have changed. It makes me sad bc I think the tmobile we all loved is over; with or without the merger.
My rant is over. Thanks for reading. And no, im not trolling. I have a vibrant and love it and used to love tmobile. just frustrated and wanted to vent here in the general section
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I was a former T-Mo employee so I don't really "speak" for the company but just wanted to address a few things.
1. This is probably the only surprising thing. They've always allowed you to make changes to your plan without resigning. I was able to do this just last month so unless this is a brand new policy, I do find this surprising. I'm more inclined to believe this was a specific case, rather than a broad policy change affecting everyone. I'll see in the next few days when I need to make a change again to my plan.
2. This has always been policy mainly because people get "buyer's remorse" about the phones they buy, not that they're defective or broken. It happens ALOT and if T-Mobile processed every one of these requests, they'd have been out of business years ago. No one does this.
3. Again, this is always been policy and the "warranty exchange fee" is to cover shipping and handling. Same thing as a "restocking fee" that most retail companies have.
4. Once again, this has been policy for AGES and hasn't changed at all. They will not grandfather options with a change in contract/plan. Makes sense, too, from a business standpoint. No company in their right mind would allow people to grandfather $2 internet plans from the late 90's along with a contract plan that'll give them a heavily subsidized, loss leader, android phone that would normally cost $400+. Hell, that's not even fair to other customers.
5. I'm not sure what the complaint is here. Because "web special" pricing isn't available over the phone? The reason why phones are discounted over the web is because it's cheaper to process the order that way, simple as that. Would it be better if they overcharged web orders to make it more uniform with phone or store pricing?
Eh....I know you're ranting but these are things that aren't new at all and has nothing to do with AT&T. If you were able to do any of those things you're complaining about, that has more to do with T-Mobile breaking policy to make you happy than any policy change because of AT&T.
pepperbreath said:
I was a former T-Mo employee so I don't really "speak" for the company but just wanted to address a few things.
1. This is probably the only surprising thing. They've always allowed you to make changes to your plan without resigning. I was able to do this just last month so unless this is a brand new policy, I do find this surprising. I'm more inclined to believe this was a specific case, rather than a broad policy change affecting everyone. I'll see in the next few days when I need to make a change again to my plan.
2. This has always been policy mainly because people get "buyer's remorse" about the phones they buy, not that they're defective or broken. It happens ALOT and if T-Mobile processed every one of these requests, they'd have been out of business years ago. No one does this.
3. Again, this is always been policy and the "warranty exchange fee" is to cover shipping and handling. Same thing as a "restocking fee" that most retail companies have.
4. Once again, this has been policy for AGES and hasn't changed at all. They will not grandfather options with a change in contract/plan. Makes sense, too, from a business standpoint. No company in their right mind would allow people to grandfather $2 internet plans from the late 90's along with a contract plan that'll give them a heavily subsidized, loss leader, android phone that would normally cost $400+. Hell, that's not even fair to other customers.
5. I'm not sure what the complaint is here. Because "web special" pricing isn't available over the phone? The reason why phones are discounted over the web is because it's cheaper to process the order that way, simple as that. Would it be better if they overcharged web orders to make it more uniform with phone or store pricing?
Eh....I know you're ranting but these are things that aren't new at all and has nothing to do with AT&T. If you were able to do any of those things you're complaining about, that has more to do with T-Mobile breaking policy to make you happy than any policy change because of AT&T.
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I'm gonna have to agree with you on some things but he's got some valid points.
After 3 replacement phones, you are allowed to change your phone to a different phone. I know this for a solid fact because I am on my 3rd vibrant replacement (first one screen just died on the first day, second one blew a speaker) and I asked several employees over the phone I spoke to, and they were very clear that if my phone broke one more time I could get a different phone since obviously there was really nothing I could have done to cause those defects. If it was more expensive i'd obviously have to pay some kind of difference though, which is understandable but annoying seeing as that you've already gone through so many phones. (The BEST customer service would do this for free since the customer was inconvenienced so many times, which is supposedly what T-Mo is according to J.D. I believe a few years in a row?)
Also, i've noticed their customer service drop recently as well. They aren't as willing to make changes... I accidently ordered some bullshi* that was included on the vibrant when I first got it, and of course it tacked on 15 bucks a month to my bill. Had it running for 2 months before I caught it, and when I called it I asked if they could wave anything, even a month... nope nothing... Thats some ****... and i've got 4 phones with them and paying $230 a month... and been with them since 2002. So 9 years? And wouldn't wave 30 bucks.... So go figure that one for yourself.
The problem is corporate will be corporate and thats why businesses today are such flop shi* piles. Businesses now hire by how much your resume gleams, not by how good you actually are in the field... and i've noticed so many morons working in such high paying jobs all because they fiddled in school (which didn't make them any smarter I might add you) and got some job being a high paid idiot making mistakes their entire life.... the exact opposite of their resume usually.
What i'm trying to say is that T-Mobile is like any corporate company. They used to be different, but they are just following the same footpath and making the same mistakes every other company makes...
It would be great to see a company like Google swallow up T-Mobile. They have the funds necessary to create a cell network literally out of this world, and the technology to introduce exclusive phones into the lineup sort of like an IPhone deal that ATT used to have. Or they could just put phones on their service a few months before anyone else got them for a head banger.
Really it kind of googles my mind why google never considered purchasing a company like T-Mobile in the first place. They do literally everything, they have Android which went from bull**** to the biggest player and hugest threat to apple since World War 2 and Hitler invading Poland overnight.
Googles huge establishment in literally everything makes them able to offer low plan rates as well. Google could afford to initially take a loss. Hell the last report I could find on a quick "GOOGLE" search of the company value was in 2009 they were valued at $220 Billion dollars.
Just to give you an idea, I pulled up Verizon and they are at $96 Billion... And they have the "Largest" network according to that stupid nerdy guy in the commercials, and his gooney followers who have no lives except to "Hear Him Now".
Ok i'm done ranting, and Verizon sucks the Ball Cheese droppings off my testicles!
pepperbreath said:
I was a former T-Mo employee so I don't really "speak" for the company but just wanted to address a few things.
1. This is probably the only surprising thing. They've always allowed you to make changes to your plan without resigning. I was able to do this just last month so unless this is a brand new policy, I do find this surprising. I'm more inclined to believe this was a specific case, rather than a broad policy change affecting everyone. I'll see in the next few days when I need to make a change again to my plan.
2. This has always been policy mainly because people get "buyer's remorse" about the phones they buy, not that they're defective or broken. It happens ALOT and if T-Mobile processed every one of these requests, they'd have been out of business years ago. No one does this.
3. Again, this is always been policy and the "warranty exchange fee" is to cover shipping and handling. Same thing as a "restocking fee" that most retail companies have.
4. Once again, this has been policy for AGES and hasn't changed at all. They will not grandfather options with a change in contract/plan. Makes sense, too, from a business standpoint. No company in their right mind would allow people to grandfather $2 internet plans from the late 90's along with a contract plan that'll give them a heavily subsidized, loss leader, android phone that would normally cost $400+. Hell, that's not even fair to other customers.
5. I'm not sure what the complaint is here. Because "web special" pricing isn't available over the phone? The reason why phones are discounted over the web is because it's cheaper to process the order that way, simple as that. Would it be better if they overcharged web orders to make it more uniform with phone or store pricing?
Eh....I know you're ranting but these are things that aren't new at all and has nothing to do with AT&T. If you were able to do any of those things you're complaining about, that has more to do with T-Mobile breaking policy to make you happy than any policy change because of AT&T.
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1. they did tell me it was a new policy. as i was able to do it in the past. now twice they said they have had policy changes. so yes, its a new change and they said part of it is because they do not have any more "no contract" plans. The only options they gave me over and over again was to sign a new contract
2. well its not buyers remorse when you have had a phone for 1 year. i understand what you are saying though. but what i am saying is that tmobile used to look and see how loyal of a customer you have been and make exceptions
3. they told me this $20 warrenty exchange fee is new
4. i know you said this has been policy for AGES, but they have done it for me twice in the past, so either they went around the policy for me, and never told me....or
5. again, case-by-case basis. its basic business. I know a little about business too. (undergrad in business, masters in business, worked in customer service management, now back in school again) not that any of those degrees matter, but im saying knowing about customer service and business; you look at your really good customers and you do what you can to retain them as customers.
maybe these "changes" have nothing to do with att, but my point is that tmobile (as we knew it) has changed. Hell, even the retentions rep yesterday told me they have gone many big changes and policy changes in the past few months.
All im saying is that tmobile used to look at their loyal customers and do what was necessary to keep them. Im saying that they are not doing (at least nearly as much) anymore and this makes them much more like any other cell phone company.
Went inside best buy mobile today to pick up my pre ordered note 4, and they told me that i had to switch my plan in order to walk out with the phone! The new plan they were trying to get me on would make me pay 800$ for my note and be "off contract". In order to switch to that plan id have to cancel all 5 of my lines, with the ETF fees up in the thousands of dollars. I told him no way and that id call sprint, and ge told me that even if I call i'd still have no choice. Anyone else encounter something similar?
Daevionne said:
Went inside best buy mobile today to pick up my pre ordered note 4, and they told me that i had to switch my plan in order to walk out with the phone! The new plan they were trying to get me on would make me pay 800$ for my note and be "off contract". In order to switch to that plan id have to cancel all 5 of my lines, with the ETF fees up in the thousands of dollars. I told him no way and that id call sprint, and ge told me that even if I call i'd still have no choice. Anyone else encounter something similar?
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Click to collapse
I had something similar happen to me today at the Sprint Store. The clerk insisted that I couldn't keep my plan. I told him to get bent. After a heated exchange, I turned on the phone, had the phone go through the automated activation process and viola, I was activated on my existing plan. He sheepishly mumbled something under his breath and I walked out with my phone.
I'm guessing they only make the sweet commission when they sign you up for a new plan.
I had trouble with keeping my plan at Best Buy as well but the Best Buy Mobile guy called Sprint. I didn't even have to push. He did that on his own. The woman at Sprint wanted to speak to me to get permission to speak with the clerk about my account. They were able to fix it so that I was able to keep my plan. It took a few minutes but didn't seem to be a problem. I have the old Everything Data 450 plan which I've had for a couple of years now. Got it with my Galaxy S3.
When I looked it up on Sprint's website a few days ago, it just said that you had to have an Everything Data plan (or some other type of plan but I can't remember the name) and it didn't specify that you had to have a higher plan. I'm glad I got to keep my plan. It's already more than I need. The plan he was looking to switch me to would've been $90 before taxes. Right now I pay $80.
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Im glad I'm not the only one. I'm calling sprint tomorrow first thing and heading back to BB
I was told we could keep our current plan.
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Been There Done That
I bought the Note 4 for my fiance` yesterday. We had been shopping around for phones for a while. Many of the sales rep's said the same thing, in that we had to switch plans and we could not buy the phone out right but instead had to make a $30/month payment for 24 months. This was not going to happen. I mean, what about my rebates and the 2 year contract discounts. Finally I called up the HQ corporate store in Reston VA to get the skinny on the situation. They instructed me to go to any corporate store and that they could get me the phone with my discounts and continue to use the plan I have on my phone, the S4. Long story short YES you can keep your old plan, YES you can buy the phone outright and not pay nearly $800 for the device! Now you know and anyone who says otherwise should win the employee of the month award.
PS The employees at sprint whom I have worked with at both HQ and other corporate locations are extremely knowledgeable and go out of there way to make sure you are happy with their service. One employee sat and entertained my son while the other explained how to best utilize the phones features while yet another went of to find an assortment of accessories. I felt like I was a celebrity. And they did this for every customer. It doesn't get much better than that.
Pre-order thru BB picked up yesterday no issues upgraded my line. Traded a old evo 4g got 200$ paid 123$ total for note 4. Can't beat that deal never tried or force me to change plan family 1500 here unlimited data
Daevionne said:
Went inside best buy mobile today to pick up my pre ordered note 4, and they told me that i had to switch my plan in order to walk out with the phone! The new plan they were trying to get me on would make me pay 800$ for my note and be "off contract". In order to switch to that plan id have to cancel all 5 of my lines, with the ETF fees up in the thousands of dollars. I told him no way and that id call sprint, and ge told me that even if I call i'd still have no choice. Anyone else encounter something similar?
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Click to collapse
When I went to pre-order at BB, that's what I was told as well.. They are saying that Sprint is forcing this issue.. I pre-ordered anyway, only because I want the 200 rebate on the old phone. I figured I'd argue the point when I pick it up.
Otherwise, I would have had my phone in hand already from Sprint instead of waiting on BB.
I picked up the note4 from the sprint store yesterday and ended up going with the new plan. They spelled out the two programs and said either are available with pros and cons of both and I ended up going with the "new" plan. Did I make a mistake ? Its still unlimited data and seemed to be mostly the same ?
So now you are paying 720 for the phone... Good deal?
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Seems wrong, here is mine
Monthly Charges, See below
Sprint Keep Existing Plan
With 2-year contract extension
Maybe you have 1 line and thats how? In mine case I got 4 lines and they cannot do anything to my plan because 3 lines have no change
I had the same issue in a sprint retail store. Im going to call tomarrow to try and get the plan back because i did not take that 720 dollar plan.
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pchoward said:
I picked up the note4 from the sprint store yesterday and ended up going with the new plan. They spelled out the two programs and said either are available with pros and cons of both and I ended up going with the "new" plan. Did I make a mistake ? Its still unlimited data and seemed to be mostly the same ?
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Click to collapse
the two new plans we offered now says in small writing, your plan can be throttled while watching a movie to 1 megabyte per second and people with other plans have priority over data than you do.
I tried to add a second line to my account which I have the 450 data unlimited plan and they said that they had to go into a new plan you have two phones I stated about the new rules of being throttled me act like you didn't know anything about it and would not look it up.
I don't watch alot of video over cell. So I'm fine with switching over. I can see for people who are using 10+ gigs a month that being a problem.
It's not just video. You get on the web at peak times, guess who gets bumped first. The peeps with the new plans. It might not matter to some. I live out in the boonies and have only one tower to connect to and sucks during peak. But Sprints my only choice, unless back to satillite.........NOT
I ended up getting my way by calling sprint in the best buy store to keep my existing plan, but he told me sprint was going to make me switch one way or another sooner than later.
Again that's not a bad thing. I don't get kicked off data. I just don't get priority data service. That's no different then other unlimited plans.
My data usage is somewhere between 1-2 gigs a month. I don't see it being that big of a deal. If its not your only source of net.
Plan Change
I was told by Sprint rep that I would have to change plans if I upgraded through them. One Sprint rep told me other retailers such as BB could do the upgrade without changing plans. Both BB stores I talked to confirmed this. I had no problem when getting mine.
I pre-ordered two at BB and picked them up Friday. The guy during pre-order didn't have a problem with me keeping my plan and neither did the guy I picked them up from. Seems like it is hit or miss on knowledgeable versus not knowledgeable employees in both sprint and BB. It also sounds like someone us perpetuating something false to lots of people making it worse.
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Daevionne said:
Went inside best buy mobile today to pick up my pre ordered note 4, and they told me that i had to switch my plan in order to walk out with the phone! The new plan they were trying to get me on would make me pay 800$ for my note and be "off contract". In order to switch to that plan id have to cancel all 5 of my lines, with the ETF fees up in the thousands of dollars. I told him no way and that id call sprint, and ge told me that even if I call i'd still have no choice. Anyone else encounter something similar?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same issue, but at a Sprint corporate store! They kept telling me that we would have to call Sprint customer care and get their permission for us to keep our current plan (the grandfathered in 1500 Everything data plan). We called customer care from home, and they said they will put something on our account that says we wouldn't have to change our plan. When I went back to pre-order it, they told us we would have to call customer care in store in order to get this change approved. After a bunch of arguing everything was handled and I pre-ordered the phone (about 2 weeks ago). Friday comes, and that store never got the phone in. I was going out of town so I was a bit upset that I wasn't going to have my new phone. Saturday I went to a Sprint store where I was at for the weekend and they had Note 4's in-stock. While purchasing we weren't told we had to change our plan at all, and it was a very smooth process. The $80 that Samsung would send me 1-2 months from now for pre-ordering the phone was irrelevant at this point.
TLDR- One store said we had to change our plan and would not budge, Other store didn't even bring up changing our plan.