Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
CEO Confirms All iPads on T-Mobile Receive 200MB Free Data Each Month
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
except now t-mobile says $10 is for financing for new customers(for risk), so 200mb is still "free". although my $10 charge is a data charge. how they can consider that a finance charge is beyond me.
Why aren't people reading the article that this thread is attached to.
200mb of data per month FREE. T-Mobile messed up launch day by accidentally charging people $10 for the "Free 200mb data plan."
This error of being charged $10 for the free data is being fixed. It seems like many of the reps on the phone, online and in store were incorrect with what they were doing. It apparently was happening everywhere and enough for the CEO to come forth and clarify the mistake. If you were charged $10 for the Free 200mb data plan yesterday or today, I'm almost pretty sure T-mobile will either refund your $10 or credit you that $10 that you gave up.
When I go to that link, after picking the correct SIM card, I'm given the choice of plans, the least expensive of which is: Simple Choice Plan/On-Demand data pass and it still says says it costs $10/month.
Maybe you can activate the free 200MB on the iPad, but the website right now says otherwise.
Just sayin'...
The free plan requires you to be on pre paid. I called customer service to ask to switch to prepaid. They said I had to go back to the store because if I end my post paid then the balance of the finance will be due.
If you are planning on paying this off in the next two months then no big deal. If you want to keep you finance I would call customer service to confirm.
Sales people are paid on commission for plans and it seems like they have to stay open for 2 months. My store offered to give me a credit for the first month to keep the plan open longer. They weren't doing this to be nice.
I called T-Mobile customer service directly just now and they honored the 200 mb offer. The rep needed manager approval first because it was supposed to be for existing customers only. Didn't really need to upgrade from 3rd gen but it was too good to pass up.
It looks like t-mobile is starting to implement the change
Went to a t-mobile store today, sales rep said: "$10/month for the "free" on demand plan. stepped out, called t-mobile sales and the sales rep said that their system is not updated yet (but it will be soon) and until then their will be a charge of 10 and a credit of 10 (recorded the call just in case..). got the new iPad air for $0 down with $26.25/month for 24 months (had to pay taxes on the entire amount and a starter sim kit). 2-4 days for the iPad to arrive which should be enough for t-mobile to sort the "free" $10 charge deal otherwise I would return it with no doubt. I am not a current t-mobile customer so if what the sales rep said is true, T-mobile keeps up to their word.
Went to a t-mobile store today, sales rep said: "$10/month for the "free" on demand plan. stepped out, called t-mobile sales and the sales rep said that their system is not updated yet (but it will be soon) and until then their will be a charge of 10 and a credit of 10 (recorded the call just in case..). got the new iPad air for $0 down with $26.25/month for 24 months (had to pay taxes on the entire amount and a starter sim kit). 2-4 days for the iPad to arrive which should be enough for t-mobile to sort the "free" $10 charge deal otherwise I would return it with no doubt. I am not a current t-mobile customer so if what the sales rep said is true, T-mobile keeps up to their word.
Um... If it's unusued, then I don't see a problem with it. As long as it's not configured to work for the phone then it could work.
----------
Did you order through the phone or online?
only because the FAQ says the $10 fee is a finance charge for those who pay zero down as new customers
Exactly! And the finance contract that you sign has no mention of this mystery $10 monthly fee making it illegal.
Finance contracts can't add fees that aren't disclosed.
THIS.
Here's my story so far - I went into a T-Mobile store (brand new customer) last night and got the iPad Air financed for 24 months (excellent credit, $0 down, $26.50/month) but was forced to purchase a $20/month 500MB monthly data plan and could not receive the free 200MB plan. I showed the employees some of MacRumors' articles and even the tweets from their own CEO. They called in to their customer service to check and were told that I would need to get the $20 monthly data plan. I figured I would just finish the purchase, and would call their customer service today and work it out with them, get refunded the money and switched to the free 200MB plan.
Unfortunately, when I called T-Mobile customer service a little while ago I was told that, in order to finance, I would need to have a paid monthly plan. If I wanted to pay off the device (prepaid) I could get the free data. I guess you can't get both. Maybe this will change but I doubt it. I have yet to hear about anybody getting both the financed payment plan and the free 200MB data plan. It sounds too good to be true and probably is.
exactly. I just wish they'd get it straight already. its listed as a data charge anyways when you sign.
Best bet is to just call 1-800TMOBILE because I spent time at 2 brick-and-mortar stores today and was fed a bunch of crap about having to have a voice line with T-Mobile or having to pay for the device IN FULL to receive the free data (even worse!).
Instead, I called their customer sales line and the representative was so thorough in explaining every single detail in regards to their installment plan for the iPad Air as well as the 200 MB of complementary data.
In the end, all you have to pay is $67.60 (upfront) for the tax of the device as well as the $10 sim starter kit. When you receive the iPad, you will activate your data account on the cellular management tool directly in the settings and you will be eligible to receive the 200 MB of free data for life with the option to add supplementary data as you go.
Initially, you will be "charged" $10 per month for the on-demand service, but once you activate the 200mb complementary data on the iPad (as stated before) that charge will no longer appear on your monthly bill. All you will end up paying is the $26.25 fee plus the regulatory tax for the device every month.
The process was long on the phone, but it was well worth it since every single angle was covered in terms of information. Plus, you do not get charged the $35 activation fee like you would in the brick-and-mortar stores.
The only downside to ordering on the phone is having to wait for the iPad to ship to you, but I feel like this is such a small concession to guarantee the awesome benefits of T-Mobile's new tablet data plan!
Instead, I called their customer sales line and the representative was so thorough in explaining every single detail in regards to their installment plan for the iPad Air as well as the 200 MB of complementary data.
In the end, all you have to pay is $67.60 (upfront) for the tax of the device as well as the $10 sim starter kit. When you receive the iPad, you will activate your data account on the cellular management tool directly in the settings and you will be eligible to receive the 200 MB of free data for life with the option to add supplementary data as you go.
Initially, you will be "charged" $10 per month for the on-demand service, but once you activate the 200mb complementary data on the iPad (as stated before) that charge will no longer appear on your monthly bill. All you will end up paying is the $26.25 fee plus the regulatory tax for the device every month.
The process was long on the phone, but it was well worth it since every single angle was covered in terms of information. Plus, you do not get charged the $35 activation fee like you would in the brick-and-mortar stores.
The only downside to ordering on the phone is having to wait for the iPad to ship to you, but I feel like this is such a small concession to guarantee the awesome benefits of T-Mobile's new tablet data plan!
I got an email on both of my T-Mobile data accounts that I use on my Mini telling me of this fact.
I'm not sure how good it will be since T-Mobile shuts off the data for the month on the 200MB free plan once you hit 200MB usage in a month. With LTE, that will be pretty quick.
It is 200mb free. That's good. 200 good, in fact.
My credit score is incredible and I got charged the 10.00. I don't think your theory is correct (or I hope it isn't) but I suppose we'll have to wait and see.
Awesome. Thanks for this info. Hopefully this will dispel the misinformation in this thread.
Wrong. You get absolutely no connection after 200 unless you purchase additional data. Tmobile can't afford to screw customers like Verizon and ATT. Bought an Air from tmobile yesterday. I swear this forum is full of verizon and AT&T employees spreading incorrect info. Free 200mb for everyone...new and existing customers. The f&cking CEO said it. Google "tmobile" and "iPad." Read!?! Why are people arguing you have to pay $10? They screwed up and are correcting it.
----------
WRONG! No activation fee in store. Bought mine yesterday. Why would they charge you in store? That's where they can sell you more data and accessories.
Last edited:
Easy tiger! I'm just reiterating what I was told today from multiple T-Mo reps (both in-store and on the phone).. Either way, I'm glad you were able to get the free 200mb sans the activation fee in-store.. Doesn't matter how one gets it, as long as one gets it!
Okay so I got clarification from T-Mobile sales department which handles the iPads. If you are a new customer you do need to setup a on-demand data plan for $10. The $10 fee is credited back to you every month. So you end up paying $10. I also found out that if you are only interested in the 200MB data plan, when you exceed the 200MB you are throttled but do not pay extra.
This is the same no matter if you pay in full for the iPad or on the $26.25 interest free loan for 24 months.
If you want to get verification on this call T-Mobile and ask for the sales department that handles the iPads. I spoke with a person named Harris.
I do think the way the T-Mobile website is setup it comes across that you pay an extra $10/month. T-Mobile definitely needs to get this straighten out on the website by putting a note that says the $10/month charge is credited back each month.
By the way, T-Mobile is running a special where you can get the sim card for $.99 if you are on a pre-paid data plan. That is what I was told by Harris. The post paid data plan is still $10 for the sim card.
This is the same no matter if you pay in full for the iPad or on the $26.25 interest free loan for 24 months.
If you want to get verification on this call T-Mobile and ask for the sales department that handles the iPads. I spoke with a person named Harris.
I do think the way the T-Mobile website is setup it comes across that you pay an extra $10/month. T-Mobile definitely needs to get this straighten out on the website by putting a note that says the $10/month charge is credited back each month.
By the way, T-Mobile is running a special where you can get the sim card for $.99 if you are on a pre-paid data plan. That is what I was told by Harris. The post paid data plan is still $10 for the sim card.
Last edited:
The misinformation is Tmobile. I bought in store yesterday under the 2.5 gob plan because the sales person said I had to for the EIP program. They even said the 500 mob didn't exist. I knew customer support could correct it.
But now those of us who took the 500mb plans in store can't be converted to the $10'a month plan by customer service if we don't have Tmobile voice.
The tmobile web site still shows the $10 plan but they can't change me to it.
I am sure this will be corrected but it is a pain. Anyone who thinks this wasn't a huge cluster needs to go in store and try to buy one.
I agree! I bought in-store last night and spoke for about 30 minutes with a CSR on the phone today and was told the same thing by both - that I need to buy the iPad Air outright if I want the free data or I need to have a paid data plan if I want to finance the iPad Air. I even mentioned and showed all employees these articles and the CEO's tweets. Their answers were "No."
The sales rep was incorrect. I would suggest that you write an e-mail to John Legere (John.Legere@T-Mobile.com) and explain what happened to you and I suspect that he will straighten it out for you to get you back to the $0/month 200MB data plan.
I mentioned to the T-Mobile sales rep that in store is forcing people to pay for data plans to get the 200MB free data plan and he told me that is not correct.
----------
Except that the $10 charge is credited back to you. So you end up paying $0/month.