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Switching My Family to T-Mobile (from Verizon)

ghsDUDE

ghsDUDE

macrumors 68030
Original poster
May 25, 2010
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So I live in FL and I'm considering the 10GB For All deal that T-Mobile is offering. The coverage is fantastic (from their maps and customer reviews) and I'm getting ripped off on Verizon.

Verizon - I currently pay $200 for 4 people to share 10GB (total).
T-Mobile - I'll pay $120 (around $140 after taxes) for 10GB per line which equals 40GB (total).

I have a question about Early Termination Fees and T-Mobile's process on how it works.

1) I can have T-Mobile pay our Early Termination fees and trade in an old flip phone. After I either need to Lease a phone from them or buy it at full cost. I can then sell the iPhone 6's we have on Craigslist/Gazelle/Etc.

2) I can have T-Mobile pay our Early Termination fees and trade in our iPhone 6's for a credit. I then need to Lease a phone from them or buy it at full cost.

3) I can pay my own termination fees and bring the iPhone 6's that everyone has on our plan to T-Mobile. (Would a Verizon iPhone 6 just work as well on T-Mobile's Network?)

Any advice on what I should do or any deals I should look out for? I just want to make sure I'm getting the best deal. I understand I may pay a little more up front...but in the long run I'll be saving a lot of money.
 
ghsNick said:
So I live in FL and I'm considering the 10GB For All deal that T-Mobile is offering. The coverage is fantastic (from their maps and customer reviews) and I'm getting ripped off on Verizon.

Verizon - I currently pay $200 for 4 people to share 10GB (total).
T-Mobile - I'll pay $120 (around $140 after taxes) for 10GB per line which equals 40GB (total).

I have a question about Early Termination Fees and T-Mobile's process on how it works.

1) I can have T-Mobile pay our Early Termination fees and trade in an old flip phone. After I either need to Lease a phone from them or buy it at full cost. I can then sell the iPhone 6's we have on Craigslist/Gazelle/Etc.

2) I can have T-Mobile pay our Early Termination fees and trade in our iPhone 6's for a credit. I then need to Lease a phone from them or buy it at full cost.

3) I can pay my own termination fees and bring the iPhone 6's that everyone has on our plan to T-Mobile. (Would a Verizon iPhone 6 just work as well on T-Mobile's Network?)

Any advice on what I should do or any deals I should look out for? I just want to make sure I'm getting the best deal. I understand I may pay a little more up front...but in the long run I'll be saving a lot of money.
Click to expand...

Do your first idea, but iPhone 6's on verizon come unlocked. save yourself some money.
 
applephanatic said:
Do your first idea, but iPhone 6's on verizon come unlocked. save yourself some money.
Click to expand...
Thanks - I just read another great idea that may work. Thoughts?

I can have T-Mobile pay our Early Termination fees and trade in an old flip phone. After, I can buy the CHEAPEST phone they have. I can then switch phones and add the iPhone 6 that I own to my T-Mobile account (this way I don't need to buy one from them at full cost).
 
Last edited:
ghsNick said:
Thanks - I just read another great idea that may work. Thoughts?

I can have T-Mobile pay our Early Termination fees and trade in an old flip phone. After, I can buy the CHEAPEST phone they have. I can then switch phones and add the iPhone 6 that I own to my T-Mobile account (this way I don't need to buy one from them at full cost).
Click to expand...

That seems like too much work. I'd just use the equipment I have.
 
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I would get new iPhone 6 from T-Mobile with the new program they have you can then upgrade to the 6s for free when it comes out. Also it locks you in at the price of 15$ each (16gb). Also when you upgrade to the 6s they won't hit you with any fees either. Trade in your old iPhones.
 
OP, are all 4 lines iPhone 6's? The Verizon iPhone 6 comes unlocked and will work with T-Mobile LTE. I'm not sure if wifi calling will work, however, you'll have to check.

IMHO, I'd do one of these two options depending on what you're comfortable with.

1) Switch to T-Mobile and have them pay your ETFs, and keep your Verizon iPhone 6's for use on T-Mobile.

Or

2) Switch to T-Mobile and have them pay your ETFs. Move to the Jump! on Demand plan to ensure the price and free upgrade to the 6S. Sell your Verizon iPhone 6's to offset costs.

I hope this helps!
 
When T-Mobile pays off your ETFs I don't think you get to keep the old phones. That would be great.
 
Under the new iPhone promotion, TMO will buy out your contract (or phone balance) or let you have the new iPhones at the promotional price. Not both.
 
ghsNick said:
Thanks - I just read another great idea that may work. Thoughts?

I can have T-Mobile pay our Early Termination fees and trade in an old flip phone. After, I can buy the CHEAPEST phone they have. I can then switch phones and add the iPhone 6 that I own to my T-Mobile account (this way I don't need to buy one from them at full cost).
Click to expand...

this would be the best solution if you have older phones to turn in, and don't mind paying a little bit for a cheap phone. You can always turn around and sell the cheap phone to recoup some of that cost after getting the service activated.

Your Verizon iPhone's are all identical to TMo iPhones, so I would most definitely not purchase new phones if you are going to get the exact same device.
 
tdar said:
Under the new iPhone promotion, TMO will buy out your contract (or phone balance) or let you have the new iPhones at the promotional price. Not both.
Click to expand...

Where did you get this info? I just went into the store today and the guy said they could do both.
 
solodogg said:
this would be the best solution if you have older phones to turn in, and don't mind paying a little bit for a cheap phone. You can always turn around and sell the cheap phone to recoup some of that cost after getting the service activated.

Your Verizon iPhone's are all identical to TMo iPhones, so I would most definitely not purchase new phones if you are going to get the exact same device.
Click to expand...
Can I still use T-Mobile's Wifi calling on my "Verizon" iPhone after I make the switch?

The rep was trying to infer that my phone may not work as well and I should purchase one from them.
 
ghsNick said:
Can I still use T-Mobile's Wifi calling on my "Verizon" iPhone after I make the switch?

The rep was trying to infer that my phone may not work as well and I should purchase one from them.
Click to expand...
T-Mobile uses the same model of the iPhone as Verizon, so nothing should be different (basically you'd be purchasing the same exact model of the iPhone that you have if you buy it from T-Mobile).
 
That I am not sure of. I would call T-Mobile customer care to find out. I am not sure if that is pushed via a carrier update or part of the iOS upgrade.
 
C DM said:
T-Mobile uses the same model of the iPhone as Verizon, so nothing should be different (basically you'd be purchasing the same exact model of the iPhone that you have if you buy it from T-Mobile).
Click to expand...

I moved 3 iPhone 6 and 2 iPhone 5S over to T-Mobile from Verizon 3 months ago. I traded in some dumb phones and they paid my ETFs after I purchased the cheapest T-Mobile phones to meet the requirements of the payoff. Then I just put the T-Mobile SIM cards in my Verizon iphones and everything worked perfectly. Once you install the T-Mobile SIM, the phone options change and you can turn on wifi calling. It works fine.
 
zamboni52 said:
I moved 3 iPhone 6 and 2 iPhone 5S over to T-Mobile from Verizon 3 months ago. I traded in some dumb phones and they paid my ETFs after I purchased the cheapest T-Mobile phones to meet the requirements of the payoff. Then I just put the T-Mobile SIM cards in my Verizon iphones and everything worked perfectly. Once you install the T-Mobile SIM, the phone options change and you can turn on wifi calling. It works fine.
Click to expand...

That's what I plan on doing! Which phones were the cheapest eligible ones to purchase and how much were they? I'm hoping no more than $60 per phone.
 
Don't believe the coverage maps from any providers. I switched to AT&T because my T-Mobile coverage was poor even though the map indicated the coverage was excellent in the areas I had no service. I do get good coverage at home but I get no coverage elsewhere about 20% of the time.

I like T-Mobile but, it doesn't matter how cheap it is if you can't make / receive a call :(.
 
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ghsNick said:
That's what I plan on doing! Which phones were the cheapest eligible ones to purchase and how much were they? I'm hoping no more than $60 per phone.
Click to expand...
The cheapest ones at the time were the Lumia 635 Windows phones for $79. It was definitely worth it since they paid my ETFs ranging from $175 to $250. In fact, I just traded one of the 635s in to take advantage to the Jump on Demand iPhone deal they have going. Basically, $15/month for an iPhone 6 with an upgrade to the 6S once they come out. I needed one more iPhone to get rid of my last android phone.
 
dont do it i almost did it here (nyc) bc verizon's pricing was killing me but timbale's service is horrible. don't believe that map i took one home they let you for a day or so and the service sucks
 
I never hear good things about T-Mobile's service which I why I stay with Verizon. I'd rather pay a bit more than be furious daily when I can't get LTE/4G or a good signal

I live in Northwest Indiana which is a suburb of Chicago and no one is happy with their coverage. Shame too because I like what i see about t-Mobile, minus their coverage.
 
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I was on Verizon for over 10 years with the grandfathered unlimited data lines. I always bought phones outright or upgraded non unlimited lines to preserve my unlimited lines. I was paying $350 month for two unlimited lines and 4 - 2gb lines. I checked t-mobile out at home, work, and most places I'd be using it for about a month before I switched. I guess it depends on where you live. I have no doubts that Verizon has better coverage on freeways and smaller towns, but I only pay $160/month for 6 lines with 10gb each and it works in 95% of the places that we use them in. Sure we get a few dropped calls (I never had any on Verizon) but my data speed are much faster than what I had on Verizon. My highest on T-Mobile is about 75MB download and average about 40MB. With T-Mobile rolling out the 700MHz spectrum in Colorado and other places, signal penetration in buildings and rural areas should improve. I did make some compromises but saving almost $2400 a year was worth it...so far.
 
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Let's all remember that while T Mobile has some of the best pricing, they certainly don't have the best coverage
If the places you use it gives you good coverage your good
 
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ghsNick said:
Thanks - I just read another great idea that may work. Thoughts?

I can have T-Mobile pay our Early Termination fees and trade in an old flip phone. After, I can buy the CHEAPEST phone they have. I can then switch phones and add the iPhone 6 that I own to my T-Mobile account (this way I don't need to buy one from them at full cost).
Click to expand...


My brother just did this exact same thing. He traded-in some old flip phones and bought t-mobile refurbished Nokia Lumia's for $30 each which he later sold for the same $.
 
Wait, are you guys telling me I can get T-Mobile to buy me out of my Sprint contract WITHOUT needing to give them my iPhone 6? That would be AMAZING because Sprint is absolutely pathetic and unusable 90% of the time, and I do have a good number of basic phones that I could "trade" in.

Am I understanding this correctly?
 
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