Carrier T-Mobile Credit Review

[dmunz]

I've decided to give up my grandfathered Verizon unlimited plan and make the switch to T-Mobile but I'm stuck in a loop with their credit process. I had a sweet deal lined up with a local rep to port 3 lines and get the $150 gift card for each line AND the employee spiff of 20% off for life. BUT...

I have frozen all my credit files as I rarely open new credit. I forgot this and the first try T-Mobile ran into the freeze (if forgot about it). They use TransUnion so I lifted the freeze from TU, waited the five days and went back in to try again. This time they put me through the credit verification and I had to talk to a credo rep. The rep asked for a PIN to unlock my credit file. I didn't have one.

I called TU and they said that my file is unfrozen/unlocked and there is no PIN. I went through three levels at TU to confirm this. Back to the store and went through the same process, got on the phone - "what is the PIN?"

I desperately want to give T-Mobile my money and business but I'm stuck. Anyone have experience or an answer?

TIA
DLM

 

[jtrue28]

Wow. I had no idea you could have your credit frozen. That's interesting, but as you're going through, could also be frustrating.

Do they use TU every time, or are they trying to run all three?

 

[BigMcGuire]

I have my credit frozen due to losing my wallet years ago. I did it through Experian tho. I have a PIN I can use to unlock the freeze but I don't think it is supposed to be given out to anyone else (I sure as hell wouldn't give it to anyone). It's instant for me. I pay the fee ($10) for a 24 hour unfreeze, and bam, I'm able to do whatever I need to do instantly.

Sorry that this won't be helpful but this is my experience and it has worked fairly well (the blocking and unblocking of my credit). I even put it to the test - a car dealership and Wells Fargo couldn't do anything without me unlocking it. The unlock is instant and I only have to do it once - I can specify 24 hours, 3 days, or a week (I think) for the time that it remains unlocked.

 

[ZipZap]

I think that the lock is across all bureaus. You may have to unlock all of them.

 

[bufffilm]

Sounds like you have a problem...and mainly of your devising. You need to speak to TU and get it straightened out.

 

[dmunz]

Finally sorted this out and got it fixed. It seems that, since their first pull on my report was done while the freeze was in place, it was stuck in the system that way. (It may clear after 60 or 90 days without action but I'm not sure about that.) I reinstated the freeze and then did a creditor-specific thaw for T-Mobile, got a PIN and all is good.

I made the switch from Verizon to T-Mobile and everything seems to be working. They didn't have the iPhone 7 my wife wanted so I just took the SIM and put it in her iPhone 6. It was direct bought from Apple so I wasn't worried about carrier lock issues but I was concerned about the T-Mobile specific stuff and the lack of band 12 performance.

The T-Mobile stuff (e.g., WiFi calling) works just fine and not having band 12 doesn't seem to be an issue in the neighborhood or places my wife routinely goes. I'll probably hold off on a new iPhone now but we will wait and see.

I learned that the "free" upgrade to HD video is a temporary offering (no specific end date) if you are considering a switch. I did get the 20% off deal (so I'm $112/month for three lines) but lost out on the $150/line porting credit. Otherwise a happy ending, I guess.

FWIW
DLM

 

[BigMcGuire]

Thanks for updating the thread! Interesting how you get a pin to give out. Very cool.

Glad to hear it's working out - a happy ending of sorts.

 

[dmunz]

Thanks for updating the thread! Interesting how you get a pin to give out. Very cool.

Glad to hear it's working out - a happy ending of sorts.

Just to be clear, given your earlier post, after I refroze my TU file they sent me a PIN via snail mail. This PIN unlocks the account and is for my use only. I used this PIN on-line to run the temporary lift for T-Mobile. The on-line process generated a second PIN that I gave to the T-Mobile credit rep.

So when you initiate a freeze you get a PIN that is ONLY for you to use. Giving that one out may put your account at risk.

Its a bit draconian (and confusing) but the protection is reasonably solid.

FWIW
DLM

 

[BigMcGuire]

Ah I see, thanks for the clarification. So it's almost identical to mine then. Good to know.