Carrier T-Mobile Lied - Free Data is $10

[Daria]

So you're getting 200 MB free data per month and are ONLY paying $27/month for the iPad (in addition to the tax you paid upfront)?

What number did you call? I can't get it to not charge me the $10 extra "Non Tmobile customer" fee.

Yes! And the number I called is 877.453.1304. This was given to me by a chat person who had appeared online when I was trying to order the iPad using the web interface. She acknowledged that the web forms are incorrect and sort of broken and said they are working on it.

She did try to sell me a data plan at one point, but I just told her I was coming to T-Mobile because of the free 200 MB for life deal, and the fact that I could pay for the iPad in time payments without interest being charged. She said she could certainly understand my reasoning. And that it's a great deal.

I also did select the Unlimited Text, Voice and Video plan which costs nothing (0). She seemed to not know about this part until I mentioned it. At that point I said I had no idea how many MBs I'b be using a month, but that I understood there was a plan I could access if I needed to go over the 200. And she said yes, but didn't press me to sign up for anything more at that point.

It was as though after I'd mentioned the free deal that she began to look at another script.

 

[Daria]

lol @ someone claiming it works emphatically with exclamation and saying its confirmed when he doesn't even have it. the CEO seems to disagree with you

https://twitter.com/JohnLegere/statuses/396702799355854848

heh

Please read my previous post. And I'm a she, a woman.

No, I don't have the iPad yet, it will arrive about next Wednesday, but I do have a copy of the payment agreement with my electronic signature affixed. I've paid the amount indicated, which is for the downpayment on the iPad and I have a receipt for that.

Exactly why are you so dubious? Don't you want it to be true that this company is offering a very attractive deal in the hopes of increasing their customer base? I have no reason to disbelieve anything at this point.

Do you have a particular axe to grind with T-Mobile?

 

[sl33pyhead]

AHHH how are you guys getting a sim for 10? I'm currently in Nevada and they're asking 20 for a micro sim and 40 for nanos at all T mobile stores in this area

 

[ntnwwnet]

AHHH how are you guys getting a sim for 10? I'm currently in Nevada and they're asking 20 for a micro sim and 40 for nanos at all T mobile stores in this area

SIM cards are $1 here: http://www.t-mobile.com/landing/bring-your-own-tablet.html

 

[MrXiro]

my statement stays, T-mobile you lied not only once but twice when your CEO twitted "... everyone get fee 200mb, no exceptions, and sting attach.."

It is clearly not the case, your phone rep read a memo from the corporate read," ... do not offer free 200mb with 0% finance to "NEW Customer".

Fraud!!!!! i am returning the ipad air i ordered once i get it.


directly from t-mobile website which contradict press release and CEO twits,

"Questions on Shopping?

Do I have to be on a plan or a contract in order to get the free data?
In order to get the 200 MB of free data per month, you need to activate a Mobile Internet account and register your tablet on our network. You don’t need to purchase an additional data plan.

If you are a postpaid customer, you’ll need to have an On Demand data plan at minimum which is $0/mo. if you are a voice customer (after $10 line credit).
See our postpaid Mobile Internet plans

If you are a prepaid customer, you’ll need to activate a prepaid account. You do not have to a purchase data pass in order to access your free Starter Data.
See our pay in advance Mobile Internet plans"


so 200mb is not free for new T-mobile customer.



if they charge me resock fee i am taking them to court as i have chat records, and recorded phone call to which the rep told me i will get 10 dollar credit. That is why i ordered

I am not a tmobile customer, bought an AT&T iPad Air from Best Buy got 18 months no interest financing popped out the SIM, popped in a 99 cent Tmo SIM from the website answered 3 questions I now have free data from Tmobile.

Don't see any issues. It's your own fault for not using your head and doing research when you shop.

 

[trssho]

my statement stays, T-mobile you lied not only once but twice when your CEO twitted "... everyone get fee 200mb, no exceptions, and sting attach.."

It is clearly not the case, your phone rep read a memo from the corporate read," ... do not offer free 200mb with 0% finance to "NEW Customer".

Fraud!!!!! i am returning the ipad air i ordered once i get it.


directly from t-mobile website which contradict press release and CEO twits,

"Questions on Shopping?

Do I have to be on a plan or a contract in order to get the free data?
In order to get the 200 MB of free data per month, you need to activate a Mobile Internet account and register your tablet on our network. You don’t need to purchase an additional data plan.

If you are a postpaid customer, you’ll need to have an On Demand data plan at minimum which is $0/mo. if you are a voice customer (after $10 line credit).
See our postpaid Mobile Internet plans

If you are a prepaid customer, you’ll need to activate a prepaid account. You do not have to a purchase data pass in order to access your free Starter Data.
See our pay in advance Mobile Internet plans"


so 200mb is not free for new T-mobile customer.



if they charge me resock fee i am taking them to court as i have chat records, and recorded phone call to which the rep told me i will get 10 dollar credit. That is why i ordered

You surely can't expect them to finance your iPad for 24 months and give you free data!! He never tweeted "we'll finance your iPad". He said free data! And it is! And I have it!

 

[rui no onna]

You surely can't expect them to finance your iPad for 24 months and give you free data!! He never tweeted "we'll finance your iPad". He said free data! And it is! And I have it!

It was implied in the press release and on their webpage prior to the changes going live. Alas, didn't take a screenshot of the webpage at the time.

 

[jeffmo]

REPOST from another thread re: the subject.

Lots of confusion that could be alleviated by avoiding the brick-and-mortar locations and calling 1-800TMOBILE directly. Just keep calling until you get a representative who is knowledgable or willing to seek out the CORRECT knowledge! I'm gonna repost my experience that I shared earlier in the forum with the hopes that some of you will read and learn from it.

PS. If you know certain pieces of information to be true due to official press releases, etc., then it becomes your responsibility to seek out an informed individual from a company to get you the benefits you know to exist. You can't seriously expect every representative to be on the "up and up" when it comes to blog posts, news forums and CEO tweets. No, instead you have to be the informed one, while simultaneously being the patient one! Try it and I hope you end up with an customer service experience as good as mine!

PSS. And if this ends up all being bunk and a blatant "bait & switch", well then they can expect some serious public backlash and some potential legal ramifications in the near future. However, I don't expect this if we all do our due diligence as consumers.

PSSS. As for the brick-and-mortar locations feeding misinformation; I actually do expect some places to be dodgy and misleading because at the end of the day, this new price model hurts THEIR INDIVIDUAL bottom line (even if it helps the corporation long term). You have to look at things from their perspective and understand that they don't have your best interests in mind. Remember, their jobs are often incentivized by commissions or numbers bonuses. Again, just do your due diligence and seek out what's rightfully being offered, even if it means having to wait a handful of days after ordering on the phone!

Old post:

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!

 

[mikew3]

Exactly why are you so dubious?

i'm dubious because the CEO himself contradicts what you say. plus there are hundreds of macrumors users who contradict what you say.

perhaps you should'nt be so certain about things when you don't even have the thing yet. you aren't certain, you are just guessing. thats fine. just dont misrepresent things and mislead people

Don't you want it to be true that this company is offering a very attractive deal in the hopes of increasing their customer base?

of course i want it to be true. thats why i'm monitoring these threads. i want to get an interest free loan. who doesn't?

Do you have a particular axe to grind with T-Mobile?

wrong again. t-mobile is my cell phone provider and i've been happy with them.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Oh Yes it does! I'm a new customer to T-Mobile. Yesterday I ordered a 32 GB white/silver iPad Air. I did it by phone because the web site forms were a little broken and not working right.

It's confirmed that I'm getting the 200 MB free for life. I paid $99 for the downpayment and will be paying the iPad off monthly = 26.25 x 24 months.

The sim card was $10 and the full federal tax on the iPad ($59) had to be paid up front ~ that was the biggest drawback, but I think they had to do it that way because of not charging interest on the monthly payments.

So I'm happy! I don't mind waiting 'til next Wednesday or so to receive it. I plan to get Apple Care directly from Apple.

FYI, not all states permit collection of tax on full price of the device. What state are you in that you were charged full tax? Also, an interest free loan is not offset by charging tax. This is a no-no. They won't charge you for one thing because they opted to finance something interest free.

Also, to anyone's point about stopping the whining. When a press release clearly states that you can finance your iPad and get 200 MB free data a month then it is reasonable to expect this to be the case come launch day. So the whining, at least in this case, seems warranted. If this happened to a few people I would say they simply didn't scour the fine print well enough, but it looks like just about everyone thought it was free data regardless of purchase method and it is not.

 

[Daria]

i'm dubious because the CEO himself contradicts what you say. plus there are hundreds of macrumors users who contradict what you say.

perhaps you should'nt be so certain about things when you don't even have the thing yet. you aren't certain, you are just guessing. thats fine. just dont misrepresent things and mislead people



of course i want it to be true. thats why i'm monitoring these threads. i want to get an interest free loan. who doesn't?



wrong again. t-mobile is my cell phone provider and i've been happy with them.

.


Thanks for your kind response, Mike. To me it seems as though the CEO has contradicted himself i.e., the official statement he made (which is at the beginning of another thread here, (perhaps you've seen it?) is not equal to that Twitter quote. Do you know which came first? I haven't checked the dates.

Your second point: It's not just I who am saying that the 200 MB is free for life but many others, as well, have posted here in one thread or another saying they have the same deal as I have. Have you read those posts? And at least some of them already have the iPad, others like I am are waiting to receive it next week.

So I don't think I'm misleading anyone, but rather reporting about my experience with signing up with T-M to buy the iPad and get the 200 MB free for life.

Your third point: you said,

i want to get an interest free loan. who doesn't?

and I'm saying I have it:

I've paid for it and do you doubt your company with whom you say you are satisfied will fail to follow through on their part of the payment agreement they offered and which I signed?

You said you are well pleased with T-M as a cell & data provider, so I don't understand why it's hard for you to believe they will follow through.

My overall impression of T-Mobile and their product is hopeful and optimistic. I have no reason to believe otherwise at this time.

I DO see massive confusion and lack of training of the T-Mobile staff. The person responsible to do it also did not modify the online sign-up to reflect the 200 MB free for life offer. Also the web form system itself is broken right now which shows lack of preparation for this roll-out of a new product.

So this is a negative mark against the persons responsible for the actual working of the roll-out. The CEO is probably not happy about this at all, but this is just a guess.

OK, it's taken me forever to write this post; but please refer to the excellent post by jeffmo: In part he said,

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.

I think his writing is clearer than mine, but he's had the same experience as I had.

.

 

[Daria]

GoCubsGo said:

FYI, not all states permit collection of tax on full price of the device. What state are you in that you were charged full tax? Also, an interest free loan is not offset by charging tax. This is a no-no. They won't charge you for one thing because they opted to finance something interest free.

I'm in California.

I'm pretty sure they didn't say one was offsetting the other, that's just how I saw it. Thanks for the information about the tax part.

They were clear that they have extended me an interest-free loan for the 24 months. Also they clearly said they are required to collect the full amount of taxes up front.

 

[DisplacedMic]

people are always misusing the term bait and switch... if this is true then that's absolutely what this is and i'd be pretty PO'd if i bought an tmobile ipad...

 

[Getintothegame]

Yes! And the number I called is 877.453.1304. This was given to me by a chat person who had appeared online when I was trying to order the iPad using the web interface. She acknowledged that the web forms are incorrect and sort of broken and said they are working on it.

She did try to sell me a data plan at one point, but I just told her I was coming to T-Mobile because of the free 200 MB for life deal, and the fact that I could pay for the iPad in time payments without interest being charged. She said she could certainly understand my reasoning. And that it's a great deal.

I also did select the Unlimited Text, Voice and Video plan which costs nothing (0). She seemed to not know about this part until I mentioned it. At that point I said I had no idea how many MBs I'b be using a month, but that I understood there was a plan I could access if I needed to go over the 200. And she said yes, but didn't press me to sign up for anything more at that point.

It was as though after I'd mentioned the free deal that she began to look at another script.

I called them with said number and also got the same thing - $10 will be removed monthly. I had the rep add this as a note to my order to ensure that this is the case, and I will refer to that when I have an issue in a month.

 

[mikew3]

hey Daria, listen i hope you get the 200mb for free with the free financing deal as a new customer. all i'm saying is that there is contradictory information from all sides. until you receive your device and get a bill that shows $0, then its all speculation

i'm waiting until everything is cleared up before i get mine

 

[Getintothegame]

hey Daria, listen i hope you get the 200mb for free with the free financing deal as a new customer. all i'm saying is that there is contradictory information from all sides. until you receive your device and get a bill that shows $0, then its all speculation

i'm waiting until everything is cleared up before i get mine

Well, it looks like if you try to order on the installment plan now, you have to choose the $20 500MB plan or higher.

 

[Daria]

hey Daria, listen i hope you get the 200mb for free with the free financing deal as a new customer. all i'm saying is that there is contradictory information from all sides. until you receive your device and get a bill that shows $0, then its all speculation

i'm waiting until everything is cleared up before i get mine

Thanks, Mike! Time will tell. All I know is what she told me, and also what the receipts show; I have several screenshots which is all we usually ever get when paying for things electronically.

Remember, "my" deal was gotten by talking to a live person, not using the web forms which, they acknowledged , are broken and inaccurate.

 

[VTECaddict]

I don't understand why there is so much confusion. I never saw anything that promised free EIP financing AND free 200mb for new, non-voice customers.

200mb free for everyone is true. You just need to activate a Mobile Internet account with the 200mb starter data. This is a PREPAID/pay per use account.

To be eligible for EIP financing, you must be a POSTPAID customer which requires at minimum the $10 On Demand mobile internet plan, with $10 credit for voice customers.

You don't need the $10 On Demand POSTPAID plan in order to get 200mb free, you can get the completely free, no-strings attached Mobile Internet with Starter Data PREPAID plan.

The $10 On Demand plan is required for EIP financing, but T-Mobile never promised free EIP financing even for non-voice customers.

 

[deeddawg]

To be eligible for EIP financing, you must be a POSTPAID customer which requires at minimum the $10 On Demand mobile internet plan, with $10 credit for voice customers. [...]
The $10 On Demand plan is required for EIP financing, but T-Mobile never promised free EIP financing even for non-voice customers.

Correct me if I'm wrong but...

Isn't this exactly how it used to be? You could get EIP on a tablet but had to have a $10/mo On Demand plan?

And didn't the $10/mo On Demand plan include no high speed data? Only whatever you bought when you needed it?

So now you get 200MB of high speed data at no additional cost compared to how things were prior to Nov 1st.

Not seeing the "bait and switch" -- just unclear communications.

 

[TraceyS/FL]

Correct me if I'm wrong but...

Isn't this exactly how it used to be? You could get EIP on a tablet but had to have a $10/mo On Demand plan?

And didn't the $10/mo On Demand plan include no high speed data? Only whatever you bought when you needed it?

So now you get 200MB of high speed data at no additional cost compared to how things were prior to Nov 1st.

Not seeing the "bait and switch" -- just unclear communications.

I think the confusion comes from the "lumping" of the offers together. They are two separate offers.

Bring a tablet to t-mo, get the 200mb. Buy it outright from us, get it. Oh, you want to finance it? We will do that under these conditions, and you also get the 200mb free now.

But because it was lumped "everywhere" in the same articles.... "everyone" is assuming you get them together for nothing.

The financing is for customers - I don't find that hard to grasp as a customer.

 

[rui no onna]

I think the confusion comes from the "lumping" of the offers together. They are two separate offers.

But because it was lumped "everywhere" in the same articles.... "everyone" is assuming you get them together for nothing.

The financing is for customers - I don't find that hard to grasp as a customer.

Because the offers were lumped together on T-Mobile's webpage, too at least prior to 11/1. I didn't take a screenshot but on the landing page for tablets, it did say get free 200MB data for life and get 0-down, 0% APR on your tablet. An attention grabber for sure and now, it's built up expectations from customers.

I'd say this all boils down to poor wording on T-Mobile's part. The free data is really free. No strings attached. However, now they're getting all sorts of flak because their press release and website combined the free data with the EIP when they're really two separate offers. The only one who could actually get both are existing voice customers. T-Mobile has since changed their website and now, it only mentions the free data which is exactly what they should've done in the first place.

 

[csrini1]

Oh Yes it does! I'm a new customer to T-Mobile. Yesterday I ordered a 32 GB white/silver iPad Air. I did it by phone because the web site forms were a little broken and not working right.

It's confirmed that I'm getting the 200 MB free for life. I paid $99 for the downpayment and will be paying the iPad off monthly = 26.25 x 24 months.

The sim card was $10 and the full federal tax on the iPad ($59) had to be paid up front ~ that was the biggest drawback, but I think they had to do it that way because of not charging interest on the monthly payments.

So I'm happy! I don't mind waiting 'til next Wednesday or so to receive it. I plan to get Apple Care directly from Apple.

Why do we need to pay 10$ for SIM card. Ipad already has one

 

[deeddawg]

Why do we need to pay 10$ for SIM card. Ipad already has one

I'm more curious what this "full federal tax" would be...

I imagine it's just state sales tax and a poster ignorant of the difference, but if someone knows different...

 

[mikew3]

Well, it looks like if you try to order on the installment plan now, you have to choose the $20 500MB plan or higher.

this link seems to confirm that:

link

"T-Mobile clarified to CNET that new customers who want to take advantage of T-Mobile's no-money-down plan are required to sign up for a $20-a-month plan."


Daria,
you will probably get 200mb free on top of whatever plan they make you pay for. it seems the 200mb is free for everyone. but the interest free loan requires new customers to sign up with a plan

 

[notmenwohere]

I'm more curious what this "full federal tax" would be...

I imagine it's just state sales tax and a poster ignorant of the difference, but if someone knows different...

California wireless tax (including federal sale tax, california sale tax, and other) amounts to roughly 17%, therefore you will pay an extra 17 dollar if you have an $100 dollar monthly plan.

Secondly, if the whole T-moble ordeal is not a bait and switch then i really dont know what bait and switch means.

Not only there is a "string attached" and an "exception", but also the FAQ changes throughout the weekends, the 10 dollar on demand is gone, and even worst to replace the 10 dollar on demand plan, T-mobile stick a $20 dollar 500mb plan.

P.S. exception = except new financing customer. string attach = $20 to get in T-mobile service.

SERIOUSLY!!!! 20 to get 500+200??? other carries have better deal then this.

are you surprised that T-mobile is the distant 4th carrier?

----------

I don't understand why there is so much confusion. I never saw anything that promised free EIP financing AND free 200mb for new, non-voice customers.

200mb free for everyone is true. You just need to activate a Mobile Internet account with the 200mb starter data. This is a PREPAID/pay per use account.

To be eligible for EIP financing, you must be a POSTPAID customer which requires at minimum the $10 On Demand mobile internet plan, with $10 credit for voice customers.

You don't need the $10 On Demand POSTPAID plan in order to get 200mb free, you can get the completely free, no-strings attached Mobile Internet with Starter Data PREPAID plan.

The $10 On Demand plan is required for EIP financing, but T-Mobile never promised free EIP financing even for non-voice customers.

BECAUSE the CEO and the press release stated "EVERYONE...no string attach..no exception"

Free is not free when a cost or payment is introduced.

Shouldnt the press release have read, "...200mb free for everyone EXCEPT new t-mobile customer who is financing"