Carrier T-Mobile One 2 lines for $100... what's the catch?

[KUguardgrl13]

Basically my fiancé and I are looking at switching to this plan from our current setup. He has a Simple Choice Jump unlimited plan, and he's reached the 18 month mark with his 6s where he needs to pay the remaining balance all at once or divide it up over the next 9 months. I'm still on my parents' Verizon plan with an iPhone 5 and am way past due for an upgrade. We're also getting married in June, so it's time to start combining costs anyway.

Basically what's the fine print on this current deal from T-Mobile? Can existing customers get the same pricing? Do we need to trade our phones in? We're looking at getting iPhones 7's anyway, but I'd like to keep my 5 as a backup device since it's practically worthless in trade anyway.

Also, any advice before porting over? How long can I expect to wait for my phone number to be fully working on T-Mobile?

 

[Apple_Robert]

There was a recent front page article on this deal, as well as a thread. I remember seeing a lot of replies. In the middle of s few other things, otherwise I would help you hunt it down.

 

[C DM]

There was a recent front page article on this deal, as well as a thread. I remember seeing a lot of replies. In the middle of s few other things, otherwise I would help you hunt it down.

I'm guessing this one? https://www.macrumors.com/2017/02/13/t-mobile-improves-unlimited-data-plan/

 

[Apple_Robert]

I'm guessing this one? https://www.macrumors.com/2017/02/13/t-mobile-improves-unlimited-data-plan/

Thanks for the assist, CDM.

 

[Applejuiced]

You can even get a 20% discount on top of that and it includes all taxes too.
Can't beat that deal.

 

[eyoungren]

You can even get a 20% discount on top of that and it includes all taxes too.
Can't beat that deal.

Only if she is coming as a new customer.

Existing customers cannot use the Hookup Code. I tried.

And failed.

 

[Applejuiced]

Only if she is coming as a new customer.

Existing customers cannot use the Hookup Code. I tried.

And failed.

Oh I see.
That kinda sucks.
Not sure if it would be worth it for them to start a new account with her name and port over her Verizon line and then bring in his line and close his other T-Mobile plan maybe.
Are the still doing the 3 lines for $100 or is that deal over?

 

[eyoungren]

Oh I see.
That kinda sucks.
Not sure if it would be worth it for them to start a new account with her name and port over her Verizon line and then bring in his line and close his other T-Mobile plan maybe.
Are the still doing the 3 lines for $100 or is that deal over?

Not sure about the other deals.

But, if they are still current then current customers can get them. It's only the Hookup Code that current customers can't get.

They have two options. As you suggested, she can port in then add him to her account or he can just add her.

Where the decision needs to be made is whether they want to keep Simple Choice or are ok with the new TMO plans.

Personally, I'd stick with the SC plan, but I'm biased because that's my plan.

 

[Applejuiced]

I'm with you on that.
I love my simple choice plan and wouldn't want to give it up either

 

[617660]

What is it about the simple choice plan that's better than unlimited?

 

[eyoungren]

What is it about the simple choice plan that's better than unlimited?

The question presumes there is no SC unlimited.

In fact, both my wife and I have unlimited.

We also have 7GB of tethering data and 5GB of data match for our tablets.

I do have two free data lines that are capped, both 6GB of data each (SyncUp Drives for WiFi in our cars) but I have Data Stash for each line and I'm close to maxing that out at 20GB per line. And my son's line is 2GB.

All of it cheaper than it would be on TMO.

 

[Applejuiced]

What is it about the simple choice plan that's better than unlimited?

My unlimited simple choice plan has 10gb of hotspot data for each line.
And all international perks.
I disabled the binge on option on all lines so everything is full speed and not downscaled.
5 lines for $180 plus tax is a pretty good deal.

 

[eyoungren]

5 lines for $180 plus tax is a pretty good deal.

I'm rolling seven lines at $190 after my two free line bill credits (and excluding EIP).

 

[Jnesbitt82]

Only if she is coming as a new customer.

Existing customers cannot use the Hookup Code. I tried.

And failed.

Don't the hookup codes expire at the end of this month or am I thinking of something else?

 

[Applejuiced]

I'm rolling seven lines at $190 after my two free line bill credits (and excluding EIP).

Damn, that's a sweet deal.
So 5 lines and 2 data sims for tablets with 6gb of data for the tablets?
How did you get the bill credits for those abs are they permanent?

 

[eyoungren]

Don't the hookup codes expire at the end of this month or am I thinking of something else?

Yeah, end of March.
[doublepost=1490151084][/doublepost]

Damn, that's a sweet deal.
So 5 lines and 2 data sims for tablets with 6gb of data for the tablets?
How did you get the bill credits for those abs are they permanent?

It's three voice lines: UD, UD and 2GB.
Four data lines: 5GB, 5GB (both data match), 6GB, 6GB (both with data stash).

The data match was a promo for the iPhone 6s/6s+. We got ours on the launch weekend. We get $14 in bill credit for the phones. When the promo was over, T-Mob rolled us into 5GB plans for the tablet. $20 a month per tablet line, but a $10 data credit so it comes out to $10 per tablet.

I got the first SyncUp Drive around the time T-Mob had their Black Friday Two Lines on Us deal. When I got the second a month later I asked T-Force if it was possible for me to qualify for the two free lines even though the promo was over.

They told me no - twice.

Then a month after asking twice, I started receiving two $25 bill credits. One at the beginning of the month and one in the middle. In total, that $50 credit zeros out the $25 per line I am paying for the two SyncUp Drives (after the $10/line mobile internet credit). So, essentially two entirely free SyncUp Drive lines.

Why they gave it to me when they told me no twice, I don't know.

 

[Applejuiced]

Wow, that's an unbeatable deal and lucky how you ended getting it to stick somehow with those extra bill credits

 

[KUguardgrl13]

There was a recent front page article on this deal, as well as a thread. I remember seeing a lot of replies. In the middle of s few other things, otherwise I would help you hunt it down.

I'm guessing this one? https://www.macrumors.com/2017/02/13/t-mobile-improves-unlimited-data-plan/

Thanks for this. It's a good discussion about the pros and cons of T-Mobile compared to Verizon now that both offer unlimited, but there weren't a lot of comments regarding actual cost and hoops to jump through. There also haven't been any comments for a couple weeks.
[doublepost=1490208964][/doublepost]

Not sure about the other deals.

But, if they are still current then current customers can get them. It's only the Hookup Code that current customers can't get.

They have two options. As you suggested, she can port in then add him to her account or he can just add her.

Where the decision needs to be made is whether they want to keep Simple Choice or are ok with the new TMO plans.

Personally, I'd stick with the SC plan, but I'm biased because that's my plan.

I think we will be forced to get a One plan. I read somewhere that you can no longer add lines to an existing single line Simple Choice plan. My fiancé has the grandfathered $70 unlimited plan, so it should end up being about the same or a little cheaper for his line. We're figuring $55/line because we won't do autopay plus two iPhone 7's.

 

[nburwell]

Also, any advice before porting over? How long can I expect to wait for my phone number to be fully working on T-Mobile?

Porting my number over to TMO from AT&T literally took two minutes to complete. I know it can take longer than that, but I called TMO customer service once I got my SIM card in the mail and was up and running on TMO with my ported number in a matter of minutes.

 

[eyoungren]

I think we will be forced to get a One plan. I read somewhere that you can no longer add lines to an existing single line Simple Choice plan. My fiancé has the grandfathered $70 unlimited plan, so it should end up being about the same or a little cheaper for his line. We're figuring $55/line because we won't do autopay plus two iPhone 7's.

I think there may some confusion on that.

I have a Simple Choice plan. I can add lines to my plan. I've done it three times since October and I have been able to go as far adding a SIM for another line as recently as January.

What you CAN'T do anymore is add UNLIMITED DATA lines to a Simple Choice plan. And some of T-Mob's promos demand a TMO plan.

So, it is true that with some promos and unlimited data you can no longer add a line to an SC plan, but it is NOT true that you cannot add ANY lines to an SC plan.

Just clearing that up.
[doublepost=1490209694][/doublepost]

Porting my number over to TMO from AT&T literally took two minutes to complete. I know it can take longer than that, but I called TMO customer service once I got my SIM card in the mail and was up and running on TMO with my ported number in a matter of minutes.

Same.

We ported from Sprint in late September 2015. I had every duck lined up and less than five minutes after the rep ported us I was getting text messages on T-Mob's network.

If you give the reps everything they need it should be a piece of cake.

 

[JackieInCo]

I'm not sure if T-Mobile still has the offering, but they did offer THREE lines for $100 last month.

 

[KUguardgrl13]

I think there may some confusion on that.

I have a Simple Choice plan. I can add lines to my plan. I've done it three times since October and I have been able to go as far adding a SIM for another line as recently as January.

What you CAN'T do anymore is add UNLIMITED DATA lines to a Simple Choice plan. And some of T-Mob's promos demand a TMO plan.

So, it is true that with some promos and unlimited data you can no longer add a line to an SC plan, but it is NOT true that you cannot add ANY lines to an SC plan.

Just clearing that up.
[doublepost=1490209694][/doublepost]
Same.

We ported from Sprint in late September 2015. I had every duck lined up and less than five minutes after the rep ported us I was getting text messages on T-Mob's network.

If you give the reps everything they need it should be a piece of cake.

We would definitely want both lines to be unlimited. It's only fair! Lol. I haven't had unlimited data since 2012 when Verizon forced us off, but it'd be nice to have it again.
[doublepost=1490217300][/doublepost]

I'm not sure if T-Mobile still has the offering, but they did offer THREE lines for $100 last month.

I'm not sure if they still offer that plan, but we wouldn't need it anyway. It's just me and my fiancé.

 

[Applejuiced]

I think there may some confusion on that.

I have a Simple Choice plan. I can add lines to my plan. I've done it three times since October and I have been able to go as far adding a SIM for another line as recently as January.

What you CAN'T do anymore is add UNLIMITED DATA lines to a Simple Choice plan. And some of T-Mob's promos demand a TMO plan.

So, it is true that with some promos and unlimited data you can no longer add a line to an SC plan, but it is NOT true that you cannot add ANY lines to an SC plan.

Just clearing that up.
[doublepost=1490209694][/doublepost]
Same.

We ported from Sprint in late September 2015. I had every duck lined up and less than five minutes after the rep ported us I was getting text messages on T-Mob's network.

If you give the reps everything they need it should be a piece of cake.

I have some questions for the expert
I have a simple choice with unlimited data on all 5 lines.
Could I add another line down the road if I wanted with the same settings?
It says $30 per additional line in my tmobile app view plan details.

 

[eyoungren]

I have some questions for the expert
I have a simple choice with unlimited data on all 5 lines.
Could I add another line down the road if I wanted with the same settings?
It says $30 per additional line in my tmobile app view plan details.

Expert?! Where?

Nah, you can't add UD anymore to SC plans. It may say that's an option but when you actually click on the link to add a line the only options it will present you with are 2GB, 6GB and 10GB. There will be no UD option available to add.

You *might* be able to call/DM T-Force but from the website or in-store - nope.

It's how T-Mobile prods you to update to the new plans.
[doublepost=1490220493][/doublepost]

We would definitely want both lines to be unlimited. It's only fair! Lol. I haven't had unlimited data since 2012 when Verizon forced us off, but it'd be nice to have it again.

Then, yeah…there's the answer to your question.

Port in as a new customer, get the deals, get the Hookup Code and then add your fiancé's line to your plan.

You'll both get UD, unlimited tethering (up to 10GB at full speed, 3G speeds after that) and HD streaming if you add that option.

The deprioritization limit is currently 30GB. That's not throttling by the way. Different thing. Deprioritization simply puts your data at the back of the line when connecting to congested towers. Connect to a non-congested tower or if the current tower becomes de-congested then your priority returns to normal.

 

[KUguardgrl13]

Expert?! Where?

Nah, you can't add UD anymore to SC plans. It may say that's an option but when you actually click on the link to add a line the only options it will present you with are 2GB, 6GB and 10GB. There will be no UD option available to add.

You *might* be able to call/DM T-Force but from the website or in-store - nope.

It's how T-Mobile prods you to update to the new plans.
[doublepost=1490220493][/doublepost]
Then, yeah…there's the answer to your question.

Port in as a new customer, get the deals, get the Hookup Code and then add your fiancé's line to your plan.

You'll both get UD, unlimited tethering (up to 10GB at full speed, 3G speeds after that) and HD streaming if you add that option.

The deprioritization limit is currently 30GB. That's not throttling by the way. Different thing. Deprioritization simply puts your data at the back of the line when connecting to congested towers. Connect to a non-congested tower or if the current tower becomes de-congested then your priority returns to normal.

Is that better than changing my fiancé's existing plan to the new plan and adding me to it? We will both want to keep our same numbers.