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T-Mobile Will Pay Off Your Current Phone Up to $1,000 If You Switch

T-Mobile today announced that, starting October 22, it will pay off a qualifying customer's remaining eligible smartphone payments up to $1,000 via virtual prepaid MasterCard when they switch to the carrier in the United States.

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The limited time offer is designed to allow customers to switch from their current carrier to T-Mobile and continue using their existing smartphone without cost. T-Mobile has more details available on its website, including instructions for customers looking to switch from Verizon, AT&T, U.S. Cellular, and select other carriers.

The steps on T-Mobile's website include verifying your smartphone is an eligible device, submitting screenshot proof of your current device payment plan balance, ordering a T-Mobile SIM card and choosing a plan, and submitting a rebate claim. The prepaid MasterCard can then be used to pay off the remaining device balance at your previous carrier.

Fine print indicates that a credit check and an eligible T-Mobile plan is required. The smartphone must be unlocked before being ported in to T-Mobile.

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Top Rated Comments

noone Avatar
64 months ago
And they'll give you free identity theft protection when they get hacked! Again.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roncron Avatar
64 months ago
Doesn’t help people who bought their phones outright. I guess T-Mobile just wants customers who like financing things.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
64 months ago

Doesn’t help people who bought their phones outright. I guess T-Mobile just wants customers who like financing things.
So they offer up to $1000 and there is still something to moan about?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
64 months ago

If you bought your phone outright, you have no outstanding balance for them to pay, so I don't get your complaint. The point is they are trying to remove a potential barrier from people switching ("I'd like to switch, but then I'd have to pay off my phone balance, and I can't afford to right now").
The point they are making is that if I were to pay $1000 upfront for my phone vs someone who chose to pay over time gets rewarded by having the remaining phone paid for by T-Mobile. By not putting myself in debt, or saving up before making purchases I don't get the same reward. This is the complaint.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VolceOntra Avatar
64 months ago
Been with TMO for almost a decade now, it's been great in MD, CA, GA, SC, and MO. The worst was in parts of CA along the coast though.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
64 months ago

So, if you pay for your phone in full when you purchase it you are not rewarded.
Beware of a deal like this. It almost certainly means they're trying to switch you over from a vastly superior network and experience.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)