Overview
T-Mobile is an innovative company based in Bellevue, Washington, that serves most of the United States. They have some of the best wireless coverage and prices in the country, and pride themselves on good customer service and great wireless technology.
Pros: The company has a variety of plans to choose from, including individual, prepaid, family, data and business categories. In fact, they have the most plans of any company reviewed here. T-Mobile also has myFaves, an option that allows you unlimited calling to the five people you call the most. This also includes digital long distance and no digital roaming charges across the United States. Most plans have unlimited night and weekend minutes at no extra charge, and each category has several different options, so you can choose the features that you want and not pay for things you won’t use. None of the plans require long distance or roaming charges.
Cons: T-Mobile has one of the highest charges for each additional minute over your plan—$0.40 per minute. Also, while many companies will include mobile-to-mobile in their plans, you have to pay extra for it here. Also, MyFaves minutes are only available for qualifying plans. T-Mobile only supports data plans for BlackBerry and their Sidekick.
Detailed Provider Information
Plans: T-Mobile has a variety of plans under their individual, family, business, data and MyFaves categories. They also offer prepaid plans. There are six individual MyFaves plans. Monthly minutes range from 300, which is their most popular plan, to 5000. The price for the plans ranges from $39.99 to $139.99. Customers get unlimited night/weekend minutes and unlimited MyFaves minutes, which allows them to call and receive calls from five numbers that they choose. Individual basic plans don’t include the MyFaves option, but they do include everything else and they’re slightly cheaper – the price ranges from $29.99 to $99.99.
The family plans from T-Mobile are similar to the individual plans, in that they have a MyFaves option and they include unlimited nights and weekends. The monthly minutes range from 400 to 3000, and the price is from $69.99 to $149.99. Family plans give customers a shared pool of Whenever minutes and two lines. If you want additional lines, you can get up to three more for $9.99 each. You can also choose to get family plans without the MyFaves option, and they cost $59.99 to $149.98.
Lastly, T-Mobile offers business plans for customers who need to hook up their business. There are three categories: National Small Business, National Business, and Enterprise Business. There are four plans in the National Small Business category. The monthly minutes range from 1000 to 4500, and the price per month ranges from $69.99 to $199.99. You get unlimited weeknight minutes and unlimited weekend minutes. The plans come with two lines, like the family plan, with the ability to add up to three more for $9.99 each. They also come with unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling and enhanced voicemail and built-in paging. You also get no roaming or long distance charges.
The National Business category boasts six plans, with monthly minutes ranging from 300 to 5000. The price range is from $29.99 to $129.99. Unfortunately, these plans don’t offer any weeknight minutes, but they do offer unlimited weekend minutes. They also offer mobile-to-mobile calling and text messaging. If you want an Enterprise plan, you will have to contact a T-Mobile representative for pricing. All business plans come with 300 text messages per user and a variety of calling features.
Learn more about T-Mobile’s prepaid plans on PrepaidReviews.com.
Customer Service: T-Mobile has customer service through phone, email, and an online knowledge database. You can also sign up for their online service, which allows you to manage your account, personalize your phone and access support. You can also go into one of the T-Mobile stores and talk to a representative there.
Credit Check: Offers are subjected to credit approval.
Contract: The minimum contract is two years for most plans. A termination fee of up to $200 is charged to people who break their contract early.
Payment Options: You can choose to pay online, with automatic payments that will be taken out of your account with your authorization; by credit card, over the phone, or through the mail with a check or credit card. You can also go to a payment center.
Text and Picture Messaging: Some plans include text messaging; others do not. If you want to add this to your account, you can log into “My T-Mobile” and add a messaging value bundle to your plan. Picture and video messaging is also available. If you want to add this to your plan, 400 domestic messages cost $4.99 per month. You can also choose to get 1000 messages a month for $9.99, or unlimited messaging for $14.99 a month.
Data Plans: T-Mobile has several data plans available to be compatible with BlackBerries or Sidekicks.
Find out more about T-Mobile data plans at BBGeeks.com.
Downloadables: T-Mobile has a ton of items available for download, including music, wallpaper, games, web and applications, and more. Downloading charges may apply.
International Calling: You can make international calls through T-Mobile. If you want to know how much it will cost to do so, the website has a page where you can choose your country and find out the rates offered by T-Mobile.
Roaming Charges: There are no domestic roaming charges on any plan. However, international roaming charges may apply if you use your phone overseas.
Calling Features: All plans include Call Hold and Call Forwarding. Business plans include Caller ID, Voicemail, Built-in Paging, and Conference Calling.
Activation Fee: All T-Mobile plans require a one-time activation fee of $35. If you add on any services, they may require additional activation fees.
Nationwide Long Distance: Long distance isn’t charged domestically; however, you will be responsible for paying any international charges.
411 Calls: $1.49 plus airtime.
911 Calls: 911 calls are free.
Phones: The cell phones you love and plans you want. T-mobile has all the latest models available for purchase right now! How about the G1?
Some Additional Phones Available:
Nokia models
Motorola (including the RAZR)
BlackBerry 8700, Pearl, Curve, and more
T-Mobile Dash, Wing and Sidekick
Average Reviewer Rating
T-Mobile has the best prices, but only so-so service. I called their customer service when all the sidekicks were down, because that's what I have, about three times, and they were all very nice and really tried to help me. And they credited my account for the month, because it was their mistake. Verizon, sucked. The were charging me over 170 dollars, when I was on the 60 dollars a month plan (450 mins, unlimited text.) Metro PCS, just plain sucked. I really like T-Mobile, even if their service isn't completely reliable. There is a store right up the street from me, and the employees are all very friendly.
Tmobile SUCKS. Scripted customer service and all that stuff...I called to SIMPLY get my own line (change of responsibilty) and they FORCED me to get a flex plan and get a new number...the flex plan is a RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF...I'm switiching to att or verizon
I had Verizon. I NEVER had a connect problem. I got a much better $$ deal with TMobile but I don't get reliable connects (drops calls now and then) and I"m in the NYC metro area! It should be perfect here. Their map shows maximum coverage. Plus, you have to be doggedly patient and persistent with customer support. They blow you off with the "script" and you have to fight your way up through supervisors. I had a few issues to straighten out and, boy, it took time.
I have been with T-Mobile 6 years, for the most part it has been a happy experience. They offered the best rates when I chose them and still do. I have had only one minor problem with their customer service, and it did get straightened out fairly quickly.
I only gave them 4 stars for 2 reasons:
1) Calling to check your voice mail uses air time, & that is NOT right IMHO.... so my out going message says "I am not available to take your call please text me if it's important, I do not check voicemail because it uses my minutes"
2) I think they should do more on new phone prices for their loyal customers... a free high end phone once every 5 years for consumer loyalty would be rather nice, IMHO a long time customer getting the same price as someone new because they are jumping carriers to get a cool new phone cheap is no way to reward loyalty. Showing appreciation to loyal customers does seem to be a foreign concept to corporate America. Some day this issue might bother me enough to try another carrier if someone else figures out customer back scratching pays off BIG in the long run.
My phones have been good quality, operated well, and tech support on my first smart phone was wonderful. Not once did they make me feel like an idiot even though I was one.... (I am quite sure they chuckled over me at lunch).
I almost switched carriers on my last renewal, but I knew someone having issues with every other major carrier in my area and because of that I decided to stay put. No company is perfect, they are only as good as the people working for them, but I do know in my world, T Mobile has been willing to listen and willing to help me when I needed it, I have only one bad experience with the CSR's in 6 years... and when I lost my job, they worked with me by lowering my plan and telling me how to stretch my limited minutes until I found work again. Do the other companies do stuff like that?
Tmobile sucks an do not care I've been with them for 6 months to long I had 4 tm506 an 3 samsung behold suck an 1 g1 an it sucks like tmobile does. They took my 433 dollars out of my flex accont an said I did not send a cell back to them but I'm on flex plan they just lie an don't care. But my mom is a lawyer an can't wait. To sue them yes please emei ceo of tmobile let's talk ps an a battery blew up in my face an I get proof of it..........
Can i just get a plan for texting ONLY? 15dollars a month.
Great Prices, So-So coverage
I had to cancel my T-mobile service after almost three years of never paying my bill late (my contract was up) because I had to take my dog to the vet. I get a call daily now from T-mobile, even though I told them I couldn't pay them until the third. As soon as I cancelled, the calls started coming. They have threatened me with sending my bill to collections, even though my bill is not even two weeks late! They even claimed their "system" made a mistake and reactivated my account for a week after I'd canceled. I can't believe a company I gave my business to for so long could be so heartless. I had planned on signing up with T-mobile again in a couple months, but now I definitely would never consider them again.
I wish I'd have found this site before I'd even signed up with them. It seems most people here are saying the same thing.
ok so i have the unlimited text plan thingy ...so can i like text to washington???
I hate tmobile been with them for 9 years and they refuse to help the customer insisting that I'm wrong. I asked to upgrade to the smallest text plan available so the next months bill I noticed they put me on unlimited texts for $20 per month. They will do anything for you if you are with a different carrier give you better deals on new phones and plans etc. If you are currently with them you are screwed they don't give good upgrade deals on new phones or plans I used to upgrade my contract for free now it costs be $20 to stay with them what a joke I'm switching to AT&T worth the extra money.
I have T.moble cell phone from minneapolis and now i moved to Burlington, vermont,so that i want to change billing and the number because it is long distance for most vermonters , my question is do you have T.mobile In this area ? if so please let me know I am tired of it.
T-Mobile is the worst in customer service! They turned a bad situation in to something even worse. They didn't shut my phone off after I reported it as stolen in a foreign country where the rate is $2 a minute. They then tried to bill me for the $800 in minutes the guy used for the 3 days it took them to shut off my line. I immediately switched to Alltel. They are now trying to sue me for the $800 they racked up on my bill plus the $200 fee for early termination. What a bunch of jerks! They want the customer to take the blame for their mistakes. I was a good customer with them for four years. I even got my whole family and my dad's two businesses to switch to their service. So much for my efforts! They definately dropped the ball, made some poor choices, and lost a great customer in the process.
I've found that T-Mobile is relentless against giving in towards a customer in the event of a dispute. Try to dispute a charge with them, you'll see how quickly their tones change. I talked with three different representatives, and they all used the same language. I think they read from a script.
I was a T-Mobile customer for over 2 years. My monthly payment was automatically charged to my credit card. I canceled my credit card and updated that information with T-Mobile by the due date. They assessed a late fee against me, telling me that I shuold have spoken to a customer representative instead of merely updating my credit card information. I don't see why I should be charged a late fee if T-Mobile had my correct credit card number by the actual due date! I tried to dispute the late fee, but they won't budge, telling me that it was valid charge.
Their relentless urge to systematically maintain the customer is "wrong" is appauling. Switch to AT&T. Much easier to dispute charges. AT&T's representatives are more willing to work customers in order to resolve disputes.
I just became a T-Mobile customer this past summer, and I absolutely love it. They have the best customer service out of all the providers I've dealt with.
The day I went to switch to T-Mobile, I had my numbers switched, a great phone, and everything setup within 20 minutes. Additionally, I was able to negotiate for free add-ons.
The best scenario came when I was at a business conference and I had accumulated over 200 text messages (without a text messaging plan). I couldn't figure out how to add text messaging to my account so I emailed T-Mobile. Within 24 hours not only did they add it for me, they credited it to my account so I wasn't charged the extra fees.
On top of the great customer service, their actual phone service is very reliable.