PrePaid plans payment questions

[duvallite]

Recently switched over from Virgin Mobile to the T-Mobile $30 Walmart prepaid plan, and am about 3/4 of the way through my first 30 days, which ends on the 12th. So my question is, can I put $30 into my account at any time (like now) before my 30 days are up, and TM will then automatically deduct it from my account on the 12th to pay for the next 30 days?

That is how VM worked, and I always paid a few days in advance. In regards to TM, I had read a post somewhere about TM prepaid plans that implied that as soon as you deposited your monthly fee into your account, your new 30 days started right then, but that doesn't seem right to me. Can someone clear this up please. Thanks.

BTW, very happy with this plan so far. Speeds are waaaaay faster.

 

[BRAINZ2013]

You can do this or set up automatic pay but yes it wont harm nothing

 

[chong67]

For me, when I see a good sale on those prepaid card on ebay, I just refill it into my account. It will tell you on T-Mobile site when your value will expire. 2-3 days before it expire, Tmo will sent you a txt to have more than enough $ to cover the new month.

 

[yknujssab]

Ok, stupid question, but will the $30 plan disappear sometime in the future? Cause unlike a "monthly" payment this one is subject to availability, right?

 

[tube517]

Ok, stupid question, but will the $30 plan disappear sometime in the future? Cause unlike a "monthly" payment this one is subject to availability, right?

Any plan could "disappear". Most of us on this plan are just riding it until the wheels fall off. Of course, we hope it sticks around forever but no one knows for sure.

Now, that T-Mobile has no contract plans, don't be surprised if this changes.

 

[mogelijk]

I don't believe the $30 plan is going anywhere, at least anytime soon; I've seen this question asked for about the last two years, it still hasn't changed. I also believe that when T-Mobile quits offering this plan that they will grandfather current users. As was mentioned, though, T-Mobile can change it at anytime.

As for adding money to the account, you can add it anytime. The $30 will not be removed from your account until your 30 days is up and the next payment is due. It is often good to leave a small balance in the account in case you use your 100 minutes, they will deduct the $.10/minute directly from your balance.

 

[codesplice]

As mentioned, you can refill anytime - and it's always nice to have extra credit (like mogelijk mentioned) in case you need the extra minutes. In fact, I usually refill with a $50 card whenever funds get low.

I also highly recommend purchasing refill "cards" online rather than going straight through T-Mobile - T-Mobile usually has to at least charge sales tax on it, while a lot of online retailers don't charge that tax and sometimes even offer discounts. Personally, I usually get mine from Calling Mart - T-Mobile Monthly Plan.

 

[kate]

I also believe that when T-Mobile quits offering this plan that they will grandfather current users. As was mentioned, though, T-Mobile can change it at anytime.

Agreed. This is a very popular plan and T-Mobile would receive tons of backlash if they got rid of it without grandfathering in the current users.

 

[duvallite]

As mentioned, you can refill anytime - and it's always nice to have extra credit (like mogelijk mentioned) in case you need the extra minutes. In fact, I usually refill with a $50 card whenever funds get low.

I also highly recommend purchasing refill "cards" online rather than going straight through T-Mobile - T-Mobile usually has to at least charge sales tax on it, while a lot of online retailers don't charge that tax and sometimes even offer discounts. Personally, I usually get mine from Calling Mart - T-Mobile Monthly Plan.

Thanks, I do plan on always keeping an extra $10 balance in my account, just in case, and it's currently there. Just checked out the Calling Mart site, and see they only offer $10, $25, $50, and $100 refills. Too bad they don't offer a $30 refill just to make things easy.

 

[Bodycount]

Wish I could have done the $30 plan with my Note 3. When I called on it, the T-Mobile guy said I couldn't do it with the Note 3. I could only do it with the phones offered at Walmart which are all junk phones. So I had to do the $50 plan

100 minutes a month voice is plenty for me. I rarely go over 50 minutes. Mostly data and texts which this plan has unlimited.

 

[BRAINZ2013]

I see they did you the same way . glad you said this cause some people Dont see T-Mobile wrong side . I was told I couldn't buy no gsm sims card from them .

 

[tube517]

T-Mobile reps tell all kinds of (inconsistent) stories regarding the $30 plan. I got my info from this forum!

 

[mogelijk]

Thanks, I do plan on always keeping an extra $10 balance in my account, just in case, and it's currently there. Just checked out the Calling Mart site, and see they only offer $10, $25, $50, and $100 refills. Too bad they don't offer a $30 refill just to make things easy.

Callingmart does have $30 refills; you just have to select "T-Mobile Monthly Plan" or "T-Mobile to Go RTR". With the first option, they email you a code; with the second you give them your phone number and they put the money directly into your prepaid account.

 

[mogelijk]

I should also mention, if anyone is interested, 35orless is an interesting deal. They essentially, as a prepaid, are offering something close to the equivalent of postpaid service -- complete with data roaming and tethering.

The base rate is $35 for unlimited with 500 MB high speed data, the amount is lowered by a "gimmick" that reduces the cost by the number of new users each month. The gimmick seems to be lowering the cost by $7-10 each month; and 35orless has stated that they will change the gimmick if it doesn't provide enough of a discount.

For those that want extra data, an extra 2 GB is $15 extra ($50 minus gimmick), and true unlimited is an extra $25 ($60 minus gimmick).

 

[timelord65]

so wait are you saying you can't use the galaxy note 3 on the $30 prepaid plan?

 

[jhawkkw]

Wish I could have done the $30 plan with my Note 3. When I called on it, the T-Mobile guy said I couldn't do it with the Note 3. I could only do it with the phones offered at Walmart which are all junk phones. So I had to do the $50 plan

100 minutes a month voice is plenty for me. I rarely go over 50 minutes. Mostly data and texts which this plan has unlimited.

so wait are you saying you can't use the galaxy note 3 on the $30 prepaid plan?

You could have it you have the device bought outright. If you have to use their payment plan, then you're stuck using postpaid plans which begin at $50

 

[mogelijk]

so wait are you saying you can't use the galaxy note 3 on the $30 prepaid plan?

You can use any GSM phone on the $30 plan (so long as the phone isn't blacklisted or locked to another carrier), including the Galaxy Note 3. The only issue is that the phone needs to have frequencies that are compatible with T-Mobile's network. You do need to buy the phone outright, as was mentioned by jhawkkw; you cannot use the T-Mobile payment plans on prepaid.

As a general rule, any T-Mobile branded phone will work fine, as well as AT&T unlocked phones. One issue you might have with an AT&T phone is that many will only get 3G in refarmed areas (typically areas that have LTE), as many AT&T phones do not have the 1700/2100 frequency (AWS) for 3G that T-Mobile has traditionally used.

Any T-Mobile associate that tells you that you are limited to phones sold at Walmart is either misinformed or lying, in many cases they are likely trying to "convince" you to buy a Simple Choice plan so that they will get a commission for the sale.

 

[g01851]

I added $25 extra to my T-Mobile acct, then T-Mobile took that and only charged me $5 to make up the next pmt. So having a balance on your account accomplishes just that... they use it for your payments and charge you any extra onto your credit card.

 

[saptech]

In December, I bought my phone from Motorola and got a free T-Mobile micro sim card from Tmo. I'm on the $30 prepaid plan. No problem.