T-Mobile Bait and Switch scam on December 2021 "Free" upgrade to IPhone13 + airpods

For promotional trade ins (meaning higher trade in than fair market value), here is how the math works:

• As long as you get the quote for your phone model with accurate condition, you should get the full amount. For example, if the promotion tells you the trade in device qualifies for $1000 for your selected new device, then that is what you will get.
• Once you accept, your phone will get assessed "fair market value" as decided by TMO 3rd party trade in service Assurant. For example, let's say FMV says your phone is worth $500 even though you qualified for $1000 trade in.
• The $500 FMV will be spread over 24 months statement credit. In this example the monthly credit will be 20.83. Your last credit will be a little more to true up rounding.
• Since the $500 in monthly credit does not cover your $1000 trade in promotion, TMO will issue you a one time $500 bill credit up front on your next bill.
• The monthly credit and the one time up from credit will equal $1000.

Now for what you get charged for your new phone is a little confusing:

• Let's say you buy a $1000 new phone and that makes the trade in basically "free". However, you still have to pay sales tax, shipping, and activation. You get charged this up front and cannot use credits to pay for it, This does not show up on your bill since you have to pay when you order your new phone.
• Now what you basically have is a zero down, zero interest loan over 24 months so you will be charged $41.67 per month with the last payment a little less to true up rounding to total $1000.

On your first bill, you will see the following:

• One time credit of $500.
• Monthly equipment installment charge of $41.67
• Monthly trade in credit of $20.83

On your 2 of 24 bill and onward thru 24 of 24 you will see:

• Monthly equipment installment charge of $41.67
• Monthly trade in credit of $20.83

If those on this thread did not get the up front credit and the monthly credits fall short of the full credit promised, then there is definitely a problem and you might want to escalate directly on TMO twitter help thread.

Hopefully this information is useful. I've traded in promotions many times and it always calculates out to the exact amount as promised. I have to admit though a couple months after trade in I do occasionally go "WTF why am I being billed for this phone?". I just forget that I got the offsetting credit up front in one lump sum.