what's up with T-mobile removing autopay discount for credit cards?

BeenThere wrote:

“ It is because credit card companies charge a service charge that is based on the percentage of every transaction”

I dislike the way this is stated because its comes off as anti-bank and pro-Tmobile, or like this is something new that got sprung on Tmobile.

Transaction Fees ALWAYS exist, are not anything new, the % is between 1 to 4%, typically. For a giant company like Tmobile with their volume of customers and transactions, their transactions fees will be on the lower side of the average, not more.

its very simple:  Some data analyst at Tmobile pulled a report of how many users pay Autopay via credit card, they calculated the total merchant fees paid and then compared to the discounts offered and some exec somewhere didnt like the math.  "We gave them $5 y had to pay $1 to the bank...”

If they are good at analysis, they would forecast the inevitable increase in aging AR due to people dropping out of auto-pay and/or loss of subscribers.  That also means the money they make from not paying fees offsets whatever hit they take to their AR or customer loss.   So in the end, Tmobile is really saying the # of people paying auto-pay with a CC is enough to save a few bucks on fees, but not impactful enough where the increase in AR and loss of customers will be felt.

I mean, that's assuming they were thorough.  But unfortunately, they may be predicting right.  After the initial wave of anger and people dropping in and out subsides, that line graph will just continue with barely a blip.  The other reality is they can always just raise price anytime, so they could give us back the $5 while increasing the plan price by $5.  There's no way to beat Tmobile at this game other than to just leave.

 

A great time to remind people that they can file a complaint with the FCC and contact their local politicians. Specifically about TMobile trying to save a buck at the expense customers data. With several hacks in the last few years and no real compensation for consumers other than some official statement and/or credit monitoring, its far past time these companies face some form of consequence.  Even if it's just bad publicity in the end.  On the other hand if enough people contact political leaders we could see the heads of TMobile dragged in front of congress to answer for their anti-consumer policies.

Or we can do nothing and just switch to another carrier and start the countdown until they get hacked  or introduce some horrible policy as well. 

MaxPayne wrote:

jlfliberty wrote:

Interesting concept, just stick with it and get shafted as long as you can shaft someone else that has nothing to do with it. I guess that is why outfits do it, people will submit.

$60 per year isn't worth complaining about. That is an optional perk I choose to give up for the good of my bank account. But it's good that you understand now how a balanced budget works. It all evens out in the end so I won't feel the shaft. I'll decide where and when to spend my money, not you. Water finds its own level. It's not like I'm paying more in total at the end of the month. Money just gets redistributed where I need it to go. 

This is why inflation hits everyone in the money chain. I'll pay the normal rate per month for my internet as long as I don't have to allow T-Mobile into my bank, and I don't even have to spend $5 of my time changing out a payment process. If I do change anything, it'll be them sending me a paper bill every month.

I can also withhold the note and spare the pizza dude's little feelings. If he don't know, he can't be butthurt. Don't want him having a meltdown on my sidewalk because he didn't get 50 cents more in a tip.  Alternate idea, I can use the tip money for gas, and drive over and get the food myself.  So whining about a few more bucks for Intenet isn't worth it to me. I just readjust the money flow and it fixes itself. I have other internet options, so without a contract, I can go with someone else if I don't like it.

Now, the phone plan folks definitely could have something to yip about. $20-35 or more in savings going up in smoke per month would suck.

In that case, it would be worth it to open a secondary checking account with its own debit card for T-mobile (or Verizon) only, use that account to only pay your phone/internet bill, and have an auto transfer from your main account put just enough money in the account over any required minimum balance a few days ahead of the payment date to cover the bill. So if your bill is 125 per month, say, then set up the secondary checking account to have $10-20 in there all the time, then have 125 auto transferred to the secondary account a few days before the phone bill is processed. That way, if any thief wants to get in your account, the most they could possibly get would be $135-145.

The reason I say to use a debit card for this is that SOME banks have some protections on the debit card (you need to check your bank policies) and also, the card number isn't directly associated with your bank account number. So theives may not be able to get to your other bank accounts directly.

That’s how I’d do it.

Yes, you spend and use (your version) of pay it foreword the way that you choose. As I said, (Interesting concept, just stick with it and get shafted as long as you can shaft someone else that has nothing to do with it. I guess that is why outfits do it, people will submit.) It appears as though I struck a nerve, maybe I'm mistaken. In my and many others situation, it's not $60, it's $240 dollars a year. I also have my plan, it involves reducing my bills, not giving out my Bank information and not treating others worse as a result. Follow your path, I'll follow the one that I choose.

jlfliberty wrote:

Interesting concept, just stick with it and get shafted as long as you can shaft someone else that has nothing to do with it. I guess that is why outfits do it, people will submit.

$60 per year isn't worth complaining about. That is an optional perk I choose to give up for the good of my bank account. But it's good that you understand now how a balanced budget works. It all evens out in the end so I won't feel the shaft. I'll decide where and when to spend my money, not you. Water finds its own level. It's not like I'm paying more in total at the end of the month. Money just gets redistributed where I need it to go. 

This is why inflation hits everyone in the money chain. I'll pay the normal rate per month for my internet as long as I don't have to allow T-Mobile into my bank, and I don't even have to spend $5 of my time changing out a payment process. If I do change anything, it'll be them sending me a paper bill every month.

I can also withhold the note and spare the pizza dude's little feelings. If he don't know, he can't be butthurt. Don't want him having a meltdown on my sidewalk because he didn't get 50 cents more in a tip.  Alternate idea, I can use the tip money for gas, and drive over and get the food myself.  So whining about a few more bucks for Intenet isn't worth it to me. I just readjust the money flow and it fixes itself. I have other internet options, so without a contract, I can go with someone else if I don't like it.

Now, the phone plan folks definitely could have something to yip about. $20-35 or more in savings going up in smoke per month would suck.

In that case, it would be worth it to open a secondary checking account with its own debit card for T-mobile (or Verizon) only, use that account to only pay your phone/internet bill, and have an auto transfer from your main account put just enough money in the account over any required minimum balance a few days ahead of the payment date to cover the bill. So if your bill is 125 per month, say, then set up the secondary checking account to have $10-20 in there all the time, then have 125 auto transferred to the secondary account a few days before the phone bill is processed. That way, if any thief wants to get in your account, the most they could possibly get would be $135-145.

The reason I say to use a debit card for this is that SOME banks have some protections on the debit card (you need to check your bank policies) and also, the card number isn't directly associated with your bank account number. So theives may not be able to get to your other bank accounts directly.

That’s how I’d do it.

MaxPayne wrote:

For anyone thinking this is a scam, IT IS NOT. It's very true. Your account page should now have an alert bar at the top of it about the change coming July 25th, 2023.

Personally, I'm not going to worry about it. If they don't raise my rates- ever, as they promised, I'm probably just going to pay the extra $5 for my $50 internet via my current credit card setup and call it a 10% money grab.

I'll just tip the delivery guys/gals a little less, not order out as much altogether, or skip that one extra Venti coffee. I'll make it up over the month in other ways.

I'll just give them the smaller tip with a note on it saying "Sorry, due to T-mobile removing my monthly auto-pay discount, I have no choice but to reduce your service tip. Any questions or issues should be directed to T-Mobile Customer Service by calling #1-800-T-Mobile. Thank you for your understanding and continued support in this matter."

No big deal. Two can play at that game. I'll pass those charges on to someone else. So, if the pizza guy doesn't like it, he can get a better paying job.

Interesting concept, just stick with it and get shafted as long as you can shaft someone else that has nothing to do with it. I guess that is why outfits do it, people will submit.

For anyone thinking this is a scam, IT IS NOT. It's very true. Your account page should now have an alert bar at the top of it about the change coming July 25th, 2023.

Personally, I'm not going to worry about it. If they don't raise my rates- ever, as they promised, I'm probably just going to pay the extra $5 for my $50 internet via my current credit card setup and call it a 10% money grab.

I'll just tip the delivery guys/gals a little less, not order out as much altogether, or skip that one extra Venti coffee. I'll make it up over the month in other ways.

I'll just give them the smaller tip with a note on it saying "Sorry, due to T-mobile removing my monthly auto-pay discount, I have no choice but to reduce your service tip. Any questions or issues should be directed to T-Mobile Customer Service by calling #1-800-T-Mobile. Thank you for your understanding and continued support in this matter."

No big deal. Two can play at that game. I'll pass those charges on to someone else. So, if the pizza guy doesn't like it, he can get a better paying job.

Providing debit card or bank account to T-Mobile looks dangerous to me :)
Considering multiple data breaches from t-mobile - latest few happened 2023
“T-Mobile hacked to steal data of 37 million accounts in API data breach”
- https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/t-mobile-hacked-to-steal-data-of-37-million-accounts-in-api-data-breach/
“T-Mobile discloses second data breach since the start of 2023“
- https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/t-mobile-discloses-second-data-breach-since-the-start-of-2023/
I think it is really dangerous to provide BANK account info to T-Mobile - because in few month hackers will get it for sure according to T-Mobile data breaches history. Credit card charges - you can dispute - bank, debit card charges - go to court ...

fireguy_6364 wrote:

i would think that making a decision like this would be something that would affect everyone and not just new accounts..not overly sure the full reasoning behind it..but they are not the only one doing it either.. V started doing it years ago..furthest back i cared to even look at was 2014 for them. wonder if at some point TMO will do what V did and do their own CC? which doesnt make a ton of sense to me other than they probably get some kind of kick back for it being their own CC?

 

This is about (Money, Deception and risking the Security of their customers (BANKING) information. T-Mobile's access to peoples banking information will expose their banking info to their (NEXT and frequent data breach). They lack truth & integrity about their Credit Card service charges, T-Mobile implies a lie. These increases are far above current CredtCard fees, based on my calcs. Using current min/max MasterCard fees, it will rake in an additional ($156.24 to $213.36) above service fees per year from me, multiply that by their 110 million US customers and you get additional income above CC fees of (1.718 to 23.469) Billion dollars. Facts and numbers don't lie and integrity is lacking in the corporate world of 2023. Don't wet on my leg and tell me it's raining. Show integrity, speak truth and charge the actual fees. Truth and honesty, what a concept!
Payment network            Average credit card processing fees
Visa                                    1.29% + $0.05 to 3.29% + $0.10
Mastercard                        1.39% + $0.05 to 3.29% + $0.10
Discover                            1.58% + $0.05 to 3.28% + $0.10
American Express            1.50% + $0.10 to 3.15% + $0.10

magenta8618215 wrote:

Just un-enroll from autopay.  Let them mail you a paper bill and send them a check for payment.  See what that does to their costs.

The problem with that is that you then lose the $5.00 per line discount, $25.00 in my case. 

SoCalTim wrote:

Fireguy,

I respect you for trying to defend your employer.

I haven't seen the mod or a Tmobile employee post on this board in almost 2 weeks. Tmobile employees need to have an identifier in their profile that shows in their post per the forum terms.

https://community.t-mobile.com/site/terms

Empleado de T-Mobile

Los empleados de T-Mobile pueden participar en la Comunidad de asistencia de T-Mobile, pero se deben identificar con el logotipo o insignia de T-Mobile.  All T-Mobile employees are bound by the T-Mobile Employee Handbook and T-Mobile Code of Business Conduct, as well as T-Mobile's Privacy policies and Security policies when accessing, using, or participating in the Community. Salvo los Especialistas de la comunidad descritos anteriormente, los empleados de T-Mobile no pueden solicitar a los miembros de la Comunidad ninguna información personal a través de mensajes en un foro de la comunidad o a través de mensajes privados (PM, en inglés).  Los empleados de T-Mobile no están autorizados a acceder a las cuentas de los clientes, bajo ningún concepto o razón.  Los empleados de T-Mobile que participan en la Comunidad no representan a T-Mobile, no pueden aducir que hablan en representación de T-Mobile y sus puntos de vista y opiniones no necesariamente reflejan las de T-Mobile. El incumplimiento por parte de un empleado de T-Mobile de este Acuerdo, estos Términos de Uso y/o las Pautas de uso de la Comunidad de asistencia de T-Mobile will result in corrective action up to and including termination

Fireguy, you keep referring to Verizon doing the same.  If the woman down the street has an affair you would likely say that's between her and her family to sort out  If your wife has an affair you would differently. My point is what Verizon did to their customers in the past is down to them and doesn't make Tmobile's behavior to me acceptable to me, especially as the TMO decision was made after their third hack.

I respect you for trying to defend your employer.