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

I don't like this, because the credit card has phone insurance covering theft and accidental damage

AT&T is now joining the bandwagon of reducing the discount using a credit card on autopay.

https://www.att.com/autopayinfo

Qué debes saber

We're reducing the monthly discount for accounts enrolled in AutoPay and paperless billing for wireless accounts that use a credit card. The discount will decrease from $10 to $5 off per phone line.

You’ll see the change starting on your October 2023 bill if you continue using a credit card as your payment type.

I understand a company wanting to cut costs but a company needs to serve the customers with the best possible approach. Deciding to be a company brings certain responsibilities and expenses. Serving the customer and allowing customers to pay for that service with acceptable forms of payment, is one of those responsibilities. Credit cards are used worldwide in many purchases. Banks charge fees, fact. Companies should not limit their service because of the costs of operating the business. Linking to a bank opens up security vulnerabilities to the customer. Yes credit card information can be compromised too but it is one more layer of security to the customer's bank. Don't take away a discount that has been in place since many of us signed up. T-Mobile should allow paying by credit card with a discount. If nothing else, they could deduct the credit card fee from the discount. This is unfair to the customers. 

I too do not like providing t-mobile with Bank information electronically. The cost that credit cards charge is nowhere near the extra $25 / $30 being charged.  It's more like $2.00 or less. So why not just add that $2.00 fee which credits cards charge. If that is not possible, what guarantee, and safety protection does t-mobile provide since they have been hacked by 3rd party hackers before? which is mentioned earlier in this thread. Is there a liability insurance that t-mobile can provide to all of us insuring our accounts will not be compromised?

Tarm wrote:

DaveSoCal wrote:

I texted 611 last night and politely explained that I did not want to entrust sensitive bank account data to TMo and, if they could not figure out a way for me to keep my autopay discount (I have had 5 lines for 12 years) I am preparing to port my numbers to ATT.  I really thought they would send me directions on how to leave TMo.  But I was wrong.  They proposed an acceptable alternative to me. I'm not going to explain it here because it was a bit complicated.  I think TMo management may be hearing the outcry from customers.  Others may wish to contact 611 by text.  Don't call them.  You will need to start with a short clear statement of your concern to get past the bot agent and be queued to a real person.   It will take several minutes.  Hope this helps.  

I tried this and was told that I don't have any other options (my request for other options was denied by management).  I've been bombarded by requests from AT&T and Verizon.  Time to start looking in a different direction.

Good move Tarm, I’ve also switched.

syaoran wrote:

That was announced months ago.  It is because credit card companies charge a service charge that is based on the percentage of every transaction, which eats into T-Mobile's revenue.  Removing the auto pay discount for credit cards negates that.  

But unfortunately  T Mobile does NOT have a track record of security their customers PII (Personal Identfying Information) along with any banking account data.

November 2019 - 1 Million Pre-Paid customers had their data stolen

March 2020 - Another hacking in which T Mobile did not disclose the number of affected customers

August 2020 - 2 Million customers had their data stolen

December 2020 - 200,000 customer had their data stolen

August 2021 - 40 Million customers had their data stolen

January 2023 - 37 Million customers had their data stolen

April 2023 - 836 customers had their data stolen

That is 7 breaches of data in the last 4 years.

This information can be found easily on the Firewall Times website.

Furthermore, in reviewing the company's Annual statements and a continued search on the web, they do not have any SOC 2 Reports (System and Organizational Controls)  These report would indicate the vetting of their own security systems as well as any third parties that they would enter into agreements with.  Someone in the Corporate Compliance and Audit department is not doing the due diligence in ensuring their internal systems and controls could handle data integrity losses.

With all said above, it is not worth the $60 savings annually that I would receive as my bank accounts and the hassle of dealing with lost personal information is worth more than that.  They can send me a paper bill for me to pay them.

I just called my credit union to ask a question about a what-if hack scenario and they advised that if there was a hack, it would take up to 45 days to get my money back.  This change does not give me piece of mind at all.

DaveSoCal wrote:

I texted 611 last night and politely explained that I did not want to entrust sensitive bank account data to TMo and, if they could not figure out a way for me to keep my autopay discount (I have had 5 lines for 12 years) I am preparing to port my numbers to ATT.  I really thought they would send me directions on how to leave TMo.  But I was wrong.  They proposed an acceptable alternative to me. I'm not going to explain it here because it was a bit complicated.  I think TMo management may be hearing the outcry from customers.  Others may wish to contact 611 by text.  Don't call them.  You will need to start with a short clear statement of your concern to get past the bot agent and be queued to a real person.   It will take several minutes.  Hope this helps.  

I tried this and was told that I don't have any other options (my request for other options was denied by management).  I've been bombarded by requests from AT&T and Verizon.  Time to start looking in a different direction.

T-Mobile has had data breaches in the past.   Giving them your bank account or debit card for payments is a horrible idea.   On the next data breach, hackers will have direct access to your bank accounts.

This is a big “NO” for me make we want to look someone else for my phone service.

I have the same issue. I don't know how T-Mobile has the audacity to expect customers to use their bank account or debit card instead of a credit card in order to keep their AutoPay discount! Their systems have been hacked TWICE in recent years! Are they going to give back customers all of the money in their account if their systems get hacked again and this time empties out the customer's bank accounts?

If their excuse is the fees that banks charge for credit cards, here's a news flash...It's a cost of doing business! Perhaps T-Mobile should negotiate a better rate with the banks for credit card transactions rather than discontinue the AutoPay Discount for their loyal customers!

Time to look for another carrier. My previous carrier has been bombarding me with promotions to come back.