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T-Mobile To Go Prepaid Cell Phones
Editor Rating
Overview
T-Mobile is based in Bellevue, Washington - and formerly known as Voicestream Wireless. T-mobile was the first international communications company offering service to both the US and Europe and is well known for its ad campaigns featuring Catherine Zeta Jones.
Pros: With T-Mobile prepaid there is no monthly bill, you just pay for refills either online or by buying a minute card at a retail location nationwide. You can also purchase a starter kit that includes a phone, basic accessories and starter minutes when you sign up and the phones include all of the basic calling features.
Cons: Calls can be expensive when purchasing the the lower denomination refill cards (for example, the ten dollar refill card works out to cost is 33 cents per minute) and minutes can expire quickly.
Detailed Provider Information
Plans: T-Mobile offers five prepaid services. The first offers unlimited voice minutes and unlimited messages for 50 dollars per month. The second costs 15 dollars per month. Minutes cost 10 cents each, but the plan also includes unlimited messaging. The third is a traditional pay-as-you-go service that includes four denominations of refill cards. The 10 dollar card has 30 minutes, the 25 dollar card has 130 minutes, the 50 dollar card has 400 minutes, and the 100 dollar card has 1,000 minutes. When customers buy 100 dollars worth of refills they are are eligible to receive 15 percent more minutes on refill cards. The fourth plan is a pay per day plan that costs 1 dollar per day, but only when the phone is used. This includes unlimited nights after 7 p.m. and unlimited mobile to mobile. All other minutes are 10 cents each. Finally, the Sidekick Prepaid plan costs 1 dollar per day and provides unlimited email, text messaging, instant messaging, and web browsing for Sidekick devices. Minutes cost 15 cents each.
Customer Service: Customer care is offered via a toll free number, email and retail locations nationwide.
Credit Check: None
Contract: None
Payment Options: T-Mobile's prepaid plans can be paid for with a debit or credit card, or by purchasing a refill card at retailers across the country.
Text and Picture Messaging: Text messaging with the pay-as-you-go plan is 10 cents to send and 5 cents receive. Picture messaging is also available at 25 cents per message. Messaging is included with all other plans.
Data Plans: T-Mobile offers prepaid Sidekick data plans for $1 per day. However, we could not find that they have web access for any other device for a lesser cost.
Downloadables: Ringtones, games, wallpaper and applications are available and start at $1.49 each and up, with prices varying based on what you purchase and the phone you're using.
International Calling: T-Mobile prepaid does offer the ability to make international calls. Rates vary based on the destination country, but start at 30 cents per minute, on top of the regular airtime charges. You'll want to check with customer service before making international calls to check rates for the country you're calling.
Roaming Charges: There are no roaming charges on the T-Mobile USA network.
Calling Features: All phones feature call waiting, caller ID, voicemail and 3 way calling. Airtime rates apply.
Activation Fee: None
Nationwide Long Distance: Long distance calls to all 50 United States made with T-Mobile are treated like regular calls with no additional long distance fees.
411 Calls: Directory assistance is available for $1.79 per call, plus airtime.
Earliest Minute Expiration: All refill cards below 100 dollars expire in 90 days. The 100 dollar card expires in one year, and extends the expiration of future purchases to one year.
911 Calls: Yes
Phones: T-Mobile prepaid cell phones start at zero dollars (after sending in the mail-in rebate form) and go up to $89.99. There are a number of web exclusive deals, which offer substantial discounts from retail price. Select phones come with a free 30 dollar refill card.
Some Available Cell Models:
Nokia 1661 (shown)
Nokia 1208
Samsung t429
Nokia 3555
Samsung t239
Coverage Map: T-Mobile To Go Coverage Map
Activation Guide: T-Mobile To Go activation guide
Latest News: News about T-Mobile To Go Prepaid
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T-Mobile Prepaid
you can be in the heart of a city and tmobile wont work
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Guest
2010/07/26 |
you can be in the heart of a city and tmobile wont work
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T-Mobile Prepaid
As a former long term customer of Tracfone, I've found T-Mobile
5
T-Mobile Prepaid
If T Mo's prepaid service is anything like its post paid service,
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Al
2010/07/25 |
If T Mo's prepaid service is anything like its post paid service, then you need to RUN, not walk away from T Mo. I'm currently on a no contract plan but will be dropping them after only 4 months due to extremely poor coverage. They paint their coverage areas with an extremely wide brush that doesn't come close to their actual coverage. When I called cs about the coverage problem, I was told that they would have their techs check it out and repair as necessary. Well, they did one heck of a job! Now the area where I barely had service before I called nas exactly no service! Nice repair job, T Mo! My suggestion to anyone considering T Mo is that you go to T Mos website and check the customer reviews under connection problems. Seems that T Mo service has been going steadily downhill for awhile now. Bottom line is STAY AWAY FROM T MOBILE!!!
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T-Mobile Prepaid
you can have any phone made prepaid, i recently did the $50 unlimited
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T-Mobile Prepaid
We have the Tmobile prepaid, where you buy the 100.00 card, receive
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B.Fleagle
2010/07/21 |
We have the Tmobile prepaid, where you buy the 100.00 card, receive 1150 minutes, and then can keep any minutes if you purchase more airtime before the 1 year expires. I am not a big phone user. Less than 10 minutes a week, really. This plan works for us, coverage is usually pretty OK. We are low maintenance users, do not call the call centers, do not need any special services, etc. I think that overall, I spend 5-6 dollars per month to be able to have cell phone access. Great plan for low minute users. Big time talkers, not so much.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
Beware of the disappearing minutes! We used to have two prepaid
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Soccermom
2010/07/21 |
Beware of the disappearing minutes! We used to have two prepaid phones with T-mobile. The phones will use up the minutes without the users touching the phone. Yes, they disappear like that. We called t-mobile to fix the problem too many times and just finally gave up.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
T-mobile is really messed-up. They used to have free T-Zones
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Florida Rick
2010/07/14 |
T-mobile is really messed-up. They used to have free T-Zones that included ESPN, CNN and ABC. Now, the only thing left is ABC News and that only works part of the time. I have an "open" Blackberry and when I try to use it at a hotspot with the T-Mobil SIMM card in, with the "radio" off and wifi on, T-Mobile takes the phone over and says I can't use the internet with my plan. I need to physically REMOVE THE SIMM CARD to make this go away. Finally, the U.S Government should look into consumer fraud by T-Mobile. For example, if you are a Gold member, your calls are 10 cents a minute. If my balance is $15.00, it may say I only have 92 minutes of talk time. That's over 15 cents/minute -- a consumer fraud if you ask me. There are times I'll talk for 10 minutes and it seems they take $5.00 for the call. In any case, I have another phone with AT&T and I'm really happy with that. Unlimited anywhere for $3.00 on days I use it... Sure beats $5.00 to call for 10 minutes. In my opinion, T-Mobile = Scam
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T-Mobile Prepaid
Have used the basic prepaid for a year with no problem except
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T-Mobile Prepaid
I'd give "0" stars if I could. I was charged twice
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Mary
2010/07/13 |
I'd give "0" stars if I could. I was charged twice when trying to put minutes on my phone via the internet. First transaction said it "didn't authorize", so I put through a second transaction. Now both went through and I was charged twice as much. I was transferred several times from customer rep to customer rep. I was on hold for 30 min. before anyone answered my call.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
custpmer service was fine they spoke english and check to make
5
T-Mobile Prepaid
The worst ever,I tried to change my account type from flexi to
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cekdar
2010/07/10 |
The worst ever, I tried to change my account type from flexi to prepaid for 10days, and meanwhile my account type is suspended then they did not process it and said that I have pay and then them may!? change my account type while keeping my phone number...I got really pissed off from T-mobile everytime I talked with customer care I heard different explanations, I am throwing this fuxxing sim card and will never use T-mobile again in my life...
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T-Mobile Prepaid
I've used T-Mobile prepaid for a couple of years. As long as
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Barbara
2010/07/04 |
I've used T-Mobile prepaid for a couple of years. As long as I used it as a backup only it was fine; as soon as I started depending on it as a primary phone it got way too expensive, even at the 10c/minute rate. I'd recommend it for backup or light use only. I also found that their customer service, which used to be convenient and helpful, has become very poor: I have been unable to speak to a human, and the robot isn't programmed to answer what I need to know. They need to add a way to contact them by email; if there is one I haven't been able to find it. Trying to deal with their website is totally frustrating.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
I have been using T Mobile to go prepaid for about 5 years.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
i have the prepaid unlimited with t mobile for a week now and
5
T-Mobile Prepaid
Picked their prepaid service because of the apparent coverage
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JMS
2010/07/02 |
Picked their prepaid service because of the apparent coverage map for southern IL (right across river from St Louis). I bought the phone plus $100 card to get the 1 yr service. Activated this morning. Coverage map is a lie. Their idea of a "good" reception zone is "good luck getting any reception" zone. I will now go out and buy another phone and service and chalk it up to another of life's lessons. Wish I had come across this review site earlier
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T-Mobile Prepaid
I been using the prepaid for years. I put $100 on it and it last
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T-Mobile Prepaid
I manage about 5 prepaid T-mobile phones for my immediate family
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keith
2010/06/24 |
I manage about 5 prepaid T-mobile phones for my immediate family members and friends. T-mobile has deducted all the minutes from two of the phones to ZERO within a 45 day period. I know both users only used the phone very cautiously and they seldom use the phone except during emergency. T-mobile is not giving me any explanation. The first one maybe a mistake but TWO phone accounts went to ZERO balance? Come on. I think T-mobile is getting to be a bunch of crooks.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
im about to get tmobie prepaid, unlimited. i just wanna know
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haley.
2010/06/22 |
im about to get tmobie prepaid, unlimited. i just wanna know can you put the sim card in a different tmobile phone.? or do you have to keep the same ugly phone.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
I do not recommend buying TMobile Prepaid under any circumstances.
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Robert Burns
2010/06/18 |
I do not recommend buying TMobile Prepaid under any circumstances. I recently did and had one of the worst experiences I've ever had. I bought the Prepaid Phone and $100 card directly from TMobile. It took me 1 1/2 hours to activate the phone and then the phone key pad would not unlock. I send back the phone and card and they will only refund me for the phone and I'm out the $100 for the card. I am totally disgusting with TMobile. DO NOT BUY TMOBILE!!!!!!
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T-Mobile Prepaid
Hi,I just bought a T-mobile prepaid phone, I put the sim card
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bbbb
2010/06/16 |
Hi, I just bought a T-mobile prepaid phone, I put the sim card but now I don't know what I have to do, I know I have something to do with the numbers but what? could you help me please?
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T-Mobile Prepaid
First thing you need to know is that T-Mobile does NOT care about
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Travis
2010/06/16 |
First thing you need to know is that T-Mobile does NOT care about you. They have no consideration or compassion - they just want your money. I was a loyal customer for years. Today I went online to charge my phone as I've done over 20 times. The website had an error and my card was charged, but the minutes didn't get credited. Tried the online chat - couldn't help. Tried talking to Levi, Brian (0527), Yalita (1005) and Emanuel (12578). Everyone had a different story, but after over 1 hour the bottom line was "FU customer" call your credit card company to dispute the charge. We won't help you and could care less if we have wasted an hour of your time. My wife has Straight Talk. Moving there now! T-Mobile sucks!
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T-Mobile Prepaid
MY Samsong gravity turns off when i slide it or just leave it
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Moosette
2010/06/15 |
MY Samsong gravity turns off when i slide it or just leave it sitting for a few minutes or if it bangs against something not my recommendation that you get it!
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T-Mobile Prepaid
Anybody notice that you can't use many of the existing features
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Bern
2010/06/15 |
Anybody notice that you can't use many of the existing features on your phone if you have prepaid with T-Mobile instead of contract? For instance, you can't adjust it to call forward after the number of seconds of your choosing (your stuck with 20 secs), nor can you have a call forwarded to a number other than the voice mail number. I find this most annoying, as I'd often like a shorter or longer ring time, AND often prefer that the ring forward to my home phone number rather than to voice mail. These feature ARE on the phone, but you can't use them (the big STOP sign comes up) if you try to activate these features. Anybody else have similar experiences where everyday setting features like these can't be used if you're on prepaid? Also, they don't make it clear that if you haven't used your 1000 minutes in a year, you only have to buy a $10 refill card to keep ALL your minutes going for another year. This seems to be a pretty well-kept secret.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
What a nightmare. I got a prepaid phone # and immediately started
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Holly
2010/06/14 |
What a nightmare. I got a prepaid phone # and immediately started getting phone calls from a message center which clogged up my voicemail. I called t-mobile who said that they would block the #. I also blocked the # on my own. Unfortunately I continued to get phone calls. I finally had to change my phone #. Then I was told that I was charged for all of the voice mail messages which is well over 40 minutes of calls. When I asked for reimbursement, I was declined. Crappy customer service and a rip-off. I am going back to verizon.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
This prepaid service has dead zones where your phone does not
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Cheryl Sherwood
2010/06/13 |
This prepaid service has dead zones where your phone does not work in Illinois.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
Just looked at the T-Mobile site and they have only 4 prepaid
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T-Mobile Prepaid
pooooor customer service, never buy!
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cf
2010/06/10 |
pooooor customer service, never buy!
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T-Mobile Prepaid
I had T mobile prepaid for years with no problems, however, I
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Greg Smith
2010/06/10 |
I had T mobile prepaid for years with no problems, however, I just recently had to change my phone number and called customer service to do it. My phone was frozen for weeks. I called customer support every day and they kept giving me the run around. I had a hundred dollars on the phone and now I have nothing. Somehow....someone stole my minutes. I will never do business with T mobile again.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
I have been a loyal T-Mobile customer since 2005. I had been
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Manny
2010/06/09 |
I have been a loyal T-Mobile customer since 2005. I had been satisfied with their customer service & service until recently. I called to get help about minutes being deducted from my phone that were not & could not have been made from my phone. The rep transferred me to tech support who then transferred me back to a customer service rep. who took an alternate number from me & told me to "please hold" then hung up but never called me back. This happened twice. Finally when I called back to talk with another rep they told me all the calls appear to be legitimate and that they could do nothing for me. Done with T-Mobile for good now. T-Mobile isn't what it used to be and they are now really just a bunch of crooks!!!
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T-Mobile Prepaid
Most economical per minute pre-paid calling plan available -
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T-Mobile Prepaid
Poor reception pretty much everywhere. Went to TMobile store
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Frank Del
2010/06/07 |
Poor reception pretty much everywhere. Went to TMobile store and CSR tells me that their service sucks! Nice. Be sure to check that you get service before you buy, no point paying .10 a minute for something that doesn't work! I'm switching to a different carrier and so is everyone in my family since we only use PPD.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
how come this concept of "money with expiration date"
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sax
2010/06/07 |
how come this concept of "money with expiration date" goes unchallenged by consumer groups and government? like, you pay them money before using any services, they can use your money right away, and if you forfeit using their services you also forefeit your money! i call this highway robbery!
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T-Mobile Prepaid
I've had T-Mobile prepaid for several years. You really can't
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T-Mobile Prepaid
I am a light cell phone user. I bought a tmobile phone and 1000
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Freddie
2010/06/02 |
I am a light cell phone user. I bought a tmobile phone and 1000 minutes for a hundred bucks, good for a year. The problem is tmobile service coverage is the pits. I could never rely on the phone where I live and where I traveled. Their coverage maps are a total lie. Also, the roaming was to be included at no additional cost but t-mobile turned it off. Often I would have 5 bars and get message emergency calls only. I now have tracfone and it is nice to actually be able to use the phone. Not so with tmobile. Why they are still in business I cannot understand.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
it was ok but pretty lame if u ask meh but its still a phone
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T-Mobile Prepaid
eh its pretty good if you have no choice but after a while this
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T-Mobile Prepaid
okay my mom got me 1000 minutes on my samsung gravity and i used
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ANNOYED!!!
2010/05/25 |
okay my mom got me 1000 minutes on my samsung gravity and i used about 200 minutes. my mom said she was gonna get me more minutes next year, so i thought it was a pretty good deal so i decided to limit my time. anyways, i was taking an iq test cuz i had to for my school and stuff and to get the results i had to agree to the terms of service and give your phone #. so i did and they sent me a text with my pin number and then they sent me FOUR FREAKIN' ADVERTISEMENTS THAT TOOK 100 MINUTES OFF JUST FOR RECIEVING THEM AND NOT EVEN READING THEM!!! I HATE THIS SERVICE SO FREAKIN' MUCH!!! so now i have 326 minutes whereas i used to have 826 minutes just yesterday. THANK YOU TMOBILE THANK YOU SO FREAKIN' MUCH!! SIGNED, VERY ANNOYED AND ABSOLUTELY HATES TMOBILE. PS, i had to choose 1 star but it really deserves negative infinity stars.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
T-Mobile is the best kept secret. I've been with them since they
5
T-Mobile Prepaid
This has been the absolute worst company that I have ever dealt
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David
2010/05/21 |
This has been the absolute worst company that I have ever dealt with. The customer service is horrible, the management is awful, and the compassion from the entire company is despicable. Starting with Lou ID# 0955170 "Coach Floor Supervisor" call center #9 will put you on hold until you run out of patience so you call another call center which in return will place you on hold again. I started this whole process a few weeks ago for my grandmother. The family bought her a pre-paid T Mobile phone which cost roughly $20 and I personally set up with $10 so she could have a way to contact her family in case of an emergency, she made one phone call, the phone went into security mode and could not access the phone from there. I called customer service and "they" including upper management admitted to having a software malfunction with in the phones software and advised me to send the $20 phone back at my expense. Which we gladly did. A couple of weeks later we get the new phone with no battery, sim card, or back. We spent many of hours trying to resolve this matter with nothing but laughter in the background of the phone conversation. And an offer of a $45 credit which will expire if you don't use it in a certain amount of time. Meanwhile we have no phone and no compassion as a pre paid user. I know this because I know of a large company that has an extensive line of phones dating back to the Nextel era that have been advised to change providers upon my request. Just because you don't have an account, you should NOT be treated the way that my grandmother has been treated for being a pre paid phone holder. I rest my peace!!! God bless and hope that those that read this follow this lead.... Its just not right and does not have any common since backing it....
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T-Mobile Prepaid
If I could give them no stars or negative stars then I would.
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Lena
2010/05/20 |
If I could give them no stars or negative stars then I would. There is no such thing as a $50.00 unlimited plan from T-Mobile. More like $70.00+ and with a smartphone it's $99.00. I'm changing services right now. The only thing good about T-Mobile is their customer service. They are polite & someone is always there to assist you & talk you through whatever your problem may be but it's way too expensive to be a prepaid plan. You may as well have a contract with them if you're going to be paying so much for a PRE-PAID plan.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
The new $15 unlimited text prepaid plan from t-mobile is their
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T-Mobile Prepaid
jst got the new $15 unlimited text,vid,pic messaging plan with
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T-Mobile Prepaid
While being in the US for 1 week visit, i bought a T mobile prepaid
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Wael
2010/05/18 |
While being in the US for 1 week visit, i bought a T mobile prepaid sim card and this is where the disaster started. the coverage is not as good as expected. while doing the refill over the internet, my credit card was charged twice although I didnt get any penny as a recharge. Calling the customer service to report the porblem, they listen, transfer your call to technical support, they listen, then they refer you to refill division, then you repeat the same story on and on and on... until they tell you call your bank to stop the transaction. THEY ARE REALLY SO PROFESSIONAL!!
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T-Mobile Prepaid
get tmobiles prepaid $50 unlimited talk/text including email,
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T-Mobile Prepaid
T-mobile is the Best! $100 for 1000 min that last 1 whole year!!!
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T-Mobile Prepaid
They STOLE $60 from my account! If you don't top up EVERY month
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INFURIATED
2010/05/13 |
They STOLE $60 from my account! If you don't top up EVERY month they DELETE whatever money is in there! CROOKS! SCOUNDRELS! Virgin mobile gives you 3 months to top up as a comparison and has MUCH better coverage. This one is a no brainer folks. Don't go near tmobile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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T-Mobile Prepaid
Good phone at a good price. But you cannot access your actual
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David
2010/05/12 |
Good phone at a good price. But you cannot access your actual calls but have to "trust" them that their calculations are correct. Service calls take interminable amounts of time and they don't make it easy to talk to a real person when you don't fit their cookie cutter options.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
So, after being on hold for about 30 min, a supervisor finally
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nonregla
2010/05/10 |
So, after being on hold for about 30 min, a supervisor finally picked up. He told me that each of the three legs of the trip will only take 3-5 days as opposed to 3-7 and that they could give me another $30 service plan on the new phone once it arrives. When he picked up, he had no idea who I was or what my story was; he received no information from the person I called before him. So, aside from spending over 75 minutes on the phone, I will be out of a phone for about 2 weeks, but at least I will not have to lose the money I will lose in airtime as the clock ticks down on my contract.
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T-Mobile Prepaid
I am looking for a prepaid phone and travel some. Does T-mobile
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T-Mobile Prepaid
Much less than meets the eye.Pros slick ads and storefrontsCons:
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Michael Keleher
2010/05/07 |
Much less than meets the eye. Pros slick ads and storefronts Cons: Much smaller service area for prepaid than for other T-Mobile plans. Possibly the worst method for taking credit cards over the phone in the world. Want to feel like a suspect? Try to do business with T-Mobile.
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