Carrier T-Mobile $30 Prepaid plan (100 min, unlimited text, 5GB of 4G LTE data)

[MBHockey]

There seems to be conflicting information in this thread. I'm trying to figure out if Mobile Hotspot is included in this plan.

I asked an online rep and they said it's $15 a month on top of the $30 for the regular plan. Anyone have first hand experience with this? It's the only thing stopping me from buying the SIM online to get my post-paid switched to pre-paid.

 

[morphodone]

There seems to be conflicting information in this thread. I'm trying to figure out if Mobile Hotspot is included in this plan.

I asked an online rep and they said it's $15 a month on top of the $30 for the regular plan. Anyone have first hand experience with this? It's the only thing stopping me from buying the SIM online to get my post-paid switched to pre-paid.

It's not included on mine.

 

[PsstGreek]

They don't reset till the new month starts. It will just deduct calls from the $30 till the new month.

Well darn. Okay thanks. Wish they had more minutes. I would definitely pay $10-$15 more!

 

[wordoflife]

I don't think 100 minutes is enough, even for someone like me who barely makes calls.

Agreed. I thought 100 minutes would be fine for me, but I just checked my mobile call usage for the past year and I do about 180 - 250 minutes per month. I find that strange because I feel like I rarely use my phone.

I'd be much better off with 500 minutes and 2.5 GB of data, or something like that. Even 1GB would be good. But the minutes are just too low...

 

[oldertwin]

You could also start using a app like Skype to make phone calls to help with the 100 mins from Tmobile.

 

[alphaod]

Agreed. I thought 100 minutes would be fine for me, but I just checked my mobile call usage for the past year and I do about 180 - 250 minutes per month. I find that strange because I feel like I rarely use my phone.

I'd be much better off with 500 minutes and 2.5 GB of data, or something like that. Even 1GB would be good. But the minutes are just too low...

The problem is that when you get a phone call, you get charged. Sometimes it's for just a 10 second call, just you get billed a full minute. Even if you don't talk to anyone, but leave a voicemail, you'll get billled for leaving the voicemail (in minutes).

These small minuscule things add up very quickly. If you make anything over three calls a day (at less than minute each), 100 minutes isn't enough.

Most of my calls are well over a few minutes.

You could also start using a app like Skype to make phone calls to help with the 100 mins from Tmobile.

If I get a number I don't recognize, I often don't answer it (unless I'm expecting a phone call). Unless the Skype user pays for a Skype number, it'll be very inconvenient to use. Plus it costs money to call with Skype; their unlimited plans cost money, defeating the whole point of this plan.

 

[hiphopsded]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had success using this plan on an iPad air or iPad Mini w/ Retina.

I plan on buying one of the two with LTE here soon and I'm torn between this plan an the plan Red Pocket offers for tablets. I will definitely get this plan if there has been success using it with one of the new iPads, otherwise I have to go with Red Pocket.

If anyone has had success please let me know. Thanks

 

[jimsowden]

Works great! Did it on line.....then re-booted, works great.

Meaning you added the $15 option to the $30 plan?

 

[Christian 5G]

I haven't got cut after passing the cap of 5 gb. Pretty nice

 

[Christian 5G]

Here

 

[dewthedru]

i did get cut down to 2g after hitting 5g in data.

 

[MBHockey]

The problem is that when you get a phone call, you get charged. Sometimes it's for just a 10 second call, just you get billed a full minute. Even if you don't talk to anyone, but leave a voicemail, you'll get billled for leaving the voicemail (in minutes).

These small minuscule things add up very quickly. If you make anything over three calls a day (at less than minute each), 100 minutes isn't enough.

Most of my calls are well over a few minutes.



If I get a number I don't recognize, I often don't answer it (unless I'm expecting a phone call). Unless the Skype user pays for a Skype number, it'll be very inconvenient to use. Plus it costs money to call with Skype; their unlimited plans cost money, defeating the whole point of this plan.

What about using the Vonage app to make calls? It's free VoIP calls to anyone in the US (landline, mobile, whatever) and uses your actual mobile phone # for the caller ID. That has helped me cut down a lot on minutes making this viable. But you can always just add $10 to your account for another 100 minutes. Then it would be $40 per month for 200 minutes and 5 gb of LTE, for example.

 

[travis64]

The problem is that when you get a phone call, you get charged. Sometimes it's for just a 10 second call, just you get billed a full minute. Even if you don't talk to anyone, but leave a voicemail, you'll get billled for leaving the voicemail (in minutes).

These small minuscule things add up very quickly. If you make anything over three calls a day (at less than minute each), 100 minutes isn't enough.

Most of my calls are well over a few minutes.



If I get a number I don't recognize, I often don't answer it (unless I'm expecting a phone call). Unless the Skype user pays for a Skype number, it'll be very inconvenient to use. Plus it costs money to call with Skype; their unlimited plans cost money, defeating the whole point of this plan.

not true i got a lot of calls and voicemails and still at 100mins..i just call them back with the magic jack app

 

[PsstGreek]

Is any one having issues with receiving texts late on this plan?

 

[karatekidk]

Wal-Mart Sim ONLY??

Hi all. My apologies if this question has already been answered.

I have been using a dumbphone on T-mo's "Pay as You Go" plan for a long time. I finally got myself an used verizon iPhone 5s, so I ordered a nano sim starter kit from T-mobile online. It arrived a few days ago.

I tried to activate the sim and iPhone online, which somehow wasn't successful, so I chatted with an agent online. The agent did activate the sim and transferred my current phone #, but to my surprise, I was told that I couldn't get the $30 (unlimited text/web and 100 min. talking) plan because I didn't get a kit from Walmart. After all, I am still stuck with the "Pay as You Go" plan...

Is it really true ONLY Walmart has that plan? If so, I will get a sim from them.

I'd really appreciate your input.

 

[PsstGreek]

Hi all. My apologies if this question has already been answered.

I have been using a dumbphone on T-mo's "Pay as You Go" plan for a long time. I finally got myself an used verizon iPhone 5s, so I ordered a nano sim starter kit from T-mobile online. It arrived a few days ago.

I tried to activate the sim and iPhone online, which somehow wasn't successful, so I chatted with an agent online. The agent did activate the sim and transferred my current phone #, but to my surprise, I was told that I couldn't get the $30 (unlimited text/web and 100 min. talking) plan because I didn't get a kit from Walmart. After all, I am still stuck with the "Pay as You Go" plan...

Is it really true ONLY Walmart has that plan? If so, I will get a sim from them.

I'd really appreciate your input.

Yep. You're pretty much just buying a code for the $30 plan. Once you have the code from the back of the card, then they can transfer you over to prepaid.

The sim card you have is fine, you don't need to buy another one.

 

[karatekidk]

Yep. You're pretty much just buying a code for the $30 plan. Once you have the code from the back of the card, then they can transfer you over to prepaid.

The sim card you have is fine, you don't need to buy another one.

Thanks! Why didn't I know that?

What I previously read is this -
http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2011/02/best-prepaid-data-carriers-and-plans.html

Anyway, I will check the Walmart site. Thanks again.

----------

Yep. You're pretty much just buying a code for the $30 plan. Once you have the code from the back of the card, then they can transfer you over to prepaid.

The sim card you have is fine, you don't need to buy another one.

PsstGreek - Please allow me to ask one more question. Which one do I need to get? I think the first one?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/T-Mobile-Nano-SIM-Activation-Kit/34443772

http://www.walmart.com/ip/T-Mobile-...bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&findingMethod=p13n

Thanks!

 

[PsstGreek]

Thanks! Why didn't I know that?

What I previously read is this -
http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2011/02/best-prepaid-data-carriers-and-plans.html

Anyway, I will check the Walmart site. Thanks again.

----------



PsstGreek - Please allow me to ask one more question. Which one do I need to get? I think the first one?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/T-Mobile-Nano-SIM-Activation-Kit/34443772

http://www.walmart.com/ip/T-Mobile-...bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&findingMethod=p13n

Thanks!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tmobile-3...468&bucket_id=irsbucket011&findingMethod=p13n

You need this. You're T-Mobile sim is already active, so you're good to go. Just head to walmart and buy the $30 fill up card. Once you get back home, start a live chat or call them, doesn't matter and tell them you want the $30/month unlimited texting, 100 minute, 5GB plan.

You'll be good to go after you give them the code.

 

[karatekidk]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tmobile-3...468&bucket_id=irsbucket011&findingMethod=p13n

You need this. You're T-Mobile sim is already active, so you're good to go. Just head to walmart and buy the $30 fill up card. Once you get back home, start a live chat or call them, doesn't matter and tell them you want the $30/month unlimited texting, 100 minute, 5GB plan.

You'll be good to go after you give them the code.

Thanks! Very helpful. Seems like they just send me an e-mail with a code after purchase.

 

[doug in albq]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tmobile-3...468&bucket_id=irsbucket011&findingMethod=p13n

You need this. You're T-Mobile sim is already active, so you're good to go. Just head to walmart and buy the $30 fill up card. Once you get back home, start a live chat or call them, doesn't matter and tell them you want the $30/month unlimited texting, 100 minute, 5GB plan.

You'll be good to go after you give them the code.

You do not need a Walmat-bought sim...

maybe that was only for the iPhone 5 C/S...other phones and the older iPhones, no walmat sim, just a T-mobile unactivated sim.

all you need is the "sim card activation kit" which can be ordered from t-mobile for free or $10 depending on your timing...

http://support.t-mobile.com/thread/57192

 

[PsstGreek]

You do not need a Walmat-bought sim...

maybe that was only for the iPhone 5 C/S...other phones and the older iPhones, no walmat sim, just a T-mobile unactivated sim.

all you need is the "sim card activation kit" which can be ordered from t-mobile for free or $10 depending on your timing...

http://support.t-mobile.com/thread/57192

I'm not telling him to buy a sim, he already has one. I'm telling him to buy the $30 refill card (code).

 

[karatekidk]

You do not need a Walmat-bought sim...

maybe that was only for the iPhone 5 C/S...other phones and the older iPhones, no walmat sim, just a T-mobile unactivated sim.

all you need is the "sim card activation kit" which can be ordered from t-mobile for free or $10 depending on your timing...

http://support.t-mobile.com/thread/57192

I'm not telling him to buy a sim, he already has one. I'm telling him to buy the $30 refill card (code).

As English is not my native language, I am not as articulate as I want to be to explain my situation, so my apologies...

I originally bought a T-mobile unactivated sim online for 10 dollars. When it arrived, I tried to activate it online, but my request somehow didn't go through. Maybe because I wanted to transfer my current T-Mobile "Pay as Yo Go" number? Then I chatted with a representative (easier for me than talking on the phone), and after he activated my sim, I was told that I couldn't get the $30 plan because the sim is not from Walmart. In the end of the conversation, I decided to keep my "Pay as You Go" plan, which I have been on for a long time with my dumbphone, although I knew it would be very much useless with a iPhone.

I thought I had done my homework in order to get the $30 plan and had known about the Walmart sim, but I thought someone indicated I could get the plan just with an unactivated T-mobile sim. I guess I was wrong. I am still a bit confused. Anyways, I think I will follow PsstGreek's suggestion of buying the Walmart refill code, and I hope it will solve the issue.

Sorry, it got a bit lengthy... Thanks for reading!

 

[wicker21]

I tried this plan when I moved from iPhone to Android. I could not stay under 100 minutes thanks to work and was constantly checking my balance. Needless to say it was a pain and customer support was less that mediocre. I ditched the plan and went back to AT&T when the 5S came out. A lot has changed since they first came out with this plan on other carriers and MVNOs.

 

[PsstGreek]

As English is not my native language, I am not as articulate as I want to be to explain my situation, so my apologies...

I originally bought a T-mobile unactivated sim online for 10 dollars. When it arrived, I tried to activate it online, but my request somehow didn't go through. Maybe because I wanted to transfer my current T-Mobile "Pay as Yo Go" number? Then I chatted with a representative (easier for me than talking on the phone), and after he activated my sim, I was told that I couldn't get the $30 plan because the sim is not from Walmart. In the end of the conversation, I decided to keep my "Pay as You Go" plan, which I have been on for a long time with my dumbphone, although I knew it would be very much useless with a iPhone.

I thought I had done my homework in order to get the $30 plan and had known about the Walmart sim, but I thought someone indicated I could get the plan just with an unactivated T-mobile sim. I guess I was wrong. I am still a bit confused. Anyways, I think I will follow PsstGreek's suggestion of buying the Walmart refill code, and I hope it will solve the issue.

Sorry, it got a bit lengthy... Thanks for reading!

Where you get the sim card doesn't matter. I originally has post-paid T-Mobile service and switched over to prepaid. I didn't have to get a new sim card. I only had to get the $30 activation card/code from Walmart to switch over to prepaid.

My account was on the "pay as you go" for a little bit of time until I activated the $30 plan. Just as long as the sim card is active and working is all that matters. Once you get the $30 fill-up from Walmart and activate it like I said, you'll be all good from there.

 

[karatekidk]

Where you get the sim card doesn't matter. I originally has post-paid T-Mobile service and switched over to prepaid. I didn't have to get a new sim card. I only had to get the $30 activation card/code from Walmart to switch over to prepaid.

My account was on the "pay as you go" for a little bit of time until I activated the $30 plan. Just as long as the sim card is active and working is all that matters. Once you get the $30 fill-up from Walmart and activate it like I said, you'll be all good from there.

I have to say it became a quest I didn't expect. I tried to buy the code PsstGreek suggested multiple times, but I just kept on getting errors and wasn't able to buy it. I tried a few different payment options, but my orders just didn't go through. Then I read some recent customer reviews and found out some other ppl had the same thing.

So... I wonder what I should do. Should I buy one of these?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/T-Mobile-Nano-SIM-Activation-Kit/34443772
(but "in-store only", and doesn't even have a price... what is this, anyway?)

http://www.walmart.com/ip/T-Mobile-...csepg00000000000000000000000000000101&veh=cse

Or, should I just swing by the nearest Walmart?

Thanks for your advise.