T-Mobile $5/month 5GB Data Plan for Grandfathered/Classic Users

Hmmm, this is very interesting because supposely T-mobile is in the "process" to kill the phone upgrade subsidies. I do currently have the 20/month "Preferred Andriod Data" and also on the old grandfathered Family Time 2500 with unlimited nights/weekends and text.

"will change the line back to the $20 plan"?

$30 plan, you mean?

For 3 years, I've had:
NW BASIC PLUS 400 minutes $29.99
MSG VALUE BUNDLE 400 $4.99
REQ ANDROID WEB 5GB $30.00

Hmm, I have the old $5.99 T-Zones which only works on some smartphones, so I've been limited when choosing phones without jumping up to a pricier data plan. I wonder if it's worth the risk of giving up my grandfathered unlimited $5.99 plan. I don't plan on getting subsidized phone upgrades, so (hopefully) that would keep me from losing the $5 plan if I did get it. As long as it works with any phone OS, it might be worth it to open up my phone options, as I've never even come close to using 5GB of data.

Off to read the HowardForum threads, thanks for the heads up, OP.

Quote from g_good : "will change the line back to the $20 plan"? $30 plan, you mean? For 3 years, I've had: NW BASIC PLUS 400 minutes $29.99 MSG VALUE BUNDLE 400 $4.99 REQ ANDROID WEB 5GB $30.00

I think what he means when he says "will change the line back to the $20 plan" is that's the minimum data plan you can get for subsidized phones, which is 2GB.

Just got off the phone with the T-Mobile loyalty CSR. Got three family plan lines changed from $10 web2go to "Bridge to Value Preferred Web" for $5/mo and added it on another two lines which previously had no data service.

Unfortunately I had to switch to a modern classic plan because Bridge to Value Preferred Web was incompatible with my minutes plan, which I believe was called "Even More Plus," or something. Accordingly, I had to sign up for a new 2-year contract, which did not affect future phone upgrade subsidies.

When I told her I didn't want to enter a contract, she told me she would knock an additional $10 off per month for 24 months. When I asked her what my rate would go up to if I got a phone subsidy, she said she would make a note on my account that my per-line 5GB data cost would only be $20/mo instead of $30.

I didn't love the idea of signing up for a new contract, but she explained that all minute plan changes required a new 2-year term commitment, so eventually when I switched to the value plan, I was going to need to have a renewed contract anyway. Of course, if your minutes plan is compatible with "Bridge to Value Preferred Web," you won't need to enter a new contract.

At the end of the call, I switched three lines from web2go to Bridge to Value Preferred Web, added data on another two, and my family plan bill was reduced by $15/mo. My monthly bill for five lines is now $140 (after taxes,) and the equivalent value package would be around $100 more.

Mad props to you, Liquidus!

Would it work for people who are already on a family plan 1000 mins and 2 GB for $20.... I renewed the contract only last August

Quote from Technosquid : Just got off the phone with the T-Mobile loyalty CSR. Got three family plan lines changed from $10 web2go to "Bridge to Value Preferred Web" for $5/mo and added it on another two lines which previously had no data service. Unfortunately I had to switch to a modern classic plan because Bridge to Value Preferred Web was incompatible with my minutes plan, which I believe was called "Even More Plus," or something. Accordingly, I had to sign up for a new 2-year contract, which did not affect future phone upgrade subsidies. When I told her I didn't want to enter a contract, she told me she would knock an additional $10 off per month for 24 months. When I asked her what my rate would go up to if I got a phone subsidy, she said she would make a note on my account that my per-line 5GB data cost would only be $20/mo instead of $30. I didn't love the idea of signing up for a new contract, but she explained that all minute plan changes required a new 2-year term commitment, so eventually when I switched to the value plan, I was going to need to have a renewed contract anyway. Of course, if your minutes plan is compatible with "Bridge to Value Preferred Web," you won't need to enter a new contract. At the end of the call, I switched three lines from web2go to Bridge to Value Preferred Web, added data on another two, and my family plan bill was reduced by $15/mo. My monthly bill for five lines is now $140 (after taxes,) and the equivalent value package would be around $100 more. Mad props to you, Liquidus!

Are all of your lines out of contract before you call or you are still in contract and did you got subsides phone before?

Quote from deal03 : Are all of your lines out of contract before you call or you are still in contract and did you got subsides phone before?

All of my lines were out of contract. We all got subsidized phones a little over 2 years ago. This is just their standard operating procedure. I had to renew my contract one other time when I switched to a 10% discounted corporate/association plan, even though nothing else about my plan needed to be changed. They just ended my month-old 2-year contract without penalty and started a new one.

...but again, you will only need to renew your contract if your current minutes plan is incompatible with Bridge to Value Preferred Web.

Quote from bsnathan : Would it work for people who are already on a family plan 1000 mins and 2 GB for $20.... I renewed the contract only last August

Yes. Since it's just the data service you're changing, you won't need to renew contract or anything. Just dial 611, say "cancel" at the voice prompt, and ask the CSR about Bridge to Value Preferred Web. If they let me change my $10 web2go to $5 Bridge to Value Preferred Web, I don't see why they wouldn't let you change yours.

I have a note on my account that as a long time customer (since 2000) I am eligible for yearly upgrades with a contract renewal. It didn't work after the first year of upgrades. They see it on my account but now refuse to honor it. Thus, I'm a bit skeptical with 'notes on the account' promises from Tmobile.

I suppose it might be worth the risk but they are seriously trying to get people off of their grandfathered plans so a bit of deception or outright lying is quite possible.

Does not work on grandfathered plans. Had to call three times, but no luck. Also was told that i could switch over to classic plan and get it, but there is a 200 dollar charge to do that. I am under a contract.

THIS IS NOT A GOOD DEAL FOR MOST PEOPLE

I was also offered this plan when my contract end date was approaching.

It honestly just doesn't make sense to me. I was currently paying $10/month for Internet on a classic plan. Upgrading to galaxy s3 or newer smartphone would cost me $20/month, and when I balked at that, that is when they offered me the bridge to value. HOWEVER,the plan itself makes no sense. It does not allow you to upgrade phones. Once you upgrade your phone you're still required to pay $20/month. Migrating to a value plan not only lowered my monthly voice plan but also my texting plan. On a bridge to value they are keeping you from upgrading phones AND preventing you from realizing true value plan savings.

For comparison I was paying $120/month after taxes for 4-line family plan 1000 minutes, text, and Internet on two lines. On a value plan I'm now paying $85 for 1000 minutes, text, and Internet in 4 lines. A bridge to value plan would have cost me $110/month for only two lines of Internet, with the same disadvantage as a value plan in that you can't upgrade phones.

I was following the same howardforums.com thread yesterday but was curious if tivoman's plan was really the same as yours and another guy who did not get throttled. This is solely based on the name of your data plan compared to tivoman. Also, if it does not force you to switch, wouldn't that defeat the purpose of BTV? I hope they are not deceiving us.