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expired Posted by vtec26 • Mar 13, 2025
expired Posted by vtec26 • Mar 13, 2025

YMMV - T-Mobile Free Line when you BYOD

T-Mobile
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Called into T-Mobile today because I got a text saying my plan is increasing by $5/line since my older T-Mobile One plan has been the same price for 8 years. The rep told me that there is a targeted offer available to some older plans that started today 3/13/25. Bring your own device and get a free line. I had to pay $10 for a sim card, but they were able to credit me $10 to my account.

Worth a try to call in if you have an older plan. YMMV.

https://www.t-mobile.com/stores/locator
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Called into T-Mobile today because I got a text saying my plan is increasing by $5/line since my older T-Mobile One plan has been the same price for 8 years. The rep told me that there is a targeted offer available to some older plans that started today 3/13/25. Bring your own device and get a free line. I had to pay $10 for a sim card, but they were able to credit me $10 to my account.

Worth a try to call in if you have an older plan. YMMV.

https://www.t-mobile.com/stores/locator

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Pro
Mar 25, 2025
846 Posts
Joined Aug 2010
Mar 25, 2025
send2dodo
Pro
Mar 25, 2025
846 Posts
So, I have been on a 14 yr old legacy select choice plan paying $121 for 5 lines after taxes& fees. The rep said it will increase to $146 (there is a corporate discount which negates the taxes and fees). However she could not add the free line since there is a cap of 5 lines on the legacy plan. I also need the 6th line.

I have been trying to get out of this plan for the past few years due to the cap but was always offered only the current expensive plans. This time and for the first time the rep opened up a laundry list of grandfathered plans and went one by one for over 2 hours...:-) . For 6 lines, there were plans starting at $120 OTD but these don't have high speed hotspot/tethering which I need. The best she offered is the legacy Magenta plan with 6 lines for $160 inlc taxes and fees. This allows up to 12 lines,100gb premium data, 5gb 5G hotspot. Each additional line will be $20 but I need only 6 lines for now. Also there is basic netflix and 1 yr of AAA included.
I have some time to think about it. I think it makes sense to pay ~ $14 and get the extra line, additional features and ability to add more lines. What do you guys think, is this a decent offer or anyone knows of a better rate plan I can call again and ask for?
1
Mar 25, 2025
286 Posts
Joined Aug 2011
Mar 25, 2025
rootbeer001
Mar 25, 2025
286 Posts
Quote from tlwizard :
They bumped me up to two years free Pandora when I lost it with the change. I had to switch back as well, but they took away my free line saying it wouldn't work with my Advantage Unlimited accounts.
After all the hassle, my credits for Pandora and other inconveniences were reasonable enough to me knowing I couldn't get it back.

I have asked for confirmation of the free line every time I got on chat. They assured me it was free, but I still don't see the free line under my service promos. The first rep initially changed my plan to Essentials and charged the third line, so my bill went from ~70 to ~110. Had to fight and claw my way back to AdvUn and get that third line charge reversed.

Fingers crossed my third line is truly free.
Mar 25, 2025
1,223 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Mar 25, 2025
tran1981
Mar 25, 2025
1,223 Posts
Any update on when the promo expires? Last heard was 3/26.
Mar 25, 2025
673 Posts
Joined Apr 2018
Mar 25, 2025
Fancy_Deer
Mar 25, 2025
673 Posts
Quote from starcaptor :
KB on free lines effectively lowers your bill by $10 for each line just for existing. This is why I love these free lines; I have no initial intention of using the lines, but they lower my total cost.

You can absolutely ask them to add the SOC for KB onto your other lines. Answer below...




I have found that, in general, it is absolutely happenstance whether you get an add-on added or not. I had KB added to my first six (paid) lines when the code was already grandfathered, but through many...many...calls, I found out that as long as your plan itself was created when the grandfathered add-on came to be, then you will always be eligible forever...now as to whether a rep will actually take your word for it, thats different!!!

I have found that two scenarios facilitate adding this SOC add-on

1) calling after-hours, when you get Filipino support. They are much more accomodating, so long as it is within their abilities...but many of them dont actually know their systems well. You need to use the jargon of their systems to get them to help you. "I have been trying to add this SOC code for Kickback over the course of several months and it keeps falling off..." for example.

2) You can also use any other non-related issues as a segue to get the code added. For example, when I added my 9th line (back in 2021?), there was an issue where I lost OnePlus Promo from every line. In the midst of my calls to tech support to fix this, I told them to also resolve "other issues" such as kickback being added to my lines...at this point, I only had it on my first six lines...I got it added to two more (not the 9th, sadly) during that call.

3) Do it at the same time as activating a new line (paid, free, whatever). Last spring, there was supposedly a free line that many of us were ineligible for. I was one of the latter, sadly, but when I added the line, in the midst of inquiring about its free status, I told them to also ensure that it had the same SOCs as my other lines. They added everything including KB without issue...too bad I had to cancel the line because it wasnt free!!
Quote from starcaptor :
I couldn't get hookup since I already had service at the time of those promos...and those are for new customers...so can't speak to that.

Regarding KB, I am not sure either, sadly. I initially got KB on my six paid lines in 2017. Then got three free lines through 2020 and 2021. I assumed that I couldn't get them on free lines for the longest time (the reps said that you can't get 10 off for a line that you already have for free). Then I had a major snafu at the beginning of 2023 where the SOC for BOGO (from 2017) fell off. In the midsts of replacing that SOC, they reset everything on the account, and added KB to two of the free lines. That's how I know that it is possible.

I also had KB added to a 'free-not-free' line last winter, but ended up cancelling the line because the line ended up being not free.

Tl;Dr - it is possible, but you need to basically buffer-overflow the reps to adding it
Thanks, from what I read here and on reddit previously, the KB benefit that you are mentioning only kicks off after >= 9 lines, I guess he accounting method changes and KB discount counts even if the lines are free.

I cant even imagine the complexity of TM's billing code
Mar 26, 2025
1,272 Posts
Joined Mar 2006
Mar 26, 2025
CoffeePleeze
Mar 26, 2025
1,272 Posts
No issues using the free line in my GL-X3000. Aside from the price (free vs $30 for TMHI) I don't see a difference. Now I have to find my boxed up KVD21 so I can return it to a corporate store and cancel the home internet.

Once fiber gets here I plan to use the GL-X3000 as a failover if the fiber ever goes out. And continue using it for routing with built in ad block of course.
Last edited by CoffeePleeze March 26, 2025 at 06:21 AM.
Pro
Mar 26, 2025
2,391 Posts
Joined Nov 2012
Mar 26, 2025
coloradoman_in_socal
Pro
Mar 26, 2025
2,391 Posts
Quote from CoffeePleeze :
No issues using the free line in my GL-X3000. Aside from the price (free vs $30 for TMHI) I don't see a difference. Now I have to find my boxed up KVD21 so I can return it to a corporate store and cancel the home internet.

Once fiber gets here I plan to use the GL-X3000 as a failover if the fiber ever goes out. And continue using it for routing with built in ad block of course.
Are you masking the hotspot usage or how do you get around that limitation?
Mar 26, 2025
1,272 Posts
Joined Mar 2006
Mar 26, 2025
CoffeePleeze
Mar 26, 2025
1,272 Posts
Quote from coloradoman_in_socal :
Are you masking the hotspot usage or how do you get around that limitation?

Of course. 😁

https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/confi...spot/55724

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Pro
Mar 26, 2025
2,391 Posts
Joined Nov 2012
Mar 26, 2025
coloradoman_in_socal
Pro
Mar 26, 2025
2,391 Posts
Quote from CoffeePleeze :
Of course. 😁

https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/confi...spot/55724

Yes I've done that before. Was just curious if you had a plan with unlimited hotspot and didn't care
Mar 26, 2025
251 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Mar 26, 2025
oxnardprof
Mar 26, 2025
251 Posts
I already have my new line, waiting for a new phone as I had none on hand.
And today I got another text reminding me to apply for a free line! The same promo, of course, but I was surprised by the message.
Mar 26, 2025
353 Posts
Joined Feb 2014
Mar 26, 2025
BigB89
Mar 26, 2025
353 Posts
Quote from oxnardprof :
I already have my new line, waiting for a new phone as I had none on hand.
And today I got another text reminding me to apply for a free line! The same promo, of course, but I was surprised by the message.
Likewise, are anyone able to add 2 free lines with this prone?

Edit: I just called them. First they said I am eligible but when I said I already added a line 2 weeks ago, they checked and confirmed the text message is the same promo. Looks like these text messages are going out by mistake.
Last edited by BigB89 March 26, 2025 at 04:05 PM.
Mar 27, 2025
1,229 Posts
Joined Aug 2009
Mar 27, 2025
crimsonroses
Mar 27, 2025
1,229 Posts
Quote from coloradoman_in_socal :
Are you masking the hotspot usage or how do you get around that limitation?
Quote from CoffeePleeze :
No issues using the free line in my GL-X3000. Aside from the price (free vs $30 for TMHI) I don't see a difference. Now I have to find my boxed up KVD21 so I can return it to a corporate store and cancel the home internet.

Once fiber gets here I plan to use the GL-X3000 as a failover if the fiber ever goes out. And continue using it for routing with built in ad block of course.
How did you use the free line for internet? What did you say exactly? The customer service manager added the line but he says they could be a problem with the promo applying so he's going to check back in 3 days with me. I have home internet though it's on pause but I would have loved to get that line on there instead. How did you do it? Does that gateway router that you're using have a separate IMEI number?
Mar 27, 2025
2,900 Posts
Joined Sep 2010
Mar 27, 2025
tayninh
Mar 27, 2025
2,900 Posts
Chat with TForce and they said I already have more than 2 free lines so not eligible, but after few minutes of checking, she said they waived the restriction so I can still get it. Hopefully everything will go through fine.
Mar 27, 2025
1,272 Posts
Joined Mar 2006
Mar 27, 2025
CoffeePleeze
Mar 27, 2025
1,272 Posts
Quote from crimsonroses :
How did you use the free line for internet? What did you say exactly? The customer service manager added the line but he says they could be a problem with the promo applying so he's going to check back in 3 days with me. I have home internet though it's on pause but I would have loved to get that line on there instead. How did you do it? Does that gateway router that you're using have a separate IMEI number?

Using the free phone line for home internet is somewhat more involved and AGAINST T-Mobile policy, it is not for everyone. It requires you to purchase a third party gateway and spoof the IMEI of an unlocked T-Mobile network compatible phone or tablet that is not being used. The GL-X3000 is almost $400.
Mar 27, 2025
1,230 Posts
Joined Jun 2006
Mar 27, 2025
wad2k6
Mar 27, 2025
1,230 Posts
anyone on 9-12 line old One Plan? I never got a text about $5/line increase last time, or this time. Not complaining, but wondering why.

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Mar 27, 2025
391 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
Mar 27, 2025
mirage18ls
Mar 27, 2025
391 Posts
Quote from wad2k6 :
anyone on 9-12 line old One Plan? I never got a text about $5/line increase last time, or this time. Not complaining, but wondering why.
Did you take advantage of the free line?

I have 4 paid lines on the old One Plan and got a text message on 3/13 informing me of the price hike. Also, got a message about the free line on my T-life app but could not find the message again yesterday, so it must've expired. Anyway, my balance due on April 15th didn't increase and did not increase last time either. Now I'm wondering if my plan didn't increase because I didn't take advantage of the free line...

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