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

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Hello everyone,

Recently, some people over at Howardforums on grandfathered/classic plans have discovered that their $20/month 5GB Preferred Android Web data plan was replaced with a $5/month 5GB "Pref Android Web Reduced" data plan. Details are as follows:

-$5/month for 5GB. Throttles after 5GB although some users have reported no throttling at all.

-Only works for Grandfathered and Classic plans, NOT Value plans.

-Get by calling 611 on your T-mobile phone and saying "cancel" at the prompt to reach the retentions/loyalty department.

-Loyalty CSR called it "Bridge to Value Preferred Web" and described it as a way of giving classic plan members a sample of Value cost savings.

-Despite the name, it does not require you to switch to Value at anytime, nor was I forced to extend my contract.

-This reduced data plan is not eligible as a choice for getting an upgraded smartphones. Upgrading a line with the $5 plan will change the line back to the $20 plan. It's not clear whether you add the $5 data plan on a line that has upgraded recently.

-This is not like T-zones/Web2Go in that it WILL work with any Android phone. I don't know about other types of phones.


My post on the Howardforum thread
[howardforums.com]

Some other T-mobile discounts worth looking into:

https://slickdeals.net/f/5242262-T-Mobile-Loyalty-Customers-10-off-month-for-24-months-with-new-contract-YMMV?v=1

https://slickdeals.net/f/5036672-T-mobile-12-or-10-off-total-bill?v=1
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Joined Oct 2009
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 693 Posts
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ls5280
02-09-2013 at 12:52 AM.
02-09-2013 at 12:52 AM.
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.
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Last edited by ls5280 February 9, 2013 at 12:56 AM.
Joined Apr 2010
L: ULZ
> bubble2 514 Posts
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g_good
02-09-2013 at 01:24 AM.
02-09-2013 at 01:24 AM.
"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
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Joined Aug 2007
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 8,183 Posts
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ellemdee
02-09-2013 at 02:02 AM.
02-09-2013 at 02:02 AM.
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.
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Joined Oct 2007
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 9,577 Posts
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Technosquid
02-09-2013 at 03:03 AM.
02-09-2013 at 03:03 AM.
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.
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Joined Oct 2007
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 9,577 Posts
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Technosquid
02-09-2013 at 04:12 AM.
02-09-2013 at 04:12 AM.
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!
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Last edited by Technosquid February 9, 2013 at 04:15 AM.
Joined Sep 2004
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,341 Posts
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bsnathan
02-09-2013 at 05:11 AM.
02-09-2013 at 05:11 AM.
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
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Joined Sep 2003
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 671 Posts
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deal03
02-09-2013 at 05:20 AM.
02-09-2013 at 05:20 AM.
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?
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Joined Oct 2007
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> bubble2 9,577 Posts
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Technosquid
02-09-2013 at 05:30 AM.
02-09-2013 at 05:30 AM.
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.
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Joined Oct 2007
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 9,577 Posts
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Technosquid
02-09-2013 at 05:33 AM.
02-09-2013 at 05:33 AM.
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.
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Joined Dec 2006
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,132 Posts
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sofeisty
02-09-2013 at 05:51 AM.
02-09-2013 at 05:51 AM.
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.
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Joined Dec 2004
L3: Novice
> bubble2 200 Posts
108 Reputation
a_m
02-09-2013 at 06:31 AM.
02-09-2013 at 06:31 AM.
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.
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Joined Oct 2006
Saved so much I'm broke!
> bubble2 408 Posts
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ReMb88
02-09-2013 at 06:33 AM.
02-09-2013 at 06:33 AM.
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.
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Joined Jul 2012
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 328 Posts
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007shinobi
02-09-2013 at 06:34 AM.
02-09-2013 at 06:34 AM.
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.
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Joined Sep 2004
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 9,259 Posts
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joogle
02-09-2013 at 06:49 AM.
02-09-2013 at 06:49 AM.
Exactly this featureis mmeant to migrate people on grandfathered plans such as those old familyy plans


Quote from 007shinobi :
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.
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