T-Mobile moves people to more expensive contracts as plan faces TikTok backlash

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T-Mobile customers are being warned about price hikes (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
T-Mobile customers are being warned about price hikes (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

T-Mobile is set to force people to upgrade to more expensive contracts - leading to a huge backlash from unhappy customers on TikTok.

American subscribers on One, Simple Choice, Magenta, and Magenta 55 Plus plans will be moved onto new plans from next month, with anyone not pleased about the changes told to call customer services.

Notifications will be sent out in the next few days advising customers in the US that they will now be put on either Go5G or Essentials contracts, depending on what type you had previously.

It means most customers will end up paying $10 more a month per line for their new contract, an increase of $120 a year. Users with multiple lines on one contract will be worst hit.

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Anyone impacted will be contacted from tomorrow onwards, and users can call T-Mobile afterwards to opt out before they are moved onto the new plans. According to leaked documents seen by The Mobile Report, customer services reps have been told to avoid describing it as a price rise, and have been instructed to tell users instead that they are being moved to a "newer plan with more benefits" at a "different cost."

Anyone hoping to keep the cost hike to a minimum may also want to sign up for AutoPay, a free service that automatically deducts payments from your credit card or checking account to pay your T-Mobile bill. This can save you $5 a month in credit.

T-Mobile moves people to more expensive contracts as plan faces TikTok backlashTikTok user ivangtv is among those who have raged at the price rises (@ivangtv/TikTok)
T-Mobile moves people to more expensive contracts as plan faces TikTok backlashHe warned the carrier was 'about to increase everyone's prices against their will' (@ivangtv/TikTok)

The price shake-up has drawn a furious response from customers online, with TikTok user ivangtv warning that the carrier was "about to increase everyone's prices against their will". He added: "Although there will be an opt-out, a lot of people won't even realise what's going on, and they'll just click agree or continue - and allow T-Mobile to charge them way more". Former cell phone carrier Sprint disappeared when it became part of T-Mobile back in 2020 and transferred over all of its customers - but the news of shock price increases has left some people wishing they had stuck around.

One TikTok commenter wrote: "I miss Sprint so much. I hate T-Mobile with a passion", while another added: "Corporate greed knows no bounds".

A user on X meanwhile wrote: "This is pretty rotten of T-Mobile. I'm not a fan of piling laws upon laws, but for subscription plans, maybe their needs to be a ban on opt-in changes in subscription plans, especially when there is a price increase. If you don't formally agree, it doesn't happen". Some social media users said they had been able to opt out of changes after calling T-Mobile, while others reported being told that they would not be affected.

A T-Mobile spokesperson told CNET: “We’re always looking for ways to give our customers more from our services so we’re moving a small number who were on older rate plans to newer plans that will deliver them enhanced features.” The Mirror have approached T-Mobile US for further comment.

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

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