T-Mobile is set to implement a new policy that could frustrate many customers who take advantage of the carrier’s device promotions with bill credits.
T-Mobile will soon require devices receiving bill credit promotions to remain on installment plans for the full 24 months. According to internal documents, starting July 1st, customers who pay off their device installment plans early will forfeit any remaining unpaid bill credits.
Currently, T-Mobile allows customers to pay off devices early while continuing to receive the full promotional bill credits over 24 months. But the new policy ties the credits directly to keeping installment plans open, removing that flexibility.
The reasons behind the move are unclear, but preventing customers from leaving for other carriers after getting discounted devices could be a factor. T-Mobile’s acquisition of Mint Mobile subjected it to consumer-friendly unlocking policies that could enable such behavior when combined with early payoffs.
Customers with existing bill credit promotions prior to July 1st are unaffected. However, the change takes away a customer-friendly policy and could impact future buying decisions. It represents an anti-consumer move limiting customers’ freedom to pay off devices without penalty.