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My screen is bigger than yours
Hi all,
I know that the info is here somewhere on this site, and I've done a lot of reading and searching and I'm finding a mention here and a tidbit there, but it's so buried and scattered, I still don't have all my questions answered.
I just ordered the Galaxy Nexus from Google and plan to set it up with the $30 monthly 4G plan with 100 mins/5 GB data. I also purchased a SIM card from T-Mobile a couple months back when it was on sale (not for 99 cents though!) and I have not activated it yet.
Once I receive the phone, what is the procedure to activate the SIM and set it up for the $30 plan?
- Do I pop in the SIM, turn on the phone, and it will prompt me to choose the correct plan? Or do I activate online somehow?
- This is a monthly plan and it's prepaid, so how do I load it up with money? Is there an auto-renew option so that I don't have to remember to add money every month?
- I would like to add some extra money to handle the months where I might go over the 100 minute allotment. From what I've read, there is no way to purchase minutes that are good for 1 year, so the only choice is the 90 day minutes. Is there a way to get them to carry over if I don't use them all before the 90 days?
My apologies for these basic questions, but I am pretty new to the Pre-Paid world.
Phone Collector
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-activate
Keep in mind I have not done this yet. My GNex should arrive today, and stupidly my SIM should arrive later in the week (thought I could pick one up at Wal-Mart, but they only sell the kit with a $25 Family Plan activation).
For extra minutes, my plan is to just put some extra money in my account. They will charge you $0.10/min for any overages past 100, which is as cheap as the prepaid minutes get anyway. Plus the money doesn't "expire".
My screen is bigger than yours
You activate the SIM card by using the activation code provided in your SIM kit. You'll need the SIM number and phone serial number to input that info online. You can set your account up to auto refill from your bank account. Any additional minutes are charged at $0.10 a minute so you can add some extra money in there for that.
My screen is bigger than yours
I had a issue with the website activation page clearing and not submitting. I was able to activate it over the phone, but they needed to contact a supervisor to do an override since I was having problems.
I put $10 extra on my account in case of emergencies. Don't forget to get the my account app for checking usage, https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...nNlbGZoZWxwIl0.
Phone Collector
Someone already posted the link, but, if you have a bad activation code, you will have to call the number indicated when you try to activate. If the CSR can not put you on the Walmart plan, then ask for a valid activation code, since you know that the only way to get the Walmart plan is through Walmart or tmobile.com.Originally Posted by hooked
Just go to the site first. If you put the sim in, the phone will show no service.
You have a few options here. You can pay as you go by adding money by credit card or EFT, or you can have money auto deducted, or you can load prepaid cards. One site that sells discounted codes with no tax is callingmart.com. I recently paid $95 for $100, with no tax, so I saved $11.
This is not totally true. The fine print says that loading $100 is good for 1 year. Also, everytime your account is renewed for another 30 days, your money is good for ANOTHER 90 days.
http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-2184
T-Mobile Monthly4G minutes begin to expire the day they are added to your account, not when they are purchased.
Example: If you purchase a refill card on May 1 and add it to your account on May 14, the term of expiration begins May 14.
Depending upon the refill amount you purchased and your Gold Rewards status, the expiration time for your T-Mobile Monthly4G minutes will vary.
For non-Gold Rewards customers:
Unused minutes expire in 90 days. Exception: $100 refills expire in 365 days.
For customers on Monthly4G plans, the account balance expiration date is extended 90 days when rate plan is renewed.
For Gold Rewards customers:
Unused minutes expire one year from the date you last applied airtime to your account.
To help ensure you never lose your unused minutes, T-Mobile sends you a text message when your account is within five days of expiring. That way, you have ample time to refill your account and carry forward any unused minutes to your new expiration date.
EDIT: Your SIM should come with $3.34 or 10 minutes loaded. Once you are activated, you will need to add enough to cover the $30 before your service will be available. And, like Aurora says, keep some extra in there for overages at .10/min.
Phone Collector
The website will talk you through the process. It's pretty simple.
Phone Collector
Speaking of which, you should go to their support website where TMO reps can answer your questions.
http://support.t-mobile.com/communit...ew=discussions
Phone Collector
The website will walk you through the process. It's pretty simple.
My screen is bigger than yours
Thanks for the great info and advice everyone. I can't wait for the phone to arrive!
It sounds like I can put an extra $30 on my account to cover any overages each month and then refill as needed and I don't have to worry about them expiring after 90 days as long as I keep paying for the next month of the plan.
So is this monthly plan eligible for Gold Rewards? I don't want to add $100 extra to my account right away. If I keep adding in $30 increments, will I eventually make it to GR status?
Here's an entry from the FAQ:
Do refill dollars on any Monthly4G rate plan count towards the Gold Rewards status?
Yes, refill dollars applied to your account ALWAYS count toward the Gold Rewards status; however, you are not eligible for Gold Rewards UNTIL you change to a Pay As You Go rate plan.
Strange. Anyone have a clarification on this?
Phone Collector
Right, just what it says. Gold Rewards is for Pay As You Go only. So, if you are on the 4G monthly plan, there is no such thing as Gold Rewards (which offer 15% more minutes). But, as a non-gold rewards customer, you ARE entitled to $100 being good for 1 year. Once you change plans from Monthly to PAYG, then you are a Gold Rewards Customer.
Where's the dialtone?
Does anyone know if I could port from virgin mobile online. Or would I have to do it over the phone?
My screen is bigger than yours
Get a random number online, and test out the service. When you're ready call tech support to start the port, I gave them my phone number as my account number and the password you use to login to your vm account online(I gave them the password number twice for some kind of account code and account password) and within 24 hours everything was ported, I was told I may need to call vm to release my account but I was spared that agony and it worked right away. Keep both phones handy during the port to make sure you don't miss calls.
My screen is bigger than yours
Okay! The phone came in and I activated the SIM card and all was pretty straightforward. Thanks everyone.
I funded the account with $50 initially to cover the first month's $30 charge and have $20 for overages if needed. I noticed that tax was charged for this.
I went to set up the automatic billing through the T-Mobile site, but again, tax is being charged. Is there any other way to set up some automated refill that will avoid the tax?
Last edited by hooked; 05-23-2012 at 04:45 PM.
Phone Collector
Automated refills will be taxed automatically. If you want to avoid tax, you can purchase the refill card at another vendor (e.g. callingmart) each month and add it to your account. Calendar reminders help, it's quick and easy.
Why yes, that is a bag phone
Were you able to activate online or did you have to call??
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