How to switch to $30 Walmart plan?

**bobbyjonesrocks** · 05-31-2012, 12:47 PM

I am currently on the TMobile's prepaid service using the $15 plan (unlimited texting, $.10 per minute). Is there ANY way to get onto $30 Walmart plan (UL texting, 5GB, 100 min.)? I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

**jattdesi** · 05-31-2012, 12:50 PM

You can not switch to that plan. If your number is not important then just sign up with a new sim card however if your number is important port your number out and then port back in.

Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note LTE running on Bell's HSPA+/LTE Network

**acadiel** · 05-31-2012, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by jattdesi

You can not switch to that plan. If your number is not important then just sign up with a new sim card however if your number is important port your number out and then port back in.

Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note LTE running on Bell's HSPA+/LTE Network

I just had this conversation with TMobile. Over the past month (there's a thread over in their forums on tmobile.com), they've allowed people to move over to this plan. The key is, you have to buy an activation kit from WalMart or TMobile.com first. (I just did a while back when they were $1/ea shipped.) The SIM ICCID and the activation codes within the package are keyed to allow that $30/100/unlimited plan.

What they had to do with me is I had to activate the SIM with a new number on the $30 plan (no big deal). Then, they submit a ticket to move my current number and balance over to the new SIM from the old one (since the old SIM isn't in the ICCID range they gave as "eligible" for the plans). They say it can take 24-48 hours for the transfer to take place.

**elecconnec** · 05-31-2012, 11:31 PM

I bought an activation kit from T-Mo.com, called them and asked to port an existing T-Mo PPD number to the $30 plan. They did it for me with the existing SIM (but I used up the activation code that came with the new SIM) and even the $2 balance left on the line at the time stayed with it after the plan change. I tossed a couple of Callingmart $30 cards ($28.50 each) to fund the new plan. The needed to get a supervisor to "do an override" but everything went smoothly.

Sent from my PI39100 via the HowardForums WP7 App

**bobbyjonesrocks** · 06-02-2012, 12:17 AM

Thanks elecconnec and acadiel! I really, really appreciate the advice. I already ordered the SIM card and will transfer to the new plan as soon as the SIM arrives.

**drumnj** · 06-02-2012, 12:20 PM

I followed this: http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...8#post14799258

Just awaiting the text saying it was switched over, I plan on posting my full experience when it's done.

**UPDATE
Here is what happened to me outlining everything, each step of the way.
http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...5#post14825525

**acadiel** · 06-03-2012, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by acadiel

I just had this conversation with TMobile. Over the past month (there's a thread over in their forums on tmobile.com), they've allowed people to move over to this plan. The key is, you have to buy an activation kit from WalMart or TMobile.com first. (I just did a while back when they were $1/ea shipped.) The SIM ICCID and the activation codes within the package are keyed to allow that $30/100/unlimited plan.

What they had to do with me is I had to activate the SIM with a new number on the $30 plan (no big deal). Then, they submit a ticket to move my current number and balance over to the new SIM from the old one (since the old SIM isn't in the ICCID range they gave as "eligible" for the plans). They say it can take 24-48 hours for the transfer to take place.

Finally am back to follow-up with what happened.

The ticket I mention above was submitted last Wednesday. I hadn't heard anything on Thursday, so I called back and spoke to another rep on the status of my ticket. The number transfer to the new SIM was denied because the old SIM was "still in service". So, they ran me round and round for probably two hours trying to get me to go to Wal-Mart (even though I insisted it says "This plan is available on SIMs/kits purchased from T-Mobile.com"). Refused to transfer me to a supervisor, etc. I finally gave up and called again on Friday. Same thing; they told me what the first rep did would not work, that I had to buy a phone and SIM at Wal-Mart (even though I pointed that the SIM activation kits at T-Mobile.com were eligible, etc).

These people can't get their story straight at all. What happened to the legendary customer service when I had T-Mobile postpaid back in 2006? It's gone to pot!

So, I then spoke with Facebook and online Chat support. They kept me on for probably 30 minutes again (by this time, I've been on the phone, or in chat for probably 3-4 hours). They wanted me to call two more numbers, one to transfer the balance, and the other to "temporarily deactivate my old number and fill out a form to move it to the new SIM, replacing the new temporary number."

Being that I was really gunshy about possibly losing a number I've had since 1984, I told them I'm think about it. Besides, I was extremely tired of all this time of being on the phone for the past few days. I'm sure I shot some rep's per-call metrics completely out of their norms, primarily because T-Mobile didn't have them trained properly.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I called again yesterday. I found this rep who admitted she was new, but said that she would try and help me out, since I told her I was trying to get this done since Wednesday. I explained to her what had been done, so she first tried activating my second SIM card (remember, I had bought two) on the old number (but not using the activation kit). No dice, the plan wouldn't show up. Then, after consulting with her supervisor three times (after I told her to tell him that T-Mobile.com purchased activation kids/SIMs were eligible, NOT JUST WALMART ones!), she finally got his permission to transfer my $104 balance to the new temporary number, which had the $30 plan. (This balance transfer required her supervisor to process it.) Good, at least I was in business there; I was told the balance transfer could take 2 hours, but it took less than five minutes. She said that would deactivate and keep my old number in a "holding pattern", and she filled out a form to transfer my old number and told me it should move in 24 hours. I made triple sure I would not lose my old number, and she checked and then assured me several times I would be fine. The old number replaced the new temporary number in less than 3 hours.

In my life, I have never had to go through so much rigamarole to get a plan changed! Used two activation kit SIMs, one activation kit code (I still have a code left), and had to get a new number, get it replaced, get the balance moved over, etc.

I'm glad that the service works well for the most part, and this $30 deal is so inexpensive, because if I had to call into customer service for anything else, I seriously doubt I would stay with this company.

We should make the CEO try this procedure out just to show him how much fun navigating his own company is.

**mapson** · 06-08-2012, 09:29 AM

I ran into a similar experience. I wanted to port/move my prepaid TM # to the new $30 plan. Got the same usual run around, through the phone, only WM sim kits could be done, my TM sim kit can only be done online. Was to to do that, call back to cancel my current TM #, then tell them to request my TM #. In the end, I told them I will think about it. I wasn't in a hurry so now I still haven't moved the # over, I'm still using my regular balance.

It's nice to hear some others with a relatively smooth transfer but it is not the normal experience.