It’s the end of the year, and promotions are in abundance. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement and sign up for a deal that seems too good to pass up. But hidden fees and unexpected changes in pricing can turn any sweet deal into a bad surprise.
A recent incident serves as a reminder to carefully verify the details of your phone plans. Dani Fernandez, who switched her family from MetroPCS to T-Mobile, took to TikTok to share her frustration after the offer she was given turned out to be far from what she expected. Her story has since gone viral.
How promised deals turned into customer’s nightmare
Switching over to T-Mobile is cheaper on Holidays. But not for Dani Fernandez. Five days ago, the young woman reported switching mobile carriers from MetroPCS to T-Mobile after being told she couldn’t access promotions. A MetroPCS employee then recommended T-Mobile, promising better deals and lower prices for her family.
After the switch, Dani claimed that she was offered a $90-per-month plan for three lines and a $18-per-month phone for her mother. That’s making each line $30. An additional $18 is added for her mother’s phone, bringing the total to $108 monthly.
However, her first bill was $118 because she hadn’t set up automatic payments. It was a requirement she says wasn’t explained during sign-up. Upon resolving that issue, her second bill was even higher at $155. The increase was because of a military discount mistakenly applied to her account during registration, which T-Mobile eventually removed because her family didn’t qualify.
Despite reaching out to T-Mobile, Fernandez said the company refused to honor the initial pricing or offer an alternative solution. She also learned that switching providers would cost $300 to pay off her mother’s phone, leaving her family feeling trapped in a costly situation.
It seems like Dani isn’t the only one who fell into the trap as other users shared a nearly identical experience in her comment section. One of them shared an encounter where they spent hours in-store with assurances from both the sales rep and manager that their bill would be around $160 a month, only for it to be much higher when it arrived.
Related: Take A Selfie From Space With T-Mobile Tuesdays.
How to avoid hidden carrier cost traps
Sometimes, cheaper isn’t better, and Dani’s experience with T-Mobile is a perfect example of this. All she wanted was low-cost plan, but the reality of hidden fees and miscommunication turned that into financial burden. In this situation, here’s what you want to do beforehand.
First, ask for the exact terms of the plan in writing, whether it’s an email or printed document. This way, you have proof of what was promised, including pricing, discounts, and any conditions.
Second, don’t assume anything. Ask all the questions, even if they seem ridiculous. After all, you’re giving the carrier your money and it’s their job to make sure you understand exactly what you’re paying for.
For example, is this monthly plan the final price, or are there additional fees I should know about? Are there any specific requirements to get this price? What happens if I cancel early?
Break your questions into categories if you have to. Just make sure they surround cost, discounts, contract terms, payment methods, and cancellations. It will help you address all areas without missing anything.
Always read those lengthy fine prints
If you get the contract in writing, take your time to look at it. It’s true that they can be long, dense blocks of text full of legal jargon and disclaimers. No one wants to sit down and read through them. Most of us just scroll to the bottom, hit “Agree,” and move on, trusting that everything is straightforward.
But you don’t want to do that anymore because they actually carry information that could impact how much you pay, when you’re billed, or other factors. Skimming every section can make a huge difference in avoiding surprises later.
Watch out particularly for regulatory recovery fees, administrative charges, and 911 service fees. They can add up over time. If your carrier charges for paper bills, go for paperless billing to save money. Also, monitor your usage to avoid overages and roaming charges. Before traveling, ask about international roaming rates to prevent unexpected costs.
You can often negotiate certain fees, like activation or upgrade charges, so don’t hesitate to ask for waivers or discounts. Finally, setting up AutoPay, so that you don’t miss payments. Your bill goes up without it because many carriers give you a discount for using it. AutoPay makes payments easier for them, so they charge you more if you don’t.
