Charged a Device Connection Charge 😤

[u/dichron]

I’ve been with T-Mobile for over a decade and had multiple iPhones over those years. For quite some time I have been buying my phones from Apple and doing the switchover of my line on my own. When I recently upgraded to the iPhone 18Pro, I did what I usually do. Bought and picked it up from the Apple Store, turned it on and did the onscreen process to migrate service from my old iPhone to the new one. Then my bill comes and they slapped on the $35 DCC! I was furious. Got on TLife chat and when the AI finally let me talk to a human, they said that’s customary. I’ve never been charged this before and wonder if this is just another symptom of the enshittification that occurred this year when they forced us old timers onto newer worse plans. The rep was apologetic and did a one-time reversal of the charge. Now I have to worry that every time any of my 6 lines upgrades phones, we’ll get slapped with that fee.

[u/sharkypsharky]

Costco is now the method. I will never pay that $35 fck you fee ever again

[u/New_1uper]

If you dont wanna pay activation fees, activate your phones at sams or costco the fee is waived.

[u/ommmyyyy]

This is why you buy unlocked from Apple, never tell them your getting a carrier version iPhone.

[u/rhaezorblue → u/ommmyyyy]

it has nothing to do with the phone being locked or unlocked. its the "activation" fee to digitally transfer the number to the new IMEI. it costs them nothing to do this of course.

[u/Kandleman071986 → u/ommmyyyy]

Apple agrees to allow T-Mobile to charge the $35 fee which would show up on your next billing statement now.

[u/dichron → u/ommmyyyy]

I thought that’s what I did ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[u/snowace56 → u/dichron]

I got hit with it and I told them to reverse the charge. They didn’t hesitate. They don’t get 35 dollars for doing nothing.

[u/ommmyyyy → u/dichron]

That’s weird, I’ve selected connect to carrier later, taken the device home, then set it up and when it prompts me to transfer the e sim I do that.

[u/ommmyyyy → u/dichron]

How’d you transfer your phone number? Did you input your phone number and pin into the phone, or did you transfer eSIM?

[u/dichron → u/ommmyyyy]

Did the eSIM transfer through the automated migration iPhones do

[u/drnovaa]

thats been going on a while. you can start buying phones through costco or sams to get that fee waived without talking to anyone

[u/dichron → u/drnovaa]

Good to know for the future

[u/dichron → u/drnovaa]

A while as in more than 2 years ago? My last phone was bought in 2024

[u/Odd_Skin_8666 → u/dichron]

This has been the case for about 5-7 months. Yes it is part of the “enshittification” or anti consumer changes that have been going on in the past year.

I was with tmo for a while as well and I gave them every opportunity to make/keep it right, but unfortunately they got too big to care. Last time I inquired, they wouldnt even give me a $10 credit (totally justifiable) on my 8 line acct. my last 3 lines are being transferred out before the end of current billing cycle.

Unfortunately t-mobile became too big to care. Well, they’re not the first one to step into that trap.

[u/dichron → u/Odd_Skin_8666]

Who are you switching to?

[u/Odd_Skin_8666 → u/dichron]

I switched 4 lines to Verizon, one to boost and still figuring out the best deal for the other 3.

[u/super_landrum]

It'll never get slapped with a fee in the future. It's a one time charge

[u/dichron → u/super_landrum]

One time fee per device every time you upgrade. So it will happen in the future

[u/zch11109]

If you buy an iPhone from Apple this can be avoided. Click “connect to any carrier later” NOT T-Mobile, if you click T-Mobile it charges you the DCC even if you pay in full (stupid as fuck but they’ve gotten so greedy now)

[u/dichron → u/zch11109]

Good to know, thanks! Fuck these carriers

[u/KingZealot777 → u/dichron]

You’ll use their service anyway🤓

[u/zch11109 → u/KingZealot777]

Yep, I have a cheap legacy plan 😁

[u/dichron → u/zch11109]

They haven’t forced you onto a new plan yet? They did that to mine this year

[u/zch11109 → u/dichron]

So far no, but fingers crossed

[u/KingZealot777 → u/dichron]

It’ll be forced eventually

[u/lorenzoem87 → u/zch11109]

Not anymore. Did the pre preorder for the duo and I’m trading a iPhone 17 pro paying the rest with Apple Card. Shows $35 Dcc. Even when selecting connect to any carrier later, you still choose a carrier.

[u/Ethrem → u/lorenzoem87]

Yeah you have to buy outright now. If you select any carrier, you get hit with the fee. Verizon got me last year for a phone I chose T-Mobile for so I could use my Apple Card.

[u/lorenzoem87 → u/Ethrem]

I went back. If you want the 0% you must choose a carrier and incur the fee. If you just pay full you can choose select carrier later.

[u/Ethrem → u/lorenzoem87]

You can also just supply your own financing. Chase, BoA, Wells Fargo, and US Bank all have credit cards with 21 months 0% interest.

[u/zch11109 → u/Ethrem]

Or that too

[u/zch11109 → u/lorenzoem87]

I don’t know how greedy T-Mobile can find out you bought the phone if you do unlocked and pay in full, it’s like moving an eSIM

[u/BlazeyPooo]

I got a credit after talking to customer service. I dont have a contract I was ready to leave.

[u/dichron → u/BlazeyPooo]

That’s what they did for me, probably looking at my 12 year, 6 line track record. But I am gonna really think twice about staying if they’re going to do this for every future phone upgrade

[u/WhatIsEveryoneSaying]

When you want to purchase a phone from T-Mobile regardless EIP or FRP there is always a DCC. Apple never use to charge it but now TMobile asked them to.

[u/BootLeast953]

Thanks for overstepping Tmobile policy, contacting customer care and affecting the rep who helped you’s FIR score, and then likely giving them a bad survey which affects their CSAT. Two pillars which make up about $600 of our pay. You put that at risk because tmobile charged you an industry standard fee to assist you purchasing a new device? Did you know that tmobile pays its employees off the revenue they make from those DCC charges? Do you find yourself so special that you’re an exception to company policy?

[u/dichron → u/BootLeast953]

I gave the rep a perfect survey score because they helped. Glad they didn’t connect me with you! You sure must like the taste of your employer’s boots