T-Mobile is updating its automatic payments (or Autopay) rules, which include dropping the ability for credit card users to get the Autopay discount on their plans. The carrier confirmed to CNET on Thursday that starting “as early as May” it will limit these discounts to only those who pay with a debit card or bank account.
The move marks a change from the carrier’s current policy, which allows anyone to receive a discount on wireless or home Internet service if they opt for automatic subscriptions, regardless of the method they use to pay their bills. Set up payment. If you still want to pay your T-Mobile bill with a credit card, you can, but it will be without this discount.
A T-Mobile spokesperson says the switch is being made to “continue to offer customers the best value in wireless,” noting that “the majority of our customers use their bank account or debit card for AutoPay.” are and will continue to receive discounts on top of the already great rate plan price.”
T-Mobile says debit cards will still be accepted after the changes. No firm date was given for when the switch would happen or when customers would be notified.
Autopay discounts are a routine incentive offered by wireless providers to encourage users to set up direct billing for services. Without AutoPay set up, carriers typically charge a few dollars more per month, per line, or per service. For T-Mobile’s home internet, for example, the price is $50 per month with Autopay installed, while the cost without it installed is $55 monthly.
The carrier offers the same $5 discount for each line on an account with its Magenta Max, Magenta (up to 8 lines) or Essential (up to 6 lines, respectively) plans.
T-Mobile isn’t the first carrier to move away from credit cards for automatic payments. Verizon has long limited its AutoPay discount to users paying with debit cards or checking accounts, moving in 2020 to only allow credit card payments if you use the carrier’s own branded Verizon Visa card. We do. AT&T, meanwhile, still allows credit card payments (even without using its own branded cards), in addition to debit cards and bank accounts.
