T-Mobile has recently decided to take the low road, diverging from a status of Uncarier to carrier by harming customers who use credit cards to pay their monthly bill by removing the 5 dollar per line discount.  

Why is this a problem? 

Many people use the credit card option because it prevents overdrafts, allows for better spending tracking, keeps their personal bank account safe from fraudulent or compromised activity from the countless breaches companies like T-Mobile have had recently, and allows people when times are hard to be able to make ends meet especially during a moment of crisis in a family or in regards to a health scare or unexpected disability or injury which causes financial strain.   

The Uncarier model has put customers first the whole time.  Part of what has kept T-Mobile going are the basic things like this.  When people need to use a credit card to pay for their service, there should not be a discriminatory penalty against them.  That's just low and hitting people when they're already down and hurting and can actually be a life and death situation for many. 

As customers of T-Mobile our trust in the company has already been strained by countless severe data breaches.  While they claim bank accounts haven't been compromised, we are all awaiting the next moment when they are or the use of the information that was compromised by cyber criminals that target personal financial accounts.  It's a risk we should not be faced with having to take ok and one we are not willing to take.  Now we're being held hostage by T-Mobile; being forced to give them access to our bank accounts directly or debit cards or facing punishment by removal of per line discounts instead of keeping ourselves safe and using a credit card instead to protect our accounts and selves from losing the ability to pay for basic necessities like food, medication, health care, housing, and other necessities in the face of an unforeseen data breach or effects from a past breach.  Using a credit card for the payment should not be something users are punished for.  It's something T-Mobile promised customers from the beginning that we wouldn't have to worry about this ever happening to us and that we would always be able to pay with a credit card if we chose to do so without penalty.  In fact it was the reason many people decided to come to T-Mobile even if they don't use their credit card currently, that peace of mind knowing that if they find themselves in an emergency and need to use their credit card, they won't lose the discounts they rely on to afford to pay for their service to begin with.   It's taking advantage of someone's hardship and it's frankly disgusting.

T-Mobile must reverse course IMMEDIATELY and not take away the discount per line from customers who opt to use credit cards to make payments.  No ifs ands or buts.  Knock it off T-Mobile.  You're better than this.  Or maybe you're not and it's time for customers to reevaluate our relationship with T-Mobile regardless of our payment methods.   The breaches alone have cost us our own security, now you want to make that risk even higher for us instead of truly making sure it can't happen again and minimizing the risk already associated with these breaches and possible future breaches.   

It is unconscionable and any decision to "suggest" that customers use their bank accounts for payments or face punishments through removal of services or discounts for looking out for their own safety and security is not going to look good to regulators, the courts, investors, or customers in any way, shape, or form.  Just a word for the wise.  Reverse Course NOW.  

Don't just take our word for it.  The experts have spoken time and again, including ATTORNEYS GENERAL, CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCIES, FINANCIAL REGULATORS FROM VARIOUS STATES, FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND PRIVATE SECTORS

Here are just a FEW of the MANY examples of such guidance in order to protect one's self from financial fraud.  

• If you have the option to choose between using a credit or debit card for online purchases, most experts recommend using a credit card. While the risk of fraud is always present, credit cards have additional protections that debit cards do not. - Michigan Attorney General's Office
• "If a thief gets hold of your card — either the physical card, or just your information from it — and goes on a spending spree or makes a withdrawal, you lose the cash the person spends. That means money disappearing from your checking account... for things like utilities, rent, tuition, or something else, you won't have access to that money. ...You may not get the cash back right away, particularly if a long investigation is required." " Credit cards offer more robust fraud protection and offer a degree of separation from your checking account, which serves as an added safety measure." - Business Insider
• When you spend on a debit card, the funds are taken directly from your checking account. Now what if your debit card, or even simply the information of your debit card, falls into the wrong hands? This leaves yur checking account, your lifeline... vulnerable." "If you can spend responsibly the extra protections offered by credit cards, rather than paying with a debit card or cash, makes using them a worthwhile investment." - CNBC
• "Since credit cards offer fraud liability protections that debit cards do not, meaning online purchases with credit come with fewer risks. So if you’re debating debit or credit for online shopping, pick credit for a safer shopping experience." - Bankrate

Recently Uncovered: In 2022 T-Mobile signed a deal with Goldman Sachs to begin offering their own credit cards.  These cards will offer "Special TMobile Subscriber Benefits" They're harming customers now to act like Savior later by exploiting their finances even more.  

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