My T-Mobile Nightmare: A Cautionary Tale

My experience with T-Mobile has been nothing short of a nightmare. It all started with a chat from T-Mobile suggesting I switch my number from another operator to their service. I was initially excited about the prospect of a new plan, but little did I know what lay ahead.

Here's a step-by-step account of my ordeal:

I filled out the application, making sure to read all the fine print (not just the app or chat messages), and chose a time to meet with a representative. At the meeting, I got a new SIM card, but the packaging had no details and there was no extra sheet. The rep didn't explain much, just said my number would be transferred on a certain date, and I should insert the SIM card then. I recommend asking about how long you'll be without service or internet, what to do if calls and texts don't work, and what about messages from other banks or apps? Later, you might find out the rep isn't supposed to inform you about anything; they just hand over the SIM card. The rep offered me a referral program and suggested I recommend T-Mobile to my friends. I thought the plan was great, so I did recommend it to my loved ones - big mistake. If you want to try the referral program, here are a few tips: ask about the conditions and then re-ask to confirm - are these all the conditions I need to know? Are these the full conditions for earning bonuses? (otherwise, you'll find out later that your friends connected, but some condition you weren't told about isn't met, and it's your problem). Be prepared to provide full names, dates of birth, and phone numbers when asking about bonus earnings. In my case, I attended a follow-up meeting for the people who connected to T-Mobile through my referral link. The rep knew about it because she was the same one who recommended the program. She clearly said, 'Now you need to pay the promotional tariff of 390 rubles' (which we did). However, she didn't mention that for the referral program conditions to work, people had to pay 500 rubles in one payment by a certain time. In total, several people signed up through my link, but no one got their bonuses. Today, I spent the whole day setting up my connection, calling my banks to resolve issues, and helping my friends switch to T-Mobile (those who got tangled up in my referral mess). I found out some interesting details about the tariff and informed everyone, which led me to this review. Be prepared to constantly communicate with robots or managers who read from scripts, politely apologizing and promising to improve. Even getting the review link required me to persistently chat with robots and then answer a series of questions to a customer support rep to finally get permission to write this review.

The main takeaway: read the full documents, not just app or chat messages, and always ask, 'Are these all the conditions I need to meet... or are there any others?'

And, to be honest, the tariff isn't as great as it seems. I regret not sticking with my old operator's special offer for 305 rubles/month for 100 GB and unlimited everything else. When they call to offer you a better deal and better conditions, take it - I was foolish to think I could switch without issues.

With love to all the people out there who might be reading this.