I'm Considering Switching T-Mobile Service - How Is It?

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking of making a switch from AT&T to T-Mobile to save $. There are a few good promos going on, I am thinking of doing their switch, upgrading my phone, and getting reimbursed for the ETF from AT&T.I was holding onto a grandfathered plan w/ unlimited data at AT&T but it does not include tethering/hot-spot, or my iPad, iPad mini. Also there is no contract requirement with T-Moblie.

Are there any complaints about T-Mobile service, customer care, programs, etc. that I should know about? I have been with AT&T for over 10 years. Does T-Mobile get service OK in this area, and does it work on the metro? Last I rode the metro, Verizon was the only service provider that worked down there but thought I would ask anyway.

Right now I am paying a total of nearly $200 for 3 devices, and none of the data is unlimited. It's crazy. Planning to change to the T-Mobile unlimited plan for $80 and add on my iPads to share the data.

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP again. I was not clear when I say none of the data is unlimited -- there is only ONE device where data is unlimited and it is on my iPhone. But I rarely use that as my go to device and can't transfer the plan to anything else. I hope I am making sense.

[Anonymous]

T-Mobile coverage is always spotty out by where I live (i.e. it sucks).
(Then again, so was AT&T).
Verizon is good... but I don't want to pay the premium.


So, check your coverage maps and make sure you have good coverage where you need it.

[Anonymous]

I checked the coverage map and it looks comparable to my current coverage with AT&T. Sometimes my calls drop with AT&T but it is not a major issue. I generally get decent reception.

[Anonymous]

So then you're good... T-Mobile doesn't do contracts, so if it turns out you don't like them, just quit next month and switch elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

I switched from TMobile from AT&T and I don't like it. It's cheaper but the coverage is spotty unless you are in a city.

[Anonymous]

It's ok in DC-- about on a par with ATT maybe slightly worse (like in metro-- I have coverage at some but not all red line stops).

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I guess I was wondering if the grass is really greener.

I just looked at a different map (not from the phone company's websites) and PP you are right the signals are weaker in T-Mobile away from the city. I used OpenSignal.com and compared carriers. I think I am going to stay with AT&T based on this.

Maybe AT&T will give a more competitive plan as a thank you for me being a customer for so long. I haven't changed my plan in ages. If not, I will probably just let go of my grandfathered plan to save $. I don't think I use enough data to justify paying a premium to keep an old plan.

[Anonymous]

Our friends just switched to T-Mobile and have had terrible coverage issues while traveling in the mid-Atlantic region. We were just away together in a large group, and they were the only ones whose phones had no data where we were. AT&T and Verizon folks were just fine.

[Anonymous]

i switched from tmobile to sprint in 2008. i switched back to tmobile and have been very happy. the coverage is much better than it used to be (which is why i left originally). and its cheap and customer service is great. i partially switched because i was told its the best option for international travel and i live abroad currently. i pay $60/month when i'm in the states for unlimited everything.

[Anonymous]

I made the switch from AT&T to t mobile a few years ago, and hated it. Worst customer service ever! Paid to switch back to AT&T before contract was up, and am glad to be back.

[Anonymous]

The coverage is crappy. Much, much worse than Verizon. I live in AU Park and can't make a call from my house. I have to go on my front porch. There's a large dead spot on River Road in Bethesda. We were recently on vacation at the Jersey shore (south NJ) and the Adirondack mountains of NY and I had ZERO data for in either areas while family members with AT&T and Verizon had no problems.

[Anonymous]

Previous poster again--
the one thing it's good for (and the reason we got it) is international travel. My family spent 3 weeks in Europe in the spring and we had free data the entire time. I used it a TON to navigate around.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback. I guess I will stay with AT&T. Do you think I should hold on to my unlmiited data plan? It is costing $100 out the door for just the iPhone. But it is unlimited data and will stay that way as long as I stay with AT&T, even when I upgrade. There is no tethering allowed with the plan though.

My iPads I put on a $25 data plan every three months so it is averaging about $140/month.

I only use about 3GB total between all three devices but don't want to go to a 5G shared data mobile plan and lose my unlimited data...

[Anonymous]

tethering comes in handy-- I know TMo has it not sure about others.

I may be shortsighted, or a tech dinosaur, but I think unlimited data is overrated-- how much do you actually use a month? I don't think I ever go over a gig, but I don't watch video on my phone or things like that.

Anyone try Cricket-- the new cheap prepaid service on ATT's network? I used to have straighttalk, which worked on ATT also and it worked pretty well.