T-Mobile Ending Autopay Discount for Credit Cards
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike...
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 34,659
Is there s
me magic in the $10? I was thinking of charging all of my bill except a few dollars to my Chase 5x Ink and just letting autopay take care of the rest. I'm guessing the $10 is for Amex insurance to kick in, right?

#92
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,412
AMEX Biz Plat card gives $10 rebates on mobile phone service monthly.
#93
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 550
FYI, there are a couple of caveats to this strategy that have been discussed with testimonials on Reddit when the Autopay issue was fresh.
In the recent past, Verizon switched to debit for autopay discount on consumer accounts. It was discovered that the credit card payoff with debit on file retained the discount. Verizon apparently noticed this, and adjusted their billing system so the loophole was closed. Apparently now, only PAYMENT by debit receives their discount. The second issue is that the fine print in many credit card cellular "Insurance" perks is, the ENTIRE bill must be paid with the credit card. So the strategy of making a minimal debit payment may violate those terms as described. How they would deal with it is anyones guess.
In the recent past, Verizon switched to debit for autopay discount on consumer accounts. It was discovered that the credit card payoff with debit on file retained the discount. Verizon apparently noticed this, and adjusted their billing system so the loophole was closed. Apparently now, only PAYMENT by debit receives their discount. The second issue is that the fine print in many credit card cellular "Insurance" perks is, the ENTIRE bill must be paid with the credit card. So the strategy of making a minimal debit payment may violate those terms as described. How they would deal with it is anyones guess.
#94
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DFW
Posts: 30
This is my process. My bill is due roughly the 10th of the month. I have AMEX biz with a $10 credit as does my husband. After the 1st of the month, I pay $10 with each of those cards. I then pay the balance with my credit card that gives me the maximum bonus
I just checked my bill before writing this. I have my account set up for autopay with my checking account. I continue to get my $15 autopay (3 lines) even though nothing came from my checking account.
I just checked my bill before writing this. I have my account set up for autopay with my checking account. I continue to get my $15 autopay (3 lines) even though nothing came from my checking account.
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike...
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 34,659
#96
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 550
That is what users reported occurred after having debit as the default payment method. Apparently for a few months CC payments made early with debit card on file was gaining the debit payment discount. Then VZ adjusted their system, and that strategy was deemed non compliant for discount.
T-Mobile has a peculiarity in their billing system I have noticed that might be a work around however. A credit on your account seems to be accepted as a debit payment. I have had several credits on my account while the debit only discount has been in effect. I also discovered that I can make a CC payment to my account regardless if a payment is due. ($0 Balance) I have made a $10 CC payment when nothing was due on the account and it remained until there was an actual bill pending. Paying the remaining balance with debit on file still qualified for the entire $40 Autopay discount. I highly suspect I could prepay my bill via CC prior to there actually being any amount due, and then have my account credit used for the monthly payment. I realize I have too much spare time.
T-Mobile has a peculiarity in their billing system I have noticed that might be a work around however. A credit on your account seems to be accepted as a debit payment. I have had several credits on my account while the debit only discount has been in effect. I also discovered that I can make a CC payment to my account regardless if a payment is due. ($0 Balance) I have made a $10 CC payment when nothing was due on the account and it remained until there was an actual bill pending. Paying the remaining balance with debit on file still qualified for the entire $40 Autopay discount. I highly suspect I could prepay my bill via CC prior to there actually being any amount due, and then have my account credit used for the monthly payment. I realize I have too much spare time.
#97
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
FYI, there are a couple of caveats to this strategy that have been discussed with testimonials on Reddit when the Autopay issue was fresh.
In the recent past, Verizon switched to debit for autopay discount on consumer accounts. It was discovered that the credit card payoff with debit on file retained the discount. Verizon apparently noticed this, and adjusted their billing system so the loophole was closed. Apparently now, only PAYMENT by debit receives their discount. The second issue is that the fine print in many credit card cellular "Insurance" perks is, the ENTIRE bill must be paid with the credit card. So the strategy of making a minimal debit payment may violate those terms as described. How they would deal with it is anyones guess.
In the recent past, Verizon switched to debit for autopay discount on consumer accounts. It was discovered that the credit card payoff with debit on file retained the discount. Verizon apparently noticed this, and adjusted their billing system so the loophole was closed. Apparently now, only PAYMENT by debit receives their discount. The second issue is that the fine print in many credit card cellular "Insurance" perks is, the ENTIRE bill must be paid with the credit card. So the strategy of making a minimal debit payment may violate those terms as described. How they would deal with it is anyones guess.
The end of the autopay discount got me to re-evaluate how I deal with the cost of service, and now I’m down to the $3/month prepaid T-Mobile plan as my main personal cell phone plan. And with the migration to eSIMs and cheap data-only eSIM plans to fill in the gaps, it’s not bad given what else is accessible for my communications.
#98
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,628
That is what users reported occurred after having debit as the default payment method. Apparently for a few months CC payments made early with debit card on file was gaining the debit payment discount. Then VZ adjusted their system, and that strategy was deemed non compliant for discount.
T-Mobile has a peculiarity in their billing system I have noticed that might be a work around however. A credit on your account seems to be accepted as a debit payment. I have had several credits on my account while the debit only discount has been in effect. I also discovered that I can make a CC payment to my account regardless if a payment is due. ($0 Balance) I have made a $10 CC payment when nothing was due on the account and it remained until there was an actual bill pending. Paying the remaining balance with debit on file still qualified for the entire $40 Autopay discount. I highly suspect I could prepay my bill via CC prior to there actually being any amount due, and then have my account credit used for the monthly payment. I realize I have too much spare time.
T-Mobile has a peculiarity in their billing system I have noticed that might be a work around however. A credit on your account seems to be accepted as a debit payment. I have had several credits on my account while the debit only discount has been in effect. I also discovered that I can make a CC payment to my account regardless if a payment is due. ($0 Balance) I have made a $10 CC payment when nothing was due on the account and it remained until there was an actual bill pending. Paying the remaining balance with debit on file still qualified for the entire $40 Autopay discount. I highly suspect I could prepay my bill via CC prior to there actually being any amount due, and then have my account credit used for the monthly payment. I realize I have too much spare time.
Would assume someone has attempted this by now...
Regards
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike...
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 34,659
FWIW, I thought I updated my account to a debit card. It seems that I had not. I've gotten numerous messages from T-Mobile in the last few days imploring me to update my account lest I l
se my $40/month discount. The deadline they were pushing was December 7.

#100
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DFW
Posts: 30
So, given we are many months into this situation are there any data points either confirming or dening if having a debit card on file as the AutoPay method, then making a credit card payment for some portion of the balance will still result in receiving the AutoPay discount?
Would assume someone has attempted this by now...
Regards
Would assume someone has attempted this by now...
Regards
#101
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,628
#102
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 41,548
So, given we are many months into this situation are there any data points either confirming or dening if having a debit card on file as the AutoPay method, then making a credit card payment for some portion of the balance will still result in receiving the AutoPay discount?
Would assume someone has attempted this by now...
Regards
Would assume someone has attempted this by now...
Regards
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike...
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 34,659

#105
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 550
It had been turned on for my account for my August billing. I had switched the pmt. To a Wells Fargo card, but apparently that card “Goes Both Ways” and was processed as credit, not debit. I lost my $40 discount, but was given an equivalent credit by Customer Support. I currently use an unusual CC workaround, that has been successful for the past 2 bills. I prefer not to burn this method down by publishing it on the web, but I will gladly share it with FT members via member message for those who might be interested.