T-Mobile backtracks on corporate discount removal for existing customers

By Rich Edmonds
last updated

We may have had to deal with the usual April articles yesterday, but one that stood out from all the jokes was T-Mobile’s plans to scrap corporate discount from Simple Choice plans. The mobile network has today confirmed a partial reversal, allowing only existing customers to retain their discount. Sorry, new subscribers.

Those who take out new rate plans will be met with a T-Mobile gift card worth $25 when purchasing a new device, while those who are already with the network will be able to continue with their general bill savings. It’s a positive move, especially since discounts from T-Mobile have been up to 15 percent, depending on where you work.

T-Mobile CEO John Legere previously wrote the following in a blog post:

"The old programs were designed to help big carriers close big corporate contracts, with employees as bargaining chips. We aren’t playing that game anymore. This change is about simplifying wireless for everyone… including employees of small and large companies alike."

Does this partial reversal help you out at all?

Source: Re/code

Rich Edmonds
Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.

29 Comments
  • Glad legere wrote the letter. Now folks can remain a little calm.
  • He previously worte. Love it! ;)
  • He seriously needs to get it removed! D:
  • Puto el que lo lea.
  • Thank you Jesus ... I mean John . People were acting like it was the worst thing ever. Even though I understand people have crazy discounts and something need to change, so a reduction in discount would have been a better option say from 20 percent to 5-10% .
  • Hmm already in effect? If not I might jump the gun soon prior to this happening.
  • never mind this. how about some better WP devices.
  • Great news. Thanks for listening to your customers John.
  • I get 20% employee discount with AT&T. Still don't trust TMO.
  • 20% on the base rate, on T-Mo I get 15% on every recurring charge/line (excl Jump)
  • Have fun with your better coverage and superior network!
  • I live in Chicagoland, great coverage no matter what carrier.... So cost and the phone I want comes to matter more that coverage. And have had great service since day one. ALso enjoying my free Lumia 1520 from AT&T... Some day some people might just learn how to talk to our friends in India. LOL
  • I get 25% with AT&T, Tmobile has very poor and spotty coverage where I work, only 2G coverage, AT&T and VzW both have LTE...
  • Well TMO doesn't trust you either! lolzz
  • Salesmen talked my Son-in-law into moving his 8 lines for his business from AT&T to TMO. They offered a $100 switcher credit per line to sweeten the deal. After 14 weeks and no credit, he called TMO to ask where it is. They said they don't back the offers made by the agent stores (Who went out of business) It took a lawyer and $400 to get his $800, and released from his contract to go back to AT&T. Where he and the 8 lines are happy again. So after that, I don't trust TMO. 
  • I dont know why u would remove it when other carriers have it... Their plans are at a decent price but when u tack on discounts at other carriers or even compare it to other prepaid carriers its not the best deal in town. They need to reinstate it.
  • I recently switched from TMo back to ATT and with their four lines for $160 (I actually have five on my account) and my coporate discount, after taxes I'm paying about $155/mo. If ATT can keep my rates that low, I see no reason to switch to another carrier again...   Techiedude
  • you get 5 phone plans for 155 a month or 155 for each phone? also what kind of data plan do you have??
  • I believe they share 10gigs
  • Yup!
  • Five lines for $155 total sharing 10GB of data (I think my corporate discount on ATT is 17%; not completely sure though...). Without the discount it would be the normal 4 lines for $160 and an extra $15/mo for each additional line added (so $175/mo). Four of the lines have a Lumia 1020 and the fifth has a 1520 so they won't be upgrading any time soon...in fact, the only line that would probably get a new phone in the next 3-5 years would be mine and that's cuz my employer reimburses up to $300 (which will get interesting with the ATT Next plan...not sure how that'll work right now unless i make a $300 deposit upon upgrade and then split the remainder over the 18 month phone "contract").
  • I dislike the data sharing a lot. Like a lot a lot. I don't want to have to worry who's using more data in the month.
  • I can see where that could be a concern for some people but the people I share my plan with don't use more than 1-1.5GB/mo (and it's usually under 1GB). ATT also has higher data limits availble that aren't too pricey. I'm actually surprised at ATT's new pricing structure...it's actually <gasp!> affordable and doesn't feel like I'm getting ripped a new one on every new bill i get...I thank TMo for forcing their hand on that lol   Techiedude
  • Yea as for some it could work. But not for everyone. There's 5lines here 4 of which are smartphones, 3 of the lines could easily do 4gb on there own each month. Esp skyping. But data and pricing is just gouging the consumer. They know its used so there for prices are higher than it needs to be. There's no reason each line can't be $30 for everything including unlimited lte data.
  • I switched my 3 lines from 550 minutes + 3GB data adding $20 for unlimited text to the 10GB family share plan. Comes out cheaper and to top it off, 2 of my lines are dumbphones, so I have all 10GB for myself!! LoL Before AT&T I had US Cellular, but they left Chicagoland in the dust.....
  • This seems to be the new strategy. Introduce a new "uncarrier" program and make a lot of noise, then quietly remove or alter existing programs. I understand they need to make a buck, but telling a large number of customers that, oh BTW, your bill will be 10-20% higher from this day onward is a recipe for torches and pitchforks. Derp.
  • So if I'm an exsisting customer, but not on the "Simple Choice" Plan. Will I qualify to carry over my discount when I switch to the Simple Choice?
  • I don't see any reason why you wouldn't. You should be fine.
  • Either way, I would still get to keep my discount since my mother works for a city college here in NY. In other words, she's a government employee and we have two lines together. I'm also a 12+ year T-Mobile customer, so the discount would be intact regardless.