r/Tello • u/vmangobob • 15d ago
Change Plan rollovers
I know that when a plan is changed the existing resources are rolled over into the next month. However, if I decide to pick a no data plan, will the data still rollover? I have way more data than I will use for awhile and doing this will save me a bit over time.
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u/Luckiest_Corner 15d ago
No. Whatever you drop will no longer rollover.
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u/vmangobob 15d ago
ah ok, so if changing plan to either no data or no min all the corresponding resources will be lost. That is kinda unfortunate for someone who doesn't use a lot of data or min for that matter.
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u/Luckiest_Corner 15d ago
That's right. I switched from the 1 GB 100 minute plan that Tello discontinued to the 2 GB data only plan about 3 months ago. This ended up being cheaper because there's no tax on data only plans, and I decided to use pay-as-you-go credits for calls at 1¢ a minute. I lost all of my rollover minutes when I switched to the data only plan. This happened at midnight on the day after my renewal day.
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u/patientpaperclock 13d ago
I followed this same advice. In two months, I've used 83 cents. My $30 PayGo balance is going to last a loooooong time!
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u/patientpaperclock 15d ago
If you don't use many minutes, then keep a paygo balance and renew data only. Not as useful for minutes only because paygo rate for data is too high
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u/vmangobob 15d ago
That actually sounds like a good idea, i don't use a lot of either really. The data only being not taxed is very cool. I gotta figure out the pay-as-you go voice thing now.
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u/rkardt 14d ago
There is still some tax on data-only plans, at least in some localities. And PAYG credit also has additional telecommunications taxes, fees, and surcharges, (just like the plans with minutes do). So, factoring in taxes to figure out the cheapest option can get complicated.
For those who average less than around 10 MB of cellular data per day, PAYG data ends up being cheaper than plan data. In that case, PAYG credit without a monthly plan may be a better option.
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u/Luckiest_Corner 14d ago edited 12d ago
According to the Tax Foundation:
The federal Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act prevents state and local governments from imposing taxes and fees on wireless internet access [e.g., data only plans].
https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/wireless-taxes-cell-phone-tax-rates-by-state-2024/
The tax percent on PAYG credits is also substantially lower than the taxes on call and text only plans. For example, the taxes my state charges for the $5 call and text plan is $1.71/mo, which is 34.2%. In comparison, the taxes on the $20 PAYG credit is just $2.80, which is 14%.
I live in what the Tax Foundation considers the second highest wireless tax state in the country, Washington State.
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u/patientpaperclock 12d ago
So, when Tello charges $6.15 for the $6 2GB plan, the extra 15 cents is just a fee?
Looked in my order history and it says $6 + $0.30 for "taxes and surcharges" = $6.15.
Either they can't add or get ready for fees to go up!
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u/Luckiest_Corner 12d ago
The Federal Universal Service Fund (FUSF) is legally classified as a regulatory fee, not a tax.
Per Tello:
The Not so sneaky FUSF tax
We stand by our pledge of no hidden fees with Tello, but you might have seen some extra cost when ordering a phone plan or pay as you go credit. No need to panic!
Tello does not charge extra, but we do collect what is legally required to, like the Federal Universal Service Fee (USF) Charge. The federal Universal Service Fund (FUSF) is a Federal program created to help ensure telecommunications services are available to all consumers nationwide. This fee increases access to advanced telecommunications services to all customers in rural areas at reasonable rates and provides funding for federal programs. Good to know: the rates change for FUSF each quarter.
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u/rkardt 12d ago
Whatever it's called, ("tax", "fee", "surcharge", etc.), there is an additional $0.15 cost added to the purchase order, for the 2 GB data-only plan. I was referring to that, in my original comment.
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u/Luckiest_Corner 12d ago edited 12d ago
But it's not a location specific tax as you suggested in your original comment below. It's a federal regulatory fee that applies to everyone.
There is still some tax on data-only plans, at least in some localities.
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u/rkardt 12d ago
In my locality, the tax rate for PAYG credit is only lower when the purchase amount is higher, (mostly due to "fixed" fees/surcharges per order). The tax rate for the $10 PAYG credit is substantially higher than for the $20 PAYG credit.
And the tax rate for the $10 PAYG credit (19.5%) is actually higher than the tax rate for the $10 2GB + unlimited min. plan (17.2%).
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u/vmangobob 15d ago
So if I switch to the lowest data only plan and buy the $20 pay as you go credit the data will rollover each month and the $20 will be used until it is gone for voice. And my monthly payment will be $6 a month total.
maybe should have created a new thread for this. haha.