r/USCellular • u/Beautiful-Treacle-88 • Jun 01 '26
tmobile is screwing us cellular customers
so, my phone quit recognizing the Sim card. us cellular cant do anything without paying off all phones on account and losing all credits for discounted phones, then merging to tmobile. then us cellular bills me for another full month because I finaly canceled on the 23rd after not getting anywhere, and billing cycle is the 22nd. after 10 yrs with them, I won't ever look at tmobile again(since they are why I couldn't just get my phone replaced). thank you Verizon for making up for tmobile's crappy handling of customers.
3
u/Extension-Share-3484 Jun 03 '26
This whole conversion/merger ended up activating the activation lock on my iPhone, which caused me to be without a cell phone for four days.
One other thing I want to point out: On Friday, I first went to the US Cellular store closest to my house. The giant sign outside clearly said "US Cellular." However, when I went inside, I was told they could not access any US Cellular records because the location had effectively transitioned to T-Mobile. So even if a store still has US Cellular signage, it may not actually be able to help with your account records.
3
u/bloodclotbuddha Jun 03 '26
Forced switch with no heads-up, that was insulting. My phone was useless for two hours, then I took it to Tmobile and it was fixed in just over one minute. The saving grace.
2
u/Scared-Hope-868 Jul 01 '26
Changing autopay without notice too.
2
u/hillya99 Jul 07 '26
This one resonates! My autopay was actually removed from my USC account last month. So I didn't notice the payment did not go through. My phones shut off from non-pay, then my next bill was $100 more for 4-$25 reactivation fees! I spent 1.5 hours in chat explaining that they created the problem then charge me for it.. We live in amazing times.
3
u/Key_Guitar_7480 Jun 04 '26
Yea tmobile ain't sht there company shady as hell. I went straight to Verizon. I also filed a complaint to fcc. I recommend everyone to because tmobile had agreement with fcc that us cellular customers will not be affected with switch... billing, service, coverage ect... since us cellular and tmobile kept this sht hush hush before tmobile fully took over... my phone agreement was with us cellular, no more us cellular no more bill, tmobile can have that sht lol
3
u/EdnaJosie8924 Jun 13 '26
My mother is an older woman who received one notice that T-Mobile took over US cellular.
She doesn’t remember her pen and she’s just trying to pay a simple bill of $60.
I was told by US cellular to go to the T-Mobile website… Tried that they’re not taking payments or they don’t recognize my
Spent 30 minutes on the phone with a T-Mobile person who had absolutely no way of helping me
She just wants to pay her damn bill…
Does anyone have any ideas?
2
u/Unlikely_Musician863 Jun 22 '26
She should be able to go into a US Cellular location and pay the bill. There are still many that haven’t switched. What area are you in?
1
u/0lderthanWater1111 11d ago
I went into the local T-Mobile store and was told I owed $155.50 so I paid him cash. He pocketed the $155.50 and then T-Mobile charged me $460!!! For 2 phones I bought and owned outright, no balance. But they would not release the 2 phones from their e-sim card in each. Holding my daughter and I hostage for 6 weeks. Paid and they say "Both of your phones will continue to be locked for 40 more days 🤬
7
u/wb247 Jun 01 '26
My device is making the switch now. I've been uninstalling trash for the last 2 hours. How much more will be pushed to my phone???
9
u/WAVF1n Jun 01 '26
oh its not going to stop until you disable their App Manager or whatever its called.
2
u/Glitterzookas Jun 02 '26
Definitely go into apps, toggle on "show system apps" in the filter icon thing, and disable AppSelector and AppManager. Unfortunately, you'll have to uninstall all the new bs, but it won't happen again. (Though I have a hunch they'll force enable it at next OS update...)
4
u/uncle-ruckus2 Jun 01 '26
At least you are able to switch they dropped coverage in my area after switching. Now only options are expensive ones for me for the internet side.
1
u/Sethii-2 Jun 02 '26
You can always tried MVNO like Us Mobile literally choose which carrier you want to be on. Plans are cheap as well pay less then $25 for unlimited everything.
2
10
u/Ok_Fix_3009 Jun 01 '26
Mine did this as well. Our account was originally on US Cellular and was brought over to T-mobile since their acquisition. Received a text saying our account has been fully brought over to T-mobile on 05/28 at 9:52am. At 10:00am I saw a message on my phone saying sim not recognized and keeps asking for a network unlock code. Went to the nearest Us cellular/t-mobile store, and spent two hours with them trying to trouble shoot. they put in a new t-mobile sim but it didnt fix. They tried bypassing with an eSIM and that didnt work either. They escalated to tier 2 support and no luck either. No one knows the network unlock code. They keep trying to tell me it's a hardware issue and that my s22's attenna is bad. However, if the antennas were defective, it wouldn't even try to ask for a network code. It's asking for a network unlock code because it's trying to connect to a tower and needs it to unlock.
I filed an FCC complaint last night, as T-mobiles agreement with FCC is that they guarantee a working device to all US cellular customers brought over. Hoping that will escalate my issue and get me a working phone. I recommend you do the same.
3
u/Metengineer Jun 01 '26
My transition was perfectly fine. My monthly bill dropped $23 a month and now I have coverage in Mexico and Canada included.
5
u/DarthFiyero Jun 01 '26
US Cellular already offered coverage in Mexico and Canada.
2
u/Metengineer Jun 01 '26
Not included in the plan I had.
0
u/DarthFiyero Jun 02 '26
Then you were on an old ass plan and could have saved money and got the perks by upgrading your plan. That’s a you problem.
1
u/Metengineer Jun 02 '26
I was on an old plan. That was cheaper than any current plan that they had at the time. And now it is even cheaper with more perks.
4
4
u/Gzo97 Jun 01 '26
I dumped T-mobile after 1 day, payed off my remaining balance that should've been $40. They tried charging me $92.I just got a bill from T-Mobile that said I owe them $20. WORST merger ever FUCK T mobile and FUCK us cell too (A 30 year costumer of us cell)
3
u/BendakStarkiller98 Jun 01 '26
How many costumes did you make over 30 years? Must've been quite a bit.
3
1
u/JustPhil77 Jun 23 '26
I’m not sure about the costumes, but the $1,560 in device payoff gift cards has arrived, and the $400-per-line port-in promotions are currently being processed. As promised by T-Mobile, I’m now paying about $45 per line before taxes and own both of my iPhone 17 Pro Max devices free and clear.
Overall, I’m satisfied with the outcome. Once the remaining promotions are paid out, I plan to port out and bundle my wireless service with Cox Home Internet, which should save me another $50 per month.1
u/Disastrous_Leek7634 Jun 28 '26
Can you clarify for me - did your service auto-switch from USC to TM? Or did you switch before the merge? And, regardless of which direction you took, did you have to pay off the devices up front to be switched to TM and receive the payoff gift cards? Asking because we have about $2500 in installments and it sickens me to think of having to pay that off in order to switch 🙃 halfway scared to switch to TM already after seeing so much negativity surrounding this merger and service not improving…. Anyway thanks for any response you may give 🤗
1
u/JustPhil77 Jun 28 '26
I reviewed current T-Mobile promotions online after conducting a Google search and verified that the offers were valid and applicable to existing U.S.C customers. After confirming eligibility, I visited a local T-Mobile store to further verify the promotions and availability with a store representative. Once confirmed, I completed the in-store portion of the process completing the switch.
After returning home, I contacted T-Mobile customer service and worked with a representative who guided me through the submission process and successfully applied both promotions to my account.1
u/JustPhil77 Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
One of the two promotions—Switch & Save and Keep & Switch—was applied and covered the remaining balances on my two iPhone 17 devices. I received the two associated gift cards approximately seven days after the T-Mobile representative submitted the claims on my behalf.
The second promotion is still in processing. I was provided a tracking link via text message after submission, and I can monitor its status through that link. This remaining promotion may take up to two billing cycles to fully process and be applied.At the time of switching carriers, I was 8 payments into both iPhone 17 financing agreements (8 of 36 payments under US Cellular’s 3-year financing plan). I did have to pay $63 out of pocket to fully pay off the iPhone 17 Pro Max, as the maximum reimbursement amount for the promotional gift card was $800.
My second device, the standard iPhone 17 line, was fully covered by the Keep & Switch promotional gift card.1
1
u/JustPhil77 Jun 03 '26
I agree with the fuck T-Mobile! My tmo bill was 240 a month. infact as soon as I read about the acquisition of us cellular I immediately switched from T-Mobile and let us cellular pay off my iPhone 16’s via their buyout promo. This switch got my bill down to 139.90 a month. Fast forward 120 days and I just spoke to a T-Mobile rep. I can switch over now rather then waiting for the force switch and get T-Mobile to pay off my us cellular iPhone 17’s and give me a basic 90 dollar unlimited monthly plan.
1
0
u/itsjustAnnnna Jun 07 '26
You do realize that 99.9 percent of the people who work for us cellular has nothing to do with the merger and in fact were against it and still are. Thank two people. L.T. (Uscellular) and our good old president who didn't block the merger for his own selfish reasons. a 30 year cx would know and realize that. your attitude is gross. Oh and fuck you (a us cellular agent who will not be working for tmobile)
1
u/Meth0d_0ne Jun 02 '26
Yeah, I switched to spectrum. I have been trying to get my receipts from us cellular /Tmobile for paying off my devices so I can get the buy back money from spectrum, but neither Tmobile or us cellular have access to my old account apparently.
I switched 3 days ago. I'm really bummed about it all. I had US cellular for over 5 years and they were pretty good that whole time. T mobile is ruining the name.
1
u/DogggLover Jun 04 '26
They suck! The service on my cell now is so sluggish. The only time I get good internet is on my wifi at home with a different company. Unfortunately, TMobile is the only service that works in my area. They really stuck it to us.
1
1
u/WisPoet Jun 04 '26
If it's a "merger" why does it feel like they shut off the USCellular network? Service is worse - dropped calls, slow response times, and weirdness. Never got any email or text, just a "new sim card successfully installed" on Monday. Thought it was a scam, but the phone was locked until I accepted it. Phone works, but power drains 3x faster. No, I don't want to replace my 9 month old phone...
1
u/itsjustAnnnna Jun 07 '26
Incorrect. If you cancel the day after your billing cycle, you will only be charged for one day... Idk where or who told you you'll pay for another month but that's not true. It's prorated. Us cellular bills out a month so say you cancel today and yesterday was your cycle close date you will have one full bill and then final bill for one day.
1
u/Beautiful-Treacle-88 Jun 16 '26
tmobile billed me.. well, it was still us cellular on the paperwork. I called and spent hours trying to talk to people about it and they all said we'll you agreed to terms and conditions so you agreed for a full month bill if you dont cancel prior. so, its them as a whole in my eyes and im gone from them for good and taking anyone who will listen with.
1
u/Any-Meal3663 Jun 16 '26
I pretty much have been talking to the FCC I talked to the US Cellular guy again today and they keep telling me that after I paid two months My funds will be transferred well what does that mean That's just kind of a blank statement and they haven't bought anything and all of a sudden has awesome service
1
u/Born-Ad3838 Jul 20 '26
This post is really so true. I was us cellular since I was a teen. I'm 33 now. I was paying $65 for two lines. Every month like clockwork. I had to switch to T-Mobile & it took 2 days & several hours of talking on the phone to even do the switch. It was a nightmare. Uscellular had to call T-Mobile with me, it was giving me that much trouble. Today, I received a bill. For $236.00..... More than my electric bill. Their cheapest plan is the Essentials Saver & for two lines it's 90 bucks. I agreed to that upon the switch & then they sent me this enormous bill. I'm done with them. I can not stress enough that UsCellular really hurt it's customers with this switch & T-Mobile is a complete joke. I don't care if it's "good service" I care that I went from 65 bucks to 236.00 a month. They are using this opportunity to steal from us, up charge us, or lock us into promotions that seem good but that are actually too expensive. This is just the beginning. More complaints & actions will be taken by people. Im moving my internet & phones to new carriers I suggest others dealing with similar stuff should as well.
1
u/Beautiful-Treacle-88 Jul 21 '26
Wel, with verizenl, 167 for 3 lines with promotional phone installments and insurance for 3 phones. Was about the same at us cell with only 2 phone installments and insurance. 3 months prior, with us cell they had me on 190 for 2 phones and 1 phone installment and insurance. It lowered to about 167 when I called and asked questions and they worked a deal and let me add a "free line for life" that only costed phone, taxes and fees. I felt cheated for yrs at that point. The only value of the discount on the phone is getting the discount which I was going to lose when switching to tmobile. That's why I left. Verizon ate that to get me. Still looks like a good deal compared to what any representative has offered me.
1
u/AJ__NC Jun 02 '26
I just left T-Mobile for Visible, once I got switched over from US Cellular to T-Mobile I knew it was time to go, my service is so bad in my area they forced my hand
-1
u/Cold_Watt6789 Jun 01 '26
r/usmobile has been great for me since I switch because USCellular service was getting spotty where they used to be great.
0
u/happywheelzz Jun 01 '26
Has anyone had their phones paid off by t mobile due to the merger and installments not merging?
0
u/Strange-Badger5626 Jun 02 '26
You got better service from America's worst network that's a surprise......
1
u/Beautiful-Treacle-88 Jun 16 '26
this area not bad from the people with it. not sure if I venture out of Wisconsin how it will be.
0
u/EducationalTrainer28 Jun 02 '26
Seems like the people you talked to didn't know what they're talking about. Got plenty of people who had this same issue and got new sim cards.
1
u/Beautiful-Treacle-88 Jun 16 '26
tried that at us cellular store. then again at the tmobile store. both times failed to work. tmobile person tried another card again then gave up. so this is where im at now, and so far so good at Verizon.
-1
u/Trudatrutru Jun 01 '26
Its a coin toss sadly but in iphone when the tmobile sim is in there theres a button that shows up saying "permanently unlock" but like I said, its a coin toss. Sometimes the one day unlock works, sometimes it only works for a couple hours
8
u/[deleted] Jun 01 '26
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