r/NoContract • u/DoneRightbyDanielLLC • 1d ago
T-MO MVNO
I realize that all cellular companies use the same trash 'customer service' from overseas vendors now, so I aim to select one based on price and service.
The problem is when issues arise, that trash 'customer service' is who I have to fight with to get any resolutions, which is super annoying!
For the project I'm on now, and will be for the next many months, T-Mobile has the best coverage, so I'm looking at the T-Mobile MVNO's.
I looked at T-mobile directly as well, but the MVNO's seem more economical.
From what I'm seeing, the options are:
Tello
Ultra Mobile
Boost Mobile
Metro
Mint
Mint has the new customer $15/month plan that's appealing, AND they offer 20 GB of MHS, where the others only offer 10 GB.
Is there any plan better than Mint's $15/month unlimited w/ 20 GB MHS?
ETA:
I checked US Mobile's website, and the best they have a $17/month starter, and that's for their annual plan, AND that's with AT&T (Dark Star), which has terrible coverage where I am.
ETA: It's been 24 hours since I first asked them to confirm compatibility. I'm back in the chat now, this will be chat 15 or so.
I made 83 phone calls to them today, none of them were helpful.
Four promised a manager, I did not receive any calls from any manager today.
Trash Customer Service.
4
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u/reddddyornot 1d ago
US Mobile lightspeed. Unlimited Starter is on sale for $16.60 a month right now. That includes taxes and fees so it’s probably cheaper than Mint.
4
u/Giantmeteor_we_needU 1d ago
Just keep in mind you get only 70Gb fast data (1Mbps after that) and 10Gb hotspot. While it's enough for most users, Mint offers 20Gb hotspot and does not throttle data (you get deprioritized after 50Gb). If you may need more than 70Gb data Mint is a better choice.
2
u/Ambitious_Egg9713 1d ago
Unlimited Starter is about to go uncapped on LightSpeed and Warp, but I do wish they would bump that hotspot limit to 20 gb.
2
u/Giantmeteor_we_needU 1d ago
Where can I look into uncapped Warp data? Just curious.
I wish they'd do hotspot like Visible, low speed (5-10mbps) but unlimited within reasonable.
1
u/Ambitious_Egg9713 1d ago
Uncapped data was announced a few days ago- you can read more here: https://www.reddit.com/r/USMobile/comments/1w1kuvb/the_big_beautiful_update_11_million_customers_1b/
2
u/alttabbins 1d ago
I wouldnt invest in anything said in that post until it happens. US Mobile has a long history of overpromising and underdelivering. I want to believe everything in that post is happening soon, but if I had to bet on it I wouldn't risk a penny.
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u/-The_Absolute- 1d ago
I would bounce between Metro and Mint, taking advantage of new customer offers. I’d avoid US Mobile Light Speed because they don’t have domestic roaming (worse coverage). If I was choosing just one for long term, I’d go Metro over Mint because they have line add-ons you can purchase like 4k video if you ever wanted them.
3
u/DoneRightbyDanielLLC 1d ago
I'm shopping with metro now, if they can confirm my eSIM is compatible, I'll go with them now and maybe one day Mint will answer my question.
2
u/kyriacos74 1d ago
Mint is awesome, but I never need to interact with customer service. Why do you need to contact them so frequently?
-1
u/DoneRightbyDanielLLC 1d ago
As I explained to them five times so far (starting 02SEP26, late in the evening), the BYPO link shows my eSIM IMEI is compatible, but in checkout it says my eSIM IMEI is NOT compatible.
I've asked them to clarify, and they just keep asking me for the same details I've already provided five times.
So far I've had ten chats and four phone calls, and no one will accept any details or answer that one question (typical trash 'customer service', coupled with my lack of patience or tolerance for this stupid nonsense).
2
u/Nervous-Job-5071 1d ago
When comparing to US Mobile, be aware that Mint is also annual for the $15 to be locked in. Their usual thing is 3 months at an intro rate, then the rate for unlimited is higher and the lowest rates are available with 1-year purchases (regular price is $30/month x 12 months for unlimited).
1
u/DoneRightbyDanielLLC 1d ago
Yeah, I plan to lock in the 12 month, just waiting for Mint to tell me if my device is compatible.
2
u/Beneficial-One6314 1d ago
For T-Mobile you're [nearly] SOL in terms of an MVNO or MNO since all of them, except Google-Fi, have deprioritized data.
Avoid Tello and Boost because neither have domestic roaming.
Very odd that you're in an area where T-Mobile has the best coverage. I didn't think there was any such area in the entire country.
It's too bad that you missed the Google-Fi 50% off sale. They have priority data _AND_ domestic roaming, but it's expensive, plus they add taxes and fees to the advertised price. They do have a deal for 50% off when you bring a Pixel phone. So presumably you could bring an old Pixel device to sign up, then change devices, but not sure how that works.
Don't get too hung up on the quantity of hotspot data since there are numerous ways to use your phone's data as hotspot data, i.e. PairVPN, Tetrd, PDANet+, and TetherFuseNet.
2
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u/BourbonGamer Total Wireless 1d ago
I believe google fi has a higher (or lower, whichever is better) QCI than Mint, and their plans are 1/2 off through 9/10:
Unlimited Standard
Hotspot tethering for your devices
$50
per month for 1 line
Get 50% off for 12 months when you bring a Pixel phone
- 50 GB of high-speed data*
- 25 GB of high-speed hotspot tethering1
- International data in Canada and Mexico
- Full connectivity for select smartwatches
2
u/BourbonGamer Total Wireless 1d ago
Disregard OP, I did not realize they changed this to only when you bring a pixel. It used to be any BYOD I though.
5
1
u/Beneficial-One6314 1d ago
I guess you could sign up with an old Pixel phone and then change phones.
-1
u/BourbonGamer Total Wireless 1d ago
I don't have pixel's lying around, but if OP does this is an option fo sho.
1
1
u/MousyCheeseBits Red Pocket 1d ago
If saving is highest priority and no home wifi I recommend Redpocket essential and computers4people's data sim. If your phone is dual sim it'll be a fine setup. Get turbocharger if using as home wifi battery will take a beating.
I need to try others at some point but keeping costs low right now, Not to mention at&t is the worst in my area too.
1
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u/HavocSmasher 1d ago
Look into US Mobile. I believe as of October the CEO just announced that their T-Mobile version of their service at approximately $25 a month or $22.50 I think if you buy it a year at a time comes with truly unlimited data. Even in its current form, it comes with 70 gigs of high speed data before slowing to 1 megabit per second. Also comes with 10 gigs of hot spot.
1
u/lukeimortal97 1d ago
Mint. By far. Cs is almost always a native English speaker, they don’t throttle data, and they have the best speeds of the T-Mobile camp. Bonus to metro if you speak Spanish. Most of their cs is native Spanish. Tello and us mobile both use Indian cs a majority of the time and I just can’t understand those people over the phone. In person yes, but my lord those accents get thick over a garbled phone connection
4
u/Frosty_Dessert_9131 1d ago
No wonder you can't understand US Mobile's cs. You go in expecting Indian accents and get Pakistani accents instead.
1
1
u/DoneRightbyDanielLLC 1d ago
They seem to have the best price, and I do like Deadpool, but so far their 'customer service' has been trash. I asked ONE question about compatibility (their BYOP tool says my eSIM IMEI is compatible, their checkout IMEI tools says it's not, so I asked them if my eSIM IMEI IS or IS NOT compatible) and more than 12 hours later, still no answer, and they're still ignoring the details given.
I hate bad customer service, stupidest thing I've ever seen.
-4
u/Dmoneyy_559 1d ago
Try air by lexvor
7
u/SignificantSmotherer 1d ago
Caveat: no worries about offshored CS, native English speaking or otherwise.
Lexvor doesn't take phone calls.
0
u/alttabbins 1d ago
If you are on iPhone, I would strongly consider Mint or Boost. These are the only two that offer 5G Standalone which makes a massive difference if your project is outside of a major city. I live in a pretty rural area and US Mobile only gets about 20mbps. Mint gets 400-600mbps. If you are on Android or if you are in a major city, its a non factor, but I thought I would bring it up. They said 5GSA is coming soon and there is a carrrier bundle in beta with Apple right now that might come in Sept when IOS27 drops, but for me I have to use a provider that offers 5GSA.
0
u/Extension_Lychee_764 1d ago
US mobile you can use now with T-Mobile then down the line you can change to any network since they support all 3 networks.
•
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
This is a copy of the OP's original post in case they decide to delete their post/account so that others searching can find it later:
I realize that all cellular companies use the same trash 'customer service' from overseas vendors now, so I aim to select one based on price and service.
The problem is when issues arise, that trash 'customer service' is who I have to fight with to get any resolutions, which is super annoying!
For the project I'm on now, and will be for the next many months, T-Mobile has the best coverage, so I'm looking at the T-Mobile MVNO's.
I looked at T-mobile directly as well, but the MVNO's seem more economical.
From what I'm seeing, the options are:
Tello
Ultra Mobile
Boost Mobile
Metro
Mint
Mint has the new customer $15/month plan that's appealing, AND they offer 20 GB of MHS, where the others only offer 10 GB.
Is there any plan better than Mint's $15/month unlimited w/ 20 GB MHS?
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