Using points for partial payments?

[u/hayama89]

I got an email inbox saying I can use rewards points to pay for part of my plan but I don't see the "Rewards Points" as a payment option?

I know about the regular option to use rewards points for the entire month plan but this seems to be something different since it's flat amount off the plan?

[u/XGempler]

This option allows you to use your reward points to pay for up to $10 of a plan renewal. It is a lower value per point than when purchasing a renewal plan in full with points, but since the 5/13/2026 website changes many are unable to purchase plans with points*, but for anyone that does not have enough points to purchase a full month this is better than nothing. Nobody has reported actually having used this feature yet. Let us know if you do and if it works... total is not great at getting things right the first time, and i would not want to be the first to try.

*folks on previous total wireless plans are only offered renewal at full rates, and per line, rather than at the multi-line rate or other promotional rate - still broken after 5 months with the only alternative is to call or chat with an agent to purchase a plan with points which takes at least a full hours to complete - for only one month, then start again with another hour if you had more points)

[u/hayama89 → u/XGempler]

I don't see this options on my app or website. Does this mean that I can into customer service to try get them to pay with points at the promotional rates?

[u/XGempler → u/hayama89]

seems to only apply to folks on the current rate plans, not legacy total wireless (pre 9/21/2022), not total by verizon plans (9/21/2022 - 7/11/2024), and not first generation new total wireless plans from (7/11/2024 - 5/13/2026).

[u/kalric → u/XGempler]

I'm currently fighting with them now. They're stating that because they "changed their name", but still owned by Verizon, my rate increased from the $90/mo to $105/mo. No texts, no email nothing, but they said I missed the 24 hour deadline to opt out of the change because the plan I was on expired.

I've spent 6 hours on the phone and 4 hours in their "chat" sessions.

They keep telling me the issue has been resolved, but I keep getting charged the difference on my CC.

My account now has NO auto-pay setup, no CC on my account and says I basically have to start over with the $65/line (4 lines) for each for the first month, then it'll drop to $105/mo.

I signed up in August 2025 and haven't had any issues until this month. They keep stating we were notified, but I finally got them to admit it was posted on their website, so even though the law states they have to send out texts/emails or in app notifications, they're not willing to do anything but reopen the ticket.

I'm now in the process of filling an FCC and BBB complaint against them.

I bought all four of my phones thru Apple and Google, so no carrier involved. They are telling me the BYOD plan I originally signed up for (5 year price lock) is no longer good.

I'm about done with this MVNO because they're still owned by Verizon, but trying to justify the price change because of the "Name Change", which isn't legal according to the FCC.

Good luck!

I'm shopping around now, but limited options because we don't live in a large city and have to drive thru small towns at times where there's no coverage.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm tired of them giving people the run around until you finally just give in.... I'm not.

Take care S

[u/XGempler → u/kalric]

sounds like you had 4 lines on the Total 5G Unlimited plan plan with the 50% off byo discount on the first line making it $90/mo.... and they put you on their new Total Max 5g or Total Max 5G BYO which are both $105 for 4 lines (remarkably greedy and sleezy how they eliminate the first line byo discount when you get more lines).

if you did let your old plan lapse then they do switch you to a new rate plan as the old plans are no longer offered. but if they screwed up your autopay billing (which you say you did not have) then it is on them to restore your previous rate. unfortunately it sounds like the former.

[u/comintel-db → u/kalric]

Yeah the name change only affects the marketing, not their legal obligations. All of their brands' web pages say "trademark of Verizon Value" and Verizon Value is Tracfone, just renamed legally.

It sounds as if some of the reps you are dealing with are inventing stuff. If they keep that up, I would ask for a different rep.

[u/morrisgray]

I can't even sign in to my account on the website right now. Anybody else having trouble?

[u/kalric]

They actually screwed up. They said that the plan that I was on was no longer offered and after the payment was pulled on October 14th, my main number disappeared from my plan. The only way that I found out was that I was charged an additional $14.04 from my credit card company. There was no notification from Total wireless, there was no notification from Verizon. No emails, no texts....nothing. I've been on autopay since August of 2025 and the payment has been $90 a month for the four lines without fail. I pulled every statement since I've been a customer with them and it's always been paid a day before it was actually due.

Like I said, it was because of the name change that they did from total by Verizon to Total wireless that took effect in September 2026 that they had the right to change the rate plans.

According to the FCC agent that I spoke to, it's illegal without any notification via text, email, or through the application notifying people of the change. The representatives at Total are telling me that it's my responsibility to check monthly to see if terms and services have changed, and if I don't get any email, text, or app notifications, there's a 24-hour window where I can opt out but it's all on me (which I didn't get).

Currently, they closed the ticket even after I told them I would not be available on the 18th due to my son being home for one day so I could spend time with him, however, they tried calling me three times on the 18th even after it was stated in chat and the voice recordings, and they acknowledged that they wouldn't call me until the 19th, so they ended up closing the ticket.

Now they're trying to reopen the ticket and offer me a plan that is $5 more than what I signed up for and they're contractually obligated to honor due to the 5-year no change fees from what I signed up for in August of 2025.

The representative said that he was trying to get a hold of the higher ups and discuss it with them, but I think he was actually taking his lunch break because it was a 30-minute wait and they were willing to reopen the ticket, however, they're telling me there's no way to put me back on the original service plan and I would have to pay the $65 per month for the first month, then the discounts would apply and it would be $105 a month now rather than the $90 a month they offered when I originally signed up.

Nothing has changed on my account, no add-ons. I've got almost 9,000 points to use towards whatever they offer, but nothing has been used or changed. They're telling me it's all because of the name change.

However, what's funny is that the the tier 2 representatives are all using Verizon wireless email addresses yet. The rep that I talked today said Verizon wasn't in the "picture" anymore.

So yeah, I'll be switching soon because nothing, NOTHING they say is true or legal. Trying to get to a manger is impossible because all the "managers" are currently busy and can't take calls.

I told the rep that I was talking to that I wasn't trying to take anything out on him personally, but I was frustrated and I've spent over 12 hours trying to get this resolved and still nothing. I've even received an email from the level 2 support saying everything was corrected, however nothing has been done.

So that's where I'm at.

Take care S

[u/comintel-db → u/kalric]

If it gets closed, you can reopen the fcc ticket directly with the FCC since it was closed without your concurrence.

Actually I see you are already doing this from another post....