T-Mobile calls out Verizon and AT&T for limiting discounts offered to certain consumers

For those of you who have felt that a more genteel T-Mobile has emerged after the departure of John Legere in 2020, the nation's second-largest wireless provider took a shot today at Verizon and AT&T. Granted, it wasn't as vicious as some of the Legere-era comments which took a scorched-earth approach, but today T-Mobile said that it was "calling out AT&T and Verizon" for not giving discounts to 92% of seniors in the U.S.

T-Mobile points out that its two rivals only offer seniors discounted pricing for wireless service in the state of Florida. T-Mobile put up a whole website to promote its answer to this oversight. On this site, the company says, "Until Verizon and AT&T offer senior discounts outside of Florida, we’re helping their customers get access to the wireless discounts they deserve as part of our Carrier Callout."

There are three ways to get a discount on your wireless service if you are a senior, according to T-Mobile. You can move to Florida, a move that T-Mobile calls extreme (although with tongue firmly in cheek, the company includes a link to a local realtor). You can open a virtual mailbox in Florida without actually living in the state, a ploy that T-Mobile notes is "still a lot of hoops to jump through, plus a monthly fee that eats away from the discount, but at least you don’t have to pack anything."

The easiest option, according to T-Mobile, is to switch to T-Mobile where its Unlimited 55+ plans start at $55 for two people and include 5G. Besides putting up the BannedSeniors.com website, T-Mobile created a pop up Wireless Discount Information Center at the Arrowhead Towne Center mall which is located near the largest retirement community in the U.S. outside Sun City, Arizona.

You can't spend years as John Legere's right-hand man without learning a thing or two about taking down the competition while promoting your company. And T-Mobile's current CEO Mike Sievert has enough snark in him to keep up traditions. For example, in the FAQ section, one question asks "Why do Verizon and AT&T only offer 55+ discounts in Florida?" The answer reads, "Nobody really knows. This adds to a long list of weird decisions Verizon and AT&T have made over the years disregarding customer needs."

Something like this is how T-Mobile earns its stripes and why the company's stock was the only one belonging to the three U.S. majors to show a gain over the last five years.

T-Mobile is calling this "Carrier Callout" and even has a website by that name. On that site, the carrier states, "The Un-carrier has a long history of rattling the wireless industry. And we’re here to do it again – this time by calling out The Carriers for failing to give their customers everything they deserve."

The nation's second largest wireless carrier adds, "This goes far beyond winning over AT&T and Verizon customers. Carrier Callout is a movement that exposes The Carriers’ crummy customer treatment and fights on behalf of all wireless users, regardless of which network they use. T-Mobile is on a mission to smash customer pain points and transform the wireless industry for the better."

The carrier adds, "T-Mobile has 55+ plans available no matter what state you live in. The basic unlimited plan for people 55 years or older – Essentials 55+ – saves people 50% compared to AT&T and Verizon. T-Mobile also has other discounted 55+ plans that include Netflix and AAA free for a year. Combined with the largest, fastest and most reliable nationwide 5G network, T-Mobile provides incredible value to anyone 55 or older."