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T-Mobile went back on its word, and you may be entitled to some relief

T-Mobile promised something, broke it, and is now facing the consequences.

By Polina Kovalakova

Published: Oct 22, 2026, 4:51 AM

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T-Mobile's Price Guarantee Plan turned out to far less appealing than it sounded. | Image by PhoneArena

T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T sometimes make big promises, such as pledging to keep mobile plan prices unchanged. But what happens when a carrier goes back on its word?

T-Mobile found out the hard way, it seems, after it became clear that the Price Guarantee Plan turned out to offer anything but a guarantee that prices would stay the same.

T-Mobile subscribers in New York are in for some relief

Attorney General Letita James helps New Yorkers get their money back from T-Mobile. | Image by New York Attorney General

Back in 2017, T-Mobile announced its Price Guarantee Plans, promising to keep mobile subscription rates for certain 4G plans unchanged. But then, in 2024, it went back on its word and started raising prices for those exact plans, leaving New Yorkers to pay approximately $5 more per line.

According to New York Attorney General Letitia James's report, New Yorkers signed in for about 252,957 of these Price Guarantee Plans and saw their bill increase several years after the initial subscription.

It turned out that T-Mobile hid terms in its fine print that provided the leeway to raise prices for certain plans, but under New York law, this isn't allowed. As a result, T-Mobile must now provide options for users to receive reimbursements and other benefits.

New Yorkers deserve clear and honest prices, not misleading offers with hidden fine print. T-Mobile misled hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers by promising that it would never raise prices on their cellphone plans, only to do exactly that just a few years later. Consumers shouldn’t have to pay the price for a misleading sale. My office is getting New Yorkers their money back.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, October 20, 2026

What's your move if something like this happened to you?

4 Votes

How customers get reimbursed

New Yorkers who are identified by T-Mobile to be using 4G phones can cancel their service. By doing this, they will receive a refund for the final month plus a $25 gift card. Alternatively, they can get a new $250 5G phone for free or a $150 discount on a 5G phone that costs more than $250.

Those who stay with T-Mobile won't see their subscription rates increase until at least 2029. Together, these reimbursements, together with a $98,000 fine to New York, are expected to cost T-Mobile over 38 million.

Not the first time

This isn't the first time T-Mobile attracts negative attention. In fact, all three major US carriers faced scrutiny for selling customers' location data earlier this year.

And while the Big Three aren't the only companies facing lawsuits from time to time, it's sad to see that it's usually the end customers who are affected the most.

Fortunately, at least in this case, T-Mobile subscribers in New York will get some kind of reimbursement.

Can you do anything?

You may be able to do something. | Image by PhoneArena

If you've been on one of T-Mobile's Price Guarantee plans since 2017 and saw your monthly bill increase after 2024, there may be something you can do even if you live outside NY.

The safest way to approach this is to submit a complaint to the FCC or FTC. Although this may not guarantee that you'll get your money back, if the FCC receives a high volume of complaints, it could attract federal regulators' attention to the issue and potentially prompt further action.

A promise is a promise, no matter what

Maybe I'm too naive, but when you make a promise, the honorable thing to do is keep it. Sure, T-Mobile may have a lot of nice incentives for its customers. And yet, promising not to raise plans just to go back on its word and trying to defend its actions with hidden fine print just doesn't sit right with me.

Hopefully, the Un-carrier will learn its lesson and stop making commitments that it knows it won't keep in the long run.

More US carrier news:

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Polina Kovalakova, a News and Affiliate Content Writer, has nurtured a passion for mobile technology since the era before smartphones. With a history of exploring a variety of devices, her insights into the mobile world are both broad and nuanced. Polina's non-partisan view extends to appreciating nearly every smartphone brand, a reflection of her open-minded approach to technology. Polina is equally passionate about uncovering the best online deals, tirelessly working to ensure her readers snag top-tier tech at unbeatable prices.

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