T-Mobile Pay as you go Mates-Rates Tarif

T-Mobile has just introduced a new concept in Tariffs - the New Mates-Rates allows the T-mobile PAYG customer to talk to any other T-mobile customer anytime for just 5p/minute; a landline for 20p/minute, and any other network for 40p/minute; texts cost 5p to T-mobile customers and 10p to any other network.


===========================================================

I've been distracted by Billboards (Hoardings) ...
...I like my CURRENT (obsolete) T-Mobile tariff on my MT50 WAP contract phone [£20 for unlimited offpeak calls to T-Mobile and land-line numbers + £6 for 100 texts/month] too well to consider trying this option - if I want to telephone anyone in the daytime, I use my Nokia 3510i T-Mobile PAYG phone which doubles as a telephone directory/address book - and so I rarely go over my minimum spend per month.

The credit on my PAYG phone is topped ... more

T-Mobile has just introduced a new concept in Tariffs - the New Mates-Rates allows the T-mobile PAYG customer to talk to any other T-mobile customer anytime for just 5p/minute; a landline for 20p/minute, and any other network for 40p/minute; texts cost 5p to T-mobile customers and 10p to any other network.

=====================================================

I've been distracted by Billboards (Hoardings) for months advertising T-Mobile's latest idea in Contract Tariffs - called U-Fix - where a fixed Contract Rate gives you "xxx" peak (or off-peak) "any network" minutes and "xxx" texts (which if not used expire at the end of the month); you can also "Top-up" like a PAYG for additional usage (this credit balance carries over from month to month) -- this enables you to have the convenience and basic freedom of a contract (with limits) with the budgeting ability of a PAYG - you don't get surprises when the bill comes - you just pay your basic tariff.

I like my CURRENT (obsolete) T-Mobile tariff on my MT50 WAP contract phone [£20 for unlimited offpeak calls to T-Mobile and land-line numbers + £6 for 100 texts/month] too well to consider trying this option - if I want to telephone anyone in the daytime, I use my Nokia 3510i T-Mobile PAYG phone which doubles as a telephone directory/address book - and so I rarely go over my minimum spend per month.

The credit on my PAYG phone is topped up about once every 9months to a year - I just put the odd £10 on usually if my credit drops below £10, since you never know how much you might need in an emergency. Most people I telephone in the daytime are either T-Mobile customers or on landlines.

SUDDENLY, the BILLBOARD FOCUS changed MID-AUGUST 2005 (I noticed it 21st August!) to promote a NEW TARIFF:

MATES RATES (for pay-as-you-go customers).

The concept intrigued me straight away. It SEEMED to have been designed JUST for ME!!!

* . TARGET AUDIENCE: T-Mobile PAYG customers who
. . . . have lots of mates on T-Mobile
. . . . send texts to their mates
. . . . call other T-Mobile customers and landlines daytime
. . . . don't want to have to keep topping up their phones

* . EMOTIONAL TARGET:
. . . . young, alive, chatty customers
. . . . customers who want to make the most of their money
. . . . people who WANT mates

* . CONCEPT TARGET:
. . . . T-Mobile customers who found standard tariff unfair
. . . . to reward T-Mobile customers for their loyalty

=====================================================

So what is this new tariff?

How do you join it? Are there complicated rules and regulations which govern it's use and application?

Can it REALLY be as simple as the billboard poster suggested?

I just happened to walk past a T-Mobile Shop the day after I first saw the New Billboard "Mates Rates" Posters. "I'll ask about this new <Mates Rates> tariff" I thought.

There were a few posters and charts describing the main features.

This is a new concept and a major improvement on the previous tariffs for low users - as the old tariff cost 30p/min across the board for the first £10, 20p/min for the next £10 and 10p/min until the end of the month for any further usage; and 10p/text. Now if most of your friends have T-Mobile, you can even talk for half the lowest previous rate - even before you reach a minimum spend. FANTASTIC!

I asked the assistant behind the desk about choosing the tariff.

The process of changing your tariff is so simple the worst technophobe can do it.

It is even purely automatic, and can be done at anytime you have your phone with you.

To change from the normal tariff onto "Mates Rates" you dial 146 - then a few 1, 1, 1 choices later (to choose and confirm the new tariff), you are informed that you will receive a text message soon to confirm that you are now on the new tariff.

A few minutes later, your text arrives and you are saving money!

You can swap back and forth as often as you wish, but each time you must await the text message to confirm your new tariff.

If for instance you want to talk at length to a friend who is on Vodaphone, Orange, Virgin or any other network - you CAN change back to the "Relax" Pay-as-you-go tariff by dialing 146, and going through the confirmation procedure all over again - waiting for the new text message to confirm your Price Plan. And when the call is over, you can swap back, just as easily - the T-Mobile Sales Representative assured me!

Unless you want to make a long cross-network call, though, in my Honest and Humble opinion, the option of swapping back and forth is probably not worth it. As you are only charged per second, a quick confirmation call is still cheaper (EVEN at 40p/min) than calling from a callbox.

You have the inconvenience (if you swap back and forth) of having to wait for the confirmation text message (up to half an hour at peak times, I've found) before you can use the new tariff; and again when you switch back to Mates Rates as you most likely will if you are serious about saving your pennies.

=====================================================

STILL NOT CONVINCED?

Consider these facts:
….You pay 10p per text message to anyone on the standard tariff (20p for "multimedia" messages) - and you pay the same on the Mates Rates Tariff - but you pay half as much for standard texts to T-Mobile "Mates" on Mates Rates.

….Unless you spend a LOT on calls each month, you will pay 30p/minute to anyone on the standard rate - 5p/min to T-Mobile Mates is *one sixth of that amount on Mates Rates, and 20p/minute to landlines is *two thirds the standard rate.

….Multimedia texts cost the same (20p/message) whichever tariff you choose.

….You still pay 25p (flat-rate per call) to access Customer Services (unless you are registered with the disability services (122) in which case it will be free).

….Voicemail retrieval remains free on standard tariff ~ this** changed to 10p/minute from 1st December for MatesRates only.
…...T-Mobile Voicemail services will store up to 10 messages (of up to 90 sec) for up to three days but NOTE:
…...If you don't set it up, you cannot be charged, as no one will leave you a message.
…...if you have difficulty answering your phone within 15 sec you can request your ringing time to be increased to 30 sec

….If you FORGET to change back, you will pay too much for services to other T-Mobile customers.

With so much to gain and so little to lose, ANY T-mobile Pay As You Go customer would be well advised to make the switch to Mates Rates.

I did, and I have saved £££s since I did!

© 2005 jesi …………………… - ♥♥ - jes ≈≈≈≈{; -)-{{::::: |||||< ♥♥

For any further information:
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher?menuid=orphan_matesrates

=====================================================
NOTES: **I checked with my disability customer services concerning this proposed charge of 10p/min for Voicemail retrieval from 1st December 2005, and it has been confirmed that "they have made a business decision to charge Mates Rates customers for Voicemail retrieval from 1st December." This only applies to "Mates Rates" tariff so far.

I have specifically asked if this also applies to disabled customers and my exceedingly helpful advisor confirmed that it did. However, he was prepared to put forward a case for visually-impared customers to retain free Voicemail Retrieval.

Unfortunately, it appears that voicemail retrieval is now being charged ~ although I have not had any to retrieve <lol>

I believe that we should also put a case forward to regain Free Voicemail Retrieval for EVERYONE as this has ALWAYS been one of T-Mobile's (and One2one's before them) DISTINCTIVES.

Thank you for reading - all comments welcome!... - ♥♥

♥♥- jesi - 2005 - ≈≈≈≈{; -)-{{::::: |||||< ♥♥ 

...less