T-Mobile says $35 activation fee will soon be applied to almost all device transactions. It will make it impossible to circumvent the fee by using the carrier’s online system for upgrades and activations, according to internal company documents that were posted on Reddit.
According to the alleged internal documents, T-Mobile is replacing its ASC and USC with a “one-time $35 device connection charge for all mobile and broadband devices.” It is also introducing a “Device Connection Charge” for “all activations and upgrades for mobile, beyond the smartphone and broadband devices.”
It takes effect on broadband devices on 3 November and on mobile devices on 15 November. It applies to all activations and upgrades of mobile and broadband devices in stores, on the Internet, in chat and on the phone.
Previously, ASC/USC fees did not apply to online transactions because they did not require the use of customer service representatives. According to the report, prepaid activations are now exempt from the fee, as are all transactions where no new device, such as a SIM, is connected to the network.
When the deal was finalized, T-Mobile stated that things would be better for customers, but constant activation fees would not be.
The sources for this piece include an article in Engadget.