T-Mobile Offers Up to $400 Mastercard for Switchers on $50 Plans

2 articles · Updated · ZDNet · May 13

T-Mobile is offering new customers up to a $400 prepaid Mastercard when they bring their own device and existing number to its network.
The rebate applies across all T-Mobile plans, with Essentials qualifying for $300 and higher-tier options qualifying for the full $400.
Plans start at $50 a month, and T-Mobile says Experience More and Beyond add unlimited data plus a five-year price guarantee.
Customers must choose a plan and complete the switch through the T-Life app; the gift-card claim link must be used within 30 days, and delivery can take up to eight weeks.
The promotion targets people moving from rivals such as Verizon or AT&T, using a cash incentive to lower switching friction.

Beyond the $400 gift card, what hidden fees and data privacy risks are new T-Mobile customers really accepting?

With reports of app fraud and data collection, is T-Mobile's $400 switching bonus actually a trap for unwary consumers?

Is T-Mobile's expensive promotion a sustainable growth strategy or a risky gamble that devalues customer loyalty across the industry?