Update: Metro by T-Mobile is reversing its decision to charge a $15 fee whenever you put your SIM card in a new phone. In a statement, the carrier has confirmed that all Metro customers will be able to carry out a device change free of charge by calling the customer care or using Metro's automated system:
All current Metro customers can now complete a device (IMEI) change free of charge by calling 611, *228 or 888-8metro8 and using our automated system.
Original story follows:
T-Mobile refreshed its MetroPCS sub-brand earlier this year, changing its name to Metro by T-Mobile and introducing new plans. The carrier continued to offer the base 2GB data plan for $30, while rolling out more enticing options in the form of a $60 plan that offered unlimited LTE data, 100GB of Google One storage, and a free subscription to Amazon Prime.
However, it now looks like Metro by T-Mobile is charging a $15 fee for switching devices. A Reddit thread from November (via Prepaid Phone News) suggests that the $15 charge was in effect for some time now, but you could get the fee waived off by talking to customer service.
The way Metro works is that you have to either walk into a store or talk to customer service when switching your SIM so that the carrier can register the new device's IMEI with your phone number. But with customer service no longer able to waive the fee, you'll have to shell out the $15 charge every time you switch between phones you already own.
MVNOs have gained momentum in recent years as they offer more flexibility in pricing, but anti-consumer moves like this don't inspire a lot of confidence. Thankfully, there's no shortage of options in this space.
