Main Menu

[Slacker]

I had a sheet handed to me today that I thought many of you would benefit from. Before you go shouting HOAX let me say I called T-Mobile and verified it is true. More T-Mobile info after the paste:

If you have T-Mobile save yourself the trouble of calling. Send an email to and include:

1) Account Number
2) Name on account
3) Cell phone number(s) - I was told by the rep all of the phones on my family plan qualify
4) Billing Address
5) Federal Government affiliation (including military)

You do NOT have to be a CURRENT employee according to the document.

[GrYph0n]

My Hero! I had this included on my AT&T Service years back, but didn't know it was a TelCom Act, I just thought it was them being cool and trying to draw in more of the strong military presence here. Also, I know that if you get services (for any provider I belive), on a base then you will be discounted, so I guess this just may all go inline with that. Well time for me to launch out that email...

[bmetelsky]

I just called Cingular and got 19% discount for USAF back in the early 80's.

Thanks for the post!!!!

[Slacker]

Isn't the internet great? Where else can you share information this fast?

[orion2087]

Awesome! They wouldn't give me my discount for working at Best Buy because I'm a minor so we put the account in my dad's name, however he was in the Navy quite some time in the 80's, woohoo!

[abatis]

Any chance that this would extend to Federal Contractors?

[Slacker]

Nope. Only actual federal employees and military.

[KingDaddy]

I switched my AT&T over a year ago. They didn't ask if I was a contractor...

Our T-mobile rep says that their discount is %10. I should ask her about this one! %22% is much better!

[GrYph0n]

Slacker,
Have you recieved a response from T-Mobile yet on this. I didn't call, I just sent the email and I am still impatiently awaiting a response. My bill is huge so any relief could help. Heh, I have to keep my minutes high for when I change my number to a local one, then I will be on PST and won't get unlimited night minutes until 12am EST (which is where I call the most), so you can see how that could add up unless I have at least 1000 minutes to toss around between my two lines.

[Slacker]

No response... yet. they may just apply it to my next bill. I don't know.

[SnozBerries]

Does receiving an unemployement check count as being on the federal payroll?

[Slacker]

lol I don't know Snoz. Isn't unemployment a state government thing?

[toxshox]

Ok this is a drive by posting to squash rumors. I just got an email saying the same exact thing as was posted by Slacker. I did my research and came up with this. Oh yeah I am in the AF and I didn't get a discount from Cellular One. If you get the discount it is because the company you are with rocks! Cellular One sucks on many levels.
__________________________________________
This just in. The cell phone discount is a hoax. While some companies are actually offering a voluntary discount to federal employees, it is not mandatory.

Per the actual FCC Telecommunications Act of 1996

Here - http://www.fcc.gov/telecom.html or clicky

And this article highlighting the rumor.

http://www.bennetlaw.com/practice_area.php?id=6&article=487
or Bennetlaw Article about Rumor

______________________________________
08/30/2005 There is No Such Thing as a Mandatory Federal Employee Discount

A rumor that seems to be making the rounds is that there is some sort of federal government mandate that cellular service be provided to federal employees at a discount. While customers claiming entitlement to such a discount may be basing their belief on erroneous information published in a federal government employee publication and later retracted, or on confusion with voluntary discounts offered by some of the larger carriers, there is no mandatory federal requirement that discounted service be offered to federal active or retired employees.
______________________________________


Just thought I would let you all in on the truth... thanks...

[Slacker]

That's interesting since T-Mobile and Cingular both have been confirmed as offering the discount based on this particular bill. The T-Mobile customer svc rep I personally spoke to knew exactly what I was talking about and gave me the instructions I included in the original post.

Regardless of whether or not they are required to offer it, I asked and was told I would get a discount on my bill for all of my phones. Mandatory or not a discount is a discount.

[bmetelsky]

Ok this is a drive by posting to squash rumors.  I just got an email saying the same exact thing as was posted by Slacker.  I did my research and came up with this.  Oh yeah I am in the AF and I didn't get a discount from Cellular One.  If you get the discount it is because the company you are with rocks!  Cellular One sucks on many levels.
__________________________________________
This just in.  The cell phone discount is a hoax.  While some companies are actually offering a voluntary discount to federal employees, it is not mandatory.

Per the actual FCC Telecommunications Act of 1996

Here - http://www.fcc.gov/telecom.html or clicky

And this article highlighting the rumor.

http://www.bennetlaw.com/practice_area.php?id=6&article=487
or Bennetlaw Article about Rumor

______________________________________
08/30/2005 There is No Such Thing as a Mandatory Federal Employee Discount

A rumor that seems to be making the rounds is that there is some sort of federal government mandate that cellular service be provided to federal employees at a discount.  While customers claiming entitlement to such a discount may be basing their belief on erroneous information published in a federal government employee publication and later retracted, or on confusion with voluntary discounts offered by some of the larger carriers, there is no mandatory federal requirement that discounted service be offered to federal active or retired employees.
______________________________________
Just thought I would let you all in on the truth... thanks... 

I personally talked with a Cingular representative at the number listed in the post. I was informed I would recieve a 19% discount on my monthly base rate. I was told it might take 1 or 2 billing cycles to show up, but that it would be retroactive to the date of my phone call.