Do T-Mobile Prepaid Cards Expire?

ByKern Campbell, MBA

T-Mobile prepaid cards make life easier (and less expensive). Plenty of consumers swear by these handy little cards. But there is often confusion regarding when a T-Mobile prepaid card expires. Do T-Mobile prepaid cards expire, and if so, when?

When your T-Mobile prepaid card is loaded into your account, it will expire in 90 days. However, if you spend $100 or more, the amount will remain for 365 days (a year). The best thing to do is regularly check with T-Mobile about your expiration date and load before that date comes.

If you’re one of many concerned about when their T-Mobile prepaid card expires, you’re not alone. Knowing the facts can help you save time, money, and hassle. Below, you will find everything you need to know about T-Mobile prepaid cards and expiration dates.

Does Prepaid Expire?

It can be tricky to know whether or not a T-Mobile prepaid card expires. There is plenty of misinformation on the web regarding whether or not these cards expire. More challenging is finding an accurate answer about when they expire.

As a basic rule of thumb, you can expect T-Mobile prepaid cards to expire within 90 days of loading onto your account. If the amount is more significant than $100, then the prepaid card will not expire for 365 days (a year).

If the prepaid card is not loaded into your account, you don’t need to panic about the 90-day rule.

A good thing to do is to check your prepaid card package. Here, you will find the expiration date of the prepaid card, which will likely state “90 days” (although this number can change depending on where you buy the prepaid card).

Does T-Mobile Prepaid Auto-Renew?

If there is sufficient money in the account at the end of the month, T-Mobile Prepaid will auto-renew. That is why it’s possible to buy several prepaid cards and fill them at once. Although there is a 90-day expiration once loaded, the excess amount will roll over after the 30 days. 

How Do I Check When My T-Mobile Prepaid Expired?

Understanding T-Mobile prepaid cards and their expiration dates can be confusing. The best way to determine when your T-Mobile prepaid card expires is to check with T-Mobile. There are a few easy ways to do this.

  • T-Mobile Portal. If you have set up an account with T-Mobile, you can easily find your expiration date (amongst other handy information) at the T-Mobile portal. You can access the T-Mobile portal online or install and use the app on your phone.
  • Calling the Helpline. Not signed up for the T-Mobile portal? Don’t want to use it? There is another way to find out your expiration date – call the helpline. You can give them a call at 1 (800) 937-8997 or simply dial 611 on your phone. Not only will they be able to tell you your expiration date, but they can explain further how to ensure your card does not expire in the future.
  • Chat online. For those that prefer to use chat, you can also head over to the T-Mobile prepaid website to chat with a customer service agent about your expiration date.

How Long Does a Prepaid Number Last?

Your prepaid number will continue to work as long as there is money in the account and it is renewed.

If there is not enough money to renew your prepaid plan, your service will be suspended for 30 days unless you opt for a pay-as-you-go plan. If no money is uploaded to the account within the 30-day suspension, the service will be suspended – i.e., the number will no longer be in service, and you will have to get a new number if and/or when you need it. 

Can I Reactivate My Old Mobile Number?

Unfortunately, after the 30-day wait period, the account will be suspended entirely. You will not be able to reactivate an old mobile number once it has been discontinued. To avoid losing your number, you will need to add money to your account or opt for another type of T-Mobile plan. 

How Do I Keep My T-Mobile Prepaid Number?

The best way to keep your T-Mobile prepaid number is to stay current with your account. There are three simple ways to refill your T-Mobile prepaid plan.

Refill Online with T-Mobile Portal. Again, the T-Mobile portal comes in handy when it comes to refilling. Simply sign in and select how much you want to buy. Keep in mind that there are a few rules, such as a maximum single refill of $150. You can perform multiple transactions in a day, but it can’t exceed $1,000.

Refill Online Without Logging In. Not everyone wants to sign up for a T-Mobile account. The good news is, you don’t need one to perform a refill. You can head over to this T-Mobile refill page to easily add more money to your account.

Refill by Phone. There are two ways to add money to your account over the phone. For one, you can simply dial *ADD*. You can also opt for the hotline by calling 1 (877) 720-5195.

Head to a T-Mobile store. If you prefer to shop in person, consider heading to a local T-Mobile store for your refill. Here, you can buy refill cards or have an associate help you refill them. Find your local T-Mobile store to buy.

Buy Refill Cards. Your last option is to buy refill cards from a third party. This can be done in-person at specific retailers or online with email delivery. Sometimes you can find specials and deals when shopping in-store or online, so it’s pretty common to buy refill cards rather than refill online or by phone.

Final Thoughts

A T-Mobile prepaid card can save you a lot of money and hassle, but you have to be careful not to let the account expire. T-Mobile prepaid cards expire after 90 days of being uploaded.

You must add more money to the account before the end of the 90 days to ensure your account does not expire and ultimately becomes suspended, leaving you without a phone number altogether.

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