How I Get the T-Mobile Autopay Discount While Still Using a Credit Card

Back in 2023, I was disappointed when T-Mobile stopped offering the autopay discount for credit card payments. I prefer paying my cell phone bill with a credit to earn rewards, enjoy perks, and even take advantage of built-in protection benefits.

However, I found a way to keep this autopay discount while paying my monthly cell phone bill with The Business Platinum^® Card from American Express* — easily saving $30 every month. Here’s how I do it.

*Unlike typical credit cards that have a Credit Limit, the Amex Business Platinum card has no preset spending limit. No Preset Spending Limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history

How T-Mobile’s Autopay Discount Works

T-Mobile offers an autopay discount of $5 off per eligible line — but only when using a bank account or debit card. The discount applies automatically each month as long as autopay is active and you have a valid payment method.

While you can enter a credit card into your autopay account, the discount doesn’t apply unless a bank account or debit card is on file. I have 4 lines on my T-Mobile plan, so getting the autopay discount each month is worth at least $20 to me.

Why I Always Use a Credit Card for Wireless Payments

Credit cards are my preferred way to pay for anything, as the protections, rewards, and benefits are too valuable to pass up. That’s particularly true when I pay my monthly cell phone bill because I get a statement credit and cell phone protection.

When I pay my cell phone bill with my Amex Business Platinum card, I get:

• Amex cell phone protection coverage for all phones on my plan: This benefit is good for up to $800 per claim with a $50 deductible, and I can make up to 2 claims in a 12-month period.
• Up to $120 in annual wireless phone service statement credits: Worth up to $10 per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. (enrollment required)

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

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The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,300

Annual Fee

$695

APR

18.49% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on eligible travel purchases like flights, prepaid hotels, and prepaid short-term rentals booked through AmexTravel.com
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection (as of 10/2024).
• Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million per calendar year)

Cons

• High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

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Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 10/2024.
• Unlock over $2,000 in statement credits with business and travel benefits annually* on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply. Learn more. *After meeting qualifying spend thresholds
• New! Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
• New! Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
• Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
• Make the Business Platinum Card^® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
• 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com
• 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• 1X points on other eligible purchases
• Use the Business Platinum Card^® and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.49% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

There’s no way I’m leaving cell phone protection benefits on the table. Cell phones are so costly these days, and I’ve had my share of run-ins with accidents, whether my phone is taking an unexpected dip in the ocean, getting run over by a bike, or getting left behind at an airport.

How I Stack T-Mobile’s Autopay Discount and Card Benefits

One month, I experimented. What if I entered my bank account into my T-Mobile account to get the autopay discount, but the payment didn’t actually come out of my bank account? I figured that if I paid with my credit card before the autopay came out, it wouldn’t pull a payment from my bank — and that’s exactly how it worked out.

The autopay discount is based on meeting the enrollment requirements, not the payment method used each month. Here were the steps I took:

• I enrolled in T-Mobile autopay using a bank account to activate the discount.
• Each month, I set a reminder to pay at least a few days before the autopay date. T-Mobile typically texts me a reminder ahead of the autopay date, too.
• Then, I log in and make a one-time payment using my Amex Business Platinum card. When the balance is paid in full, autopay doesn’t trigger — and I still get to keep the discount.

By paying with my Amex Business Platinum card and maintaining T-Mobile autopay enrollment, I save $30 each month — $20 with the autopay discount and up to $10 with the Amex Business Platinum card statement credit — and keep my cell phone protection benefits.

Final Thoughts

While T-Mobile’s autopay policy appears to require payments from a bank account or debit card, it’s only from an enrollment perspective. I make a simple manual payment each month with my Amex Business Platinum card, and I’m able to keep my autopay discount and cell phone protection benefits, and save with the monthly statement credit.

It takes just a moment, and it’s one of the easiest ways I save money every single month.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.