When I ported my VennMobile number over to Tello, I signed up for Tello's 1GB monthly plan. My objective in moving to Tello was to make sure VennMobile didn't somehow lock up my phone.
At the end of this month, I don't really need to continue with my 1GB plan. I don't have a PayGo balance on that line either.
Couple questions for Tello veterans here -
If I just don't renew the 1GB plan, what exactly happens to that line, and to the phone that I have on the line?
What happens to the 10 Tello bucks on the line? Can I come back in say October, and use the Tello bucks to sign up for a plan?
Does the number go away if there's no plan and no PayGo balance?
Assuming you don't have autopay set up, the line will cancel, the phone will be released, and the number forfeited. With one big caveat: I don't know whether, or how long, Tello might hold the line in stasis in case you forgot to pay. If that happens, for however long it continues, your phone will be tied to Tello & the number with it.
I have read that Tello Dollars are tied to the account, not the line-- but have never been in the situation to confirm it personally. According to those reports, you can cancel the line without cancelling the account (it would be an empty account with no line), and the Tello Dollars would stay attached if you should activate a new line on that account. (But note that activating a new line on that account would likely not qualify for any 'new customer' promo, or any further referral bonus, since you've already used it once.)
Yes, with the caveat of a temporary stasis situation mentioned in item 1). When the phone is released for activation elsewhere, the number will definitely be lost. (A network can't maintain a cellular number without an attached device.)
As noted above, Tello does allow a little bit of a grace period for lapsed payments/accounts. A member of our family forgot to update her credit card information when she got a new card, so she was without service for a day or so until she noticed the problem. Once her payment information was corrected, her phone service was restored with her "Tello Dollars" intact.
One other thing to consider: When you renew your monthly plan using your "Tello Dollars", no taxes or fees are added. So if you wanted to renew your $10 plan for another month, your $10 "Tello Dollars" balance would cover it. But if you really have no interest in continuing for now, your best bet would probably be to contact Tello Support to get a definitive answer regarding how long your "Tello Dollars" referral rewards would remain valid on your inactive account.
Thanks for your replies, folks. I got this “official” reply from Tello. I don’t think their answer to my first question answers the question at all, but the answers to the other questions were pretty useful.
If I just don't renew the 1GB plan, what exactly happens to that line, and to the phone that I have on the line?
Monthly plans automatically renew every 30 days. If you don't want to get billed anymore, you should cancel the plan (click on cancel plan on the dashboard) at least one day before the renewal date.
What happens to the 10 Tello bucks on the line? Can I come back in say October, and use the Tello bucks to sign up for a plan?
If you cancel your plan, the 10 Tello Dollars will be lost.
You can come back but you will need to place a new order and you will be assigned a new phone number (the number expires after 60 days)
Does the number go away if there's no plan and no PayGo balance?
Contrary to what Tello says the tello bucks don't tend to get lost so easily. I don't know specifically about lapsing/canceling a plan but I've ported out a number (so everything is cancelled) and a week or more later signed up for a new plan using the tello dollars remaining.