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Billing Tips

Getting a Refund on Your Closed Phone Account

The big 3 phone companies all provide ways to turn your account credit to cash, and put your positive balance back in your pocket:

Jump to AT&T
Jump to T-Mobile
Jump to Verizon

AT&T

• AT&T automatically refunds positive balances on closed accounts. Refunds take 45 days or more.

• AT&T will also refund positive balances for open accounts if you ask.

Refunds and your account status

Getting your refund quickly is important to you, so it’s important to us. How you get your refund depends on whether your account is active or canceled.

  • Active accounts: If you have a credit balance on your AT&T account because of an overpayment, we’ll apply the credit to your next bill unless you contact us and request a refund. Call 800.288.2020 or visit us at an AT&T store.
  • Canceled accounts: Once your account is canceled, it takes us 45 days to process your refund. That gives us time to make any final adjustments to your account. If you don’t get your refund within 60 days, contact us.

T-Mobile

• T-Mobile refunds positive balances on closed accounts. Refunds take 30 days or more.

• T-Mobile may also refund positive balances for open accounts if you ask.

From the T-Mobile website (source):

Payment refund

To request a payment refund contact T-Mobile Customer Service. You’ll need to be the account holder or an authorized user and able to verify the account.

  • Some credit balances aren’t eligible for a payment refund and will apply toward your future monthly charges.
  • Canceled accounts must wait a minimum of 30 days with no payment or charge activity before any credit balance can be refunded to allow time for final charges to be billed.
  • Once your refund request is submitted, it will typically be reviewed within one business day, and you’ll receive a text message that gives the outcome.

Verizon

• Verizon automatically refunds positive balances on closed accounts. Refunds may take 60 days or more.

• Verizon will also refund positive balances for open accounts if you ask.

Since we bill in advance for certain services, when a customer disconnects service they may end up with a credit balance on their final bill. This credit balance will automatically be refunded if you don’t owe any money on any Verizon accounts. This can take 60 days or more.

If you happen to have a credit balance on your account due to an adjustment or duplicate payment, we can refund that amount to you if you don’t owe any money on any Verizon accounts. Contact us and we can process that request.

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