This simple trick lets you bypass T-Mobile’s new in-store policy

Back in February, we learned that T-Mobile had quietly moved away from its traditional customer service experience, requiring customers to handle most tasks — including adding new phone lines and devices — through the app, even while in-store. At the time, it was clarified that while this would become the primary method, customers could still decline the T-Life experience if they wished. Unfortunately, Redditor  tva_raylan now reports that this may no longer be the case.

Starting today, T-Mobile is requiring both its corporate and third-party retail locations to reach 60% usage for the T-Life app.

What does this mean exactly? As soon as you arrive in-store, you’ll automatically be checked in by default, and from there, you’ll work with a rep to make any changes. However, the rep will no longer be able to use the traditional method, where they walk you through everything and complete the transaction using a tablet. While you can hand your device to the rep to perform the steps for you, many customers feel this is far from ideal.

A few exceptions are allowed, but even those appear to be loosely defined. In the Reddit thread, T-Mobile employees debated the exact terms. While it seems you can still add a line if you bring your own device, there’s uncertainty about whether watches and other connected devices are included in those exceptions or not.

Thankfully there’s a very simple trick to get past this limitation

One possible workaround is to visit a store-within-a-store location (like a T-Mobile kiosk inside a big-box retailer), as some of these locations have not yet adopted the new system. That said, even this approach may be hit or miss. Thankfully, there’s still one surefire way to get a more traditional T-Mobile experience: cold hard cash.

That’s right, the only guaranteed way to bypass the T-Life app is to bring in cash. Since cash cannot be processed digitally, T-Mobile must allow an alternate route for these transactions. So if you’re determined to avoid the T-Life system, you might want to hit the ATM before your next visit.