[T-Mobile Note 7  Guides, News, & Discussion] Auvenell:
Note 7 to Galaxy S8+ Jump on Demand

I've been a lurker on XDA until now; I will describe my time with the Note 7 and switch to the (pre-ordered) S8+.

I obtained my Note 7 shortly after it was released a second time. Confident that the batteries were fine despite allegations of a second round of explosions, I decided to keep my device. I downloaded (and pointedly resisted updating) EZ Disabler Pro, and promptly disabled updates as users on this forum warned of upcoming updates that would limit battery life, and functionality. The app and update restrictions have been in place since November 2016; therefore I still possess a Note 7 device which charges to 100% and more or less performs the way it was intended to at the time of release.

I use my S-Pen constantly. Smart Select is a tool I use multiple times, every day, and I will be quite sad to let it go as I upgrade to the Galaxy S8+. However, having a supported device which will receive updates and is not banned on commercial aircraft is worth the trade in until the Note 8 pops in October of this year.

T-Mobile has made the transition difficult. Any time I call about billing issues or service agreements, representatives ask me about the Note 7 and seem to be unable to process requests on my line because of the phone's status as a recalled device. The first time I called into to pre-order the Galaxy S8+ and trade in my Note 7 through Jump on Demand, I was refused. The representative informed me that I would be unable to complete this trade in due to the Note 7's status, and that I must continue through a standard Jump upgrade, which would put me on an Equipment Installment Plan (EIP). I firmly believe in technology leasing due to the financially unfeasible process of owning the latest devices, and was not willing to take the EIP route. Instead, I ended my call with T-Mobile and decided to do some research on the JoD lease.

In my research I found that as a lessee, I do not own my Note 7. The Note 7 belongs to T-Mobile, and they must take it back and continue my program with a new phoneas long as the trade in device meets the physical requirements for return. (My phone is in mint condition) I also found that pre-orders are covered under JoD, and then was confused as to why I was being refused.

After learning this, I called T-Mobile again, in the early morning hours (I'm in EST US) at about 2am. Turns out that standard customer service representative in the US are just lazy and unwilling to do research. My rep was based in the Philippines and while she initially had responses very similar to earlier reps I had spoken to, upon being asked direct questions about my JoD lease, she took the time (spent about 75 mins on the phone with her) to look through documentation, click through menus on her employee terminal and find the option of continuing my JoD lease, and pre-ordering the S8+ through that portal.

TLDR;

If you're being told that you can't continue JoD because you have a Note 7 and would like to trade in for the S8(+), ask direct questions about your lease until the reps stop being bums and actually go through the documentation. IT IS POSSIBLE TO PRE-ORDER THE S8+ ON JoD COMING FROM A NOTE 7. They will take the first opportunity to hand you off to another rep or force you through the method that they are most familiar with. Keep in mind, newer reps may not know anything about JoD since the program has long been unavailable to new customers. Foreign reps in my experience (whether it be for billing issues, accidental charges, line adjustments, etc) seem to care more your situation/satisfaction than the average US rep.

P.S:

Be warned, JoD is no longer available to new or existing customers. If you leave JoD now, it will not be possible to get back on such a lease. JoD lessees are grandfathered to the program.