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Consumer Electronics Mobile phone plans

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walshy93

walshy93

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Hey guys,

I find this topic pretty interesting, as all carriers seem to have a host of problems and shortfalls when it comes to providing solid mobile plans, especially over 24 months.

I'm currently with Vodafone... they're getting better but in some places their reception and data is pretty shocking. I'm really tempted to get the new Sony Xperia Z phone, and with Vodafone, the pricing is pretty competitive.

I gave them a call and asked what the pricing would look like to renew my contract now would be ($210 "cancellation" fee (30 per month remaining- fair enough) and then I found out the offer of "500MB bonus data for students" wasn't applicable to existing customers?

I understand they want to lure new customers, but not offering this to existing and loyal customers?

I'm almost tempted to just start a new contract with Telstra, as they offer more data, a better connection and a free wireless speaker set.

I don't understand these company policies, it just shows shoddy customer service. Surely there is a way into sweet talking them into these added bonuses?

Any ideas or stories of getting around silly charges from telcos?
 
lolvodafone. Worst customer service in Australia by far. Avoid them like the plague.
 
walshy93 said:
Hey guys,

I find this topic pretty interesting, as all carriers seem to have a host of problems and shortfalls when it comes to providing solid mobile plans, especially over 24 months.

I'm currently with Vodafone... they're getting better but in some places their reception and data is pretty shocking. I'm really tempted to get the new Sony Xperia Z phone, and with Vodafone, the pricing is pretty competitive.

I gave them a call and asked what the pricing would look like to renew my contract now would be ($210 "cancellation" fee (30 per month remaining- fair enough) and then I found out the offer of "500MB bonus data for students" wasn't applicable to existing customers?

I understand they want to lure new customers, but not offering this to existing and loyal customers?

I'm almost tempted to just start a new contract with Telstra, as they offer more data, a better connection and a free wireless speaker set.

I don't understand these company policies, it just shows shoddy customer service. Surely there is a way into sweet talking them into these added bonuses?

Any ideas or stories of getting around silly charges from telcos?
Click to expand...

It sure does.

Just call them up, say you want to speak to the cancellations department. Tell them you are moving to Telstra/Optus etc because their service is shit, and you are getting a good deal elsewhere. They will give you your free bonuses and probably a few free months (or no cancellation fee) if you re-new your contract. Just make them beleive you are serious about leaving.
 

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walshy93 said:
Hey guys,

I find this topic pretty interesting, as all carriers seem to have a host of problems and shortfalls when it comes to providing solid mobile plans, especially over 24 months.

I'm currently with Vodafone... they're getting better but in some places their reception and data is pretty shocking. I'm really tempted to get the new Sony Xperia Z phone, and with Vodafone, the pricing is pretty competitive.

I gave them a call and asked what the pricing would look like to renew my contract now would be ($210 "cancellation" fee (30 per month remaining- fair enough) and then I found out the offer of "500MB bonus data for students" wasn't applicable to existing customers?

I understand they want to lure new customers, but not offering this to existing and loyal customers?

I'm almost tempted to just start a new contract with Telstra, as they offer more data, a better connection and a free wireless speaker set.

I don't understand these company policies, it just shows shoddy customer service. Surely there is a way into sweet talking them into these added bonuses?

Any ideas or stories of getting around silly charges from telcos?
Click to expand...

I think there a are few lawyers around big footy, but my understanding is the "cancellation fee" is in affect a pentalty clause, which rarely hold up in court, as the fee is not an justifiable estimate of loss. I am no lawyer though. Those cancellation fees gyms and phone companies try to hang on customers are a crock
 
Kogan is pointless when considering the handset is 4G compatible, but the Kogan/Telstra network is the old, pre-NEXT-G network.

For my old phone it would be perfect, unfortunately :(
 
walshy93 said:
Hey guys,

I find this topic pretty interesting, as all carriers seem to have a host of problems and shortfalls when it comes to providing solid mobile plans, especially over 24 months.

I'm currently with Vodafone... they're getting better but in some places their reception and data is pretty shocking. I'm really tempted to get the new Sony Xperia Z phone, and with Vodafone, the pricing is pretty competitive.
Click to expand...
Getting one of these too, lauch day with telstra is the 26th on this month. Can't wait!
 
Squeeky wheel unfortunately always gets the greese in this industry.

Cancellations department lways your friend.
 
walshy93 said:
Kogan is pointless when considering the handset is 4G compatible, but the Kogan/Telstra network is the old, pre-NEXT-G network.

For my old phone it would be perfect, unfortunately :(
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, when wanting to use the latest technology, you will be the price taker more often than not.
 
Phones are hard to understand. I just ask the people at the shop what's good or not. Optus called me yesterday, and apparently my contract of my phone is up, so now i'm getting a Samsung Galaxy S3 in the mail on Monday. Hopefully it lives up to the lofty expectations of my previous phone, the nokia E5. Didn't break once in the two and a bit years i've had it.
 
Atheist said:
lolvodafone. Worst customer service in Australia by far. Avoid them like the plague.
Click to expand...

I've never been with anyone but Vodafone because I was with 3 before they got taken over. 3 were actually ok, but it's been nothing but shit since. Terrible service and staff who barely speak English makes it hard to deal with. Unfortunately I have 18 months or so left on my contract. Like Igloo I don't really have the know how, but I'm switching as A.S.A.P.
 

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Whatever you do don't go on lock in contracts. If I'm unhappy with my current provider I can just leave at the end of the month, it's a good incentive to have decent service.

Plus buying your own handset is so much cheaper it isn't funny. 24 month plans are basically the Crisco of the mobile phone industry.
 
I gave up on being on a plan, especially with 3/vodaphone, so I bought a phone outright and am on a prepaid plan where it's only 1/2 of the price I was paying each month, and I get more included value, plus 5gb data each month. Not locked in to anything, I was only using a fraction of the amount included in my previous cap anyway, so I much prefer it this way.
 
Holy Foley! said:
I've never been with anyone but Vodafone because I was with 3 before they got taken over. 3 were actually ok, but it's been nothing but shit since. Terrible service and staff who barely speak English makes it hard to deal with. Unfortunately I have 18 months or so left on my contract. Like Igloo I don't really have the know how, but I'm switching as A.S.A.P.
Click to expand...
Contact the ombudsman. You can be released from your contract under certain circumstances, especially with Vodafone.
 
Yeah I made a mistake signing a new 24 month contract. Can I be released simply because I don't like them? Prepaid seems the way to go.
 
Igloo said:
Phones are hard to understand. I just ask the people at the shop what's good or not. Optus called me yesterday, and apparently my contract of my phone is up, so now i'm getting a Samsung Galaxy S3 in the mail on Monday. Hopefully it lives up to the lofty expectations of my previous phone, the nokia E5. Didn't break once in the two and a bit years i've had it.
Click to expand...

Had one for a month and I have wondered wtf I have been doing for so long...

caveman.jpg
 
The overlap of payments between months is the first real shock.

I got mine the other day and its like a maths degree required to sort out when what finished and when what started.

Wont really know until the second bill as to what is truly going on with the bundling of everything.
 

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Simple Jack said:
24 month plans are basically the Crisco of the mobile phone industry.
Click to expand...
Not really. With a mobile phone you get the product up front and pay it off in the future. With Chrisco hampers you are paying up front and get the product at the end of the contract.

With phone plans the premium you pay represents the time value of money. With Crisco they represent... well, not sure.
 
Simple Jack said:
Whatever you do don't go on lock in contracts. If I'm unhappy with my current provider I can just leave at the end of the month, it's a good incentive to have decent service.

Plus buying your own handset is so much cheaper it isn't funny. 24 month plans are basically the Crisco of the mobile phone industry.
Click to expand...

I am on a 24 month contract with Telstra. I get more than enough calls and data for my usage level and they gave me a Samsung Galaxy SII 4G when I signed up (July/August 2012). The only way I would pay an extra $10 or whatever it is per month would be if I had to have the absolute latest model phone at the time of sign-up, which is not particularly important to me.
 
i am on TPG, bringing my old iphone, pay like 20 bucks for 500 bucks of calls and text and some data (enough)

off optus network

no contract = winning
 
I regret sticking with Vodafone, they cut me off the network during the 3 changeover and then initially offered me a $79 refurbed prepaid phone to finish my term (in other words a piece of junk with a 500mhz processor to replace my HTC), said others were getting offered refurbished iphones and s2's, got told that was a lie so told them to shove that. Got offered then that they would cancel the 8 months left on my contract if I went to a bigger plan... Again stuff that. Went into a store and got offered half the contract waived if I signed onto a new 2 year deal, once again said stuff that either waive the whole lot if I sign on or I'm taking legal action for failure to provide services paid for. Ended up getting 8 months waived if I signed onto a 2 year contract, mainly now just regret not taking advantage of the 30 day policy and going elsewhere their customer service is horrible, their plans are rather poor value for money and their reception is still rubbish.

Sadly still have 1.5 years to go and the new phone I got has already had to be repaired once (again terrible service, got a loan phone that didn't work and had private details from the last customer on it, 2 week repair quoted time turned into 1.5 months...). Made worse with the fact it came back with the latest updates on it which apparently translates to going from a clean install to a bunch of pre-installed, un-removeable useless apps and being unable to change my homepage from vodafones website...
 
here's a plan for you: disconnecty your phone and go live on bora bora serving cocktails to women you'll never get a chance to accidentally kiss on the elbow when you're bending down to pick up her lipstick and men who's earring costs more than your hous.e
 

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