Is there a way of Avoiding Standard Data Rates?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Is there a way of Avoiding Standard Data Rates?

Spoonguard

19 posts

Geek

#140901 24-Feb-2014 06:59

I am a somewhat sporadic user of (amongst other things) Mobile Data. Recently, I carelessly and rapidly depleted a Mobile Data allowance, and then proceeded to deplete all my credit. I was only alerted much after everything stopped working.

How do I avoid my credit being depleted by Standard Data Rates? Thus far the only method I can see is to not load credit, which is inconvenient for everybody.

PaulBrislen

198 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#993119 24-Feb-2014 08:31

You should get a TXT message from your provider when you hit 80% usage and another at 100%.

That doesn't help if you have your SIM in an iPad or similar, of course.

In which case, download your provider's app. That should push messages out to you in a timely fashion.

SaltyNZ

8225 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#993124 24-Feb-2014 08:49

PaulBrislen: You should get a TXT message from your provider when you hit 80% usage and another at 100%.

That doesn't help if you have your SIM in an iPad or similar, of course.

In which case, download your provider's app. That should push messages out to you in a timely fashion.

Assuming she means 2degrees, although we do send them when there is a low balance remaining, we don't currently send them to notify that data is completely consumed because otherwise people complain that they're being spammed with notifications. So this week the pendulum is swinging towards less notifications.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't, I'm afraid.

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

Spoonguard

19 posts

Geek

#993133 24-Feb-2014 09:20

I did receive a message from +233 that my "MBs where almost out!", 6-12 hours after it happened.

Also, the 2° apk doesn't notify as far as I remember.

SaltyNZ

8225 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#993136 24-Feb-2014 09:23

Spoonguard: I did receive a message from +233 that my "MBs where almost out!", 6-12 hours after it happened.

Yes, most likely because you ran low in the middle of the night, and people also complain if we text them in the middle of the night, so we have to delay it till the morning.

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#993137 24-Feb-2014 09:26

SaltyNZ:
Spoonguard: I did receive a message from +233 that my "MBs where almost out!", 6-12 hours after it happened.

Yes, most likely because you ran low in the middle of the night, and people also complain if we text them in the middle of the night, so we have to delay it till the morning.

LOL I remember this. I seem to recall there is a thread on geekzone here somewhere with all the complaints.

SaltyNZ

8225 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#993140 24-Feb-2014 09:28

Klipspringer:
LOL I remember this. I seem to recall there is a thread on geekzone here somewhere with all the complaints.

More than one... :-(

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

jonb

1771 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#993159 24-Feb-2014 10:14

Depending on what phone you have, there should be a Data Usage setting in your phone where you can set daily, weekly or monthly warning and limits. Windows, Android and iPhone all have similar functionality in this area.

You could get the 2degrees $6 for 50MB data pack that autorenews if you exceed it, but the data only lasts for a month before it auto-renews again.

Sharesies kids

Free kids accounts - trade shares and funds (NZ, US) with Sharesies (affiliate link).

2degreesCare

1537 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

#993346 24-Feb-2014 14:15

What Salty and Jonb say.... please can you PM me your number and I'll take a look.

If you're on a data session and you use enough data to go over the 'low balance SMS' trigger point and use up the rest of your pack or plan 'wallet' it will take an remaining cash balance to ensure you stay connected.

Here's the Data Pack T & C's (see section 8) - NZ Data Pack T & Cs

Cheers
^POB

rugrat

3107 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#993534 24-Feb-2014 18:55

Looking at point 12 on terms and conditions on link in above post,

Looks like to me data pack should renew automatically. It also seems to imply to me the way it's written that even if you don't disconnect from session that's run out, it should still auto renew.

The only things to stop it from renewing are:

1 not enough credit to renew.

2 phone must be on prepay, otherwise looks like it doesn't renew when data reaches threshold point

richms

28172 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#993712 24-Feb-2014 22:36

I have had this problem on all networks.

Solution is to screw around only topping up just enough to buy the pack you need at the time you need it, and keep the money till you need to top up more and then use a visa to do it, or to carry around some top up vouchers you have already bought.

Casual data is so expensive I dont want to use it. JohnR said he could switch casual off for me on vodafone but I am only on Telecom and 2degrees at the moment, so suffer the same problem of accidentally doing somethign when on 4G and finding the notifications all come in at once and then I have chewed thru the remaining $4 or 5 of credit on the sim in about 20 seconds at casual rates.

Richard rich.ms

Spoonguard

19 posts

Geek

#999303 5-Mar-2014 10:29

Well, I guess the solution to this is "Do not give them any money". My monthly usage doesn't fit their within their cruel modulus, and even if I went on a regular post-paid plan far beyond what I need it would still be a hazard. Would it be technically impossible to provide a subscription to a data pack, not exclusive of any other, that has an allowance of 0 bytes and lasts 30 days?

SaltyNZ

8225 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#999370 5-Mar-2014 12:13

Spoonguard: that has an allowance of 0 bytes and lasts 30 days?

I'm not sure how this would help?

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

Spoonguard

19 posts

Geek

#999459 5-Mar-2014 14:02

SaltyNZ:
Spoonguard: that has an allowance of 0 bytes and lasts 30 days?

I'm not sure how this would help?

When you exhaust a data pack, it will try to Auto-Renew. If you do not have enough credit to renew, you will be blocked from accessing the internet. If you have unsubscribed from the pack, your credit is expended and then you will be unable to access the internet, make phone calls, check your voicemail or send messages.

Think of my proposal as credit insurance for people who find auto-renewing packs obnoxious.