Any good reason not to switch to Skinny?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Any good reason not to switch to Skinny?

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StarBlazer

961 posts

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#1040367 8-May-2014 21:29

Wife and elder daughter moved to skinny at the end of last year and haven't looked back. Missing 4G not a problem for either. Easy to manage the account online and never had any problems with reception. Youngest daughter is still on telecom $9 as I don't want her to have data (too young for uncontrolled access to the internet around friends).

The $16 pack is so hard to beat. IIRC the minutes and text roll over for up to a year, but don't let the plan expire as you automatically lose any rollover. Also if you bring your old number with you you get a sign up bonus.

Remember switching providers is not a life sentence, if you don't like them take your money elsewhere. At least you can keep your number. Switchover to skinny was painless even on Christmas Day! Not many providers can boast that.

Procrastination eventually pays off.

AKLWestie

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#1040375 8-May-2014 21:34

StarBlazer:
The $16 pack is so hard to beat. IIRC the minutes and text roll over for up to a year, but don't let the plan expire as you automatically lose any rollover.

You can setup an auto topup of $16 every 30 days to make sure you have enought credit to renew the monthly combo.

JimmyH

2886 posts

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#1040377 8-May-2014 21:40

I'm still reluctant to use them. The odious practice of sim-locking phones kind of put me off.

zaptor

745 posts

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#1040393 8-May-2014 21:59

AKLWestie:
StarBlazer:
The $16 pack is so hard to beat. IIRC the minutes and text roll over for up to a year, but don't let the plan expire as you automatically lose any rollover.

You can setup an auto topup of $16 every 30 days to make sure you have enought credit to renew the monthly combo.

Yes. That's one of the things that look so appealing with Skinny. Setting up an "AP" via credit card for a prepaid plan. I like that the top up amount is variable ($5 minimum). I'd have a buffer on each account anyway just in case, which I could top-up if needed. Not having to manually top-up is such a welcome convenience.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1040397 8-May-2014 22:01

As for those complaining about coverage being good on network X but poor on network Y. Check what bands your phone supports. When I use the (work provided) Sony Xperia (Telecom branded) with a 2degrees SIM. I find that data often drops out or only works a 2G speeds. But this is not a fault on the 2D network. It is because the phone only supports some of the bands that 2D uses. I also have an older Samsung phone that gets good reception on 2D but keeps dropping out completely on Telecom. Again due to the bands that phone supports and not a Telecom network fault.

zaptor

745 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1040398 8-May-2014 22:03

StarBlazer: Also if you bring your old number with you you get a sign up bonus.

It's currently a $16 month credit, which is basically the first (or second depending on how you look at it) month free.

Obviously, we'll be taking advantage of that promo...

blakamin

4431 posts

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Inactive user

#1040399 8-May-2014 22:05

I use Skinny SIMs every time I come to NZ. Never had an issue and their support (twitter and here) is awesome.

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zaptor

745 posts

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#1040400 8-May-2014 22:08

JimmyH: I'm still reluctant to use them. The odious practice of sim-locking phones kind of put me off.

AFAIK, none of our phones will be sim-locked post switch (from TNZ). Then again, none were Skinny phones to begin with.

StarBlazer

961 posts

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#1040423 8-May-2014 22:42

AKLWestie:
StarBlazer:
The $16 pack is so hard to beat. IIRC the minutes and text roll over for up to a year, but don't let the plan expire as you automatically lose any rollover.

You can setup an auto topup of $16 every 30 days to make sure you have enought credit to renew the monthly combo.

I've now got it set up to credit $20 whenever the balance drops below $20. I didn't realise that you could specify $16 per month. I will maybe get that changed.

Procrastination eventually pays off.

StarBlazer

961 posts

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#1040424 8-May-2014 22:45

JimmyH: I'm still reluctant to use them. The odious practice of sim-locking phones kind of put me off.

they all do that for the cheaper phones. You'll probably find that paying the unlock fee on top is still cheaper than buying the phone from elsewhere.

Procrastination eventually pays off.

1eStar

1604 posts

Uber Geek

#1040436 8-May-2014 23:14

I bought a cheap LG skinny phone for a mifi and it said "set up to only work on Skinny", but it isn't locked.

old3eyes

9119 posts

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#1040568 9-May-2014 09:18

JimmyH: I'm still reluctant to use them. The odious practice of sim-locking phones kind of put me off.

Then you won't use Vodafone or Telecom then?? They both SIM lock some of their fones as well.

Regards,

Old3eyes

StarBlazer

961 posts

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#1040594 9-May-2014 09:34

StarBlazer:
AKLWestie:
StarBlazer:
The $16 pack is so hard to beat. IIRC the minutes and text roll over for up to a year, but don't let the plan expire as you automatically lose any rollover.

You can setup an auto topup of $16 every 30 days to make sure you have enought credit to renew the monthly combo.

I've now got it set up to credit $20 whenever the balance drops below $20. I didn't realise that you could specify $16 per month. I will maybe get that changed.

The problem is the free texts only include "person to person" texts. If you ever get texts from a system number like my wife does from the hairdresser to confirm her appointment, and it says please reply yes/no, then these are not included and will be charged at the normal rate which will mean a $16 top-up wont be enough - losing your rollover for 8c would be annoying! I guess just adding a $5 buffer on the account would solve that problem but do watch out for it.

Procrastination eventually pays off.

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