Elderly mum requires plan rethink

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Elderly mum requires plan rethink

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#2047410 2-Jul-2018 12:31

sbiddle:

kryptonjohn:

freitasm:

$65 80GB/month on 2degrees. $10 discount if mobile with them.

Ditch the landline.

We wouid, but Mum's got a St John medic alert pendant so needs to keep the landline.

Aren't most of these pendant models all 3G based now? Even elderly people are getting rod of landlines so they're becoming increasingly popular.

Next time I'll have a closer look, but IIRC it's currently plugged into the phone socket.

jonathan18

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#2047444 2-Jul-2018 13:08

About the base unit

The base unit is either connected to a telephone line in your home or to the cellular (mobile) network.

https://www.stjohn.org.nz/Medical-Alarms/Medical-Alarm-Devices/

So can be either. I think, though, even if on the mobile network they’re limited to working close to the base unit (ie, won’t work anywhere on the mobile network).

DamageInc

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#2047844 2-Jul-2018 20:10

yitz: Would need to be careful not to give the Wi-Fi password out to the grandkids with a data cap like that, what is the overage charge rate on those plans?

Its all good, the grandkids all have their own data lol plus i'll be telling mum not to give it out (she cant remember it anyway).

Pop! OS

DamageInc

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#2047845 2-Jul-2018 20:11

hio77:

johny99: The Spark 5gb with landline had been grandfathered, can get 20gb and landline for $59.99 tho.

as above.

someone here knows plans far better than i.. they could see if there is something better.

spark isn't the cheapest provider out there, nor do i feel like low cost (which often comes with a lack of support) is quite suited to elderly folk.

Good point

Tomorrow i'm definitely asking about the above plan.

Pop! OS

hio77

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Lizard Networks

#2047855 2-Jul-2018 20:29

jonathan18: About the base unit

The base unit is either connected to a telephone line in your home or to the cellular (mobile) network.

https://www.stjohn.org.nz/Medical-Alarms/Medical-Alarm-Devices/

So can be either. I think, though, even if on the mobile network they’re limited to working close to the base unit (ie, won’t work anywhere on the mobile network).

Pretty sure the 3g unit is a different base to the landline one

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

jonathan18

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#2047867 2-Jul-2018 20:53

hio77:

Pretty sure the 3g unit is a different base to the landline one

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that the same unit can work using mobile data or fixed wire phone line, but rather the options of both are available to users of the St John's alarm!

kotuku4

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#2048018 3-Jul-2018 08:49

I set up my dear old Dad with Flip ASDL broadband and homeline some years ago.

Currently paying $59.95 per month and this includes national calling and 100mb of data.

Seems simple and reliable.

I only changed from Flip as they don't do UFB fibre, just ASDL or VDSL.

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#2048020 3-Jul-2018 08:53

kotuku4:

I set up my dear old Dad with Flip ASDL broadband and homeline some years ago.

Currently paying $59.95 per month and this includes national calling and 100mb of data.

Seems simple and reliable.

I only changed from Flip as they don't do UFB fibre, just ASDL or VDSL.

@kotuku4 100MB of data is not going to get end users to far

John

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#2048023 3-Jul-2018 08:57

No not much data, but there is roll over. And is fine for some older people who are more interested in the land line and national calling.

kotuku4

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#2048024 3-Jul-2018 08:58

Sorry yes 100 GB of data per month, with roll over.

RunningMan

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#2048136 3-Jul-2018 10:35

How is Flip’s voice delivered?

alasta

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#2048165 3-Jul-2018 11:07

michaelmurfy:

@jonathan18 It is the same for my parents for example - they hardly use the landline and "should" ditch it but they still want it because the number they've got has been theirs for almost 30 years. I've just got it running off VoIP which works fine for them. Ditching the landline is not an option for some people - my Nana would kill me if I switched off her landline in favor for a mobile phone.

I still have nightmares from when I had to move my technophobic mother from a rotary dial phone to a touch-tone phone. I would hate to have to move her to a mobile!

quickymart

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#2048180 3-Jul-2018 11:37

Flip might be good for my Dad too. I'll have a look into it for him.

Rikkitic

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#2048193 3-Jul-2018 12:02

alasta:

michaelmurfy:

@jonathan18 It is the same for my parents for example - they hardly use the landline and "should" ditch it but they still want it because the number they've got has been theirs for almost 30 years. I've just got it running off VoIP which works fine for them. Ditching the landline is not an option for some people - my Nana would kill me if I switched off her landline in favor for a mobile phone.

I still have nightmares from when I had to move my technophobic mother from a rotary dial phone to a touch-tone phone. I would hate to have to move her to a mobile!

My mother had a VCR for years. She refused to touch it because she was afraid she would 'break' it. So it remained unused. I'm not sure how she ever got it in the first place. Someone must have given it to her.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

DamageInc

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#2048298 3-Jul-2018 13:29

Crack me up - on mums account in Spark:

Manage Account Access

Add myself non-Spark user

"This email isnt associated with a Spark ID"

WTF??

So only Spark account holders are allowed to have access?

What a joke!!

Sorry account holder, your family are not allowed access to help with your account.

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