Thought my story might be useful for other unsuspecting Skinny Direct customers considering a switch back to Skinny mobile at some stage.

Skinny Mobile is deliberately making it difficult and include a cost deterrent to fairly switch between Skinny Direct and Skinny Mobile - the only such provider switch the do this for. All others are free.

When signing up to Skinny Direct they advise in the terms and conditions that a $15 fee will apply if you switch back to Skinny mobile. However, this only applies to the process of switching over an existing mobile number back to skinny mobile from skinny direct. if you get a new number they won't charge such a fee.

When signing up with skinny mobile via their website, they advertise that when switching numbers: Both options, bring your number or get a new number as free - there is no mention of the $15 fee.  You then proceed to buy the sim and mobile plan during the signup process. There is also no mention in their terms and conditions likewise.

What I take issue with is the lack of transparency and the deliberate attempt to discourage switching over for the provider to that provider only. The reverse process does include such a fee. The skinny mobile website allows you to switch over free with any other provider for free online. You have no choice but to ring up as there is no option to select Skinny Direct as existing provider online. At which point you are advised of the $15 administration fee after already committing (buying sim, plan and activating the sim). 

I recently went through this process and have found the skinny mobile team unwilling to waiver this fee and am unsatisfied with their reasoning or transparency during the process. I would like to see this sort of anti-competitive consumer choice policy to be made more transparent at least as part of the sign up process within skinny mobile as it only applies there.  Having it in the sign up terms to skinny direct is one thing (but why would I fairly be expected to be looking at those when taking out a new contract with Skinny mobile). This needs to be listed in the terms signing up with skinny mobile this is where the new contract exists and only applies to them when changing numbers.  What I would like to see most though is this sort of corporate behaviour being curtailed for what is a free process for any other provider - the switch process should be made consistent with other provider switches. This is purely a disruptive and unfair initiative to keep customers staying with skinny direct and make it harder for them to switch. There is no basis for the fee other than as an administrative fee because the consumer was calling their help centre, which is enforced by the switching phone number process online which does not allow skinny direct as an option to switch from.

Skinny mobile have refunded me for the sim and combo, but I'd rather have avoided this completely and been informed prior to switching. They have since lost a customer out of principle.

Thanks, I hope this information is useful in making an informed decision when switching to Skinny Direct.