Elderly mum requires plan rethink

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

DamageInc

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#238050 1-Jul-2018 09:51

Good morning,

My elderly mum is currently with Spark and i do believe mum needs to change her plan (and/or provider) to save her money.

Current monthly charges $120.56

Mum's setup currently is broadband/homeline/linked mobile phone(covers texts & calls but no data):

Broadband 60gb $84.97 (barely uses 10gb per month but 60gb is the smallest Spark has to offer)

Everyday national calling $14.00 (this can go as mum hardly calls outside of her region)

Call minder $7.15 (meh can stay or go)

Wire maintenance $4.95 (stay)

One bill basic $6.99 (i think because of the linked mobile phone?)

Paper invoice fee $2.50 (have just signed mum on to mySpark so apparently this goes, bills now via email)

There are cheaper broadband plans out there but not with Spark. I think mum could go to maybe a prepay mobile plan of some sort or packaged like above. Also wants to keep the homeline.

This has bound to have come up with other elderly in NZ so any thoughts from the wider community as to the best option for my mum?

Thank you in advance

Pop! OS

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#2046660 1-Jul-2018 09:53

We pay $55 for 80GB on VodafoneNZ at home VDSL and that cost includes $10 discount for mobile

John

DamageInc

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#2046663 1-Jul-2018 10:02

Thanks John

To show mum's thinking (and other elderly i would imagine) when i was showing mum other providers cost ie Slingshot broadband 150gb $69, mum's first comment was "i don't need 150gb".

I said mum look at the cost vs what you're paying now.

Oh bless her

Pop! OS

ObidiahSlope

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#2046708 1-Jul-2018 10:41

My parents example;

2degrees mobile on a monthly contact with the landline on mobile add on. An iPad with a sim card slot which is linked to their account using 2degrees add a device option.

They are light internet users.

The cost is approximately $60 per month.

Obsequious hypocrite

freitasm

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#2046717 1-Jul-2018 11:07

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

Ditch the landline.

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quickymart

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#2046758 1-Jul-2018 13:15

My Dad is in the same boat. Only uses a few GB per month but he's not technical at all, so it's a challenging situation.

Peamsable

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#2046762 1-Jul-2018 13:30

Does she have (or plan to get) one of those St John LifeLink / medical alarms? I think they still require a landline. I suspect a lot of older folk could “ditch the landline” if it weren’t for that.

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ObidiahSlope

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#2046767 1-Jul-2018 13:40

St John's offers a non landline option. I am not sure of the technical details but I was told the location needs cellular reception.

Obsequious hypocrite

Linux

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#2046768 1-Jul-2018 13:45

spencer: Does she have (or plan to get) one of those St John LifeLink / medical alarms? I think they still require a landline. I suspect a lot of older folk could “ditch the landline” if it weren’t for that.

If they are not IP based these days I would be picking another LifeLink provider

John

DamageInc

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#2046776 1-Jul-2018 13:59

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

Ditch the landline.

Thanks will check it out

Pop! OS

linw

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#2046777 1-Jul-2018 14:00

Just been looking at exactly the same scenario with elderly friend. My, how all those charges add up!

Do a calc with Orcon plus Skinny $9 mobile account.

DamageInc

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#2046778 1-Jul-2018 14:00

quickymart: My Dad is in the same boat. Only uses a few GB per month but he's not technical at all, so it's a challenging situation.

Exactly, whatever we pick it needs to be as painless as possible and fool proof

Pop! OS

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DamageInc

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#2046779 1-Jul-2018 14:03

spencer: Does she have (or plan to get) one of those St John LifeLink / medical alarms? I think they still require a landline. I suspect a lot of older folk could “ditch the landline” if it weren’t for that.

Although she had a stroke years ago, no need for one of those but hey who knows a month from now a year from now we hope not

Pop! OS

DamageInc

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#2046782 1-Jul-2018 14:05

linw:
Just been looking at exactly the same scenario with elderly friend. My, how all those charges add up!

Do a calc with Orcon plus Skinny $9 mobile account.

Will have a look
Ideally it would be good to have it all together under the one bill, making it easy for mum to use etc

Pop! OS

michaelmurfy

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#2046788 1-Jul-2018 14:17

I switched my Nana over to Spark Wireless Landline - $55/mo w/ national calling and 5gb of broadband. The service is delivered over 4G with VoIP for the phone. Zero complaints from her and I almost cut her bill in half by doing so.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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RunningMan

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#2046871 1-Jul-2018 15:42

@michaelmurfy would you mind linking to the Spark Wireless landline on Spark's site? I can only find the 60GB+ plans, and the lower one would be good for someone I know...

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