Usage Pack Expiry

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networkn

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# 81314 11-Apr-2011 21:50

http://store.telecom.co.nz/mobile/prepaid/mobilebroadband/sierra-wireless-306

How can I determine how long before the 500MB I get with this stick expires? Is there a rule of thumb as to Telecom Data pack expiry?

corksta

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# 457669 12-Apr-2011 00:08

You haven't got 500MB as such, you have $29.95 of credit on there which would allow you to use 500MB in one calendar month.

In a calendar month you are charged 10c per MB until you hit 300MB, which would equal $30, then the remaining 200MB is free. So you're only charged for what you use until you hit the $30 cap.

This usage resets the following month. So if you use 240MB (or $24) in a particular month, but don't use any more, your usage starts from zero again the following month, i.e. usage isn't cumulative.

Once you top up you have six months to use that credit before it expires, so once you activate your new stick with the preloaded credit you'll have six months to use it if you don't top up in between.

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firefuze

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# 457676 12-Apr-2011 07:01

Well put, Also with the pre provisioned prepaid data sims your calender/rollover date starts from the day you first use it, not the day of purchase.

EDIT: sorry just realised you mention this in your last sentence!

JarrodM

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# 458009 12-Apr-2011 21:39

corksta: Once you top up you have six months to use that credit before it expires, so once you activate your new stick with the preloaded credit you'll have six months to use it if you don't top up in between.

I believe they changed it to 12 month expiry (well mine is anyway)

networkn

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# 458011 12-Apr-2011 21:42

So the initial pack is good for 1 calendar month, but subsequent top ups good for 12 months? Am I reading that correctly?

corksta

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# 458054 12-Apr-2011 23:42

Well the T&Cs still say six months, might be worth a phone call to them to clarify.

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freitasm

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# 458057 12-Apr-2011 23:46

I am seriously thinking of swithing my data only SIM from account to prepay. toyed with the idea of using 2degrees, but seeing they use a "national" and "local" pricing tiers model, and seeing how Telecom XT is so much faster, I might stick with XT.

Just one question: you purchase the 500MB or 2GB, but only pay what you use up to the cap, then another pack and then casual rates. If during the month you had the SIM stashed in the drawer there's actually no charges to your account, unlike Vodafone for example.

Did I understand correctly? If so, how do I "buy the pack"? Just register the SIM online and load the bundle from there?

robbyp

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# 458061 13-Apr-2011 00:04

freitasm: I am seriously thinking of swithing my data only SIM from account to prepay. toyed with the idea of using 2degrees, but seeing they use a "national" and "local" pricing tiers model, and seeing how Telecom XT is so much faster, I might stick with XT.

Just one question: you purchase the 500MB or 2GB, but only pay what you use up to the cap, then another pack and then casual rates. If during the month you had the SIM stashed in the drawer there's actually no charges to your account, unlike Vodafone for example.

Did I understand correctly? If so, how do I "buy the pack"? Just register the SIM online and load the bundle from there?

You've identified the problem with the telecom plan, in that it isn't particually well explained on their website. This is unlike the other two mobile companies, where they do explain the plan well. I can't answer that either, but I am going to go into a telecom store to get one and to get more information from them about it.

corksta

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# 458062 13-Apr-2011 00:10

Correct. If it's not being used nothing is being charged.

My understanding is that you buy a SIM preconfigured with the allowance you want each month, and then just top up the value of that amount each month online or over the phone or whenever necessary. By default each SIM is set up for the 500MB option but they can change it in store if you want a higher allowance.

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nigelj

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# 458064 13-Apr-2011 00:22

freitasm: Did I understand correctly? If so, how do I "buy the pack"? Just register the SIM online and load the bundle from there?

You may be able to change the datapack by inserting your SIM into a T/Com Handset and dialing *333, otherwise you'd have the call the prepaid helpdesk, or as pointed out earlier, go into a store and ask them to change it for you. Also, for adding credit, I've found the best way to do that is via http://yt.telecom.co.nz/mobile/view/account-info-view (when connected via mobile broadband).

Personally, I find the pricing at http://www.telecom.co.nz/mobile/mobilebroadband/plansandpricing/prepaid quite clearly explained, however I didn't realise that the $30 cap thing could be applied twice per month (I think someone earlier in the thread said once you hit the 500MB you'd be paying 10c/MB, but looking at the site, it seems, to be you can hit the 500MB a second time for $30 and then be charged 10c/MB.)

firefuze

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# 458470 13-Apr-2011 22:17

Prepaid Mobile Broadband billing can be a
bit confusing to get your head around at first, but it is certainly a great way
to have it setup, in terms of saving you money by only paying for what you use.

You buy a prepaid data sim for $29.95 : these SIM's have $29.95 credit
pre-loaded on them and are also pre provisioned on the 500MB plan.

The 500MB plan is $29.95. The first day you use the Data SIM is your monthly
'rollover' date. (Unless you change your data plan prior to using it for the
first time) i.e to a 2GB or 4GB plan then your SIM is 'activated' on that date.

You are charged 10c /MB not $29.95 per month on your rollover. So If I have
$29.95 credit on my SIM and I only use 100MB then only $10 is deducted from my
prepaid balance. If I reach my $29.95 cap then which would equate to 300MB then
the remaining 200MB is 'Free' Therefore my $29.95 credit could last me 3 months
if I was to only use 100MB a month.

Your left over or unused MB's do not rollover. If you use 400MB the other 100MB
that you would be getting for 'Free' do not carry over to the next month, your
allowance goes back to 0 and you start again.

If you were to go over your data cap, say the 500MB cap then you can get
another data pack, in this case another 500MB for $29.95, If you go over your
2nd data allowance then you are charged 10c /MB

In the case of the 2GB and 4GB plans, If you go over your initial 2GB or 4GB
pack then you get another data pack (2GB or 4GB) for $29.95 (charged at 10c /MB
and then 10c /MB if you go over your 2nd data allowance.

A common misconception is that if you top up $60 that means you are on the 2GB
plan, or If I top up $80 then I am on the 4GB plan, This is NOT the case! You
must change your data plan over the phone or in store.

As from the 12th October 2010 - XT prepaid credit balance is valid for 12months
from the last top up.

Sorry it’s a bit long winded, but hope this clarifies a few things for people.

freitasm

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# 458495 13-Apr-2011 22:57

Very good post!

drajk

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# 458867 14-Apr-2011 17:49

For some time I've found the inconsistencies in Telecom's explanation of credit expiry interesting.

In their current T&C prepaid mobile a couple of clauses (8.8 & 8.9) state:

Once you add credit to your Telecom Prepaid Account you will need to use that credit within a period of 12 months. Any credit not used within 12 months will expire and you will need to add additional credit in order to use the Services. We will not give you a refund for any credit that expires

You must add credit to your Telecom Prepaid Account at least once every 12 months, otherwise your Telecom Prepaid Account will be deactivated. If this happens, clause 10.2 will apply.

This would suggest that credit which exists today would be gone in 12 months irrespective of topup (other than having expiry date renewed by topup) but that a topup every 12 months would keep the account active - this could of course lead to multiple credit expiry dates per account and would be very confusing and possibly unique as a way of expiring prepaid credit.

It seems that like other providers Telecom extend the credit expiry date with each topup but unless I am reading the above wrongly this is not what the T&C say.

Also the TWORLD pages still talk about 6month expiry rather than 12months.

The existance of multiple sets of t&c on the site could also be considered somewhat confusing.

It would seem that Telecom should look at rewriting some of their t&c and webpages/Tworld to represent better what actually happens and make them less potentially confusing.

networkn

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# 458904 14-Apr-2011 19:24

Well I think it stinks your initial data block is only valid 30 days. However no point in complaining, it's done.

robbyp

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# 459581 17-Apr-2011 00:59

firefuze: Prepaid Mobile Broadband billing can be a
bit confusing to get your head around at first, but it is certainly a great way
to have it setup, in terms of saving you money by only paying for what you use.

You buy a prepaid data sim for $29.95 : these SIM's have $29.95 credit
pre-loaded on them and are also pre provisioned on the 500MB plan.

The 500MB plan is $29.95. The first day you use the Data SIM is your monthly
'rollover' date. (Unless you change your data plan prior to using it for the
first time) i.e to a 2GB or 4GB plan then your SIM is 'activated' on that date.

You are charged 10c /MB not $29.95 per month on your rollover. So If I have
$29.95 credit on my SIM and I only use 100MB then only $10 is deducted from my
prepaid balance. If I reach my $29.95 cap then which would equate to 300MB then
the remaining 200MB is 'Free' Therefore my $29.95 credit could last me 3 months
if I was to only use 100MB a month.

Your left over or unused MB's do not rollover. If you use 400MB the other 100MB
that you would be getting for 'Free' do not carry over to the next month, your
allowance goes back to 0 and you start again.

If you were to go over your data cap, say the 500MB cap then you can get
another data pack, in this case another 500MB for $29.95, If you go over your
2nd data allowance then you are charged 10c /MB

In the case of the 2GB and 4GB plans, If you go over your initial 2GB or 4GB
pack then you get another data pack (2GB or 4GB) for $29.95 (charged at 10c /MB
and then 10c /MB if you go over your 2nd data allowance.

A common misconception is that if you top up $60 that means you are on the 2GB
plan, or If I top up $80 then I am on the 4GB plan, This is NOT the case! You
must change your data plan over the phone or in store.

As from the 12th October 2010 - XT prepaid credit balance is valid for 12months
from the last top up.

Sorry it’s a bit long winded, but hope this clarifies a few things for people.

Very well explained. I think telecom should hire you to train their staff, or use your explaination in their marketing marterial.