Props to VF (at least I believe that is the expression?)

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › Props to VF (at least I believe that is the expression?)

Geektastic

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#142892 27-Mar-2014 22:46

I was sitting in the surgery waiting room to see my GP today and got a call from a lady at VF who wanted to change my mobile plan!

So now I have unlimited calls to 'standard numbers' (which I assume is normal landlines and mobiles but forgot to ask), unlimited texts (although I had 2500 before and the most I ever used in a month was 15 I think!) and 500Mb more data. Woo hoo!

The plan change was free and lasts the remainder of my current contract, after which I can re-sign, change handset etc as per normal if I want to.

I gather international text costs have gone down too - 20c now - which is good for those of us with family overseas; also ringing UK and USA is capped at $2 for an hour which is good value.

So...well done VF!

Geektastic

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#1014375 28-Mar-2014 09:32

I note that the Australian version of VF Red gives all you can eat roaming for $5 a day as well. I wonder if we'll see that here too....

kieran21

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#1014536 28-Mar-2014 12:27

Agree, it would make sense for Vodafone to take advantage of its international competitive advantage and offer unbeatable roaming and international calling rates to other Vodafone territories at least, because from what I understand Vodafone NZ to Vodafone UK wouldn't cost anything to the global company, nor would roaming. Would certainly entice massive amount of business customers and competitors would be loosing out if they tried the same.

Geektastic

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#1014568 28-Mar-2014 13:32

kieran21: Agree, it would make sense for Vodafone to take advantage of its international competitive advantage and offer unbeatable roaming and international calling rates to other Vodafone territories at least, because from what I understand Vodafone NZ to Vodafone UK wouldn't cost anything to the global company, nor would roaming. Would certainly entice massive amount of business customers and competitors would be loosing out if they tried the same.

Yes, I have always wondered why they don't make more of their global network by allowing customers anywhere to use the local VF network as a home network when overseas.

Jaxar

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#1014647 28-Mar-2014 14:54

You raise an interesting point. Presumably there is a pretty good reason as what you are suggesting would be a strong competitive advantage.

Please note: I have a professional bias towards Vodafone.

Geektastic

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#1014793 28-Mar-2014 18:28

Jaxar: You raise an interesting point. Presumably there is a pretty good reason as what you are suggesting would be a strong competitive advantage.

I expect the main reason is that not many countries impose regulation on mobile firms with regard to how much they can charge customers when roaming, so there is plenty of cash to be made!

I believe the EU regulator is working on this, and at least some EU mobile telcos now treat all countries in the EU as a single place with regard to charging, so your normal plan in the UK is the same in Spain etc etc.

Following an investigation into the costs of the absence of a Single Market in telecoms, the European Commission intends to take further measures, with the objectives including ensuring that the difference between roaming and national prices should approach zero by 2015.

The UK government has signed an agreement with four of the UK’s major mobile operators pledging their support to scrapping mobile roaming charges by 2016.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has signed the formal agreement with EE, Three, Virgin Media and Vodafone, following the government department’s pledge in September 2013 to create a Telecoms Consumer Action Plan including the issue.

richms

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#1014872 28-Mar-2014 21:26

Geektastic:
Yes, I have always wondered why they don't make more of their global network by allowing customers anywhere to use the local VF network as a home network when overseas.

Because 2degrees would run off and cry and complain that it isnt fair because they dont have overseas networks to let people roam onto for cheap.

Richard rich.ms

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Geektastic

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#1014877 28-Mar-2014 21:38

My neighbour has an Aston Martin. Not fair that I don't. To whom should I address my complaint?!

tripper1000

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#1015438 30-Mar-2014 16:34

In the mid 2000's I used to travel a lot and when roaming on VF Australia I could call and text NZ for the standard NZ rates (ie 20c text and 40c/minute at that time - I think). You couldn't use your included plan minutes and texts though. If roaming on Telstra or Optus you got charged normal roaming rates.

I thought that was pretty good value, but they knocked it on the head for some reason and replaced it with fairly expensive roaming charges as per roaming in other countries further afield. (maybe selecting and locking your phone to one provided was to confusing for the average joe?)

I ended up buying a local SIM that I put in my phone when in OZ and got cheap calls and text to NZ that way instead (plus cheap data).