Where did my prepaid balance go?

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Geektastic

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#261369 23-Nov-2019 20:19

Our gate has a Vodafone Prepaid sim in it.

It means you can open the gate by calling it from anywhere.

The SIM makes no calls but needs a balance to remain active. The balance was $40. I happened to check the app today and the balance is now $0.

Why might that be?

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#2359836 23-Nov-2019 20:23

When was it last "Topped Up"?

Geektastic

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#2359838 23-Nov-2019 20:26

No idea. Since it doesn't actually use the money, probably not since installation.

sparkz25

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#2359839 23-Nov-2019 20:30

If the credit is not used within 12 months it expires

http://help.vodafone.co.nz/app/answers/detail/a_id/4987/~/when-does-prepay-credit-expire

Change to 2 degrees and then add the prepay sim to your plan as a data share and it will remain active.

Geektastic

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#2359841 23-Nov-2019 20:37

Why does it expire? Seems fairly unreasonable. There should be a way to recover the money if you don't need to use it.

sparkz25

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#2359842 23-Nov-2019 20:41

It's like a gift card when you think about it if you don't use it within 12 months it's all gone.

Pretty much as soon as you purchase the voucher that is no longer your money

richms

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#2359844 23-Nov-2019 20:49

Geektastic: Why does it expire? Seems fairly unreasonable. There should be a way to recover the money if you don't need to use it.

Seems unfair to expect a telco to keep a connection active on their network, and holding a liability on their ballance sheet when you are not actually using their service.

Best top it up now so that the sim doesnt expire and you lose the number.

Richard rich.ms

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freitasm

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#2359845 23-Nov-2019 21:00

Why does it expire? No idea.

Prepay works like this in New Zealand since the late nineties, so it's nothing new.

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#2359851 23-Nov-2019 21:03

sparkz25:
It's like a gift card when you think about it if you don't use it within 12 months it's all gone.

Pretty much as soon as you purchase the voucher that is no longer your money

That aspect of gift cards is a completely consumer unfriendly rort. Retailers know a decent percentage of gift cards are never redeemed.

The gift card law should be changed in NZ like it was recently in AU (valid for 3 years, can’t charge a fee to activate a gift card etc)

Geektastic

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#2359853 23-Nov-2019 21:27

richms:

Geektastic: Why does it expire? Seems fairly unreasonable. There should be a way to recover the money if you don't need to use it.

Seems unfair to expect a telco to keep a connection active on their network, and holding a liability on their ballance sheet when you are not actually using their service.

Best top it up now so that the sim doesnt expire and you lose the number.

Because they have the benefit of my $40 in return?

Fair enough to decide there is a 12 month limit - but I don't really think that entitles them to just help themselves my money.

I topped it up and now it just says the number is switched off or not in coverage. It's neither, despite being $10 in credit again...

Geektastic

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#2359855 23-Nov-2019 21:28

freitasm:

Why does it expire? No idea.

Prepay works like this in New Zealand since the late nineties, so it's nothing new.

I have never had a prepay mobile.

Geektastic

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#2359856 23-Nov-2019 21:29

sparkz25:

If the credit is not used within 12 months it expires

http://help.vodafone.co.nz/app/answers/detail/a_id/4987/~/when-does-prepay-credit-expire

Change to 2 degrees and then add the prepay sim to your plan as a data share and it will remain active.

I would if I did not travel so much. 2Degrees roaming is hideously expensive compared to VF.

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richms

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#2359859 23-Nov-2019 21:53

Geektastic:

I would if I did not travel so much. 2Degrees roaming is hideously expensive compared to VF.

I thought it was in your gate?

Richard rich.ms

sparkz25

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#2359861 23-Nov-2019 22:01

Geektastic:
sparkz25:

If the credit is not used within 12 months it expires

http://help.vodafone.co.nz/app/answers/detail/a_id/4987/~/when-does-prepay-credit-expire

Change to 2 degrees and then add the prepay sim to your plan as a data share and it will remain active.

I would if I did not travel so much. 2Degrees roaming is hideously expensive compared to VF.

Wifi calling works well

lucky015

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#2359925 24-Nov-2019 02:03

sparkz25:
Geektastic:

sparkz25:

If the credit is not used within 12 months it expires

http://help.vodafone.co.nz/app/answers/detail/a_id/4987/~/when-does-prepay-credit-expire

Change to 2 degrees and then add the prepay sim to your plan as a data share and it will remain active.

I would if I did not travel so much. 2Degrees roaming is hideously expensive compared to VF.

Wifi calling works well

As long as you overpay on a phone from a quite limited selection.

Interestingly I've noticed that Sim's with data sharing enabled don't seem to expire with 2D which has been a nice bonus for me.

Geektastic

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#2359951 24-Nov-2019 08:39

richms:
Geektastic:

I would if I did not travel so much. 2Degrees roaming is hideously expensive compared to VF.

I thought it was in your gate?

It is, but the suggestion was changing to 2D and then adding the gate to the plan, which I took to mean changing my actual phone as well as the gate. I may be wrong.

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