VF 'Smart' plans - what's best way to not get screwed by VF

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mainlydata

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#79963 24-Mar-2011 23:18

Hi - My wife is on the point of getting an iPhone + VF Smart3 plan.

The smart3 is a nominal 250Mb of data currently 'specialled' to 3Gb.

I'm not sure what to advise her about this.

When the special comes off (and assuming she's using > 250MB/mo) she's going to get whacked by overages and short of renewing the contract at that point will be for the remainder of the contract ?

However there doesn't seem to be data addon you can buy now which would insure you against this.

Any suggestions ? Have I missed the a data addon for these plans ? Is there some other plan which would give access to a discounted iPhone ?

Thanks

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#451645 25-Mar-2011 00:04

try 2degrees or telecom.

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kyhwana2

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#451648 25-Mar-2011 00:51

Well, that's what you get for going with vodafones never ending "3gb a month" bullcrap.

corksta

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#451651 25-Mar-2011 01:19

Yeah the 3GB "promotion" has been around for a while now. A few end dates were once thrown around but nothing happened and it has continued to remain as a promotion.

It appears from dialogue on here there are no immediate plans for it to end soon, however that's not a guarantee. One would think Vodafone would give a bit of notice if they did decide to end it, however that still leaves you locked in the contract if they didn't decide to increase the base broadband limit.

Having said that 2degrees and now Telecom have some pretty decent plans and addons that are good value for an iPhone user, so I think if Vodafone end the promotion without doing anything else then they'll be left way behind the other two in terms of mobile broadband allowance. I'm sure they'd know that and would modify their plans accordingly.

tripp

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#451659 25-Mar-2011 06:46

I have the same problem but mine is with text messages on my smart plan, i sometimes use more than my plan has so it would be nice if you could just buy an add-on, almost like a pre pay top up (on a plan) that you just get billed the next month.
Or better yet if they had a system that if you went over your plans text it would do a "best price" for the amount you went over.
i.e. you plan has 600 text, you use 207 more (total of 807) system works out you have 600 on your plan, then uses a 200 top up at ($5) then 7 at 20 cents each.

You could use that for data and voice as well, i know my voice and text messages change each month sometimes i dont use all my mins other times i go over.

cyril7

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#451662 25-Mar-2011 06:58

Hi Richard, guess the question you have to ask is, unless tethering, using 250MB of data per month on a smart phone is going to be painful.

I am on Smart3, have been (or in its old name Smart $80) for 2yrs use it for Google Maps, Gmail (which has a lot of traffic each day) and a small amount of browsing, rarely does it pop over 70MB per month.

Cheers
Cyril

NzBeagle

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#451675 25-Mar-2011 08:37

cyril7: Hi Richard, guess the question you have to ask is, unless tethering, using 250MB of data per month on a smart phone is going to be painful.

I am on Smart3, have been (or in its old name Smart $80) for 2yrs use it for Google Maps, Gmail (which has a lot of traffic each day) and a small amount of browsing, rarely does it pop over 70MB per month.

Cheers
Cyril

Heck that's impressive, I break the 100Mb on my android device by the first week.

CruciasNZ

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#451679 25-Mar-2011 08:57

mrtoken: I have the same problem but mine is with text messages on my smart plan, i sometimes use more than my plan has so it would be nice if you could just buy an add-on, almost like a pre pay top up (on a plan) that you just get billed the next month.
Or better yet if they had a system that if you went over your plans text it would do a "best price" for the amount you went over.
i.e. you plan has 600 text, you use 207 more (total of 807) system works out you have 600 on your plan, then uses a 200 top up at ($5) then 7 at 20 cents each.

You could use that for data and voice as well, i know my voice and text messages change each month sometimes i dont use all my mins other times i go over.

You can buy addons on the 2degrees plans for text, voice and data should you need them. However their large plans (1gb etc) are only available in certain areas anyway.

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chiefie

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#451680 25-Mar-2011 09:00

I use my HTC Trophy everyday without worrying data usage - as you shouldn't be, you're on smartphone!!! Anyhow, I barely break 250MB each month! Honestly, your usage on mobile data is a lot different from how you would use on a computer. You will adapt.

I reckon Smart2 is good enough to start on, and if she needs more, she can bump it up without cost. She can drop back on to Smart2 without cost. However if she starts with Smart3 and drop to Smart2, or have ETC, it will be at Smart3's tier.

As this is what I was told.

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tripp

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#451738 25-Mar-2011 11:31

Minaithnir2005:
mrtoken: I have the same problem but mine is with text messages on my smart plan, i sometimes use more than my plan has so it would be nice if you could just buy an add-on, almost like a pre pay top up (on a plan) that you just get billed the next month.
Or better yet if they had a system that if you went over your plans text it would do a "best price" for the amount you went over.
i.e. you plan has 600 text, you use 207 more (total of 807) system works out you have 600 on your plan, then uses a 200 top up at ($5) then 7 at 20 cents each.

You could use that for data and voice as well, i know my voice and text messages change each month sometimes i dont use all my mins other times i go over.

You can buy addons on the 2degrees plans for text, voice and data should you need them. However their large plans (1gb etc) are only available in certain areas anyway.

Yep and as soon as my contract ends or the 3gigs of data goes then i am off to them.

trig42

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#451773 25-Mar-2011 13:21

chiefie: I use my HTC Trophy everyday without worrying data usage - as you shouldn't be, you're on smartphone!!! Anyhow, I barely break 250MB each month! Honestly, your usage on mobile data is a lot different from how you would use on a computer. You will adapt.

I reckon Smart2 is good enough to start on, and if she needs more, she can bump it up without cost. She can drop back on to Smart2 without cost. However if she starts with Smart3 and drop to Smart2, or have ETC, it will be at Smart3's tier.

As this is what I was told.

That's true. But, I went and bought my wife an iPhone 2 weeks ago, and was prepared to pay the $599 and go on Smart1, however, the guy in the VF store told me I should buy it on Smart3 (@$199) and then I could change to Smart1 in 6 months with no penalty.

So cost of iPhone this way was $199 + 6 months of paying Smart3 instead of Smart1 (extra $40.90/month) = $444.40 + ongoing $40.85/month. $150 saving.

I guess what I am saying is, buy the iPhone on Smart3 - good deal - and they let you change plan without penalty after 6 months.

tigercorp

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#451781 25-Mar-2011 13:39

trig42:
...the guy in the VF store told me I should buy it on Smart3 (@$199) and then I could change to Smart1 in 6 months with no penalty.

I seem to recall the guy in the shop telling me (albeit several months ago) that you could only drop down 1 level at a time.

NzBeagle

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#451788 25-Mar-2011 14:10

If it was only a 12 month contract I'd take the risk!

TheUngeek

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#453083 29-Mar-2011 11:17

250mb for a decent smart phone is laughably tiny.
500mb is a more realistic minimum amount, I use between 400 and 800mb a month.

trig42

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#453087 29-Mar-2011 11:27

tigercorp:
trig42:
...the guy in the VF store told me I should buy it on Smart3 (@$199) and then I could change to Smart1 in 6 months with no penalty.

I seem to recall the guy in the shop telling me (albeit several months ago) that you could only drop down 1 level at a time.

I, too, was suspicious. I got him to write it on the invoice and sign it to make sure I wasn't going to get screwed in September...

timmmay

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#453098 29-Mar-2011 11:42

mrtoken: I have the same problem but mine is with text messages on my smart plan, i sometimes use more than my plan has so it would be nice if you could just buy an add-on, almost like a pre pay top up (on a plan) that you just get billed the next month.
Or better yet if they had a system that if you went over your plans text it would do a "best price" for the amount you went over.
i.e. you plan has 600 text, you use 207 more (total of 807) system works out you have 600 on your plan, then uses a 200 top up at ($5) then 7 at 20 cents each.

You could use that for data and voice as well, i know my voice and text messages change each month sometimes i dont use all my mins other times i go over.

That's something that bugs me too. I ended up adding best mates for unlimited text and calls. I also use www.fishtext.com to send messages, NZ0.04 to vodafone/2degrees and NZ0.08 to telecom.

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