Txt'r 60 plan - possible to get more text messages?

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timmmay

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Topic # 83289 13-May-2011 14:37

I'm on a txt'r 60 plan, which gets me 120 minutes and 600 txts per month. I want more txts to any network, something like 2000/2500 like 2degrees and Telecom both offer. I also have an 0800 number attached to my account/phone.

When I called VF the helpdesk people said they couldn't help, 600 was the largest number of txts that any on account plan includes. Their only suggestion was to get a Vodafone prepay phone and get the $12.95 add on, but I don't want to carry two phones.

Can Vodafone help me at all? I've been a customer for eight years and i've been happy with the performance and service, but if VF can't match the other telcos i'll migrate my number to one of them.

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lokhor

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Reply # 468785 13-May-2011 14:57

Switch to 2Degrees
http://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/paymonthly/pricing
$39/Month will net you 120 minutes, 2500 texts and 50Mb data, they also have carryover of unused minutes.

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timmmay

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Reply # 468790 13-May-2011 15:04

I would probably have to pay a break fee, since I committed to a 12 month contract in exchange for double the number of minutes per month. It's only $180 though, which is what 900 txts would cost me on Vodafone, so it might make sense to do that. I have two 2degrees SIMs anyway, one for my backup phone, one for my mobile data connection.

I may have to use two phones, which would be annoying. It'd be nice if Vodafone could match the other telcos, or help a customer who's been loyal for many years. I'm surprised that when I told customer service I would consider switching to 2degrees they didn't transfer me to a retention team. They offered me one months free line rental, $40, equilivent to 200 text messages.

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lokhor

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Reply # 468851 13-May-2011 17:22

IMO in the long run it's worth switching to 2Degrees. I had a workmate switch recently and pay the early termination fee after I convinced him of the long term savings. I think if you sign up at the moment you get 100 bonus minutes for a year as well.

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andrewcnz

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Reply # 468857 13-May-2011 17:57

I still have a Vodafone 0800 number attached to a 2degrees number. I just pay Vodafone for the 0800 usage.

timmmay

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Reply # 468869 13-May-2011 18:15

andrewcnz: I still have a Vodafone 0800 number attached to a 2degrees number. I just pay Vodafone for the 0800 usage.

How does that work? Do they forward the calls or is it somehow still associated with the phone?

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andrewcnz

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Reply # 468920 13-May-2011 21:28

timmmay:
andrewcnz: I still have a Vodafone 0800 number attached to a 2degrees number. I just pay Vodafone for the 0800 usage.

How does that work? Do they forward the calls or is it somehow still associated with the phone?

I would say they just forward the call to the phone. As the mobile number has not been on the Vodafone network for a good 18 months(Vodafone account >2degrees prepay>slingshot account>2degrees account) I only know its a call i pay for when "0800 call" is stated on answering.

timmmay

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Reply # 469084 14-May-2011 15:46

I called Vodafone again today, to see if I could find someone who could help, basically just taking my plan from 600 to 2500 or so messages, to match Telecom/2 degrees. The answer was no. Customer service people can't do anything, the computer won't let them, and there's no disconnection team or customer retention department.

I'm happy with vodafone, I just want more text messages, and i'm happy to pay for them too. With the termination charge falling to 0.06c each their cost is $1.50 per month, though because it will either be on net or exchanged with Telecom/2degrees the net cost is zero.

Unless a Vodafone staff member or their PR people here can help me out Vodafone are likely to lose someone who's been a happy personal and business customer for 8 years, who spends $50-100 per month, all over something that would cost then essentially nothing. Sure that's not much money, but it adds up over time, and i'm sure hundreds or thousands of other people are doing the same thing but without telling Vodafone why.

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lokhor

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Reply # 469111 14-May-2011 17:57

The best way to get Vodafone to notice is to leave. Eventually they may change their ways but for now your best bet is 2Degrees.

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timmmay

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Reply # 469170 14-May-2011 22:42

lokhor: The best way to get Vodafone to notice is to leave. Eventually they may change their ways but for now your best bet is 2Degrees.

Yeah it looks that way. They still won't notice one customer, but as their market share goes down and down and down maybe they'll try to work out why and figure out they're ignoring their customers.

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timmmay

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Reply # 470477 18-May-2011 13:00

Two Vodafone call centre and their email support have all said the same thing - sorry we can't do more than 600 txts on prepay. Basically that means Vodafone on account customers have to pay $280 for 2000 txts, compared with $12 for Telecom/Vodafone customers. I've been offered a free months line rental ($40), and a free prepay connection pack, but I don't want either of those. The extra 1400 txts have a wholesalee

If vodafone doesn't introduce some new plans or just become more flexible they're going to lose more and more of their personal customers, especially the younger people who use cellphones more than the older generation, in addition to the tens or hundreds of thousands they've already lost to 2degrees.

Once I get the 0800 thing sorted i'll move to 2degrees, who are cheaper and much more flexible. Vodafone, you've lost a loyal customer. Bye. Last one out turn the lights off.

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