Do 2degrees have new T&C for their discounted phones with plans?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Do 2degrees have new T&C for their discounted phones with plans?

Nil Einne

469 posts

Ultimate Geek

#268096 27-Feb-2020 20:55

It was well established with last year's Huawei P30/Pro discount (I think also with the Samsung and maybe others) that even if you received a discount for an interest free repayment schedule with a plan, 2degrees did not have any requirement to keep the plan for a certain period of time, or require you to repay the discount if you cancelled early.

There are currently two similar discounts for a variety of phones via PB Tech https://www.pbtech.co.nz/promotions/200-off-with-2degrees and 2degrees online webshop https://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/mobile/phones/ Although they largely cover the same phones, they don't seem to be quite the same as for example the Nova 5T and some of the Oppo have a greater discount with PB Tech. Maybe Noel Leeming etc have the same thing, I didn't find it if they did.

Anyway the limited T&C provided by PB Tech and 2degrees just mentions repaying the balance. The only T&C I can find on the 2degrees website is https://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/termsofuse/mobile/mobile-repayment-and-trade-up/interest-free-mobile-repayment-option-terms-and-conditions/ and only mentions repaying the discount for certain ancient phones. I think this is the same T&C we were dealing with last year and although it was updated in May last year and I don't know what changed but it doesn't seemed to have affected the discount issue, nor is there any mention of any ETF. And the pay monthly plan is still without any contract.

A PB Tech rep claimed on Facebook you need to keep the plan for 3 months or repay the discount, but then again I recall similar confusion last year. Have I missed something or is the situation still the same as before, i.e. you cancel on the first day of your plan if you want and keep the discount just repaying the remaining balance which includes the discount.

P.S. I did ask both 2degrees and PB Tech but from the experience of others last year, I wouldn't be surprised to receive confusing responses.

danielparker

223 posts

Master Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#2428503 27-Feb-2020 21:27

I purchased a P30 Pro from Noel Leming on 2 degrees.

Along with the free watch, I got $400 off from 2 Degrees.

I could not buy the phone outright.. I had to put it on their interest free plan to pay it off.

After one month, I went into a store and put the entire balance onto my credit card.. (Got the air points), and then paid the CC off the same day...

DFP

Nil Einne

469 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2428510 27-Feb-2020 21:52

For clarity, I did the same thing for the P30 last year, I'm not in any doubt it worked during the launch period for the Huawei P30. I'm mostly interested in recent experiences, especially this year. Or any T&C which supports a requirement to keep the plan.

BTW, if you should cancel your plan as soon as you no longer want it. Don't wait a month since you are charged pro-rata for the plan. (You can choose to add the phone to your last bill so pay it after about a month.)

tripp

3848 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#2428557 28-Feb-2020 06:45

I would say it so pbtech doesn't have to pay back the sign up. Pbtech will be getting a kickback from 2degrees with a claw back if account is closed within 3 months which would affect any sales person commission rates.

Nil Einne

469 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2428587 28-Feb-2020 08:32

Maybe although with the P30/Pro some PB Tech reps claimed they didn't really know since 2degrees didn't tell them. IIRC Noel Leeming or others also had staff claiming the mythical 3 months. At a minimum I wouldn't be surprised if it's a combination of poorly informed sales reps, and something current or historic which is irrelevant to current customers.

But ultimately I'm not that interested in why sales reps may provide misleading information, but instead whether there's anything in the T&C which does have some penalty or clawback from the customer. (Or if someone had that happen.)

I'm not surprised that no one involved is particularly interested in publicly advertising what actually happens, although they still IMO have a responsibility not to mislead customers. If PB Tech have problems with 2degrees policies they should take that up with 2degrees. 2degrees could easily add a clause like Spark, and I wouldn't blame them if they did. I assume the reason they AFAIK haven't is because they figure keeping the 'no contract' works best for them. Especially since they're still, I think, the least popular postpaid provider so don't want any barriers to people joining and finding their service good enough to keep. So the small number who join and quickly quit is worth it.