Zone Data - can a new customer use?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Zone Data - can a new customer use?

daskip

79 posts

Master Geek

#189258 22-Dec-2015 01:42

Hello....
Coming over from Oz for the holidays and one task I have is to buy/setup a laptop for a family member living in Wellington.

The user is older / non tech savy / should be an extremely light data user (apart from getting smacked with a windows update from time to time). Has no smartphone.

Question:
Can new users use the 'zone data' prepaid mobile data plans?
The 6 month $99 12GB plan looked good for this situation. However the plans do look a bit.... grandfathered. I had another family member using this for a few years before I moved away and it worked well.

Otherwise, are there any other plans about in the NZ market that have more than a 1 month expiry? I haven't spied any but I am not fully up with the play anymore there. My concern is a windows update comes along and uses all the data in a particular month. Although windows will probably recognise it ain't a wifi connection and hold back on big updates, if I could avoid the risk with a plan that can deal with those bumps that would be ideal.

Thanks!

alasta

6707 posts

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Subscriber

#1455000 22-Dec-2015 09:18

I don't see why a new customer wouldn't be able to access this product - it should be available to anyone who is in 2degrees' coverage area.

It sounds like it will be a good fit for your intended purpose, as long as you can ensure that it gets renewed as required. As far as I recall this particular pack won't auto-renew, so you'll need to be able to identify when it's either exhausted or reached the six month expiry and ensure that the user tops up the prepaid account and then manually triggers the renewal. I could see this being quite confusing for an older person.

jonathan18

7413 posts

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#1455087 22-Dec-2015 10:14

2 Degrees has always had a fairly shocking website, and the way they don't mention the zone packs on the page discussing mobile data is typical! A google takes one to this page, which seems to indicate it's still available. I note that it says that, on pre-paid, the packs auto-renew if there's sufficient funds.

Personally I've found 2 Degrees coverage to be patchy at best, and given the zone packs are limited to 2 Degrees cell towers, it's not possible to use them in dodgy areas where reception may switch (or, where there is no 2 Degrees' coverage, would always be connecting) to Vodafone.

One other option for you is Vodafone, which is what I set up for my parents' iPad. The rates may not initially seem as competitive but I chose it because:

* I find Vodafone coverage to be superior, especially in PN (see comment above re 2 Degrees' coverage)
* the data-only sim came with a decent amount of data already loaded (essentially 'free')
* they give 500MB free data each time you top up, which adds to it
* the packs last either three months (3GB) or six months (5GB)

I remember thinking the cheapest was to purchase the sim card, use the free data, top up only enough to buy the six months of data; then repeat (ie buy a new sim card).

Information here: http://www.vodafone.co.nz/mobile-broadband/prepay/

alasta

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#1455143 22-Dec-2015 10:46

jonathan18: 2 Degrees has always had a fairly shocking website, and the way they don't mention the zone packs on the page discussing mobile data is typical! A google takes one to this page, which seems to indicate it's still available. I note that it says that, on pre-paid, the packs auto-renew if there's sufficient funds.

That's not the case with the $99 pack:

There seems to be some inconsistency with which packs auto-renew and which don't, and as you say it's quite awkward to find this sort of detail on the site.

scheduler

264 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1455158 22-Dec-2015 11:00

I use the $99.00 pack on prepay and it has always auto renewed. I understand it doesn't auto renew on postpay however

alasta

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#1455183 22-Dec-2015 11:38

scheduler: I use the $99.00 pack on prepay and it has always auto renewed. I understand it doesn't auto renew on postpay however

That's interesting - I'm on a billed account and didn't realise that prepaid is treated differently.

The lack of consistency is frustrating!

2degreesCare

1537 posts

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2degrees

#1455185 22-Dec-2015 11:39

Our Zone data packs have not been grandfathered and are popular for Prepay and Pay Monthly customers within our Zones.

The 3GB pack lasts 2 months while the 12GB pack lasts 6. Both Zone packs auto-renew on Prepay, but not on Pay Monthly.

If your family member is moving around NZ they'll need to get one of our NZ Data Packs. Make sure they have 'Data roaming' switched on if they do!

^POB

alasta

6707 posts

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#1455186 22-Dec-2015 11:39

Although, in saying that, you would still need to have sufficient prepaid credit for the data pack to renew. So, it would pay to set up an automated credit card topup to occur a couple of days before the pack is due to renew.

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daskip

79 posts

Master Geek

#1455314 22-Dec-2015 14:20

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Looks like I will just double check the 2Deg coverage in the area (likely good being its Petone) and if so pick up a 3G stick and go for the 12GB.

The website on the data page did use the language:

"If you're an existing customer looking for our Zone Data Packs, visit our Zone Data Packs page"

... which lead me on the lines that it might not be available to a new user. Good to know that is not the case.

Also useful to have a backup with the long life vodafone plans though as well, I missed those on first scan.