Just got the following email from Vaya
Hi there
Here at Vaya, we work hard to always deliver you the best possible product at the best possible price. >It's what our mission has been since we first launched Vaya in 2011. As we've grown we've managed to keep >our prices low in the face of an ever changing environment, to make sure we always deliver on our mission >statement. Currently we enjoy not only having the best value mobile plans available today, but also the >best value NBN and soon, ADSL2+ services too!
As we've grown, we've enjoyed providing mobile service for all of our customers, unfortunately, there's a >small amount of customers who use the service without intending to pay. Here at Vaya HQ in Brisbane, we've >had debates about best way to tackle this problem, not just from our side, but from your side, our >customers. The obvious solution would be to simply increase the cost of our plans to accommodate a certain >percentage of non-payment, like retail stores do, which effectively means each of our customers (i.e., >you) would have to pay more to cover the customers who don't want to pay. We didn't want to do this and we >aren't.
Instead, we've decided to opt for, like some of our competitors, a once-off, refundable Security Deposit >of $20 per mobile service. This Security Deposit will be required of all of our customers, at a rate of >$20 per mobile service, and will be drawn from your nominated payment source along with your next bill >payment (this month). We will only apply the Security Deposit in the event of non-payment of your monthly >invoice or on your final invoice (should you ever decide to leave Vaya). In the event of having it applied >to your final invoice for your final service, any remaining balance will be directly refunded to you.
This change has been implemented in accordance with our term and conditions and within the >Telecommunication Consumer Protections Code. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please >visit vaya.net.au to read through our FAQs and relevant forum posts.
Kindest regards,
The Team at Vaya
TL;DR Every customer will get $20 put on their next bill, which is refunded when you leave Vaya. If you miss a payment (or I assume, underpay) they will take it out of that $20.
It sounds like lots of people defaulting. I'd rather they reward customers who have been with them for 6+ months with perfect payment records to be exempt from this, but it doesn't look like that's happening.
YES! $30 if you cancel/suspend/close an account.
You must Port. However, the problem now is that Ben has:-
1) your pre-payment for the next month.
2) your $20 security deposit.
3) access to your credit/debit card
If he is not happy with all that, and thinks he can't get/hasn't got enough money from you, he can refuse your port because your account is not 'clear' (fully paid).