Telstra Freedom Plus Offer Is Finished, Pre-Paid Plus Introduced

jwh on 23/08/2016 - 09:48
Last edited 27/08/2016 - 06:29

Hey Guys

Wanted to start a discussion on the new Telstra offer which appears to have started today.

https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/prepaid-mobiles/pre…

International inclusions appear to have had a big drop, for example the $30 recharge has dropped from a $200 inclusion to just $5. However the $40 and $50 recharges now seem to have a permanent inclusion of unlimited international calls to the following;

Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, UK and USA.

International rates:

https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/prepaid-mobiles/off…

Great if you plan on making a lot of international calls to those destinations, but I guess the big change for a lot of people here is this point;

"Google Play purchases not allowed with any credit component of this offer"

Keep that in mind for any new SIMs activated.

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Comments

        • fozzie on 24/08/2016 - 19:38

          That's interesting. …So only difference.compared to Freedom plus is less credit to call abroad?

  • ry34 on 24/08/2016 - 11:12

    A few questions…

    I'm currently on a Freedom 40 prepaid deal, if I continue to recharge will I keep this? (Should I setup automatic recharge?)

    Also, I'm going overseas for 6 weeks and was thinking of not recharging my phone until I return… If I do this, is it likely I will lose my Freedom 40 prepaid deal?

    Cheers

    • TrafalgarSean on 25/08/2016 - 02:58

      Im in the same boat hopefully someone can answer this.

    • akula on 25/08/2016 - 09:50

      Keep recharging , you can stay with F+. But I don't know what will happen if you don't recharge for 6 weeks.

    • lgacb08 on 25/08/2016 - 20:48

      6 weeks is fine. I have a sim on freedom that's still active and haven't recharge for a few years. Just send it $1 every 6 month to keep it alive

    • fruit on 27/08/2016 - 15:45

      I recharged and am still on it

    • pennae on 27/08/2016 - 21:21

      If you've got oodles of "real money" on your account, why not use it for an overseas roaming data pack? I always saved mine up for that rather than Google store - so much easier than local sims or relying on cafe wifi if you're traveling through several countries.

  • kima on 24/08/2016 - 14:08

    i set up a sim on the freedom plus and today i get an sms from telstra saying they are going to suspend my service to call them. no reason no time limit. anyone else get the same?

    • tomclancy on 24/08/2016 - 15:47

      When did you activate the SIM on Freedom Plus?

      • kima on 25/08/2016 - 10:49

        20th

  • wonderboy on 24/08/2016 - 15:00

    So as long as I have the Freedom Plus offer and recharge on time my plan won't change and I will still be able to buy stuff from Google Play store using Telstra credit?

    • Rashed on 24/08/2016 - 19:53

      It seems like you can. Telstra usually "grandmother" their prepaid offer for existing users of that offer.

      • uccoffee on 26/08/2016 - 15:06

        reply at wrong thread, sorry

  • meumax on 24/08/2016 - 16:09
    +3

    Might be a good thing for existing Freedom Plus customers (who are having their plans grandfathered).

    Stop the Google Play carrier billing for new customers means Telstra can more easily account for any losses due to rorts because they will now be quarantined to a finite number of existing F+ customers. Means they can continue to let existing F+ customers continue with carrier billing.

    Poor value from new P+ plan means less new customers join Telstra network than would have before: equals better network quality for the existing customers who do remain.

    • netsurfer on 25/08/2016 - 14:09
      +2

      It's not good for anyone but Telstra. I don't understand why people don't want other people to still have the benefits of the old Freedom Plus plan. What if your family members or close friends currently without Freedom Plus plan can really benefit from Freedom Plus? Are you saying it might be a good thing that they cannot sign up for that plan now? This idea of it will be good for you if less people can take the deal is a bit worrying.

      We post deals on OZB so more people can benefit from it.

      • Rick Sanchez on 26/08/2016 - 10:29
        +2

        Of course, they were likely losing money on it.

      • linkii on 26/08/2016 - 20:10
        +3

        Telstra were losing money on these plans, they either grandfather for existing users or cancel the plan for everyone. You can't expect such a good deal to last forever. People have had a few years to sign up for it with numerous deals on ozbargain. If they haven't had got in by now I'd say tough luck to them. Which is what I said to a friend who were too lazy to sign up until this tuesday and it was gone.

        • netsurfer on 29/08/2016 - 00:46

          Telstra could be losing money on $30 prepaid packs sold for $15, $10 or less and then the customer decides to use most, if not all of it for Google Play credit. As for calls and data, most likely not costing Telstra that much (because the network infrastructure doesn't get cheaper by having one less customer on the plan).

          The reason I said could is because there are customers like me on Telstra prepaid plans for years. We do recharge (and there is no discount there) and we don't spend most of our credits on Google Play.

          No surprise that Telstra is starting to stop some of the new plans to use the credit on Google play. However, we want Telstra to provide faster network, rather feeling happy that the new plan is unattractive so potentially less people will join and more bandwidth for existing customers. Quite a lot of the new mobile plans are nowhere near as attractive as the old ones, I don't think that's good for consumers.

  • ronnknee on 24/08/2016 - 16:19
    +3

    ITT: Everyone hating Telstra because they cannot use the credit anymore to make purchases on Google Play Store and/or abuse it by converting the credit to cash through apps like Rebatr.

    Let's be real. It was good while it lasted. No other carrier even offered this feature.

    I guess Optus starter packs are the best for value now when they are discounted? $30 starter pack for unlimited calls/text/music and 3GB data?

    • ronnknee on 25/08/2016 - 11:35
      +1

      4 neg votes. Haters gotta hate. No more Google Play Store credit abuse for these guys.

    • syousef on 26/08/2016 - 18:55

      People bought the starter packs on the understanding that they would be able to use them for Google Play etc. This is what Telstra advertised. No one forced them to. They enjoyed a lot of customers not leaving despite a decline in service due to this. Now they pull it not just for "new" customers but for anyone who already bought one or more starter kits. Not even any warning.

      • meumax on 27/08/2016 - 10:54
        +1

        It's no big deal. You can still activate your saved up stater kits with either simplicity or beyond talk where you so get the $30 recharge credit, then either activate those sims for Google billing or cm2u the credit to a grandfathered prepaid f+ where you can use the credit with GP billing

        • syousef on 27/08/2016 - 11:11

          Cm2u is a pain. To transfer the credit takes 3days x $10. And you have to maintain 2 accounts instead of 1.

        • payton on 27/08/2016 - 13:07

          @syousef:
          no pain no gain

        • syousef on 27/08/2016 - 13:42

          @payton:

          So if you concede it is a pain I think my point that it is a big deal stands. Product bought on the understanding that it works simply then forced to pay more and play games to keep what they thought they were buying.

        • meumax on 27/08/2016 - 14:23
          +1

          @syousef:
          There is a way to transfer more than $10 per day. Plus you can still activate on simplicity or beyond talk as I said if you don't want to bother with cm2u to another sim.

          To transfer more than $10/day you just use three methods for cm2u before the system has tune to register you've reached the daily cap.

          The three methods are Web at m.telstra.com, sms to 12888 and phone dialer using #100#. If you perform each transfer quickly you can do $30/day.

        • fruit on 27/08/2016 - 15:46

          @meumax: Nice, how long do you have?

        • payton on 27/08/2016 - 16:25

          @syousef:
          Agreed its abrupt but it could have been worse, as in them disallowing redemption of ggl Play credits on grandfathered F+ accounts completely or disabling them on all types of new acc.

          Question is whether they will clamp down even more in few weeks/months time.

        • meumax on 27/08/2016 - 20:14

          @fruit:
          In my experience it varies. The system probably polls at a set interval and depending on when in the cycle you do it you'll get a different amount of time to execute the whole process.

          My advice is to use the sms method first, then phone dialler then Web. Seems to work most consistently for me.

        • meumax on 27/08/2016 - 20:21
          +4

          @meumax:
          Apologies I just realised I made a typo. The sms number for cm2u is 1258888. Send a message like this "Transfer* <target phone no.> * <how much to transfer>*. Then respond with "1" When asked to verify. Eg Transfer041076384510* to transfer $10 to 0410763845

        • syousef on 28/08/2016 - 15:44

          @meumax:

          That info may yet come in handy, so genuine thanks. I don't plan to do this once a month though.

      • ronnknee on 28/08/2016 - 13:44
        +4

        Let's take a step back, place aside our greedy/selfish/self-righteous mindset, put on our thinking caps and take an objective approach at this.

        The intent of these starter packs are really for people who want a new service on the carrier and the monthly top ups keep the plan rolling. The starter packs are also discounted regularly to entice new customers to switch over. They were never catered for the cheeky bunch of us who port from carriers to carriers monthly to minimise monthly costs and/or abuse the Google credit and turnover a profit.

        Customers who previously purchased the starter pack and activated the Freedom Plus plan with the understanding that they can use their Telstra credit for Google Play Store purchases, will continually be able to do so through recharges. New customers will not be able to have this opportunity and will not be missing out because there was never the understanding of using the Telstra credit this way. All as per the intent of the starter packs.

        So what about us who purchased 69 starter packs at a discounted rate with the intent of abusing the Google Play Store credit? Should we be hating Telstra? No, because it was never their intent.

        Besides, it's not a total loss. As others had mentioned, there are ways around this; and even just using it for the normal service, it's still good enough.

  • fozzie on 24/08/2016 - 18:14

    Sad I hope us existing customers can keep it…..If I can't I will need to move too

  • fozzie on 24/08/2016 - 19:32

    I was looking on my account and it doesn't seem as they are giving bonus data anymore on the freedom plus either…..
    But then reading above it looks as it does. I will see what happens when I recharge

  • moo on 24/08/2016 - 22:09
    +4

    Cap Encore FTW!

    • downhillmtbr on 24/08/2016 - 23:40
      +1

      Never changing!

    • Grish on 25/08/2016 - 09:30
      +1

      Haha and I thought I was the only one still on cap encore!

      I typically just recharge $30 and to get through the month I would purchase 1-2 data plus packs $20/700MB) which just eats the recharge credit.

      Can also purchase play store with the recharge credit.

      ;)

      • kima on 25/08/2016 - 10:54
        +1

        why would you pay for $30 cap encore when you could get the freedom plus plan for free?

        • jwh on 25/08/2016 - 11:05

          I know my dad liked the free calls after 6pm on cap encore and that was a reason not to move away from it.

        • Grish on 25/08/2016 - 11:19

          Free? Since when were any pre paid plans free?

        • kima on 26/08/2016 - 01:41
          +1

          @Grish: since people posted in ozbargain

        • kima on 26/08/2016 - 01:41

          @jase_h: still, all calls were free on freedom plus so its not better

        • jwh on 26/08/2016 - 06:47

          @kima:

          Not on a $30 recharge.

          The point is it was seen as better value by some. But not by me, I am on Freedom Plus.

        • kima on 26/08/2016 - 12:01

          @jase_h: because obviously you never followed what was posted. you are clearly just paying for the cap and then comparing the cap without the cashback.

        • jwh on 26/08/2016 - 13:03

          @kima:

          I did not see you post anything about a cashback, you said all calls on Freedom Plus were 'free'.

          If you have not provided context of what you are saying then it is unclear.

        • beyondtool on 26/08/2016 - 21:16

          Cap encore's $30 to credit to spend on anything you want including Data packs, and the ability to roll this over. I love my Cap encore. I can bank up the credit for holidays and then buy a massive data pack for the trip.

          The 3GB data on this new Plus $30 is tempting for me, but since 1.5GB of it is a time limited offer and only 8am-8pm it blows I'll be at home using my wifi.

  • sajidmib on 25/08/2016 - 15:17

    I have woolies sims can their credit be used as carrier billing on Google appstore.

    plus I have an old telstra sim can that be recharged to freedom plus offer .. any help

    • fozzie on 25/08/2016 - 16:55

      Woolies no (uses telstra but it's not telstra) the telstra sim check online or chat to them

  • MadMaxBargainRoad on 25/08/2016 - 17:31
    +1

    Dang it, was going to switch my wife's expiring TeleChoice plan to F+. Does anyone have an extra already activated F+ sim that I can use?

    • berserkk on 25/08/2016 - 18:32
      +1

      i have one expiring 5th September, used for google play credits got like $1 left

    • Dapple on 26/08/2016 - 13:52

      ditto, I'm after a couple.

      C'mon Ozbargainers, surely of those multiples purchased there's ones with used up credit closed to expiry that can be given away to be recharged.

      • syousef on 26/08/2016 - 19:00
        +2

        Considering people's names are against those accounts, I don't think you're going to get much of a response. Why would anyone give you a sim, that if used for illegal purposes, could land them in hot water??

        • Dapple on 26/08/2016 - 20:45

          Between Consumers (individuals) form for Change of Ownership
          http://www.telstra.com.au/help/download/document/change-of-o…

          Just fill and email to [email protected]

          Takes a minimum of 7 business days to be processed.

          Don't even need the sim as replacement is free and over the counter in a few minutes.

        • syousef on 26/08/2016 - 20:49
          +3

          @Infy_AsiX:

          I'm sure that would be a fun and painless process. <— sarcasm

        • Dapple on 26/08/2016 - 21:23
          +1

          @syousef:
          Nice! <— sarcasm

          I suppose it comes down to whether you view Ozbargain as a community to share deals and empower savings through a little effort from some people on the internet. Or a place for self gain and profit to some sure.

          I know I've only posted a couple of deals but I've shared info too. Both in hope to help others in something I know that can assist.

        • syousef on 26/08/2016 - 21:29

          @Infy_AsiX:

          Oh boy people like you make me laugh and laugh.

          Chances are you'd both have to appear at a store together. That's a lot of effort. And unless you know a way to get discounts on a recharge if you're after a google play credit, might as well buy cards on special now.

          Nice indeed trying to shame someone for being practical.

        • Dapple on 26/08/2016 - 21:40

          @syousef:
          Wow, um. Oh boy people like you make me laugh and laugh too!

          If you can read, you just fill and email. Doesn't seem to be any sales on the starter packs (that you can transfer credit from). However you can pretty much just use a normal $30 recharge and get plenty of usage value plus on top from the Play Store credit/cash back buying apps. Reason I ask for one is I only read about the value now it's too late to get one.

          Practical if it was practical. Or cynical and assumptive if cynical and assumptive it was.

        • syousef on 26/08/2016 - 21:52
          -1

          @Infy_AsiX:

          When I wanted to add my wife to my bill we were told that we would have to physically attend a store together.

          I doubt they're going to let this form just be emailed around and take you at your word.

        • Dapple on 26/08/2016 - 22:05

          @syousef:
          So I just checked the form. The outgoing customer doesn't need to fill much. The incoming customer needs a lot of info as well as 100 points of ID.

          It does state:
          "If this Change of Ownership request includes a Mobile service and the incoming Cusomer has been a Telstra customer for less than 6 months, you must submit this form to your local Telstra store for processing."

          But that confuses me as to who has to submit in store. I'm thinking it's more likely the incoming as they need photo ID checking. In any case, if anyone actually wants to help out with transferring a sim I can find that out.

        • syousef on 26/08/2016 - 23:03
          +2

          @Infy_AsiX:

          Bottom line: It's going to be a total pain in the ass to just give away a sim card. Only useful to someone who heavily uses the included credit AND Google Play.

        • Dapple on 26/08/2016 - 23:09

          @syousef:
          don't know how that's a bottom line of total pain in the ass. We must have different ideas on what pain in the arse is. If both are required in store I'd agree. Let's not make sweeping final statements on subjective matters and also speak for other people.

        • Dapple on 27/08/2016 - 13:35
          -3

          Asked in store. Only incoming customer needs to be in store. So all the outgoing customer needs to do is fill their details and sign the form. Anyone?

      • Chef-Johnson on 28/08/2016 - 20:18

        got loads inbox me if you want some

    • roberto7 on 07/11/2016 - 23:58

      I have got a couple, PM me if you are still interested.

      • roberto7 on 20/11/2016 - 16:53

        Hi folks,

        I'm all out of Freedom Pluses. In the unlikely event that any of the transfers weren't completed, you can hit me up in a couple of weeks to see if I have leftovers.

        cheers

  • twister292 on 26/08/2016 - 03:02
    +1

    While the removal of Google play inclusions is a bummer, the IDD inclusions are lower…Telstra is really not competitive at all when it comes to IDD.

  • IMBI3 on 26/08/2016 - 14:17

    Can I use Credits from a new starter sim pack for my existing F+ sim?

  • uccoffee on 26/08/2016 - 14:42

    are there any value in this new plan for me2u ? some says the no longer be a $30 credit sitting on the account, is that true?

    the new plan seems bad cos the night data is set to be a bonus as well.
    Wont change to any new plan unless they are having 10gb+ data in a $30 plan

    • jkcat on 26/08/2016 - 14:57

      10gb+ data in a $30 plan purchased in a legitimate way could be a long wait, especially from Telstra.

      • uccoffee on 26/08/2016 - 15:10
        +1

        vofafone $125 for 52.5GB was the closest before, around $25 for 10gb, too bad it is gone :(

        • jkcat on 26/08/2016 - 15:12
          +1

          Yeah I know. There also was once this Telstra MBB credit rinse & repeat hack that effectively gets you 1GB for 50cents.

        • uccoffee on 26/08/2016 - 15:15

          @jkcat:
          telstra one is a hack only last for few weeks.
          The vodafone is more like a promotion and the double data thing last close to a year. That means they can afford it.
          Optus is doing $35 a month plan for 10gb now, so prepiad can be at that price very soon.

        • jkcat on 26/08/2016 - 15:28

          @uccoffee: 10GB/$35 MBB offer? If not much mobility is required you could potentially settle with vividwireless if your place has Optus 2300Mhz coverage. Can't go wrong with $89/mo unlimited data.

  • syousef on 26/08/2016 - 19:16
    +1

    Well the good news is at the moment it does appear to be grandfathered for existing plans. When I go to recharge under "My Account" the following line appears in the conditions: "Recharge credit can be used on texts to standard Australian numbers, content charges and use while overseas charged at $3/MB (charged per KB or part thereof)." There is no specific mention of "Google Play" just "content charges". I expect eventually they'll kill that off too.

    The real reason they're bleeding money and had to can this is all the $1 for $30 sim reacharge offers a while back. Even at $15 for the $30 sim it's silly. I'll bet it was Telstra not Google wearing the full cost.

    • jaurwin on 26/08/2016 - 19:49

      Do you know by any chance if I don't recharge my Freedom plus for more than a month, next time i recharge would i still be able to have the same benefits of the plan? i.e., Google play credits etc? Or do i have to continuously keep recharging to keep the offer ?

      Thanks

      • snappy1234 on 26/08/2016 - 20:01

        @ jaurwin

        Do you know by any chance if I don't recharge my Freedom plus for more than a month, next time i recharge would i still be able to have the same benefits of the plan? i.e., Google play credits etc? Or do i have to continuously keep recharging to keep the offer ?
        Thanks

        Should be fine (most Testra prepaid have a 180 Day expiry after last recharge)

        You could go onto chat to confirm. (for peace of mind)

        https://livechat.telstra.com/TCOM:Mobile:Pre-Paid

        • jaurwin on 26/08/2016 - 21:09
          +1

          Thanks for the reply.

          I will double check with them online.

  • syousef on 26/08/2016 - 20:49

    Can someone please confirm if this also affects activating as mobile broadband?

    • snappy1234 on 26/08/2016 - 21:22
      +1

      @ syousef

      All good still on Prepaid Data Pass.

      • syousef on 26/08/2016 - 21:32

        So you're saying I just activate $30 sim as Mobile Broadband and I'm good to go?

        If so, that's what I was doing anyway. Only signed up on a couple of Freedom Plus lately because I was finding I wasn't using the whole 3GB and wanted to prank SMS the missus without using credit.

        • snappy1234 on 27/08/2016 - 03:19
          +1

          You got it :)

        • syousef on 27/08/2016 - 07:34

          @snappy1234:

          …Till they change that too ;-) I just need another 7 months or so.

  • giventofly on 26/08/2016 - 22:23
    -5

    Why would anyone that doesn't live in the CBD go with Telstra? Their premium isn't worth it.

    • tomclancy on 26/08/2016 - 23:08
      +3

      Premium? This entire thread is about the Freedom Plus prepaid option which could make the smart OzBargainer a profit every month.

      • fruit on 27/08/2016 - 15:47

        Are you talking about the 1/2 off SIMs or is there another way?

        • tomclancy on 27/08/2016 - 16:10

          Yes. And sometimes the starter packs were $1, $5 or $10. Better than half price :)

        • fruit on 27/08/2016 - 16:33
          +1

          @PBG: Nice.

  • lostn on 26/08/2016 - 23:44
    -1

    Anyone know if Rebatr refunds money on Mobile data plans, or is it Freedom Plus only?

    • snappy1234 on 27/08/2016 - 03:25
      +2

      Any Telstra Prepaid that gets Recharge/Play credit.

      Data plans are technically not meant to- but they do currently.

  • fozzie on 27/08/2016 - 07:50

    Hey folks I recharged $30 and only got 1.5gb no bonus (freedom plus)

    • snappy1234 on 27/08/2016 - 08:40
      +2

      @ fozzie
      Yep Bonus ended Monday 22 Aug midnight

  • IdBuyThat4aDollar on 27/08/2016 - 08:33
    +5

    In case anyone wants to know, I activated a Telstra sim yesterday on the long life plan and can confirm google play store purchases still work on new activations with that plan.

    • snappy1234 on 27/08/2016 - 08:41

      @ so3n

      Good to know :)

    • Boward Woward on 27/08/2016 - 09:12
      +3

      i activated two yesterday, before reading this thread. no creditme2u, but at this current point in time you actually get $35 credit to spend on the play store due to the extra $5 recharge credit haha

      • IdBuyThat4aDollar on 27/08/2016 - 14:38

        What extra $5 credit?

        • Boward Woward on 27/08/2016 - 16:59
          +1

          as per this page, https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/prepaid-mobiles/pre… you get $5 plus credit. this comes in addition to the $30 credit from the recharge.

        • IdBuyThat4aDollar on 27/08/2016 - 19:14

          @crs: that's not for the long life plan though?

        • macmine on 28/08/2016 - 00:32

          @crs: Are you sure? May I ask if you recharged or activated on PP+ and seen $35 as recharge credit available on your account?

          Many are under the impression that there is no longer a $30 recharge credit- only the $5 Plus credit….

        • Boward Woward on 28/08/2016 - 19:57
          +1

          @macmine: i'm sure as of the time i activated on pre-paid plus, that i was able to use $35 on google play store credit (as i did it twice, on pokemon coins). though, when i tried to view my credit, it did not show me that $35 credit was on my account, only the $5.

          i guess the ability to use the credit on the google play store was unintentional. i'm going to try again tonight with my last $30 starter sim, i'll let you know how it goes.

        • macmine on 28/08/2016 - 20:30

          @crs: Thanks crs, now that looks weird indeed.

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