Drop Vodafone for a Cheaper Telco?

Blue Cat on 01/01/2017 - 13:32
Last edited 01/01/2017 - 15:46 by 1 other user

Recently I stumbled upon this $10 per month deal for my mobile needs and it seems like perfect for me:

  • Never use more than 1GB per month
  • Don't make much calls (maximum 1 hour of calls per month, 2 at worst case scenario)
  • Unlimited texting in Oz
  • It's 10 bucks per month!

Now with current Vodafone plan I have

  • 1GB Data
  • Unlimited calls in Oz
  • Unlimited texting worldwide
  • $30 per month

Now it came to me that I never sent a single SMS message outside Australia so basically I am wasting money on that unlimited worldwide SMSes and totally overspending on calls.

Now, I wonder if I drop the plan will I be able to get my old $30 per month rate back? I go month-to-month with them. The same deal at vodafone now costs $35 or something like that. I have been with them for 1 year and 3 months, mostly staying with them and not looking at any other telco our of pure ignorance.

Also, how is Optus 4G network compared to Vodafone? 95% of my time I spend in Sydney or somewhere in Sydney Region, so that shouldn't be really bad?

Any input is appreciated!

Mobile

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 01/01/2017 - 13:51

    Optus is slightly better these days but it depends really on where you go
    still has its areas where there is no service
    you'd be better off going with telstra if coverage is important to you but for 10 dollars a month Optus network through OVO should be fine

    You wont be getting your old plan back if you jump ship, thats never going to happen EVER
    in all honesty unlimited international text is what makes vodafone pretty good tbh

  • Diji1 on 01/01/2017 - 14:03

    Now, I wonder if I drop the plan will I be able to get my old 30$ per month rate back?

    I doubt it very much.

    You could always buy a cheap/disposeable phone and try optus albeit without your usual number while keeping your existing number.

  • savemore on 01/01/2017 - 14:14

    Depends on where you live for coverage (i.e. metro, regional, rural), but I was once on Vodafone and switched to Vaya. Only had a few issues (such as when they changed the way they billed data, my Credit Card needing to be changed due to fraud and them charging me an administrative fee for denial of funds and an excess data charge) and I have been with them since 3/1/2013. Currently are thinking of changing from $18 Power Plan to Unlimited S Plan and paying 12 months in advance ($174 vs. $192 - $16 per month). Plan is Unlimited Talk/SMS/MMS, 1GB Data (excess charged at $10/GB) (More Info: https://www.vaya.net.au/?option=Mobile). They are on Optus 4G.
    Mod: Soliciting referrals is not permitted

  • [Deactivated] on 01/01/2017 - 14:26

    Vodafone if you are Metro because they overinvested during vodafail. However, with only 1GB of data, you won't be doing anything that requires that much speed.

    Optus is pretty bad in metro compared to Vodafone, but then again on 1GB you probably won't be using it that much.

    I'm not talking about coverage per sq km, but in terms of speed and congestion and if the tower will drop your calls if there are too many people/signal strength decreases as more people connect to the same tower.

    Telstra is congested in Metro due to everyone being on Aldi. They do have the largest coverage though… This is still not that great depending on where you live.

    Although with all this in mind; personally I would recommend to switch to the OVO reseller on Optus, as you can always use the $20 saved on cheap international sms via mynetfone or siptalk.

  • SydBoy on 01/01/2017 - 15:41

    No need to stay with telstra/optus/vodafone unless you live in regional Australia…. if you don't need unlimited calls within Australia but need flexibility to call local and international then try telechoice who uses telstra network so better than many other who use vodafone or optus network.

    $20 plan which gives $500 credit that can be used against local or international calls and 2gb data. Check telechoice plan on https://www.telechoice.com.au

    When you decide to switch network make sure you do few days before expiry of your current billing cycle that way you won't loose much on your monthly payments as most network don't provide refund when you change plan during billing cycle.

  • DarkOz on 01/01/2017 - 15:41
    +1

    I am on the same $30 SIMO plan as you do and I had been offered to upgrade to $35 a few months ago. It seems Vodafone is trying to phase out the $30 plan and move up to $35 as a minimum but they won't do it forcefully. If you change you can never go back to the $30 plan.

    You need to be sure that the $10 plan will be good for you before you switch.

  • shapers on 01/01/2017 - 16:49

    That $30 plan is steep, I'm with voda and I get the same but 3gb data for $20

  • [Deactivated] on 01/01/2017 - 18:11

    Just sign up and try it out, if it ends up being worse you can just get another telco using the Vodafone network, like TPG or Kogan, these are all cheaper than Voda themselves without any coverage difference.

  • modsec802 on 01/01/2017 - 21:26

    If you do any sort of international travel it's worth sticking with Voda for their $5 roaming

  • SnoozeAndLose on 01/01/2017 - 21:30
    +1

    Why not go to prepaid and change swap carrier every month? $10 for 3GB data optus then Voda $10

  • Mrbean007 on 01/01/2017 - 21:46
    +1

    Try kogan $125 a year unlimited calls text and 1 gig a month using voda networks

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/274525

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