Telstra Mobile Plans - Changing from Go Mobile Plus to BYO Mobile

John Kimble on 18/01/2017 - 12:46
Last edited 18/01/2017 - 13:59

Hi Everyone,

So my wife was 12 months into her 24 month "Medium" Go Mobile Plus plan (iPhone 6S) which was around $100 pm with 3GB data (Don't get me started on why she chose such an expensive carrier/plan to start with). She recently saw an ad (or something) for BYO plans that cost the same amount, but with substantially more data and only a 12 month contract term.

https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/plans-and-rates#

Without checking with me first, she changed to the "Large" BYO plan ($70 pm and 15GB data…including bonus 5GB until 22nd Jan).

Apparently it worked with no issues or extra charges??? She can now see she has extra data, gets international calls, 6 months netflix, etc

I thought with these plans, you had to BYO phone…technically she hasn't because she is still was only 12 months into her 24 month contract???

Do you guys reckon this some sort of a bug/loophole, or will she be slugged with a contract termination fee for her old plan? Hesitant to raise this with Telstra in case they realise their error (if it is an error). Would this would mean anyone could theoretically sign up on a 24 month contract to get a new phone, then switch to a BYO phone to get more value/data etc?

I think we will just keep an eye on things and perhaps I might do the same switch…but I don't even need to and I want to change handsets when my contract expires in 8 months anyway.

Cheers!

EDIT: Checked her contract online via their "Telstra contract checker" (https://www.my.telstra.com.au/myaccount/contract-details) and she has $0 device buy out (Weird…would have thought it would be something?) but a ~$400 early termination charge :(

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Comments

  • pantsparty on 18/01/2017 - 13:25
    +2

    Probably should have waited until you received the bill so you could tell us all the facts. Right now all we can do is speculate what Telstra will do.

    • jlogic on 18/01/2017 - 13:42
      +1

      I love speculating… I speculate billing errors for the OP because you know it's Telstra, what else could go wrong billing wise.

    • John Kimble on 18/01/2017 - 13:56

      Half the posts and comments I read on this forum are speculation! :p

      Perhaps I was hoping there was a slim chance someone else had done something similar with Telstra and could share their experience.

  • ExtraSalt on 18/01/2017 - 13:53
    +1

    That would have been one of the easiest transactions for them. Unless you bring it up, they will add the cancellation fee and phone repayment to your next bill……good luck

    They tried to hit me with the same fees when i changed from a 24month plan to a month-to-month BYO for more data. I managed to waive the termination fee but had to pay the remaining handset…..i only had 2 months to go though.

    • John Kimble on 18/01/2017 - 14:01

      Hmmm, that does sound like a similar situation…interesting/disturbing for me… :/

      • ExtraSalt on 18/01/2017 - 14:03

        remember that when you sign up, they usually make you pay for the first month, so technically you are always 1month ahead…..that should ease up $100 off the termination fee.

  • OverburdenedWarrior on 18/01/2017 - 13:54

    As somebody who just spent the last two months constantly chasing Telstra over a simple change that spiralled into a huge stuff-up on their end; expect anything.

    I would be interested in seeing if this worked though, I know somebody in a similar situation (same phone, same plan, less data.) :(

  • Flying Ace on 18/01/2017 - 14:07
    +1

    I did this for my last phone, and intend to do it again for my iPhone 7. I was on a GoMobile plan and changed to a BYO plan last time without any issue - I got charged the new (lesser) amount, and got the same benefits as the BYO plan, it's definitely a good way to go! I wasn't able to do it when I signed the contract for my iPhone 7 on a GoMobile plan, but they told me to wait a couple of months and they will be able to transfer me to the BYO plan.

    • John Kimble on 18/01/2017 - 14:11

      No early termination fee or anything else? Hopefully that is what happens with my wife.

      That seems to conflict with what andrgram said in their post, but perhaps because they went month to month?

      If they acknowledge this and tell you to do it, then I suppose it is not an error then…

      • Flying Ace on 18/01/2017 - 16:12
        +1

        I had heard about the "loophole" as it were, and I got onto love chat, asked them to transfer me to a BYO plan with monthly handset repayments and they gladly did that for me. No extra fees or anything.

  • John Kimble on 09/02/2017 - 22:20

    Update: looks like they charged her the rest of her contract this month; about $700 :(

    I'm guessing the $400 one I saw was actually after she already changed…sigh.

    Hoping she can talk her way out of it given some of the comments here…

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