Telcos Are Banning People for Activating Prepaid Starter Packs (to Get New Customer Deals)

jimbobaus on 13/05/2018 - 20:10
Last edited 14/05/2018 - 15:37 by 1 other user

According to a few posts in whirlpool a lot of people are getting banned from activating prepaid services due to constant number spinning in order to get new customer bonuses. (And cheap starter packs)

Telstra
Includes their mnvo’s belong and boost.

Optus
Confirmed to be affecting a few mnvo’s too

Vodafone
(Vodafone post taken down by Whirloool due to the poster having “issues on the site” )

Looks like either they are cracking down or they are being forced to check. I know that Vodafone won’t let you activate a $10 sim on 365 day anymore, must be activated on the 7 day prepaid option. I suspect some regulation is forcing this to be occurring.

What does everyone else reckon?

Mobile

Comments

  • Diji1 on 13/05/2018 - 20:24

    Skim read, couldn't see more than two people who may in fact be the same person.

    • jimbobaus on 13/05/2018 - 20:25

      The fact that there has been 3 posts in a couple days one for each network and it seems to be people doing it a lot. Lol the Telstra guys was banned when he activated his 28th sim starter pack lol.

  • Unorthodox on 13/05/2018 - 20:24
    +3

    Could possibly be related to the Porting scams and fraud that has been occurring a lot and garnered media attention. Churning limitations could be seen as very anti-competitive so I think it may be more than just high churn rates from a minority who would bother to port in and out.

  • retiredfeline on 13/05/2018 - 20:42

    Not surprising at all. Those purported new customers who were actually spinners weren't being checked but now telcos have put in place the IT to do so.

    If you're only after the data and don't need to keep the number then you won't be affected. A dual SIM phone comes in handy here.

    • jimbobaus on 13/05/2018 - 20:59

      The Optus one was just activating new prepaid sims every month or so and getting bonus starter data he got a new number every time. I have a feeling the authority might be cracking down. He would have multiple activated sims based on his comments

  • osterhagen on 13/05/2018 - 21:15
    +4

    Hi there. I am the author of the post on Whirlpool regarding Optus. I am just putting this out there as a warning to others and advising caution in those who activate starter packs for the included mobile data. In my case I activated 268 sim cards I purchased off eBay during a period of nine months before I was flagged. I should add I am likely on a terrorist watch list now as has been discussed on whirlpool. I am now barred by both Telstra and Optus. Has anyone here had any issues with Optus?

    • [Deactivated] on 13/05/2018 - 21:28
      +17

      268 sim cards, that seems like a lot of messing around just to get a few GBs of free data.

      I doubt your on terror watch list, but you might on the cops drug dealer watch list.

      • lbsyc on 13/05/2018 - 22:10
        +9

        Yeh, that's why we can't have nice things. OP is just outright abusing the system.

        • osterhagen on 13/05/2018 - 22:12
          +1

          How am I abusing the system? Have you seen the eBay listings for the sim cards?

        • try2bhelpful on 14/05/2018 - 09:04
          +3

          @osterhagen: the telcos need to process every one of those activations and overheads occur with each one. The cards were not intended to be used in this way and, I’m sure, you know you were “playing” the system. Now you are paying the consequences. Sorry, I have little sympathy for this sort of excess. If you had been reasonable I’m sure you would still be able to trickle feed through the cards.

      • [Deactivated] on 14/05/2018 - 13:38

        So why would he be on one and not the other? I am not being critical-it just shows how little the average person knows about terrorism.

    • Nutrino on 13/05/2018 - 21:30
      +31

      You are asking if anyone else has issues after activating 268 SIM cards? I'm gonna throw it out there, you are a unique kind of human.

      • osterhagen on 13/05/2018 - 21:33
        +2

        I was getting 100 GB a month for less than $42 per month this way. There are others I know doing this that have activated over 600 sim cards without issues thus far. For some reason Optus has barred me without explanation. I am curious to know if anyone else here has had any issues with Optus?

        • mr fox on 13/05/2018 - 22:05
          +14

          Without explanation? The explanation is self evident.

        • osterhagen on 13/05/2018 - 22:10
          +2

          @mr fox:
          Unlike Telstra, Optus is keeping me in the dark about this. They have barred me completely from their services yet they refuse an explanation. These sim cards are being sold in bulk to the masses on eBay and others have not had any issues doing this. I have not breached their terms and conditions in any explicit manner so I am entitled to an explanation by Optus as to why they have barred me.

        • Wystri Warrick on 14/05/2018 - 00:40
          +12

          I was getting 100 GB a month for less than $42 per month this way.

          You sir are a true ozbargainer, I take my hat of to you :).
          And I thought I was a SIM slut.

        • [Deactivated] on 14/05/2018 - 01:10
          +3

          @osterhagen:

          so I am entitled to an explanation by Optus as to why they have barred me.

          I guess everything's a right for you isn't it, nothing's a privilege.

          Look up the rules and you'll see that any telecommunications provider can bar you or discontinue your existing service for any commercial reason. There's nothing you can do about that and they won't give you recompense

        • pongky on 14/05/2018 - 01:50

          @Wystri Warrick: Tell me in layman's terms how churning through 268 SIMS (activation, porting, back and forth?) could lead to such results? Hats off to you for your inhuman effort

        • JIMB0 on 14/05/2018 - 06:57
          +12

          I was getting 100 GB a month for less than $42 per month this way.

          I signed up earlier this year with optus for 140gb per month at $52.5. No messing around with buying/activating/swapping sim cards just to save a few dollars.

        • Ryanek on 14/05/2018 - 09:34
          +1

          @osterhagen: Yeah maybe you should brush up on their Fair Use Policy.

        • ozy on 15/05/2018 - 06:54

          @osterhagen: explanation explained yet?

    • FW190 on 13/05/2018 - 23:47
      +3

      In my case I activated 268 sim cards I purchased off eBay during a period of nine months before I was flagged

      lol that's like a sim a day (but didn't keep the telco away) :)

    • chumlee on 14/05/2018 - 06:37

      Did you really think they would let you keep activating new sims?

    • boomramada on 14/05/2018 - 10:05

      Seriously, you are the one bad fruit that spoil the party.
      All that work for tiny gain, possibly future limitation of Ozb getting a better deal with same carrier.

  • Eeples on 13/05/2018 - 21:22

    Are starter packs only for new customers?

    • retiredfeline on 13/05/2018 - 21:35

      It's usually certain allowances that are for new customers. Anybody can buy a starter pack.

  • Neenie Beamer on 13/05/2018 - 21:55
    +11

    268/9=29.777 sims activated per month wow that'd wear me out for the money saved!

    • Wystri Warrick on 14/05/2018 - 00:38
      -4

      He is a true ozbargainer =).

  • daver on 14/05/2018 - 01:53

    It's largely avoidable. Just activate the 1 starter pack on Vodafone 365; From there, 2/4/8 extra GB arranged within seconds and repeat. (TPG might even take that 64GB to beyond 100GB in coming months, esp. if all one want is data) Usin Dual SIMs obviates the need of porting.

  • sparkles on 14/05/2018 - 05:45
    +5

    This thread should be retitled "Teleco’s Are Banning People for Activating Ridiculous Numbers of prepaid starter packs, no surprise".

  • eatwell365 on 14/05/2018 - 06:55

    movies would have told you that telcos flag feds those who keep changing sims. for people who use burners can be up to no good.

  • Hithere on 14/05/2018 - 09:09

    No sympathy for anyone who deliberately scams the system and ruins it for others.

    Just because the starter packs are available online doesn't automatically make it legal.

    I hope they get permanently banned from all telcos and all MVNO's in Australia.

    • Stopback on 14/05/2018 - 10:40
      +2

      where in the terms does it say you can't?

  • PlasticSpaceman on 14/05/2018 - 09:11

    All you can eat…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVw2CAiMWc0

  • Speckled Jim on 14/05/2018 - 10:48

    Makes the upcoming TPG unlimited 4G deal look good!

    • jimbobaus on 14/05/2018 - 10:57

      As long as you live in the very small footprint TPG will have at launch

  • HeWhoKnows on 14/05/2018 - 13:55

    Its a pain to do this anyway.
    Just go on a plan with Kogan.
    From just $12.50/mth (12ths prepaid) with unlimited calls and 2GB data you dont need a better deal

  • [Deactivated] on 14/05/2018 - 15:23

    Telecommunications Act.

  • steven6 on 15/05/2018 - 05:25
    +3

    Won't somebody please think of the children Telstra share holders

  • Leviathan13 on 15/05/2018 - 20:27

    As someone who bounces around between providers to save money once a month (such as free month on Kogan to $5 catch mobile) should I be concerned?

    I'm not in it for the data or calls I hardly use my phone that much at all.

    • finbar on 15/05/2018 - 21:22
      +2

      I wouldn't be concerned. You would just be activating 1 a month. He was activating 1 a day.

    • lawyerz on 17/05/2018 - 01:33

      I've been getting 'errors' on Telco online activation for the past 3 months. I also only activate a new SIM card once a month and port in existing number.

      It's quite annoying and I have to call in and be on the phone for a good 30 mins.

      • StrayfireX on 27/05/2018 - 20:16

        I get errors based on my address. What about you?

  • lawyerz on 17/05/2018 - 01:38

    I've found this post because I keep getting errors with optus, Vodafone, kogan networks when activating new sim w porting once a month. It either gives me a generic error that there was some issue w porting and to call in, or that my number is already w their Network.

    Anyone else experiencing the same issue?

    • HardQuiz on 17/05/2018 - 07:45

      Can you be more specific ?

      Porting between Optus/Voda and their respective MVNOs may cause porting issues. Having said that, I only have trouble with Vodafone, they need some sort of voice recording/confirmation when porting, regardless who’s the current provider.

      • lawyerz on 17/05/2018 - 08:26

        Nope even porting between optus and voda.

        Basically the porting process just fails, 100% of the time when trying to activate online and you have to call in.

        • HardQuiz on 17/05/2018 - 08:29

          I always have to call Voda but Optus and Telstra are smooth when porting to them.

          You face the problem with Optus as well ?

        • lawyerz on 17/05/2018 - 08:34

          @Sleepy24seven: yeah. Was on the phone for 30 minutes last mth with them.

          It used to just port smoothly online.

        • frugalman on 25/05/2018 - 11:57

          @lawyerz: yeah, I've been getting this too. these past 3 months. it takes days for them to resolve.

  • thriver on 01/06/2018 - 05:49

    Having been on Kogan Mobile couple of months ago, while I try to port in again now using a new customer voucher, get the error voucher invalid. The same voucher then worked while I activated the new phone number/sim. So I guess Kogan now doesnt allow my original number to be ported in under new customer deal.

    • SnoozeAndLose on 01/06/2018 - 06:49
      +1

      how long apart you did the port? I heard you need to wait at least 30 days

      • thriver on 01/06/2018 - 06:51

        Oh oki. Maybe it was within 30 days. Thanks for the tip.

  • Dapple on 05/06/2018 - 19:04

    I've finally found enough reason to stop needing to port for the starter/promotion deals. I've always believed in paying the right price for worth and value. Back when 3G mobile data started becoming reasonably priced and smartphones made VOIP software possible, I knew all I needed for low call/sms use is enough data and to be able to receive calls/sms. With data messenger apps with calls on their platforms too providing another reason for less cellular calls/sms.

    When its apparent some telco's even use VOIP on their backend but keep regular cellular calls/sms prices up unless in a bundle plan and continue to charge relatively high for ample data on a cellular (calls receivable) enabled sim. It's obvious they've tried to block the industry interrupting tech of VOIP providing low cost substitute capability and try to profit off the old paradigm of bundled cellular+data at their certain minimum price as long as still possible.

    Was on the early Exetel mobile sims with low cost data but high cost call/sms back then with their VOIP/net sms software included. Then onto the TPG $1 with free 250MB or so with less competitive call/sms rates with Pennytel VOIP/net sms. It was around when social media and messenger apps became popular that Gigabyte cellular data plans started becoming popular that the low cost data plans with limited calls/sms disappeared. Nowadays calls/sms aren't common enough to users that they get bundled as unlimited often in the minimum priced bundle plans. When I needed more data and Pennytel closing down, I'd relied on the port promotion deals for the past couple of years. Some offers are downright below cost cheap for the sake of exposure which makes them worthwhile, but they aren't always available and take some effort with porting.

    Now I'm switching to relying on two sims. With somewhat regular deals on data pre-paid plans, Vodafone being the most value and dual-sim devices being dual-active now. SipTalk free VOIP plan is cheap for VOIP/net sms and FreshTel free VOIP plan is good for 13 calls where SipTalk isn't as competitive. There's no net sms app for SipTalk so sending SMS is a little effort though. I find the app CSIPSimple on Android works for SipTalk while Zoiper is good for FreshTel. The second sim only needs a $1 port within 6 months to keep receiving calls/sms while VOIP using the data sim shows it's calls/net sms from the same other number to not confuse recipients. The recent Vodafone data-only offers means plenty of data at around only $3 a month or less depending on the deal. Breaking free of the Telco's pricing plan system is the only way to escape the Australian gouge on telco pricing. This of course all only works well in urban areas, if you travel remotely often, relying on data services won't be effective.

    Personally in my case I've got two Sony Z3 Compact's modded for swapping batteries, I can use a sim each in them, the data on the main device, the call/sms receiver on the idle one. Otherwise my larger media device ZTE Axon 7 is dual-sim if not using a SD card or can be used for the second sim by itself too. With limited battery options nowadays and the option of dual-sim active devices, it's useful doing something similar IMO.

    • JIMB0 on 06/06/2018 - 11:50
      +3

      TL:DR

    • Daabido on 25/10/2018 - 09:49

      I think there must be a coded message in there somewhere.

  • brisdaz on 09/09/2020 - 10:54

    Any updates on this? Especially with Belong? I've activated around 60ish Belong SIMs over 24 months I think. I'm now activating 2 SIMs per month.

    • brisdaz on 15/09/2020 - 19:00
      -1
      • bump *
    • Neoika on 15/09/2020 - 19:02

      Belong does not check ID. You can use any name existent or non-existent, so long as no porting is involved(because other one like Kogan does).

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