Best Mobile Plan for Calling Special Numbers (E.g. 1196 Weather)

Boba on 05/02/2019 - 12:08

My mother-in-law is resistant to change and lives a carefree retiree lifestyle.

She used to call the Telstra 1196 weather service on her dumbphone to get weather updates.

A year ago we switched her over to a basic model smartphone so that she can contact the family via whatsapp but also to check weather updates through apps or websites. We also switched her to a Virgin Mobile $24/month SIM plan, thinking that there would be adequate data to cover weather updates.

We've encouraged her on multiple occasions to use the weather apps but she tries and says it's not the same.

The 1196 calls are in addition to the $24/month. It's $2 or $3 each call and she does not seem to care. Phone bills end up being $70 - $90 per month.

Is there a mobile plan that is more appropriate for a change resistant mother-in-law in her 70's? Is there one that includes special numbers as part of a monthly quota?

Mobile Phone Plan

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 05/02/2019 - 12:22
    +3

    At that price I would be getting gran to get with the times. I would block premium numbers on her plan.

    If she is that passionate about weather there is a lot more detailed information and forecast data online (use websites not apps) than some weather phone number will ever offer.

    If she wants old school info tell her to listen to ABC radio. They have bom employees give long winded verbal forecast information.

    • Boba on 05/02/2019 - 12:42

      Yeah we tried the get with the times. Doesn’t work. Mother-in-laws…

  • John Kimble on 05/02/2019 - 12:23

    Can you just block 1196 from being called? There are android apps for that.

    • [Deactivated] on 05/02/2019 - 12:25
      +4

      And when she asks why it doesn't work, just blame the NBN.

    • Boba on 05/02/2019 - 12:41

      We have her on a windows phone as android seemed a bit complex. But we’ll probably switch her to android soon and put in the phone block.

  • HighAndDry on 05/02/2019 - 12:25

    Can she call on her landline? Quick google shows Internode "Nodeline" (might be VoIP so check appropriateness/availability) has 1196 calls at $0.40 each untimed.

    • Boba on 05/02/2019 - 12:46

      She likes to call while out and about so this wouldn’t work unfortunately. Thanks for the suggestion though.

      • timthetoolman on 05/02/2019 - 13:47
        +1

        If she's already out and about isn't it too late to want to find out the weather?

        • Boba on 05/02/2019 - 13:51

          She wants the forecast as well, not just the weather right this moment.

          I know the phone apps have all the answers already but we can't get her to use it consistently. She tries and then she just says she prefers to call the number.

          I'm glad to hear that Telstra is exiting from 1196 but October can't come sooner.

  • dob80z on 05/02/2019 - 12:39
    +2

    You'll only have to wait till October…

    https://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/News-Feed/Telstra-Hom…

    Telstra Product exits:

    30 September 2019:

    Business Links
    EasyCall Feature - Auxiliary Voice Multiple Number
    Fax Services - Duet -Phone & Fax Multiple Number
    FaxStream Enhanced
    Call Control
    Fixed SMS
    Weather 1196
    InfoCall

    • Boba on 05/02/2019 - 12:42

      Thanks!!! This is the most fantastic news I’ve heard all day.

    • John Kimble on 05/02/2019 - 12:43

      Nice, still up to $720 though (8 months x $90)

      Weather (1196)

      To get the exact weather go online or use your mobile phone weather applications.

      bahaha

      • Boba on 05/02/2019 - 12:47

        Yeah that’s almost an iPhone. We’ve been saying she should switch to iPhone or Android but she doesn’t want to change.

      • HighAndDry on 05/02/2019 - 12:50
        +1

        I'm surprised they didn't just say: "Or tilt head upwards."

  • Boba on 05/02/2019 - 12:44

    So September is still a while away. Any ideas on a phone plan before then? (Assuming that she doesn’t want to change phone. Last time she took over a year before switching and she’s been resisting our calls to change now. Very stubborn.)

  • GG57 on 05/02/2019 - 13:07
    +2

    I don't think anyone has asked the obvious (to me) question: Who is paying the phone bill?
    If you are paying the bill, that makes your question valid.
    If it is your mother-in-law paying, I suggest that she just be made aware of Telstra's product demise, and encourage her to transition to something else over coming months. In the meantime, she can continue to use the service (and pay for it) and continue living her "…carefree retiree lifestyle…" .

    • abb on 05/02/2019 - 13:30
      +1

      Exactly. If it's her money, let her spend it however makes her happy.

    • Boba on 05/02/2019 - 13:49
      +1

      It's actually a bit of both. Because she refuses to use credit card or make online payments (too hard), we ended up setting up and paying the phone bill and then she pays us back once every few months.

      It's easy to just say stuff it, don't do anything for them. But then we won't have any way of contacting them when there's the need.

      She also disconnects the landline at home whenever not in use, because she doesn't want to take incoming calls.

      • GG57 on 05/02/2019 - 14:00
        +1

        Yep, we all need to support our elders, and you are obviously doing that.

        So, in summary, your mother-in-law will spend $70-$90/month for the next eight months. After that, the weather service will not be available, so the phone costs to her will reduce.

        I would just explain that the phone-based weather service is ceasing, and encourage the transition to alternate sources for that weather info.

  • Seraphin7 on 05/02/2019 - 14:58
    +1

    The 1196 calls are in addition to the $24/month. It's $2 or $3 each call and she does not seem to care.

    Not quite sure what the problem is then?

  • starbearer on 05/02/2019 - 15:49

    Ask her to call you/your partner when she feels the need to call that service and then you look up the weather in your app and tell her.

  • decryption on 06/02/2019 - 07:46
    +1

    She might actually like one of those Google Home Minis or Amazon Echo units. I got a Home Mini for my mum who actually listens to the radio every hour to get the weather (despite having an iPad I got her that has apps on it she never uses). Surprisingly, she uses the Home Mini a fair bit, unlike every other piece of tech she's been interested in, then gives up on a few weeks later. She can just go "Hey Google what's the weather tomorrow" and gets a response.

    • John Kimble on 06/02/2019 - 07:47
      +1

      Where does it get the weather from though? I find it's not as accurate as BOM/weatherzone…

      • treeman on 06/02/2019 - 08:04

        Me too

  • Out24q on 06/02/2019 - 08:08

    Get her a Google Home Hub… Then she can just look at the weather on the screen anytime she wants.

  • treeman on 06/02/2019 - 08:52

    What about putting her on pre paid?
    I think you get some premium text allowance. Not sure how much but may be worth having a look into.

    • GG57 on 06/02/2019 - 09:02

      The 'issue' of paying for premium calls goes away in a few months.
      Solved.

      • treeman on 06/02/2019 - 11:16

        Op mentioned he would like an interim option.

        I'm trying to give him one.

  • farknos on 06/02/2019 - 09:10

    just get a boost sim, they dont charge extra for 1196

  • MtnMama001 on 06/02/2019 - 10:59

    I have a mother-in-law like yours (my sympathies!) How I'd approach it with mine would be to explain the service is not available soon (which she would ignore) and show her a few apps. Repeat until the info sticks. With my mother in law, she'd probably continue to resist until there was no other option, then show us the fantastic app she found…. My mother in law doesn't listen, but the info must be taken subliminally, since sooner or later it's repeated back to us as something she has discovered. (FYI it's not dimentia, etc, just pure bloody minded conviction that no one has anything to show her, because she knows best). Good luck!

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