Dodo $5 a month plan with phone calls and text only (zero data). Any "hidden" traps in this plan?

LYopoppypoppy on 31/01/2020 - 03:18
Last edited 31/01/2020 - 03:22

I have no interest whatsoever in data on a mobile phone, under any circumstances whatsoever, regardless of how good the deal is.

I am only interested in phone calls and texting.

The Dodo $5 a month plan for unlimited national phone calls and unlimited texting seems too good to be true. Is it?

What are the pitfalls, if any, of the actual plan itself?

From my reading of the plan I need to purchase a $5 SIM from them, put it in a suitable mobile phone, then I will receive one month of unlimited national phone calls and texts. I then renew with $5 every month.

Dodo says NO data is included in the "non data" version of the plan.

"BUT" ……. for this non data version Dodo only promises the "MINIMUM" charge is $5. The don't say the maximum charge for the non data version is $5.

Can I be assured that if I take take up this "NON data" $5 a month plan then the maximum charge will be $5 per month?

Can I recharge this non data plan via the cash purchase of a voucher at stores?

What basic and cheap mobile phone would be suitable for this plan (preferably one without a touch screen)?

Please remember this topic is not about "data". Data is the last thing I'm interested in unless …… Dodo uses a sneaky way to include data/extra charges into the basic non data $5 plan. Do they try to do that or not?

This topic is also not about your personal opinion about Dodo in general, but "only" about this "non data" phone/text $5 a month plan……especially if you have purchased and used the plan.

Thank you for any assistance.

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Comments

  • Arthur Dunger on 31/01/2020 - 06:51
    +1

    Welcome to Ozbargain. Probably a good idea to put a link to the plan in the description.

    You could also consider Aldi Mobile pay as you go. If you don't make many calls then it could work out cheaper. Calls are $0.12 a minute, sms is $0.12.
    https://www.aldimobile.com.au/plans/payg/

  • shaybisc on 31/01/2020 - 07:52

    The only vulnerability I can see is MMS but Dodo says that's not possible unless you add it. Turn it off on your phone anyway.

  • try2bhelpful on 31/01/2020 - 07:55
    +1

    The catch is it is Dodo. They don’t have a great reputation.

  • PR0r on 31/01/2020 - 08:28

    What would be the cheapest prepaid plan for text and calls only (including mms)?

  • Yopoppypoppy on 31/01/2020 - 08:40

    I've just had a closer look at the Critical information Summary of the "no data" $5 plan, and realise it's a Post-Paid service. Here's a link https://www.dodo.com/sites/dodo/files/cis/Mobile_Critical_in…

    It says the following things are "N/A" for their $5 non data plan, which suits me fine "mobile data, international calls, excess data (presumably because zero data is provided anyway)" and the following usage types are not included in the $5 no data plan "national and international MMS, premium calls and SMS, call forwarding, national and international video calls".

    I will be billed (just the $5 hopefully) at the end of every monthly period.

    To me it just seems too good and too cheap to be true. Am I missing something in the Critical Information Summary?

    Remember it's only the $5 non data plan I'm interested in, and not the other plans mentioned in the Critical Information Summary.

  • Marcsie on 31/01/2020 - 08:42
    +5

    Why don’t you contact Dodo to find out directly instead of asking strangers here ? Common sense!

  • Yopoppypoppy on 31/01/2020 - 08:50
    +3

    Marcsie, the reason is because companies sell you products in order to make MONEY from you and are not always upfront and totally transparent in order to get your money. Therefore, the experience of actual product users tells the "real" story. Trusting companies to always tell you the full, accurate and total truth is a good way to receive an inferior product.

    • RockyRaccoon on 31/01/2020 - 09:00
      +1

      Do both. Leave the thread here, and see what they say, then compare

  • CyberMurning on 31/01/2020 - 10:23

    yeah im interested to on this kind of cheap plan.
    for older parents, they dont need data but making calls to others are important.

  • DannersAU on 31/01/2020 - 10:46

    I signed up for this a few months ago. Easy activation process and works fine. My only issue is that the connection is via Optus and I get no signal at my house. Fail.

    I have a dual SIM phone and wanted this to just be able to make and receive work calls. I use my other personal SIM for data. Apart from having no signal, this setup works great

  • neil on 31/01/2020 - 10:53
    +1

    Note that call forwarding is $6/month. I was going to use this for my real phone to forward calls to my starter kit phone (phone I actually use). A few months ago they said it was free. I checked a couple of weeks ago and they now have a $6 fee although it's not written anywhere on their site. Had to contact customer service.

  • kati on 31/01/2020 - 11:08

    If you're certain you need unlimited calls and texts then this is one of the cheapest plans I know of. Otherwise it may be cheaper to go on a pay as you go plan eg Aldi, Amaysim.

  • jelko on 31/01/2020 - 11:23

    I think Dodo are banking on the fact that people will need data at some point and then will proceed to charge you an extra $10 per month for it.

    But if you don't need data, then this $5 p/m for unlimited voice + text deal is fantastic.

    What have you got to lose? There is no long term contract. Give it a go!

  • Yopoppypoppy on 03/02/2020 - 14:11

    I have now just ordered a Dodo Sim for their data free $5 a month plan. They post it for free and my bank account will then have just $5 taken out by Dodo once every month. I was assured by Dodo that as long as I stay with the data free plan and don't order any extras then the maximum charge per month is $5 …. for that I will get unlimited national phone calls and texting. I will get nothing else at all, which is precisely how I want it.

    I paid $99 at Aust. post for a compatible 4G mobile phone, an Opel Big Button X.

    I will report back in a few weeks and let you know if this data free plan works as it should.

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