Optus new $50 SIM only with roaming

[Lynda2475]

I think porting out and then porting back in on the most expensive Qantas plan si the only option to get included roaming.

 

[SYD]

I’m waiting until I get back home in 2 wks to make the call to Optus. If I can get the Choice plan with $20 discount and txt/calls that’s a start. The discount goes along way using the occasional $5 daily roaming as well as replace data with a 3rd party eSIM.

I’m pondering Vodafone longer term. There’s no annual cap on the number of days you can use $5 roaming (Optus is 90 days) plus you can get a shed load of data if you manage your usage.

 

[oz_mark]

I’m waiting until I get back home in 2 wks to make the call to Optus. If I can get the Choice plan with $20 discount and txt/calls that’s a start. The discount goes along way using the occasional $5 daily roaming as well as replace data with a 3rd party eSIM.

I’m pondering Vodafone longer term. There’s no annual cap on the number of days you can use $5 roaming (Optus is 90 days) plus you can get a shed load of data if you manage your usage.

Vodafone is capped at 90 days per calendar year.

 

[SYD]

Vodafone is capped at 90 days per calendar year.

Ah, yes it all becomes a blur after a while looking at these back and fourth! As above, try and get the best deal from Optus and then 12 mths later switch to Vodafone (or anything better that pops up).

I can manage 90d - just have the safety net of a $5 plan when you need to make/receive calls and/or access your data when roaming. But eSIM most of the time.

 

[AIRwin]

As above, try and get the best deal from Optus and then 12 mths later switch to Vodafone (or anything better that pops up).

Or even less than 12 months later if not already in contract?

 

[LondonAussie]

Or even less than 12 months later if not already in contract?

12 months is the length of the $20 discount being offered. Hence, some would stay until that $20 monthly discount expires.

 

[SYD]

12 months is the length of the $20 discount being offered. Hence, some would stay until that $20 monthly discount expires.

Yep!

Or even less than 12 months later if not already in contract?

We’re all well out of contract on the $50 plan.

 

[Lynda2475]

Just double check which choice plan they are moving you to. People getting no discount seem to be being moved to the choice plus plans which have the $5 roaming BUT those getting significant discount seem to be going to the older choice (no plus) plans which have the $10 roaming.

 

[SYD]

Just double check which choice plan they are moving you to. People getting no discount seem to be being moved to the choice plus plans which have the $5 roaming BUT those getting significant discount seem to be going to the older choice (no plus) plans which have the $10 roaming.

Yeah, the default position is “Choice” but you can’t even find that online (only the Choice Plus). Which is bizarre for those of us with included roaming as well as calls OS from Oz suddenly relegated to $10 pd (not even $5 pd).

For me its Choice Plus, calls to OS and a discount or walk.

 

[SYD]

So SYD+1 and I contacted Optus earlier this week after returning from OS. I despatched the lawyer first on the phone but hearing how badly that was going, I opened a chat and was pretty much offered $49 Choice Plus “Small Plan” ($5 pd roaming), included calls to OS and $10 pm discount. The data allowance is significantly less than current but I’m lucky to use 10GB pm currently. Not unhappy but will be looking for better options over the next 12 mths.

Meanwhile, SYD+1 spiralled down a worm hole on the phone and the got cutoff. Tried the chat function but was asked to re-verify ID! Next day went to local Optus shop to verify ID but to cut a very long story short, got the same deal as me but $15 discount but has rolled over already.

My account is still showing $50 plan until late August (I just rolled over billing cycle). Kind of hoping they’ll be slow rolling out the changes!

 

[AIRwin]

Received an email from Optus overnight advising that my Roaming pass is now off - which turned out to be an indicator that the new plan has taken effect and is reflected in the app

 

[LondonAussie]

Optus offered to move me onto the Qantas $79 plan (with 5GB/month included roaming data) with a $30 discount for 12 months, which I accepted to resolve my TIO escalated complaint.

This was after weeks of back and forth with a "customer resolution expert" who initially just said everything I asked for was impossible or their system doesn't allow it. After refusing several options I had suggested, I asked if they could offer any alternative solutions that would meet my needs. They said I could go buy a local SIM.

Only by stubbornly repeating that I'm not happy with this outcome, suddenly their system allowed them to do things they previously advised was impossible.

 

[SYD]

How are peeps going with the transition to their renegotiated plans?

I noticed in my app today that my data allowance had jumped from 80GB to 180GB. Drilling further into “Account” \ “My Plan” it’s showing the “Small Optus Choice” $49 plan. Which is the default plan in the email advice for the impending changeover. It looks like they’ve ignored the negotiated deal. So I’ll have to contact them tomorrow. Groan.

Has anyone been correctly switched over to a negotiated better deal?

 

[AIRwin]

Has anyone been correctly switched over to a negotiated better deal?

Yes but I've also heard from a friend that there was no change to his plan...

 

[SYD]

Yes but I've also heard from a friend that there was no change to his plan...

SYD+1 got changed over but that took many many calls and then a billing snafu followed by more calls. Hopefully sorted now.

I’ll try the chat function tomorrow. Heading back OS at the end of the month, so want it sorted before I leave…

 

[Human]

Yes but I've also heard from a friend that there was no change to his plan...

My plan hasn’t been changed yet either, but in the original email from Optus back in June, notifying us of the change, they did say that “the change might not happen on the exact date above [August 3] and might take a few weeks.”

 

[SYD]

My plan hasn’t been changed yet either, but in the original email from Optus back in June, notifying us of the change, they did say that “the change might not happen on the exact date above [August 3] and might take a few weeks.”

Keep checking your app from time to time.

 

[AIRwin]

Keep checking your app from time to time.

Or see my post #211 above

 

[SYD]

Or see my post #211 above

Mine was unchanged for the current billing month (thru to 26 Aug) but then I noticed in the app that my data allowance had jumped to 180 GB (80 + 100). Drilling down I could see the plan was now the Small Choice plan.

Anyway, called them yesterday. Now switched to Choice Plus $49 plan with $20 discount for 12 mths ($10 discount and $10 for T&T to Oz). So effectively $39pm.

But the T&T from Oz to OS looks like it’s 1 mth only. I’m torn whether to correct that or just take $29pm plan. The contact also includes the bonus 70GB pm but that’s not implemented….

The app functionality also is slightly different. “Billing” has turned into “Payments” (with an estimate/breakdown of next bill).

 

[LondonAussie]

They moved me from a post paid plan to a plan which is automatic direct debit in advance, and due to this I lost access to the old billing page where you could pay manually, and now I can't figure out how to pay my overdue bill from the old plan that they keep sending me SMS reminders for with links to the billing section of the app which then refuses to open.