Prepaid account abuse

[mike182]

Err, yes I did know this. When you sign up and look through the rates Credit Expiry also appears there. Also, when you dial to check your service balance, it says "your service will be suspended unless you recharge before xxx"

[snaic61]

I think I understand your complaint and can say TELSTRA PrePaid has worked this way for all the years I've used the service.
If you deposit an amount before the current credit expires you retain the remaining credit - my 'run out' date has now extended to September 2009.
I too, have the phone for emergencies and receiving calls only. The more you deposit the longer the credit period.

[Courtcase]

I switched my mobile plan from Optus to Savvytel because I was cheesed off when Optus changed their pre-paid to having be used within a certain time. I'm not a big user and I think it's a rip-off if you've paid money up front and the credit expires.

For $20 a month with Savvytel, I get $120 worth of included texts, calls, whatever. No contracts. I don't think their prepaid plans have an expiry at all and their call rates are a lot less than the others too.

I've never had a coverage problem either (I think they use the Vodafone network. The only way to get Optus, Telstra etc to change their plans is to give them the flick and try another company.

[GeminiIllusion]

Vodafone offer a couple of plan types. If your a big spender then the caps are good because you get a lot of credit for a small outlay - the down side, you need to use it within 30 days.
The type of plan that photosamsophie writes about is a different type of plan targeted for small users (opposite end of the spectrum to caps). Which does last 365 days.
With phone plans you really need to do a bit of research to find the best deal for you as there are soooo many to choose from!!!

[Croman]

I am with Vodafone and if I top up with $29 or $49 I must use it within one month. Otherwise I lose any unused credits.

[photosamsophie]

That is why we went with Vodaphone for our prepaid - the only company that allows a $20 credit to last a year on the 365 day plan. Sometimes I think we're the only people who don't spend all our time on the mobile phone - I got very strange looks when I enquired at Telstra and Optus and explained that we basically use them for emergencies and to receive calls.

[jonjayray]

Did you know that Telstra CONFISCATE money in a prepaid mobile phone account if it is not used within narrow time limits? I did not know and got badly inconvenienced when they cut me off -- as well as losing my money.