To assist customers who can’t decide what they need or require a little more information, PrepaidPlans offers a free chat support service that gets some reasonable use, particularly of late. What I thought I would do today is give you an insight into what a typical dilemma faced by a customer is. I have taken all name references out, but it should make an interesting read for a marketing representative from one of the major carriers.
This client’s name is Peter (not his real name)
Hi, I currently use vodafones $49 cap. It lasts us about 20-25 days on average (so just about right), but we notice that we are running out quicker now than a few years ago and so are now looking for something with a little better value (it used to last us 25-30 days). We do about 50% texting and 50% talking. Most calls are in the 1-3min range with maybe 10 calls a month up to 10mins. And none of our friends are on vodafone (not that we can see on our call summary – so the V2V credits don’t count for much). I also don’t MMS, use video or internet from my phone. I would like your advice on what you would suggest would be a better way to get the same value from the $49 we spend a month. I think Crazy Johns is a little better from your site with lower call cost (39 v 44.5c), flagfall (35 v 39c) and sms cost (25 v 28C) and also a higher cap of $390 vs $350 with Vodafone. Am i reading it right? Maybe in other words, what is the best value $49-ish cap out there for my general situation? Also is there a way of reducing our call costs below approx $50 a month from our current usage. I thought Virgin’s Bean Counter might be the way to go, but then I realised that the 10c/min is for actual credit. I’d appreciate some direction as I have looked through most of your site and have found it useful though not conclusive to my personal details as mentioned above. Looking forward to your advice.
Peter
Lets get the first issue out of the way by comparing what you get with Vodafone to Virgin’s Bean Counter. This is how I normally compare plans, its pretty straight forward.
The FlexiCap $49 gives you $350 credit to anyone and $350 to Vodafone. Call rates are 89c per minute + 39c connection fee
Based on this, from your $350 credit to anyone you get about 114, 3 minute calls ($3.09 per call)
Virgin’s Bean Counter will cost you 10c per min + 25c connection fee. To make the same amount of calls, you would need to spend $63 per month (55c * 114). You also don’t get the extra $350 calls to Vodafone, however your credit lasts for 45 days instead of Vodafone’s 30.
Based on your usage of 10 calls for 10mins ($9.29 each) and the rest at 2 mins ($2.17), your Vodafone account should give you 118, 2 minute calls. Doing the same volume with the Bean Counter would cost you $12.50 for the ten 10 minute calls and $53 for the 118, 2 minute calls (total of about $65 dollars per month).
So, Bean Counter doesn’t offer you anymore in value.
Lets compare Crazy John’s
$49 Crazy Cap – gives you $390 in credit with call rates of 78c per min and 35c connection fee. Total number of 3 minutes calls is 144 calls. Now based on your usage, you would get access to 10 calls for 10mins ($8.15 each) and 161, 2 min calls. Crazy John’s gives you just over 20 more calls than what you are getting with Vodafone and its also on the Vodafone network, plus your credit lasts for 45 days, not 30.
Some other plans to consider are:
Vodafone sim only $55 Cap – $550 Credit + 1GB data + Call Rates are 90c per min + 35c flagfall
So when you compare your usage with this plan you get 10 calls for 10mins ($9.35 each) + 212, 2 minute calls
This is a month to month plan, no contract.
Free calls to Vodafone and 3 Mobile
Virgin Caps – $45 – Gives you $320 in credit + 50MB + 1GB bonus + Call Rates are 90c per min + 40c flagfall
Free calls to Virgin 24/7
So when you compare your usage with this plan you get 10 calls for 10mins ($9.40 each) + 102, 2 minute calls
Virgin Sim only Easy Cap $49 – $540 Credit + 500MB + Call Rates are 99c per min + 40c flagfall
Free calls to Virgin 24/7
So when you compare your usage with this plan you get 10 calls for 10mins ($10.30 each) + 183, 2 minute calls
TPG Mobile $49 – $1000 Credit + $1000 Credit to TPG mobiles + 500MB + Call Rates are 80c per min + 35c flagfall
So when you compare your usage with this plan you get 10 calls for 10mins ($8.35 each) + 470, 2 minute calls
They use the Optus network and no contract applies – month to month plan
Think Mobile $50 Cap – $500 credit to landlines & mobiles + Call Rates are 80c per min + 40c flagfall
So when you compare your usage with this plan you get 10 calls for 10mins ($8.40 each) + 208, 2 minute calls
Choose btw the Telstra or Vodafone networks
I can’t make the decision for you but hopefully these plans give you something to compare to. Based on your usage, a month to month plan will give you more value. Remember these are no contract plans, you can leave whenever you want.
