Activating Kogan Mobile SIM cards - credit card not being accepted

GregMonarch on 14/03/2019 - 14:51
Last edited 14/03/2019 - 14:51

After activating a certain number of SIMs, the Kogan site stops accepting the same credit card details. So you have to enter a different/second card.

I read someone in an old thread was phoning Koganmobile to cancel old SIMs. People told him don't bother - just to activate the next SIM without phoning them - but maybe this is why he did it. Kogan told him they might ban him from buying any more SIMs due to 'misusing the service'.

Does this 'number of times you've used the same CC count' reset to zero at some stage? Or does your first CC remain blocked, meaning it will happen to your second CC too - so you eventually have to phone them to 'unblock' both of them?

(Once they block all your credit cards, you'd have no way to activate the next SIM.)

Mobile

Related Stores

Kogan Mobile
Kogan Mobile

Comments

  • altomic on 14/03/2019 - 15:28
    +2

    I think this is one of the times when anecdotal evidence is not beneficial, and direct contact with the mobile service provider is required and preferable.

    • GregMonarch on 14/03/2019 - 15:47

      Anecdotal would be fine. I don't want to contact them only to be 'noticed' and talk about banning me too, LOL.

  • JediJan on 14/03/2019 - 16:59
    +1

    We have quite a number of "active" sim cards we use for data (Vodafone and Kogan Mobile). Estimate about 20; so far so good. Have been putting them in different family member names, but using the same credit card as I am the only one buying them. (Also run 3 x 365 Kogan Mobile accounts). I purchased some data sims half price, further reduced half price, from MobileCiti recently … some purchased using PayPal. That deal has recently expired though. I thought the problem may be putting all the accounts (emails, licences etc.) in the same name may be a problem for some. Maybe I have just been lucky? There was a question on Kogan online activation asking how many accounts you have; more than 4? Perhaps that is the issue; only guessing.

    Ps. Have you tried prepaid Credit cards too? Don't believe I have tried that yet.

    • GregMonarch on 15/03/2019 - 10:01

      Yeah, I was expecting Kogan to block my CC after a few SIMs. And I have 4x CCs. But I'm glad this happened because I'll need more visa debit accounts to make this work.

      I was planning on ditching my 100GB/m $70 Optus data SIM, getting the cheapest Kogan 365 day phone SIM instead, then activating 2, 3, or more 40GB Kogan SIMs every month for internet. (I think the cheapest 365 day SIM has 3GB. So I'd only use that for activating new 40GB SIMs. That way I never make the mistake of forgetting to activate the next 40GB SIM before the previous one runs out of data.)

      Regarding prepaid visa cards… I was reading old Kogan threads yesterday. I think I remember someone saying you cannot use them to activate - that it must be a real bank account, so Kogan knows automatic monthly recharge will work.

      The Kogan website states SIMs remain active for 90 days. So MAYBE they unblock your CC on day 91. Does anyone know?

    • GregMonarch on 15/03/2019 - 10:05
      +1

      Oh, wait… Are you saying if I put SIMs in another name - I can activate more SIMs on the same credit card? What kind of proof does it ask for? Just their name, or their drivers license, etc. too?

      • JediJan on 15/03/2019 - 14:20

        I have been activating, in excess of 20 (keep a record of each but record keeping is a tad messy now … so please bear with me) sim cards in the past year … or so. Kogan and Vodafone. Most have been paid by the same Visa card … except for 2 I bought from MobilCiti (OzBargain deal) using my PayPal account. Usually buy in my name, but activate under a variety of names, but still pay by same Visa card.

        Actually just activated a $30 Vodaf sim card today in neice's name. Required full name, dob, address, licence # and expiry date (or passport or Medicare), address, contact number and email address. (I bought the latest Vodaf lot from *MobilCiti). Selected mobile number from a list. Of course I do have family member's permission to activate under their names. I did not have to reveal my credit card details to them today. 😇 I have used 4 different names so far, but have permissions (and details) to use another 3 at least, and there are more if required.

        I manage 3 Kogan Mobile 365 accounts but these extra data sims are mostly for my mother, as far cheaper than her very limited old Vodaf broadband wifi account was. She has been waiting for NBN for a long time which is due in a few months. Mother has selected a NBN phone/internet bundle already, as hearing impaired (better to hear with home phone than a mobile). We mostly communicate with sms; few have that mobile number. I also buy the "new" extra data sims for travel, and have bought some $4.90 (and less) ones for overseas visitors; both phone and data (activated in others names as Aus passport or licence required). Have another Vodaf data $40 to activate tomorrow too; son's name. 😉 Some I had purchased were 180 day Vodaf sims; about 10 of those from Safeways.

        Gave a Kogan 90 or 180? day sim (activated as late as possible but it was still nearing expiry date) to a friend but was going lose "bonus" data if we transferred into his name, so it remains in my name for now. He actually recharged that one to carry over data and they even gave him bonus data after I called … Very confusing episode that one.

        Had thought the only real problem would be activating too many "new" account sims in the same name, so trying to keep max to 5 in each name. Activation online asks you how many accounts you have etc. … (Most people only have only 1 or 2 I would guess …)

        *MobilCity had a limited lot of half price $30 30-day? Vodaf sims, so $15, reduced again so paid $7.50 each. Today it showed 30 GB. Mother only uses max 10 GB a week. Last time there was some extra GBs added to that (Vodaf extra bonus offer but I cannot recall).

        I may have made some small errors here that would require further checking.😮 Hope the above helps some though.

      • JediJan on 15/03/2019 - 15:34

        Short answer lol … Yes, that is what I have been doing; very same credit card. Trying to limit 5 sims to each name and hoping they work … so far so good! I manage 3 x 365 Kogan Mobile accounts also.

        • GregMonarch on 15/03/2019 - 15:47
          +2

          Hm… Ok, thanks.

          Strange they won't allow us more than a few SIMs in our own name due to whatever perceived 'risk of dishonesty' we become… but WILL allow us to impersonate other people while using OUR credit card details.

          Some brilliant logic there. Maybe Ruslan is in training to become a politician.

          • JediJan on 15/03/2019 - 16:25

            @GregMonarch: Maybe the 3 x 365 day accounts helps me. When I have spoken to them I tell Kogan I manage the mobile and data accounts for my (real) family, which doesn't seem an issue for them; is honest. Mother is 90 hearing impaired, so am authorized to manage her banking etc. Family okay with me opening sim card accounts in their names; costs them nothing. Helping their mother or grandmother for a time.
            There is some issue of "fair use" policy though, so having more than 5 data sims per person probably appears excessive to the providers. I am only guessing though.

            • GregMonarch on 15/03/2019 - 17:43
              +2

              @JediJan: Yeah, but then… using another credit card overcomes it. It's like:

              "You only get to activate X SIMs! Oh… You used a different credit card to pay… We throw that rule out the window now." LOL.

              I just don't get what they're trying to achieve/prevent, because… they're just - not, whatever it is. So they may as well stop doing it. It's like saying the screen door absolutely must be closed… because the submarine is about to submerge.

              • JediJan on 16/03/2019 - 17:47
                +1

                @GregMonarch: Yes, I follow that. I only have one "real" credit card and one "prepaid" for convenience / loyalty points etc. Really wouldn't like to have any more. I guess because they don't want some to take too much advantage of these "new" "sweetener" accounts. If you could buy through third parties, like MobilCiti, you should be able to avoid giving any credit card details, even use PayPal like I did for a couple. Just got to keep on checking what is on offer. You have to be tenacious to keep up with all this activating malarky!

                Just activated "$40" one for son today; genuinely going on a holiday so extra portable data. Was not essential to leave any credit card on file … purchased outside Vodafone. Activated within minutes.

                • ozhunter68 on 31/03/2019 - 09:23
                  +1

                  @JediJan: Wow, I though I was a hard core sim slut, got nothing on "JediJan" and even "GregMonarch's" heavy usage lol.

                  Saying that I have had months where I activated too many Kogan Free/0.99c XL sims for data use last year and got stuck contacting Kogan Mobile Live Chat and Calling them and hence found out you can Only activate up to 4-5 new sims ( was told two different answers from staff ) per month ( not sure for that month or need to wait 30 days from lastb sim activation date ) per account using SAME CREDIT CARD.

                  As these sims are all for my use ( I do share data in house via wifi lol ) and I only have ONE credit card, I activate ALL in my name and ONE credit card, hence I found/hit that limit last year before they upped data to 40GB for XL.

                  I have also had problems porting my Always Same Mobile Number over to Kogan as it would take longer and longer to port over number ( started off a few days and ended upas bad as a week ), so I decided to no longer port my regular phone number over to these now $4.90 XL sims as it's too much hassle.

                  I figure they can see my account records from past multiple porting and sim activating, and are putting the brakes on me, or possibly just got unlucky, but it happened a few times.
                  So now I just activate a XL code/sim when needed every month or so, but also using up old Vodafone sim packs as they do not need credit card, and also give good data inclusions.
                  Just a shame Vodafone stopped offering the 6 month expiry for the $50 sim packs ( could buy half price usually ), so now the $40 ( can get these for $15-$20 on sale or even less ) activated on the combo Plus deal gives you 45GB over 35 day expiry, or $50 simpacks on same combo Plus offer for 55GB for 35 day expiry.

                  Happy days, but seems to be getting harder and harder to do this.

                  • JediJan on 04/04/2019 - 14:09
                    +1

                    @ozhunter68: Those Vodafone 180 day $50 data sim packs were $20 from Coles for a few weeks, believe late 2017. All had to be activated by mid August though. We purchased 10 for Mother in total. She had been using a Vodafone $70 pm broadband plan (included top ups), and as these $20 data sims lasted her about 4-6 weeks represented a substantial saving. Mother had been more than happy using them while waiting for NBN to arrive (requires a home phone).

                    Lol I thought I was really only a small bit part player here 😲 but, always enjoy reading about the new OzBargain sim deals … so been activating various Kogan and Vodafone sims ever since. Just sharing ownership of the sims between different family members, as I thought you were only supposed to have 5 active at a time in one name. We should have ample on standby at the moment to last until NBN finally arrives for Mother though.

                    Dick Smith just sent me an email with that $14.90 Kogan Mobile 90 day deal …

                    https://www.dicksmith.com.au/da/buy/kogan-mobile-prepaid-vou…

                    We have resolved to remain with Kogan Mobile 365 day prepaid plans for our 3 mobiles.

  • cwongtech on 20/03/2019 - 10:41

    Hard limit of 5 kogan numbers per cc number.
    Experience - I use 5 a month because my ADSL2+ is 4Mbps..

    • GregMonarch on 23/03/2019 - 18:00

      Yep, confirmed. It rejected my first CC on #6.

      So is it 91 days before you can use your own details again?

      The whole thing is just silly. Oh, unless you have to enter 'another persons' drivers license number?

      • cwongtech on 25/03/2019 - 00:43

        "So is it 91 days before you can use your own details again?"

        Not sure.. I use a diff cc number :)

        " Oh, unless you have to enter 'another persons' drivers license number?"

        not sure.

        • JediJan on 28/03/2019 - 13:03

          Only thing is I have used same credit card to purchase (various ways) over 20 (Kogan & Vodafone) sims, and counting, but activating under several names (4 so far). No dramas to date. I have assumed the name activation was the thing, but only guesswork on my part.

          Also maintaining 3x 365 days accounts with Kogan Mobile. I never leave credit card details on file.

          • cwongtech on 28/03/2019 - 16:15
            +2

            @JediJan: "Also maintaining 3x 365 days accounts with Kogan Mobile. I never leave credit card details on file"

            I just go in and remove auto-recharge immediately..

  • DEvok on 26/03/2019 - 04:09

    I have used over 15 cards with Kogan not a problem, no ban here that is because I keep buying those recharges ($4.95 41GB) as long as u recharge it’s fine, but if you keep on activating many many cards under he same CC, they will most likely ban. That’s why you use visa prepaid cards which are best, I just ordered heap maybe 50 free sims from Kogan, just the $50 freebies I get with each sim, activated a few already and still works, I think I won’t have to pay for food again haha.

    • GregMonarch on 27/03/2019 - 14:05
      +1

      Thanks, are you saying I can activate $4.90 40GB SIM 1, use the 40GB in just a few days, and use a second activation code to recharge another 40GB onto the same SIM?

      Sorry, you lost me with your last sentence - after saying you ordered the free SIMs they offered a while ago. Can you please type it a little differently? (It sounds like I'm missing out on something that I'm not aware of, LOL.)

      • ozhunter68 on 31/03/2019 - 09:32
        +1

        Don't worry too much with that above comment, he lost me too, but reading it again I think I now follow lol.

        I have been doing same since Kogan has been offering free/cheap XL sim cards/codes and have been reading/following many threads about it. A lot was learning through trial and error as well as other peoples experience.

        I do not have ADSL here in house, so use prepaid data via phone or modems.

        You can NOT re-charge a current Kogan Mobile Sim with these New Code Offers, always have to activate new sims.
        Kogan does have deals for re-charges for current customers, but they are different ones.

        • GregMonarch on 31/03/2019 - 16:51
          +1

          Thanks. In that case, you might be able to help down here:

          https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/444193#comment-7116241

          Basically I'm trying to figure out why I could not activate SIM #6, on the same credit card, in someone else's name - when it seems other people have.

          • ozhunter68 on 31/03/2019 - 18:33
            +1

            @GregMonarch: OK. We can not be 100% sure about this as Telcos change/update their software systems and rules/policies fromtime to time, so can only speak from my last experience and from reading/learning other peoples comments on here like you and JediJan etc.

            The problem I can see is the date(s) that you have activated a sim in the past 30 days, max 5 it seems on the same account ( using same email ) AND using Same Credit Card. Like I mentioned before, it does not seem to be a calendar month, it is how many activated in the current 30 day period, that's why myself and others were calling Kogan in the past to cancel out of data sims that were activated up to 30 days ago if more than 4 in order for the 5th. new sim to be accepted.

            I personally only use one credit card, and not sure if a prepaid credit card will work, although most people on here lately seem to think not, except "DEvok" ( not too sure about his info ).

            Hoop that was not too confusing lol :-)

            • GregMonarch on 31/03/2019 - 19:29
              +1

              @ozhunter68: Ok, so the credit card block resets day 31, but the 'number of active SIMs' is 90 days before they deactivate/reallocate its phone number.

              So I wonder why others can activate in someone else's name using the same CC. Using a different name didn't help in my case. It went by how many SIMs were activated on the same CC regardless of name.

              Oh and during activation I put her email address, the new SIM number as her contact number, but the same address as me, and same CC as my first 4x SIMs. (Surely people are not BUYING the activation codes using different email addresses/CCs!? Or it would have been mentioned by now.)

              I don't think removing CC details from their site after activation has anything to do with it, but I do that immediately too.

              So either other people only think they are activating more than 4x SIMs on the same CC within 30 days… Or… there's something peculiar to my situation. For example, maybe how fast you go through SIMs? I used:

              1st SIM in 2 days
              2nd by day 6
              3rd by day 9
              4th by day 13
              5th by day 22

              • ozhunter68 on 31/03/2019 - 20:45
                +1

                @GregMonarch: I forgot to mention that although JediJan says they have activated 20+ sims already, that does not mean in a few months, it could have been over 3 to 6 months or more.

                It all seems to come down to how many sims you activate within a month/30 day period from one account/credit card. This is the crucial factor.

                Also I don't think it matters who or how you buy a Kogan Mobile Voucher/sim, the thing that matters is Activation Info.

                Like you say, you don't think removing credit card details matters, but I do it also for feel good's sake lol.

                If you only want to use one account ( whether that may be email/name/address/drivers licence details or whatever ) and use one valid credit card, then stick to 4-5 per 30 days.

                If you can work around using different names/address/emails/drivers licence details credit card(s)/prepaid credit cards and your willing to try through trial and error, then go for it and get more than 4-5 per 30 and good luck to you.

                Sounds like different people have slightly various outcomes here with Kogan, just like some people are able to get much better offers for plans than others from Telstra/Optus etc through asking/complaining/loyalty etc etc.

                • GregMonarch on 31/03/2019 - 21:56
                  +1

                  @ozhunter68: Oh, I didn't mean who cares if we leave CC details on the Kogan site, as-in it's no big deal regarding security/privacy… I meant I don't think that removing CC details has any affect on how many SIMs one can activate in 30 days. I still remove CC info for security, and so I don't get charged by mistake.

                  Yeah, I have 4x CCs. So that's 8x SIMs per month if I really needed to. But folks saying, 'just use a different name but the same CC details = more activations' - had me confused when it didn't work. That claim is either false (maybe they're miscounting their number of SIMs in 30 days), OR… there's some 'coding rule' in Kogan's system that blocks people who burn through SIMs in quick succession like I just did for the first time.

                  Thanks.

                  • ozhunter68 on 31/03/2019 - 22:04
                    +1

                    @GregMonarch: Spot on! Agree with all the above.

                    Some people just seem to make vague claims or don't state actual amounts or dates, easy to get confused.

                    There are so many different combinations that you can use details to activate these sims, and like you say there could even be "coding rule"/human mood rule too haha.

                    Good luck and keep trying lol.

                    • GregMonarch on 31/03/2019 - 22:11
                      +2

                      @ozhunter68: Cheers.

                      The next thing I want to confirm (or deny) is if we're supposed to be able to activate a new SIM using ONLY the new SIM inserted into a device.

                      e.g. I can get partway through the activation process, in both Firefox and Chrome, with the cookies and cache cleared on both, and with the new SIM inserted in my pocket wifi, via my laptop. Then I can't go any further without 'logging into your connection'.

                      Then this afternoon I did exactly the same with the SIM in my Android phone: I get partway in then can't go any further.

                      It SEEMS like they mean for us to be able to. So I wish they'd fix it.

                      • ozhunter68 on 31/03/2019 - 22:36
                        +1

                        @GregMonarch: Haha,…I like it :-)

                        Can't say I have needed to/wanted to try that as I 99.9% of the time have some form of data either as data only in portable wifi modem, or on phone and use hotspot to my computer using windows/chrome with a physical keyboard ( make mistakes when using phone and/or tablet with touch or takes longer ).

                        I often activate multiple sims in one month with two or more telcos so they overlap in order to juggle between them for the best reception/speeds as I use mobile data as my main form of internet here and when I am on the move.

                        Using a laptop I can activate sims in less than a minute ( if all goes well lol ), and I don't like too many hurdles or surprises, rather a smooth predictable positive outcome, sim ready to surf in a few minutes lol.

                        • GregMonarch on 31/03/2019 - 22:42

                          @ozhunter68: Yeah, with the Kogan SIMs I can use their free calls. So it would be good if I could drop my $70/m 100GB Optus SIM and pay $4.90 x 2 = $9.80 for 80GB (saving $60!). The problem is activating the 2nd SIM if I forget to check, and run out of data on the first SIM. (No way to activate.) The cheapest mobile plans with some data are about $15/m. So $15 wasted just so I can activate Kogan SIMs.

              • JediJan on 01/04/2019 - 02:36

                @GregMonarch: May have been a bit misleading previously; sorry about that. Quite a number of our sims I purchased with same credit card over the past year are / were Vodafone ones. I would say at least 10 were the $50? Vodafone 180 day variety (3 names), 3 Kogan 365 day sims (1 name), and a mix of at least 5 various Kogan sims (2 names), with 3 of the latest 5 Vodafone 30 & 40 GB ones (2 names so far). My record keeping has not been the best; there are more Kogan sims that I have not recorded but I believe were in my name. Quite a variety of GBs involved, costs, #days, purchase methods (online, store, PayPal & credit card from MobilCiti). Have always activated sims online. Plan to activate another 2 at least before mid-May, when NBN arrives. I intend to buy a few more data sims for travelling also.

                Where I have been able to use another name I use their email addresses, home addresses (some same as mine) and licence details.

  • GregMonarch on 31/03/2019 - 16:28
    +1

    Ok, returning to this… I just tried to activate SIM #6 on credit card #1 again, in my wife's name this time.

    *** And the Kogan site rejected it: "Enter different credit card details or contact Kogan." ***

    I had to use my second credit card again. It now has 3x SIM activations in the same 90 day period.

    The only thing I can think that might be different to JediJan, is the driver license screen had my license info prefilled. (I don't mean when you click in an empty field and info you've entered before can be seen and selected. I mean the info was already 'typed-in' when the page opened.)

    So I figured, "Well, they displayed my license info automatically (which has never happened before). And I am 'activating for someone else' but I'm paying for it… So they must be saying entering my license instead of hers is ok…"

    QUESTION: When activating SIMs 'for someone else', do you (JediJan - or anyone else) enter the OTHER person's license? Or do you still use your own?

    I'd like to work out what's happening here so we all know 'the rules'.

    • JediJan on 01/04/2019 - 02:53

      I always use that person's email address, home address and licence details. See above where I said I have had quite a mix of Vodafone and Kogan sims though.

      One thing struck me about your comment though … I may be quite wrong here but I don't ever recall any licence number details being pre-filled during any online activation. Would that the Kogan website or your computer doing the prefilling? Perhaps check computer settings and turn off form prefilling before trying again; only a suggestion. Until the next activation step I wouldn't think it would affect the result though.

  • GregMonarch on 31/03/2019 - 16:32
    +1

    Oh - and yes, I remove my credit card details every time, right after activation.

    • ozhunter68 on 31/03/2019 - 20:29
      +1

      I don't think leaving or removing credit card details on file makes any difference as once you have entered credit card info it Will Be on their system regardless.

      Removing it is more a feel good for ourselves so not to get auto recharged on that, or minimise credit card fraud ( not that the risk of fraud would be much less as you already lodged info anyway ).

      • GregMonarch on 01/04/2019 - 00:21

        Hm… I've just realised 3 of the 4 SIMs on credit card 1 have already expired. That means only 1 SIM should stil be 'active' on that credit card, so it should have been 'unlocked', right?

        That is:

        Credit Card 1
        SIM 1 - 30 days of use expired on the 20th of March
        SIM 2 - expired 22nd March
        SIM 3 - expired 26th March
        And SIM 4 expires tomorrow

        But CC #1 was still blocked yesterday afternoon, even though the 30 days of 3x of those SIMs had already expired.

      • JediJan on 01/04/2019 - 03:01
        +1

        Although I always remove credit card details to prevent auto recharges, I had thought companies were not supposed to retain that information unless permission was given. Perhaps encryption is used though.

        • ozhunter68 on 01/04/2019 - 10:28
          +1

          As the matter of keeping credit card info/collecting private data and use of encryption is all such a shady/uncertain area where companies often break the rules and there is lot's of secrecy involved, often on behalf of governments/NSA/China/hackers etc etc.

          If Kogan can keep a record of how many sims you have activated in past 30 days After We Remove Credit Card Info on our accounts, then they still have to have some kind of record for that use.

          What companies/governments tell us,and what they Really Do is often not the same. They can always use excuse for stopping terrorism lol.

          • GregMonarch on 01/04/2019 - 15:40
            +2

            @ozhunter68:

            If Kogan can keep a record of how many sims you have activated in past 30 days
            After We Remove Credit Card Info on our accounts, then they still have to have
            some kind of record for that use.

            Yeah, exactly.

            I don't think I'll need any SIMs for a while, which is kind of a shame… I would have liked to know when the 'SIM count' of my CC gets reset.

            • ozhunter68 on 01/04/2019 - 20:51
              +1

              @GregMonarch: May I ask why you need so much data in a few weeks/month? Serious question.

              I consider myself a fairly heavy mobile data user going through 30GB-80GB per month, but this is my only internet at home and I maintain half a dozen Android devices and Windows computer ( oh boy can some of those windows updates chew through the data ).

              I also stream a moderate amount of youtube and regular web browsing ( like too much OzBargain lol ).

              • cwongtech on 01/04/2019 - 21:13
                +2

                @ozhunter68:

                I consider myself a fairly heavy mobile data user going through 30GB-80GB per month, but this is my only internet at home and I maintain half a dozen Android devices and Windows computer ( oh boy can some of those windows updates chew through the data ).

                I can't answer for GregMonarch but in my household..
                TVBox - Android box for chinese TV
                Netflix - If you go 1080p, uses quite a bit of data

                Estimate 150GB, powered by Kogan Mobile at around 30Mbps~50Mbps because our ADSL2+ is on 4Mbps.

                • ozhunter68 on 01/04/2019 - 21:37
                  +1

                  @cwongtech: Well, maybe I need to reconsider lol.

                  Looks like I'm a bit behind the times with all the smart tv's and TVBoxes 1080P content ect.

                  Where I live I am doing ok if I can stream youtube on a phone/computer without too much buffering.

                  Although Vodafone/Kogan usually works the best here ( luckily for cheaper data ), I would be lucky to get 1Mbps-2Mbps on a good day and sometimes almost 0 on bad weather/congestion days.

              • GregMonarch on 02/04/2019 - 04:20
                +2

                @ozhunter68: My use is usually similar to yours, only I have one phone. I have a $70/m 100GB Optus data SIM and only occasionally get close to 90GB - which is when I then buy a $5 SIM. (Better off paying $5 for 40GB, than paying $10 for just 1GB extra to Optus - and their usage meter is often hours out of whack. So I've been caught twice now thinking I had several GB left on the last day - when I was already over.)

                But then a couple of months ago I began researching several things at once. The ketogenic diet, video/book courses that teach piano and guitar, when I stumbled on some sites with lots of large video course/book downloads. Most of the files were stored on sites like nitroflare and radpidgator which are mind-numbingly slow. Their files transfer at 20 or 30k and you have to keep clearing the browser cache/cookies and cycling the modem off/on to get a new IP address before you can start the next file. Otherwise you can only grab one file every hour, 3 hours, 24 hours, etc!

                I thought there must be a better way, and remembered about 'debrid' sites… But while they're quicker, they're a time-consuming pain in the neck with all the required sitting and clicking, plus potential trojans/viruses.

                There are browser plugins that bypass the clicking. But as I was about to go looking for those, I found a site called oboom - where you can enter the URL of files, and instead of downloading 1-3GB files yourself over 1 to 3 DAYS… it fetches and stores the files in minutes on their cloud server (or only seconds if someone else on oboom already has that same file). It can't get every file, but the ones it can, means you can now download huge files directly from oboom in 20 minutes or less.

                Add to that downloading to binge-watch several torrents - both new series episodes and old TV series I'd never seen… (because it was too hot here the last several weeks late into the night to do much else except sit in the aircon) … and it meant I was suddenly burning through data like never before.

                I'm nearly finished now though. I'm on SIM #8 in 2 months, and it looks like that will be enough to finish. My Optus resets to 100GB in the next couple of days too. So what's that total to… 8x 40GB SIMs + 2x 100GB of Optus = 520GB used in 2 months. No wonder my HDDs are full.

                While Android TV interests me a little, I don't need to waste more time, and if I hear about something I'm interested in, I just download torrents of 40 minute episodes in say 12-15 minutes. I use 'qtorrent' too, which you can tell to 'download first and last pieces first' and 'download in order' - which means you start the download, and a couple of minutes later you can start viewing. The rest of it downloads faster than you can view it.

                Resolution doesn't matter to me, so I pick the smallest torrent available. I've been to the movies with the huge screen and booming sound system. But a week later I don't remember those - I only remember the plot. So 200-300MB files for 40 minute episodes, or ~700MB-900MB for movies, and I get to watch without buying extra hardware (that would then make me watch even more) - and - no paying for netflix.

                Optus has data-free Nat Geo channel and some other kind of video too I think, but I've never used it.

                If I drop and equal the 100GB Optus plan, I'll need to be able to buy 2 to 3 40GB SIMs each month.

                • JediJan on 02/04/2019 - 07:36
                  +1

                  @GregMonarch: Seems a lot to pay for data even though you appear to use a lot. At home we have a $60 Belong NBN unlimited plan, no requirement for home phone. Use wifi function on phones to use that also when home. Although I record a number of tv programs om DVD HDD I still watch quite a few tv programs on those catch up sites. No buffering problems for us fortunately. Optus does not run a reliable service here.

                  Apart from the NBN wìfi we have 3 separate Kogan mobile 365 day accounts, and use the data on these when out.

                  • GregMonarch on 02/04/2019 - 14:29
                    +2

                    @JediJan: My usage varies every month. Some months I'll only use 20GB. Others I get to about 90GB with a week left of that month, so I'll do minimal stuff online for a week until it resets. Rarer is like the last two months - where I found a lot of stuff I wanted to download AND figured instead of spreading it out, I'd use that to see what happens when you buy multiple Kogan SIMs - to test if it was viable to drop Optus and use only Kogan SIMs. (I've been thinking about selling up and living in a mobile home and traveling.)

                    • JediJan on 04/04/2019 - 12:58

                      @GregMonarch: We recently took a week away; Great Ocean Road, S.A. and the Murray River towns. Stayed in 2 br cabins as son young adult, and cabins are more peaceful; he pays his half share. I know exactly how you feel about living in a mobile home and travelling. Seems an awful lot of us are doing just that (or getting away before the school holidays)! Less housework and gardening hey. Establishments gave us free wifi (most only 500mb), but often a bit iffy, so we usually just used our own (Vodafone wifi). Son kills a lot of GBs usually but only used 15 GB that week. Switch comes in handy when the internet poor.

                      This will sound strange to some, but I still don't understand how GPS (Google Maps) can work without internet! There is the ability to share your up to date location with others, (you send them a link) so if you are out of internet range at least they still know where you are and travelling towards.

                      Eldest brother and wife bought a relocatable cabin a year or so back down Westernport for some quiet time, but will be selling up yet again. Family concerns seems to have drawn them back constantly. Now looking at buying another property with family.

                      • GregMonarch on 04/04/2019 - 21:54
                        +1

                        @JediJan: LOL. (Some) map apps work without the internet, after the maps have already been downloaded and stored in your phone memory. Those maps have 'reference points' - sort of like a paper map has A, B, C… across the top and 1, 2, 3… down the side. Add to that, many phones have a GPS function - which is how the weather app on your home screen knows where you are and displays the weather/temperature. That same GPS in your phone (not all phones have it) is how speedometer apps work too.

                        e.g. I sometimes put my phone into a suction-cup cradle stuck to the windscreen, tilt it up, mirror-reverse the digits in the app, and the speed now displays up on the windscreen glass in the correct orientation (instead of like looking at numbers in a mirror). This way I don't have to shift my eyes down to look down at the speedo at night when I'm doing 120km/h.

                        Anyway, your phone is constantly checking it's position using it's internal GPS, to display weather, etc. The map software uses that same location to displays your position on its maps.

                        • JediJan on 04/04/2019 - 22:36

                          @GregMonarch: I know my tech knowledge is rather poor… but the weather app too! I thought they all required a minimal amount of internet data to function. Asked a few people and they didn't know either. GPS is so underated!

                          I only use Google Maps these days.

                          So dislike being told to "take the 2nd or 3rd exit" at roundabouts by that silly woman. That is tough if you are are on that long hike down that esplanade on Adelaide's beaches; guess at ten times in a row. She often leads me astray telling me to go the wrong way down one way streets and has a preference for those toll roads in Sydney. Don't trust her directions at the roundabout prior to DreamWorld on the Gold Coast either lol… I digress.

                          I leave bluetooth switched on in my mobile for calls and messages to come through, and she cannot get a single word in. 😁

                          I can see the advantage of the speedo on the windscreen. I once accidentally turned the dashboard lights off in the car one night. Thinking it was a fuse (had no spares), or electrical fault, I just drove that car home as safely as I could and checked the next day. 0ne of these days I will have a look in the manual.

                          • GregMonarch on 05/04/2019 - 00:34
                            +1

                            @JediJan: I tried many different GPS programs few years ago. I found as soon as I drove out of my area, Google Maps wanted an internet connection again to download details of the next map over. (It download the main road - and that was all I needed - but it refused to work without a big nagging box on the screen demanding a new download for the next grid.

                            I've tried many and found Sygic to be the best and I'll explain why in a minute. It needs the internet ONCE. And shows landmarks like tall buildings, has advanced lane guidance (move into the left lane ready for next turn).

                            I had a pirated version of it installed which isn't the smartest thing. My Antivirus constantly whined about it, then it just stopped working for some reason. So I removed it. It's expensive but comes up for sale on here sometimes.

                            Here's why it's better…

                            One time I was driving through Sydney across some bridge or ramp. I had 3x different GPS programs running at the same time, and I was switching between them to compare. While advanced lane guidance is good, sometimes it's still not clear. But I found with Sygic, I could watch the screen closely and tell which lane to get into - but it's quick - it sort of shows it right AS you enter that split point. So you sort of need to drive slow, hang back a bit longer and let others pass, then when you reach that point I think it would zoom in so you can see the lanes more clearly and know which one to get in. Then you speed back up.

                            Anyway, while driving that day Sygic crashed for some reason and wouldn't come back - probably because it was pirated. With something like 6 lanes in front on me and no idea which 'line' on the screen I was supposed to enter, I hit the button that shows recently-opened apps - and clicked to go to one of the other GPS programs which were already running - either Nokia HERE or Google Maps - but I went into a cold sweat as I realised it wasn't showing what Sygic does, and for the first time that day I wound up on the wrong road because the lines were all so overlapped and similar, you couldn't tell which lane to get into. I wound up paying a toll to travel on very short underground section of road that joined back up again to the road I'd just left! If I hadn't gone down it thanks to those other apps, I wouldn't have paid any toll!

                            Next time I see Sygic on sale I'll probably be buying it. It's not perfect - it required that slowing down - but it was the best of all of them.

                            I once accidentally turned the dashboard lights off in the car one night.
                            Thinking it was a fuse (had no spares), or electrical fault, I just drove
                            that car home as safely as I could and checked the next day. 0ne of these
                            days I will have a look in the manual.

                            LOL. You should come with a warning label.

  • DEvok on 04/04/2019 - 16:41

    If you really want me to go into great length of detail than I will, so to clarify people with the questions,listen carefully.

    every month I purchase 2x $4.95 41Gb packs + use those free Kogan sims so 4-5 so total 7 a month. Also it asked prior initial activation if I have more than 4 or so sims which I say NO obviously (Kogan doesn’t seem to care unlike Optus, Telstra which forces you to activate over phone/live chat once you have over that amount very annoying.

    I have ordered numerous sims from the free promotions which always get delivered before the time someone posted the deal like today
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/448761
    and it got ozbaragined coz some greedy Odiots most likely purchase like a 100 which forced Kogan to remove the item, you can only order 5sims per order. Kogans sims 100% needs pre-authorisation Of $1 to activate but is refunded after a few days, Remember after 30 days if you don’t recharge they disable your sim and you cannot receive calls/sms. If you want to know what I do with these sims, I use them for ordering food pickup apps, from Ritual $20, and Heyyou $10 initially $15, Liven and many more.

    You can’t go crazy on those two as they can ban you, like Uber/Uber eats, max 4 per phone, IMEI,ID,credit card, email are recorded, most companies are less reluctant to do so (smaller companies catch on if you obviously abuse) use them precisely as you can have free food and get away with it, hope this helps.

    • ozhunter68 on 04/04/2019 - 20:39

      Thanks for taking the time to report back with your use in detail.

      Could not help reading this part in your last comment which could be seen as a bit over the top by some.

      " I just ordered heap maybe 50 free sims from Kogan,"

      I probably also ordered around 30 of those free/0.99c Kogan XL sims over the last 18 months or so lol.

    • GregMonarch on 04/04/2019 - 23:57
      +1

      it got ozbaragined

      Not this one: https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/VHA-OFFICE-USE-HFQ3498W/

      I never get charged the $1. But there has to BE a dollar in my account for activation to work.

  • vetopower on 05/04/2019 - 12:57
    +4

    Excellent thread. Learned a lot from it, even though I only activate 1-2 Kogan SIMs per month.

    Here's hoping the $4.95/40GB deal sticks around.

    • ozhunter68 on 08/04/2019 - 11:44
      +1

      I have activated many Kogan XL voucher codes/sims in the last two years and as well as learning through trial and error and finding Kogans rules and limits, as well as also reading these many posts in order to learn from other peoples experiences.

      Some info is either not correct, or it was the users personal experience and cannot always be expected by all users in similar situations. There seem to be many standard rules, as well as some flexible ones, hence various outcomes.

      The short of it, you can keep activating one or two per month new sims with same name/account/credit card without issues as older unused sims will get cancelled after 30 days without a re-charge ( some people said 90 days but it's only 30, you can test this out yourself ).

      If you want/need to activate more, you will need to be more creative and use multiple credit cards/emails/names and/or call Kogan to Cancel old sims ( they seem to not like doing this much anymore for heavy users lol ), and keep good records and history to keep up lol.

  • GregMonarch on 07/06/2019 - 08:36
    +2

    I can now answer my own original question. It turns out Kogan does reset your 'banned' credit card automatically (without needing to ask them to 'unblock' you which brings attention on yourself).

    I know because a few days ago I activated another SIM using the same personal details and credit card as the first 4x SIMs that I mentioned above, which Kogan 'banned'.

    Their system seems to 'forget' SIM activations 90 days after each SIM is ACTIVATED (not 90 days after a SIM expires).

    So for example, if you activated 4x SIMs on these dates:

    SIM 1 on 1st Jan
    SIM 2 on 8th Jan
    SIM 3 on 15th Jan
    SIM 4 on 22nd Jan

    … then that credit card would now be blocked, no more activations possible, and you have to wait 90 days from each SIM activation (or use a a different credit card).

    So if you only had one credit card, your next 'group of activations' could occur:

    SIM 5 (90 days after 1/1/19) = 1/4/19
    SIM 6 (90 days after 8/1/19) = 8/4/19
    SIM 7 (90 days after 15/1/19) = 15/4/19
    SIM 8 (90 days after 22/1/19) = 22/4/19

    • quill on 31/01/2023 - 00:52

      Does it still work?

  • BrainDead on 04/08/2020 - 18:49

    Do I need to wait if I am porting out?

    I'm thinking of porting out to get past the 5 maximum per 90 days. I guess the sims stay active for 90 days? If I port out, it should mean there are less than 5 per card.

    Can someone provide guidance whether this will work?

  • MagicTsukai on 04/08/2020 - 20:30

    I often go through 4-5 prepaid sims a month with no problem. I do keep a record of all my vouchers and phone number in a notefile.

    • quill on 31/01/2023 - 00:51

      Does it still work?

  • moonwalk on 21/09/2020 - 21:19

    tried to buy Kogan simcard promo but it the payment got rejected. it doesnt accept prepaid mastercard anymore?

  • Neoika on 25/09/2020 - 07:03

    Zip pay can generate single use MasterCard for verification purpose. I have used it for Belong and Amaysim. Since it has no limit, no record needs to be kept.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join