TPG Mobile (Talk & Text Cap Plans)

Leggnbacon on 22/05/2011 - 20:56

Hello beautiful OzBargainers!

Now that's out the way I wanted to ask those of you who are currently on TPG's Talk & Text cap plans whether or not the following is possible.

Firstly there are two separate caps in the plan, TPG to Any Network and TPG to TPG. Not knowing many people on a TPG mobile plan, the TPG to TPG cap is almost useless to me. So my question is:

Is it possible to make use of the TPG to TPG cap value to make calls to 13/1300/1800 numbers cheaper?

The aim is to charge the "per 30 sec & flag fall costs" to the TPG to TPG cap, whilst making use of the call diversion cost of 19c per 30 seconds (which will be charged to the TPG to Any Network cap).

Step 1:
Set up call divert to a 13/1300/1800 number

Step 2:
Call yourself to activate the diversion (using up the TPG to TPG cap, because you are essentially calling a TPG mobile number)

Step 3:
???

Step 4:
Save a bit of moneys

The line of thought is similar to what Optus prepaid customers do in order to make cheap calls to other networks and landlines (except they use up their free minutes and credit instead).

I'm thinking of switching over and was wondering if this is possible.

Of course this is not so useful for those who do actually use their TPG to TPG cap to call people, but it might be helpful for those of us who don't.

Looking forward to some results!

General Discussion

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 22/05/2011 - 22:39

    I would have thought call diversion costs would be extra and excluded from both caps meaning it might soon add up, meaning your effectively paying the cap plan + diversion costs. But then again, that would still be cheaper than calling 13/1300/1800/19 numbers directly.

    Even LiveConnected have a clause somewhere saying diversion costs are excluded from their caps, so I guess TPG would be the same, otherwise you could try the same thing with LiveConnected.

    You could also use the data that comes with the cap, and find a VOIP plan for just 13/1300/1800/19 numbers directly, but would require a suitable 3G phone.

    • eggnbacon on 23/05/2011 - 16:56

      According to their call charges it does fall under the cap. No one at all on TPG?

      • [Deactivated] on 24/05/2011 - 00:13
        +1

        You're right about call diversions being included as part of the TPG to any network cap, at least when you check the pdf for plans pre 19 April. I could test with bro's plan, but I don't have a reason to call 13/1300/1800/19 numbers at all at the moment.

        I guess there are call diverting/forwarding apps around, which would at least simplify the whole process, and make it worthwhile.

        • eggnbacon on 24/05/2011 - 16:41

          It looks like there are a few apps floating around for both Android and iphone (nothing for Windows phone 7 as far as I can tell).

          If you ever do try it out please do post back :) I'm not planning on switching for at least a month. The pre 19th April charges does seem a bit sus though.

          Just had a look at the website again, there is a link at the very bottom which shows current call rates. Looks like call diversions are still included. http://www.tpg.com.au/mobile/callrates.html

          Cheers mate.

  • jpm1 on 22/05/2011 - 22:54

    "Call yourself to activate the diversion"

    No technical reason why this wouldn't work (but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't).

    "Step 1:
    Set up call divert to a 13/1300/1800 number"

    If I'm understanding your idea correctly, you would need turn the diversion on and off every time you want to call a 13/1300/1800 number. Very cumbersome way to achieve this, although some people may be willing to do it.

    However, an even greater problem is that if someone else calls you whilst you are on the call it will also divert them to the specified 13/1300/1800 number. So a friend calls you and gets diverted to the local Dominoes pizza joint, going to be rather confusing for them.

    • stralya on 23/05/2011 - 16:25

      Very cumbersome way to achieve this, although some people may be willing to do it

      However, if someone created an Android / iPhone app for this, it might be able to do this seamlessly - set up the call forward, make the call and then cancel the call forward. Maybe, such an app already exists.

    • eggnbacon on 23/05/2011 - 17:00

      Yeah I agree, it's very cumbersome. I don't mind sending friends through to random numbers though :P

  • llama on 23/05/2011 - 10:50
    +1

    I think people who consider such complicated things to save a dollar or two have too much time on their hands LOL. It kind of reminds me of the people who will drive for 2 hours to save 5c per litre of petrol.

    There is a big difference between "finding a bargain" and "wasting effort for minimal return".

    The whole idea of saving money is to improve your lifestyle. Wasting your life to try and save money is a completely different thing, and I don't reckon it's worth the effort.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/05/2011 - 16:45

      Ahem

      This is not the lifestyle channel, this is Ozbargain, home for the phrase Ozbargained…..

      Get a life or get an Ozbargain….

      • llama on 23/05/2011 - 16:53

        Yep, that is a fair call ozpete :-D

    • eggnbacon on 23/05/2011 - 16:55

      I'd hardly call a 64 cent/min saving a "minimal return". For those without a land line, calls to companies can be a huge money drain, especially considering cap plans don't include those numbers in their cap.

      • llama on 23/05/2011 - 23:33
        -2

        OK fair enough. I don't generally phone 13../18… numbers, because I use Google or Whitepages to find the normal-cost local call number.

        For example, Paypal states:

        1800 073 263 (If overseas, call +61 2 8223 9500)

        • llama on 25/05/2011 - 00:12

          ??? LOL

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join