Telstra Customer Service Tried to Switch Me to The "Same" Plan but Different

I just had to contact telstra to apply the $10 port in credit for the plan (huawei $65 jb telstra plan). I also switched to the $49 60gb click frenzy sale plan which supposedly switched a few days ago, even though I didn't receive any notification. The customer service guy then says that he can switch me to another plan also 60gb for $49 except this wont expire after 12 months. Everything the same. Unlike the sale plan that will lose its $20 credit after 12 months and go back up to $69 (I have to read the fine print on this…can someone confirm if that is true?)

Customer service person kept insisting plan was identical. Then sent me the pdf and T&C. The plan wasn't on the pdf. Just the usual $49 M plan 15gb data and payg international calls. the $69 L plan with 60gb data and xl plan at $89 with 90gb data. I then asked where was this $49 60gb plan? He said it was the $49 M plan with 15gb data except that he would add the 45gb data and put notes in the account for it. I then asked if the international calls were still free and not payg and supposedly I would keep that feature, even though it isn't on the M plan and he didn't need to make notes of that…

So he sends me more T&C and then I see that bonus data will expire after 12 months. So ask him and he says correct you will go back down to 15gb, but then he would leave notes in the account to continue the bonus 45gb data. I asked if notes would be required to keep the unlimited international calls too. He said no need.

In the end, it just seemed too dodgy to me. Every time it seemed ok, I would get more T&C which then contradicted what he was saying. So told him just to leave it on the $49 sale plan and I would think about it.

Any one else come across this offer? Any Telstra reps who can comment?

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Comments

  • +3

    I wouldn't trust the ***** at the Telstra call centre to do anything.

    Source … these were the words spoken to me by someone at a Telstra store (Telstra corporate owned).

  • +7

    i found that extremely difficult to read

    • I am still confused. pretty told me would be same plan with better conditions and price would stay at $49 even after 12months. However what he was doing was putting me on the smaller plan which is already $49 and adding 45gb data. Said everything would continue as is. gave me fine print which said all bonuses would expire after 12 months, (which contradicts what the guy was telling me). then he said he would have to manually add in notes to continue the data even after 23 months. I didn't trust him in keeping the unlimited international calls and text either as this isnt included in the smaller plan. Just seemed so confusing and dodgy.

      • +3

        The plans are made to be as confusing as possible so comparing value is impossible without maths that takes a long time.

        Most other countries do not allow such deceptive idiocy by legislation even if they were stupid enough to privatise their communications.

        This is because it's unfair to consumers because it means either they don't know what they're getting or they waste hours of their lives solving puzzles that reveal the actual value.

        • In the past I also received a call out-of-the-blue (initially thought it was a fraudulent call as I didn’t expect Telstra to do this kind of thing), the same scenario of trying to ‘upgrade’ my service with better value / options.
          I had time and felt like talking to someone casually so basically spoke with them on & off topic for 30 mins then before hanging up told them I wanted absolutely nothing changed.

          I also have a family member who is on an old pre-paid plan which provides less total value than the new plan of same cost, but the new plan got rid of international call credit (which is important to said family member), so they continue the old plan and refuse to upgrade to the new one.

  • devils in the details… doing this now but with cable, thought we were paying $3 or so a month extra but it's more like $30 as not on the right bundle.

  • +2

    Never trust a telstra rep, most dont know what they are talking about, different but the same is not the same.

  • +1

    Did you chat online?
    Hopefully you kept the transcript. If you did, shoot through a complaint.

    • Yes I did. I think I will send through a complaint

      • Thats good.
        Im currently having issues with them as well.
        Signed up for an ipad plan and was told id get a $10 discount.
        Then they call me up saying that they couldnt honor the deal.
        Sent through a complaint, now have a case manager dealing with the issue but im still not happy with how they're fixing the issue.
        I might shoot through a complaint to the TIO if they dont fix it soon

  • -1

    IME: do not trust any (remote) Telstra workers other than those you talk to after the TIO complaint who just fix everything up.

  • Either it is same or it is different. If different, then clarify what is different by asking him to send the documentation and tell him you would read it, decide and contact back.

  • So I'm a little bit confused by what you were offered as well, however, any promotional add-ons such as Monthly credit or Bonus Data apply until you recontract or cancel the service.

    It's rare that Telstra would have an $xx/xxGB monthly offer expire after 12/24 months, it DOES happen, but most discounts for personal use are not built in this way.

    • Easier to post the chat log. Its quite confusing lol

      Rafiq: I have one more offer for you.

      Rafiq: Shall I suggest you?

      Me: okay
      Rafiq: You are on $69 plan with $20 discount and 60gb data, this $20 discount will end on the end of the contract.

      Rafiq: Then your plan will be of $69 per month, I suggest you to go with $49 plan with 60gb data.
      Rafiq: Is that okay for you?
      Me: what is the difference then? contract period?
      Rafiq: After the end of contract your plan will be $49 only.

      Me: still 12 months?
      Me: all the other features are identical?
      Rafiq: Now youa re on $69 plan with $20 disocunt After the end of contract your plan will be $69 per month.
      Me: So what is the catch? has Telstra decided to do the same plan but now at a normal price of $49?
      Rafiq: Yes I will give you in $49 60gb data.

      Me: and still 12 months?
      Rafiq: Yes it is for 12 months.

      Rafiq: I need to share the terms and condtions to process this for you.

      Me: is all the T&C the same as previous plane?
      Me: plan*
      Rafiq: Yes it si same but I need to share it again.

      Me: okay
      Rafiq: "Please go through our Customer Term sets out full Terms and Conditions on which Telstra supplies services and it is also available at Telstra.com
      Also, there will be an email containing the Critical Information Summary that will be sent to your registered email address. I can do that now before I submit the order or would you like to proceed with the order now and review the information summary later?
      "

      Rafiq: https://www.telstra.com.au/content/dam/tcom/personal/mobile-…

      Rafiq: Please check the link for the CIS/Terms and conditions and let me know if ou accept them and proceed with the plan.

      Me: that byo pdf still shows old pricing
      Me: doesn't mention the new $49 60gb plan
      Rafiq: I am giving you bonus data.

      Rafiq: So ti show $49 with 15gb data.

      Me: the calls and sms to international numbers seems different to the L and XL plan
      Me: the $49 plan is pay as you go
      Me: the L plan is unlimited to eligible distinations
      Rafiq: I would like to inform you all your benfits will be same as you agreed on your current plan only I am reducing your bill and giving you bonus data.

      Me: Okay are you 100% sure everything remains the same inc the unlimited international calls and sms
      Me: just want to 100% make sure
      Rafiq: Yes everything will be same.

      Rafiq: Also below are few more details for the CIS/ Terms and conditions

      Rafiq: I would also like to mention that Telstra might conduct a credit check and information will be provided to credit reporting bodies to get credit information and check your history with Telstra. We may need to verify your information such as your driver's license with the issuer of record holder. You can find the details about the credit check and regarding your rights in relation to credit reporting information in Telstra's Privacy Statement on our website.

      Rafiq: Would like to inform that the start if this new plan for you will not line up with your billing period. From the time new plan starts, to the end of the billing period, you will have: access to the new plan's full usage allowance and will see part month charge for the new plan, part month credit for charges paid in advance for the previous plan and one month in advance.

      Rafiq: As the new plans do not have data sharing hence you would not be able to share data with this plan.

      Rafiq: The contract that you are activating is for 12 months.

      Rafiq: The discount credit/ Bonus Data will also expiry once the contract ends or in case you re-contract or change the plan

      Me: what do you mean here?
      Me: the extra data will remain after 12 months correct?
      Rafiq: No the extra data will expire.

      Me: so what will happen
      Me: it will go back to how much data?
      Rafiq: It will go back to the normal data.

      Me: which is?
      Rafiq: 15GB data.

      Me: I thought U said this would all continue after the 12 months
      Me: so there is no point switching
      Me: either the price goes up $20
      Rafiq: I told the discount of $20.

      Me: or the data goes down by 45gb
      Me: after 12months
      Me: depending on which plan I use
      Me: id rather the stay on the original plan then of $69 with the $20 credit, then go on the smaller plan and then lose that much data
      Rafiq: If you need your data will not get less.

      Me: you just said it will go down to 15gb
      Me: not remain at 60gb
      Rafiq: Yes it will be but If I will process it like before I will make sure that your data not get down.

      Me: what do you mean? I would have to contact Telstra customer service again before 12months and recontract?
      Rafiq: No it will automically will be added to you, as I will make notes on your account.

      Me: this is quite complicated, as the T&C provided are different than what you will be actually providing in the end.
      Me: and have to be adjusted by notes on the account.
      Me: does that mean you will have to make notes on the account too about keeping the unlimited international calls and sms to eligible destinations?
      Rafiq: it is as per your convenience without your acceptance I will not mek changes on your account.

      Rafiq: No I ahve to only make notes for your extra data.

      • It sounds like one of those deals that some reps have the discretion to offer, though they're typically from the retention department.

        Given it's in writing from their transcripts, you'd probably get the offer as it's promised if Dept of Fair Trading or equivalent got involved. Thing I would want clarity on is how long does the extra data (via notes) last for after the contract ends.

        Years ago I had an arrangement similar to this for internet, but it was a fixed $ discount that was recorded in notes. Every time I switched/upgraded plans, I would ask them to refer to the notes and apply the discount which the reps did in order to secure my recontract. They eventually wisened up after close to 5 years and deleted the note. And to be fair, they were transparent about how it was never supposed to last this long

  • That sounds very fishy! I recently signed up to the same promo plan but the rep let me keep the $10 loyalty credit ive been getting so got the same L plan for $39-60gb. However i never got any email confirmation or anything, he said plan changed and ended the chat. So i was very skeptical too at the time. Telstra app changed to the new plan and I spoke to another rep since then and asked them to check and they confirmed $30 credit ! Im hoping this stays after the 12 months - but if not ill just reassess and/or change to a better plan when it comes around.

    I recon you should def stay on the $49 promo plan! 12 months is a long time and im sure there will be alot of better offers by then! Hes prbly trying to recontract you because it benefits him maybe??

    • Yeah, I think he gets a commission for making me change plans. So he can make me go to lower or higher plan. And somehow hes been given the leeway to bring the data back up to the medium plan amount (or worked out some dodgy way to get it, maybe via trying to keep customer from leaving option)…which sounds already dodgy to me. Im sure a plan will come up close to 12 months time that will be equivalent to switch into. Otherwise I'll just port out.

  • The Telstra support staff are incented to resign people on new contracts so find any reason to get you to resign even if the plan is almost identical.

    Make sure you get the details in writing before you agree and want to sign up to a 12 or 24 Month plan. Prices go down and data allowances increase a lot in 12 months so make sure you are getting the best deal.

    Telstra is roughly 20% more expensive than Optus for most plans so make sure the difference is worth it for you too.

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