Anyone Else Sick of All The 6 Month Teaser Rates on Internet Plans?

rabid_monkey on 31/03/2021 - 14:27
Last edited 05/04/2021 - 11:03 by 1 other user

Not much to say really, just a bit of a rant.

I was hunting around to see if I could get a better nbn plan, and I started to get my hopes up as I compared all the advertised prices and it was looking like the faster plans were finally coming down in price. But of course they're all: "$<teaser rate> for 6 months, then $<real price> ongoing".

I know it's what they're all doing these days…and yes I can switch every 6 months to a new provider…but frankly who can be bothered. I just wanted to vent, as it reeks of sleazy bait-and-switch sales tactics, and I had hoped the smaller quality providers wouldn't copy…but I guess it only takes a few people who don't churn after 6 months to make it worth while for them.

Anyway, rant over, anyone else in the grumpy old man camp with me?

Poll Options

  • 42
    Sick of this BS
  • 51
    Suck it up princess and chase those discounted rates
Internet

Comments

  • cruiserbruiser on 31/03/2021 - 14:29

    No, I'm happy

    • rabid_monkey on 31/03/2021 - 14:30
      +1

      I'm genuinely happy for your happiness. I should probably just go mediate and let it all go…

      • cruiserbruiser on 31/03/2021 - 14:32

        I'm stoked, glad I could make someone's day

  • ode1online on 31/03/2021 - 14:34

    Yep.

  • scrimshaw on 31/03/2021 - 14:37
    +10

    These are all time-limited discounts being passed down by Nbn Co
    https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/683918/nbn-co-offers-disco…

    The details of the discounts can be found on this table
    https://d2bs8hqp6qvsw6.cloudfront.net/dimg/700x700/dimg/nbnf…

    A lot of these discounts are usually passed down to new customers while existing customers get the shorter end of the stick.

    Similar to insurance, phone and gas/electricity providers, if you just stay with one company you don't tend to get rewarded as a "loyal" customer and it might be better to switch it up periodically to make sure you're catching all the best deals.

    • rabid_monkey on 31/03/2021 - 15:01

      thanks, I had realised they were directly related to nbn co offers.

  • flagger on 31/03/2021 - 14:39
    +2

    The current fast plan discounts are because NBN are running a promo called Focus on Fast. Details are here https://www.nbnco.com.au/content/dam/nbnco2/2020/documents/s…

    The promo runs out about July, but some ISP's are allowing new signup's to continue the discount past the NBN promo cutoff, obviously losing some money in the process.

    Suck it up, change to a lower tier plan when the discount ends and be happy! Be glad we are getting something from NBN.

    • rabid_monkey on 31/03/2021 - 15:02

      Yeah makes sense, thanks!

  • Twix on 31/03/2021 - 14:39

    Changing ISP twice a year takes 2 minutes to do an online signup and the transfer can be done in under 1 hour.

    • rabid_monkey on 31/03/2021 - 15:05

      I had a bad experience last time I changed providers and didn't have internet for a couple of days which has made me gun-shy about switching regularly…especially with work from home. I guess I can always hotspot on mobile if there are issues.

      • Twix on 31/03/2021 - 15:15

        Change on a day off or weekend. Are you on HFC, FTTN, FTTB, FTTC, FTTP?

        • rabid_monkey on 31/03/2021 - 16:03

          I can't recall the exact day, it was mid week though. FTTP. They also ballsed it up and my new service on the 2nd port without taking over/cancelling the existing service on port 1, so I ended with 2 active accounts and got charged twice (by both providers) on the first month. <face palm>

          • Twix on 31/03/2021 - 16:12

            @rabid_monkey: Yeah that's how it is on FTTP. A new service goes on the next NBN box port and you cancel the ex ISP.

            • rabid_monkey on 31/03/2021 - 16:20
              +1

              @Twix: that would explain it…although I explicit asked them if I needed to do anything and they said, nope it'll all be taken care of…lesson learnt

          • brendanm on 31/03/2021 - 18:20

            @rabid_monkey: That's how it normally works. You sign up with the new provider, with service to start on X date (X date being a day or 2 before your month with current provider ends). You tell your current provider you want to finish up at the end of the current billing month.

            When date X comes, swap from port 1 to port 2.

    • Gunther on 31/03/2021 - 15:09
      +1

      Its this easy with FTTP, not sure it is with other technologies.

  • JimB on 31/03/2021 - 14:40

    Since we're on the topic..

    My 6 month 50/20 promo plan with Telstra is ending… who's offering a decent 50/20 plan these days? 6 months teaser or otherwise.

    • Twix on 31/03/2021 - 14:43
      +1

      Aussie Broadband, Mate, Superloop.

      • SnowDragon on 31/03/2021 - 14:51

        How long does it take to become a new customer with the above?

        I think I remember ABB being 12 months.

        • Twix on 31/03/2021 - 14:52

          6 months.

      • JimB on 31/03/2021 - 15:00
        +1

        Cheers!

        May go with Superloop… $60 a month for 6 months.. then $70 afterwards

  • ak47wong on 31/03/2021 - 14:54

    Yep, mobile providers are all like this too. Half price or special rate for the first 1-3 months, then it goes up to full price.

  • Donaldhump on 31/03/2021 - 14:58

    this isn't exactly ground breaking marketing, every bloody industry is like this, health, paytv, drugs.. its called a lazy tax.
    if you don't like it pay the full price from day 0, switch every 5 months, or stop whinging.

    • rabid_monkey on 31/03/2021 - 15:11

      You calling me lazy!? Well ok, you got me…
      Looks like I'm signing up and putting the reminder in the calendar for 5 months…

    • rabid_monkey on 31/03/2021 - 15:19

      funny thing is, it would probably annoy me far less if the prices weren't time discounted at all, and were just the full rate! Even though I'd be paying more in the long run…something about it being cheap then getting more expensive…it's probably some variation on the loss aversion theory.

      • Donaldhump on 31/03/2021 - 16:32

        you don't have to accept the discount

        only way to get shit cheap is to churn, im about to ring foxtel for that reason.

  • spackbace on 31/03/2021 - 16:50

    Would this not be a conflict of interest from a Telstra employee?

    Would you not get staff rates etc and just go through Telstra nbn?

    • rabid_monkey on 31/03/2021 - 21:52
      +1

      sorry, I don't get the reference to telstra?

  • Stewardo on 31/03/2021 - 19:13

    I just ring up and tell them I want to cancel, they put me thru to retention team and they give me a month free if I stay and commit to 12 more months

  • Axelstrife on 31/03/2021 - 21:38
    +1

    Honestly ive found my favorite provider who im willing to pay their standard price purely cause the features of their NBN offering.
    Launtel is who i'm with.
    Just being able to change my speed on a per day basis means if i know im going to wait faster speeds one day i can switch to 1000/50 for that day or few days and then back down to 100/20 or lower and only getting charged a higher rate for the time days at those higher speeds.

    • CacheHunter on 05/04/2021 - 14:10

      Doesn't the CG-NAT annoy you? Or you just do downloads and never need to access home servers, automation etc from outside your network?

      • Axelstrife on 05/04/2021 - 15:20

        I opted for a static IP, cost's $100 BUT whenever you leave you get that $100 back so it's kinda free in a way.

  • samfisher5986 on 01/04/2021 - 10:35
    +1

    Switching providers is a huge deal if you are into gaming or doing anything important during peak hours.

    You'll never know if your new provider is going to have terrible ping or speeds when you need it.

  • bamzero on 01/04/2021 - 11:13
    +1

    I'm more so sick of the NBN execs thinking their bonuses are justified.

  • Tigercjn on 01/04/2021 - 11:54

    I rang up my supplier and told them about the better rates around and they doubled my speed for no cost.

  • Tigercjn on 01/04/2021 - 11:56

    If you rang up they would probably keep you at the cheaper price if you told them you were going to leave.

  • Mugsy on 01/04/2021 - 13:24

    I never look at these 6 months special rate deals… I'm more concerned about how much it's going to cost in the long run especially since I normally sign on to 12-24mth contract to waive the setup costs and have a modem included.

    The other annoyance with these 6 month deals is that if I'm sorting this out for my folks, I don't want to keep track of these changes and have to hunt down a new plan for them and re-setup their modem/VOIP stuff all over again in 6 months' time. Much happier to sign up with a provider who is cheap on an ongoing rate and provides value for money. They're the ones who deserve my business.

  • Rockets84 on 01/04/2021 - 13:31

    As some one who's worked from home for over 4 years now and as IT networking pro I'd rather pay more money per month for a RSP that has excellent performance and has good support for when I might need it, which is rarely. I'm with ABB and I'm very happy with them. Their My Aussie app gives me access to tools that I can generally do anything I need to help myself. And the few times I've had to call support they've sorted it out promptly.

  • Candour on 01/04/2021 - 18:49

    At least they are here. scomo and crowd have featherbedded industries in other areas like energy, fuel, and financial services and super so that their maters can rip off the consumer for decades with none the wiser.

  • OzHunterNSW on 05/04/2021 - 10:12

    I don't even worry about them….what a complete rip off!
    I simply teacher my phone to all my devices and use it as a hot spot.

    I have 100gig at $49 per month…. that's phone and all my computer/tv/radio etc connected to the world

    • rabid_monkey on 06/04/2021 - 10:56

      While I'm not opposed to going wireless, our house would use at least 200-300gb in streaming alone. We've got fttp and it seems crazy to forgo that when it should be the best service and value money, given the amount of investment made in the nbn infrastructure.

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