Matewx

Can you guys advise what's the best option?

Prepaid or On Account? See I've already picked up some local sayings.. In UK we'd say PAYG or Contracts if you have forgotten (lol!)...

I miss my iPhone dearly... BUT they are expensive overhere plsu the package are not great...

What to do??

pricklykina

I think telecom suck...but on prepay their text rates are better if you want to text across networks.
I hate account because I don't like to be tied to anything and you don't have the great deals here that you would have had in the uk anyway....
so
for me
prepay all the way with vodafone
don't telly anyone but I do have a telecom too that I use for out of town and because it has cheaper rates to landlines...I'm like a teen ager!
Welcome to NZ by the way

Lizaberry

Can I just ask. If you are on contract with someone like Vodafone who deal in the UK and NZ, can you take your contract with you (and them adjust the price). What do you do if you are mid contract in UK at the time of departure. Just contemplating upgrading OH's phone/contract but don't want to be faced with a bill in 12 months or so if we have to cancel cos of a move to NZ. At the same time, don't want to ditch plans of upgrade just in case we don't get to NZ ..

Sorry to jump in on this one but hope the info I am asking for is relevant to the overall topic.

Thx

Unfortunate Username

I had a friend who tried to have his Spanish Vodafone contract converted to a UK Vodafone one and they said no because they are essentially separate companies. I would assume it's probably the same with NZ Vodafone.

Matewx

It's a NO NO! I know that much... They are different companies and will quite happily charge you both ends!!

Matewx

Not much help on the mobile phone front eh??

Guess I'll choose Vodafone... Or maybe Vodafone... Then again, I may look at Vodafone first eh??

lapsed kiwi

OK, here's my $0.02 worth.
I use vodafone purely because they were the only GSM provider when I arrived and I already had decent phones for me and the OH. We're both on prepay and are not big users so probably spend $50 on top-ups every 3 months or so. The downside is I don't think you can roam internationally on prepay, but I still have a calls-only tariff Orange SIM that I can use for that.
Now that Telecom have their XT network, which is the most common 3G standard, you have two global-standard networks to choose from. My advice would be to do a realistic estimate of your usage and choose the network plan that works out best.
I would also bear in mind that local calls are free from a landline, and virtually free internationally using skype-out, so don't factor these into your usage.
Unless you make loads of calls and have a plan to match, the call charges are very high here so don't expect to spend hours per week on your mobile like you can do in UK

NermaltheCute

And just to add, you definately can't transfer your vodaphone contract UK to NZ, or keep the number unless you keep a PAYG or contract link to the UK. They are essentially 2 different companies and networks, with one less phone digit over here......

cappuccino

Don't get me started on phone digits..... there is no defined number of digits here in NZ, some have 9, some 10, some 11. Have no idea why though

Lizaberry

Thx for info about Vodafone. Just wasn't sure and was weary of starting new 18/24 month contract with anyone as wasn't sure about penalties of needing to end it early due to emigration, etc.

Am Loolah

We were under contract in the UK before we left and they suggested to me that we would have to honour it after we'd emigrated. To which my response was in their small print it said something along the lines of "if they were unable to provide the network service to you, you were able to cancel" ... problem solved!

Lizaberry

gr8!

Matewx

Lizaberry... Depending on how long you plan on sitting on the fence for it might be worth signing up for a new phone??

eheh

Just being cheeky x

pricklykina

You can roam on a VF prepay :0)

Matewx

Just signed up on Vodafone 24mths contract with new phone for $50...

$39.95 monthly charge is not too bad & should do me fine for now...