Did anyone else get a text message of late from Telstra about the change to International Roaming? Mine arrived this morning.
It said that: 'The next time you activate your mobile service in an eligible destination, instead of pay-as-you-go rates you will automatically activate an International Day Pass.' I am more than annoyed at this.
I travel solo, and so don't need to make or receive anything more that a few text messages to and from my airbnb host. I am less than happy to pay $10 for the pleasure. Yes, I can piggyback on airport WiFi, but that only helps so far.
Has anyone got an alternative solution? I almost feel bloody minded enough to buy a super cheap phone and sim just for my trips...
I tend to use it for the Uber booking and a text to whom I am meeting but these days airports have free wifi for Uber so $10 minimum is price gouging for what normally can be covered by $1-2.
After a prolonged SMS session with a Telstra “customer service” person they eventually agreed to reinstate my pay-as-you-go service. This was after telling me that it was no longer available (received the same text message announcing this great new service), and that if I turned on my phone overseas to receive a (free) SMS from Australia that I would be charged $10 to receive this free message, and $10 per day while ever my phone had international roaming activated. They only changed their mind when I advised that I would ask the Telecommunications Ombudsman to mediate this dispute. Note that they have to override International Day Pass at their end, and you should then see pay-as-you-go available on your Telstra app.
Thanks Atacama for the tip. I will certainly get in touch with Telstra next week. I hope the threat of going to the Ombusman works. I am a member of Choice, so I might let their team know as well.
ChrisB, while I feel that you were just poking the bear with your comment (I am absolutely certain you did not get rid of your phone :-) I DO think, like Patrickk, that it is price gouging.
But you are right, I just need a different sim card. In my annoyance, I was thinking back to my pre-smartphone days where I had to buy a cheap phone and telco plan when travelling within the US, because Oz phones were not compatible with US networks.
Last editedby kanga9999 at Jan 26, 2020, 02:59 PM.
Last editedby kanga9999 at Jan 26, 2020, 03:31 PM.
I'm with markpk on this, I left Telstra years ago because they just cannot match Vodafone's pay $5.00 and use your plan overseas as you would in Australia. I remember calling Telstra actually to see if they would match it and they wouldn't. Telstra didn't deserve my business.
I used to buy a SIM in the country I was going to but the Vodafone roaming for $5.00 does it for me.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on
Telstra text re: pay-as-you-go-rates dropped
kanga9999
kanga9999
Member since 09 Apr 2017
Total posts 63
Did anyone else get a text message of late from Telstra about the change to International Roaming? Mine arrived this morning.
It said that: 'The next time you activate your mobile service in an eligible destination, instead of pay-as-you-go rates you will automatically activate an International Day Pass.' I am more than annoyed at this.
I travel solo, and so don't need to make or receive anything more that a few text messages to and from my airbnb host. I am less than happy to pay $10 for the pleasure. Yes, I can piggyback on airport WiFi, but that only helps so far.
Has anyone got an alternative solution? I almost feel bloody minded enough to buy a super cheap phone and sim just for my trips...
ChrisB
ChrisB
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Mar 2018
Total posts 20
Bloody appalling. That's the last straw. I'm getting rid of my phone now.
Thieves.
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
Member since 19 Apr 2012
Total posts 731
I tend to use it for the Uber booking and a text to whom I am meeting but these days airports have free wifi for Uber so $10 minimum is price gouging for what normally can be covered by $1-2.
markpk
markpk
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 29 Nov 2013
Total posts 456
Vodafone is $5/day across dozens of countries. Your data allowance travels with you whereas Telstra is very stingy and caps the data per day
Atacama
Atacama
Member since 25 Jan 2020
Total posts 1
After a prolonged SMS session with a Telstra “customer service” person they eventually agreed to reinstate my pay-as-you-go service. This was after telling me that it was no longer available (received the same text message announcing this great new service), and that if I turned on my phone overseas to receive a (free) SMS from Australia that I would be charged $10 to receive this free message, and $10 per day while ever my phone had international roaming activated. They only changed their mind when I advised that I would ask the Telecommunications Ombudsman to mediate this dispute. Note that they have to override International Day Pass at their end, and you should then see pay-as-you-go available on your Telstra app.
kanga9999
kanga9999
Member since 09 Apr 2017
Total posts 63
Thanks Atacama for the tip. I will certainly get in touch with Telstra next week. I hope the threat of going to the Ombusman works. I am a member of Choice, so I might let their team know as well.
ChrisB, while I feel that you were just poking the bear with your comment (I am absolutely certain you did not get rid of your phone :-) I DO think, like Patrickk, that it is price gouging.
But you are right, I just need a different sim card. In my annoyance, I was thinking back to my pre-smartphone days where I had to buy a cheap phone and telco plan when travelling within the US, because Oz phones were not compatible with US networks.
dddale
dddale
Member since 06 Dec 2018
Total posts 25
I'm with markpk on this, I left Telstra years ago because they just cannot match Vodafone's pay $5.00 and use your plan overseas as you would in Australia. I remember calling Telstra actually to see if they would match it and they wouldn't. Telstra didn't deserve my business.
I used to buy a SIM in the country I was going to but the Vodafone roaming for $5.00 does it for me.