@
KandyKane, going to Gold Coast and Sydney soon. I wish to get a plan which has basic calling and Internet data. Perhaps you can help me.
I browsed Telstra's website and wanted to get the
$30 prepaid nano-sim starter kit, with CAP ENCORE prepaid plan. However I'm kinda confused with its "cap credit". What exactly is that?
I will be in Australia for 11 days and could see myself using considerate amount of internet (at least 2gb of data), and from the chart below, it seems only with a recharge of $100 would I get a 3Gb data, and $2000 cap credit. My question is how would I use the cap credit? Does it mean if I recharge $100 I would be able to make $2000 worth of calls? Would seems to be pretty steep to own a prepaid sim in Australia if I have to recharge $100 to get decent amount of data limit.
Can you explain it to me?
Hiya,
Sorry I haven't been on for a few days.
If you purchase a $30 sim starter kit, that would come with the simcard, your Australian mobile number and $30 of 'REAL' credit for 30 days.
When you activate the service, if you chose 'Cap Encore', you will have an additional $220 Cap credit, 400MB of data, and free calls & text to standard Australian numbers from 6PM-6AM. So you get lots of bonus 'stuff' however the call rates are quite high with a 39c call connection fee and 89c per minute, and excess data over your 400MB is $2 per MB.
They're here. Funnily enough call rate to the US on that offer is only 10c more than within Australia
see here. Cap credit can be used for calls (even to overseas), text, excess data. Not for
'Plus Packs', MessageBank (voicemail) or Directory Assistance or things like that.
Details here.
*If you think you will use 2GB- You can purchase additional '
browse packs', out of your REAL credit. You have $30 so you can purchase 700MB for $20, so totalling
1.1GB (plus the $220 Cap credit, $10 REAL credit remaining). Total cost
$30.
*The browse packs are also available for $39 for 1GB, $49 for 3GB etc. Example, if you purchased the $30 starter pack, you can then recharge with $20 so you'd have $50 of REAL credit, and purchase the $49 browse pack, and end up with
3.4GB, $220 cap credit. Total cost
$50.
However, you'd be better off then recharging with a $30 and buying the $49 browse pack so you'd get the bonus cap credit and end up with
3.8GB, $440 cap credit & $10 REAL credit. Total cost
$60.
**
Just to confuse you even more!
You'd get more value asking for a $2 standard prepaid sim, these are normal sized, come with NO credit. Activate it on the Cap Encore offer in the store and ask them to do a sim replacement to a Nano/Micro sim (it's free to change sims, if they try to charge you, tell them you will report them or something).
-Then recharge with a $50 recharge, convert $49 to the browse pack, and you'd have
3.8GB and $950 Cap Credit. Total cost
$52.
Best option in my opinion, then you can call as much as you like even your family back home, it's over 14 hours of phone calls.
-Or recharge with a $40 recharge, convert $39 to the browse pack, and you'd have
1.6GB and $550 Cap Credit. Total cost
$42.
Downside: The staff will find you annoying, $2 sim cards are hard to find sometimes.
Phew, I hope that made sense!
NOTE: I don't think your US phone will have work on our LTE, it will fall back to HSDPA or 3.5G, whatever they're calling it now. I get between 10-15Mbps.
Disclaimer: These views are my own and do not reflect the views of Telstra.