Optus new $50 SIM only with roaming

[daft009]

Sorry to hear.

Yeah I've noticed the same type of behaviour by their chat team. They must get commission for new sales is my guess.

Optus has increased security for all of these type of services because of the hack

 

[exceladdict]

I arrived at CDG last Monday night. While on the train I was mugged and my phone stolen.

Security and police were very helpful. I made it to my accommodation hours later and managed to get online to Optus to request my $50 account be suspended until I could sort things out. That took over two hours with their chat people. Two were more interested in changing my plan than actually suspending my number.

I need a phone so bought a new replacement iPhone. Again back to the Optus chat people to request the suspension of my account be reversed and to obtain an esim to replace the one in the stolen phone.

After several attempts and about four hours I managed to get the suspension of my number reversed. Again the attempts to change my phone plan which I flat out refused. Each chat person was unbelievably more inept than the last.

Mention esim and it's like talking to a pumpkin.

Another three hours with several more incompetent Optus employees I was given instructions to apply the esim. After the second step I was greeted with a message saying I have not ordered an esim.

Another 90 minutes explaining the issue I was told to call Optus in Oz. Stuff it! I bought a local SIM card which had 30 minutes of overseas calls available. Of course I was on hold for that amount of time so now need to buy another SIM card with longer overseas calling time.

I would have thought after answering many security questions and contacting Optus through my account a simple QR code could have been emailed to me. That's what I would have considered to be one of the main benefits of using an esim in my situation.

Although the 4Gb of included roaming per month is a great benefit, when I return to Oz in the next few months I'll be looking elsewhere for a mobile phone carrier. Meanwhile I have to wait until Monday business hours in Oz to attempt to phone Optus again and talk to someone who will just stuff around, ask inane questions, do as little as possible and try to put me on a different plan.

Also sorry to hear and I've had equal pain trying to convert to an esim. Just gave up in the end.

Where abouts was the mugging? Recommend avoiding the cdg airport train?

 

[exceladdict]

Yep. We had to do that in Berlin. One network provided data but no calls. Another allowed calls but no data…

If your phone is 5G capable, you might try changing the 5G to 4G only and see if that’s more stable.

Good call, yep have gone to 4g to see. Haven't had a 5g signal anywhere in the world using that optus Sim card yet.

 

[SYD]

Haven't had a 5g signal anywhere in the world using that optus Sim card yet.

First time for me roaming on this current trip. I was driving and noticed AT&T “5G” on the CarPlay screen. Let out a little squeal of excitement. I’ve been seeing a bit while on AT&T but in NYC my phone is sticking with T-Mobile.

If I try and manually force it to one network I do find I can go many many minutes with nothing if I’m on the move. The engineer in me suspects the delays in network handshakes between phone, cell network provider and back to Optus and v.v are causing slow verification and reconnects - which might be partially what you’re seeing.

At home, 5G is pretty normal. Especially in SYD CBD.

Edit: in the Optus app there’s a button to activate 5G features. “Service/Settings”.

 

[Zinger]

Also sorry to hear and I've had equal pain trying to convert to an esim. Just gave up in the end.

Where abouts was the mugging? Recommend avoiding the cdg airport train?

It was on the last train from CDG for the night. The train stopped at a very deserted La Courneuve Aubervilliers station. Thugs ran on the train, attacked me, grabbed my phone from my pocket and ran. I tried to run but to no avail. I turned around to see the train had departed without me and my two pieces of luggage.

RATP security and police were excellent. Many phone calls were made by them and I was looked after. Some passengers on the train saw what happened and reported it to RATP security. A nice ride in a police car got me to la Gare du Nord where more police were waiting for me and led me to my bags which were still on the train.

They then escorted me to an ATM machine to withdraw money for a cab. All this was in the early hours of the morning.

I go to Paris at least once a year, often more. I'll never take a night train again from CDG. Even in the day time it's dodgy.

And I still don't have a bloody esim!

 

[exceladdict]

It was on the last train from CDG for the night. The train stopped at a very deserted La Courneuve Aubervilliers station. Thugs ran on the train, attacked me, grabbed my phone from my pocket and ran. I tried to run but to no avail. I turned around to see the train had departed without me and my two pieces of luggage.

RATP security and police were excellent. Many phone calls were made by them and I was looked after. Some passengers on the train saw what happened and reported it to RATP security. A nice ride in a police car got me to la Gare du Nord where more police were waiting for me and led me to my bags which were still on the train.

They then escorted me to an ATM machine to withdraw money for a cab. All this was in the early hours of the morning.

I go to Paris at least once a year, often more. I'll never take a night train again from CDG. Even in the day time it's dodgy.

And I still don't have a bloody esim!

Oh man, that sounds horrible. So sorry to hear it. Are you physically okay? Glad to hear other passengers and the police were of assistance.

 

[Zinger]

Oh man, that sounds horrible. So sorry to hear it. Are you physically okay? Glad to hear other passengers and the police were of assistance.

Yeah OK thanks. Still very shaken and I'm not out and about as much as I usually am here. I've largely avoided the métro and am quite anxious about tomorrow's TGV ride to Strasbourg.

I am still waiting to hear from the insurance crowd. However they kindly sent me an email this morning asking for a review of their service.

I do need a phone and did some online browsing. FNAC had an offer of 100€ off the price of the phone to replace the three month old phone that was stolen. 1869€ minus 100€ is till much more expensive than what I paid at home.

The Apple Store was a short walk away so I went there, explained the situation and what FNAC was offering. They immediately quoted me 1666€. I've never encountered Apple immediately discounting like that before. That's for an iPhone 14 Pro Max 512Gb.

They also completed the détaxe forms for me to claim another 12% at Milan airport on the way out of Europe.

Other than the thugs I can honestly say the people here in Paris are wonderful. I've always found them this way. Very polite, very helpful and I'll happily return ASAP, but just not on the train from CDG.

 

[daveozsydney]

If you buy an iphone overseas, best to check the bands it supports as they do vary by region.
You may not get optimal performance using some overseas phone models in Aus or vice versa.

Details below:

iPhone - Supported 5G and LTE networks

See the countries and regions that have certified 5G and LTE networks on iPhone including the US, Canada, Japan, Germany, China (mainland) and more.

www.apple.com

Just checked and France is the same as the Australian model so all good there.

 

[AIRwin]

Has anyone else been advised that their Optus $50 pm plan is being “enhanced”? I just rolled over another month and still nothing seen nor heard. Neither has SYD+1.

Not yet but I've just come across this:

Buy eSIM Cards For Travel | Data Roaming | Tripsim by SYD

Affordable eSIMs with fast data roaming plans. Stay connected on-the-go with Tripsim by Sydney Airport. Order now and receive your eSIM via email.

tripsim.com.au

 

[levelnine]

Not yet but I've just come across this:

Way cheaper options out there.

Check this comparison site for the best deals: Find and compare best prepaid eSIM for travelers

 

[qaz]

Way cheaper options out there.

+1 i posted a few here, 20% ShopBack @ Airalo, also this might help:

Using a Mobile phone Overseas – eSIM, Travel SIM, International Roaming - OzBargain Wiki

www.ozbargain.com.au

 

[Brissy1]

Pre paid add-on roaming options if you're already on their prepaid service, I'm in California atm using...

Boost $30 for 7 days (other options avbl) , inc 3gb data + some calls and texts; working fine.

Amaysim, $5 for 1 day (other options avbl) 200mb + some calls and texts, not 100% reliable. (Needed to use my amaysim number just a couple of times, 1 day activation gives 2 days from 7am here)

 

[MattA]

I knew what this was going to be before I read the message…



RIP included roaming for me as of 3 August. Back to local SIMs I guess.

 

[AIRwin]

I knew what this was going to be before I read the message…

View attachment 334242

RIP included roaming for me as of 3 August. Back to local SIMs I guess.

Is your anniversary of your plan with Optus around this time? If so, I may also be expecting it soon then...

 

[PDog]

dammit, just got it too.

 

[MattA]

Is your anniversary of your plan with Optus around this time? If so, I may also be expecting it soon then...

Just checked and I signed up in late May 2019, so not quite. I think they are just doing them in batches.

 

[SYD]

I knew what this was going to be before I read the message…

View attachment 334242

RIP included roaming for me as of 3 August. Back to local SIMs I guess.

So no roaming at all or just data gone?

Also, you were on the $50 pm “post paid” plan?

So far, still nothing received here (I signed up in July 2019 - just missed the $40 promo). SYD+1 signed up in May/June 2019 and got 2 yrs at $40 pm before reverting to $50 pm.

 

[Lynda2475]

Seems to be changes happening across the board. Im not on any of the plans mentioned on this thread but got an email today stating im being moved onto a standard $50 plan (albeit it with 50% baked in discount so only $25). They seem to want people off legacy plans and onto one of handful of newer ones which are more pre-paid style.

I need to read up on the details, I'm very concerned as the changes take effect whilst I'm overseas and I like my current roaming, where it costs me nothing to receive SMS whilst overseas and only 20c to send a sms if needed in an emergency.

I use UK sim for data in my tablet whilst away that works in 70+ countries, but rely on free roaming on my Aussie mobile for 2FA.

 

[aerotravel]

If I receive that notice, I'm moving to Amaysim. Their plans are quite reasonable.
They've recently introduced the roaming packs and it looks quite good!

International Roaming

Ditch daily roaming charges. Add roaming in 90+ selected destinations to your plan from just $20, with 365 days to use.

www.amaysim.com.au

 

[MattA]

So no roaming at all or just data gone?

Also, you were on the $50 pm “post paid” plan?

So far, still nothing received here (I signed up in July 2019 - just missed the $40 promo). SYD+1 signed up in May/June 2019 and got 2 yrs at $40 pm before reverting to $50 pm.

Yeah I was on the $50 plan, originally discounted to $40 for 2 years (from May 2019 signup) and then has been $50 pm since then. They’re moving me to the $49 Choice plan. No more included roaming:


Which is annoying, as it was the only reason I’d stuck with this plan.

I presume the $5/day roaming is an option but I don’t see that as particularly good value. Not sure there’s any other AU telco doing reasonably priced included roaming so local SIMs it is.

At least I got a couple of o/s trips in April/May in before I got bumped.