My plan was changed against my will by Optus a few months ago.
It's called the Yes 19i plan.

I was on a plan that cost $41 a month & most of my calls
were for zero dollars under Optus YES time.
Now I pay my bill by using the internet.

The trouble is that my monthly bills have now more than doubled.
I also notice that there are no Optus YES calls for zero dollars.
(when calling other Optus mobiles for under 10 minutes)
Every call I make is charged at the full rate.

I phoned Optus but got no where.
Optus refused to take me back to the old plan.
They say it no longer exists.
The Optus person who answered didn't have a clue as to what I was talking about
& I had to hang up on him.

Does anyone understand what's going on?
Obviously I've been ripped off.
I spoke to someone else & they are in the same boat as me.
Huge phone bills have arrived without explanation.

Bobby. wrote on Aug 30^th, 2010 at 10:00pm:

My plan was changed against my will by Optus a few months ago. It's called the Yes 19i plan. I was on a plan that cost $41 a month & most of my calls were for zero dollars under Optus YES time. Now I pay my bill by using the internet. The trouble is that my monthly bills have now more than doubled. I also notice that there are no Optus YES calls for zero dollars. (when calling other Optus mobiles for under 10 minutes) Every call I make is charged at the full rate. I phoned Optus but got no where. Optus refused to take me back to the old plan. They say it no longer exists. The Optus person who answered didn't have a clue as to what I was talking about & I had to hang up on him. Does anyone understand what's going on? Obviously I've been ripped off. I spoke to someone else & they are in the same boat as me. Huge phone bills have arrived without explanation.

I'm guessing that there was some fine print somewhere in your contract - but that doesn't meant that you don't have some grounds for a formal consumer complaint...

It's probably time to start putting things in writing - and to print off any and all online documents that you can find pertaining to your contract and account...

Be sure to document any conversations you have with any Optus representative - and to get the first name of the person you speak to...

A technique that I find works, in terms of creating accountability in a customer service representative, is to ask them their name and then clarify the spelling, i.e.: "is that Cathy with a 'C' or a 'K'?"

Your contract probably ran out and they reverted you to another plan. You'll probably find something in the fine print saying it was up to you to remember the date and renew the plan.

Life_goes_on wrote on Aug 30^th, 2010 at 10:37pm:

Your contract probably ran out and they reverted you to another plan. You'll probably find something in the fine print saying it was up to you to remember the date and renew the plan.

No - my contract ran out 8 years ago.

Bobby. wrote on Aug 30^th, 2010 at 10:00pm:

My plan was changed against my will by Optus a few months ago. It's called the Yes 19i plan. I was on a plan that cost $41 a month & most of my calls were for zero dollars under Optus YES time. Now I pay my bill by using the internet. The trouble is that my monthly bills have now more than doubled. I also notice that there are no Optus YES calls for zero dollars. (when calling other Optus mobiles for under 10 minutes) Every call I make is charged at the full rate. I phoned Optus but got no where. Optus refused to take me back to the old plan. They say it no longer exists. The Optus person who answered didn't have a clue as to what I was talking about & I had to hang up on him. Does anyone understand what's going on? Obviously I've been ripped off. I spoke to someone else & they are in the same boat as me. Huge phone bills have arrived without explanation.

I would check with the Telecommunications ombudsman if I were you,&  let Optus know too, because they usually don't want to get into that scene.  Been there..done that.

I am under the impression that even though your contract has ended, you can remain on the same plan.  I have been on the same plan with Vodafone for around 8 years and it was only a one year contract. !!

I got a good plan with Optus for my husband. BYO $19 a month and $150 worth of calls, with one nominated number free for 10 min. call.

Thanks Cockney.
I will try to find out what's going on.

It seems that Yes Time just disappeared & they never told anyone.
Surely they would realise that when people got more double their normal bill
that it would cause trouble?

When they give you a Yes 19i plan it
seems to borrow from their popular Yes Time plan.

Unfortunately - the old YES is not the same as the new YES.

The new Yes means No.

It's a con job.

There must be millions of people who have been ripped off just like me.

I just checked the Optus website.
http://www.optus.com.au/portal/site/oca/menuitem.43cc470fed4d9ee33109002b8c8ac7a0/?vgnextoid=0b116c499f632010VgnVCM100000c8a87c0aRCRD&Page=1&Paging=true&QuerySubmit=true&QueryText=%22yes%2019i%22

I typed in "Yes 19i plan"
There are no results.
Whatever I have doesn't exist on their stupid website.

they changed all their plans to include more social internet stuff because that is what most people want now.

of course, give with one hand, take with the other.

what_katy_did wrote on Aug 31^st, 2010 at 7:33am:

they changed all their plans to include more social internet stuff because that is what most people want now. of course, give with one hand, take with the other.

Bad news for me.
I use a proper computer to do all that.
My mobile phone is 10 years old & still works perfectly.

I can't help.
Just posting to say I'm calliong to pick a bine with Optus tomorrow.

They're awful people.

Saifudeen wrote on Aug 31^st, 2010 at 7:48pm:

I can't help. Just posting to say I'm calliong to pick a bine with Optus tomorrow. They're awful people.

Good luck.
The Optus phone people will just laugh at you.
They don't understand the contracts either.
The contracts are written so that no one can understand them.

Bobby. wrote on Aug 30^th, 2010 at 11:52pm:

When they give you a Yes 19i plan it seems to borrow from their popular Yes Time plan. Unfortunately - the old YES is not the same as the new YES. The new Yes means No. It's a con job. There must be millions of people who have been ripped off just like me. I just checked the Optus website. http://www.optus.com.au/portal/site/oca/menuitem.43cc470fed4d9ee33109002b8c8ac7a0/?vgnextoid=0b116c499f632010VgnVCM100000c8a87c0aRCRD&Page=1&Paging=true&QuerySubmit=true&QueryText=%22yes%2019i%22 I typed in "Yes 19i plan" There are no results. Whatever I have doesn't exist on their stupid website.

If it's an old plan it won't be on the web site.

If the plan you are one has been clsoed, they will not re-open it, but do as I suggested, Call the Telecommunications Ombudsman and then let them know youhave done it.

It has worked fo me the twice I have done it.

Here's the link. It has phone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses.Though if it were me I'd phone. It's easier to explain verbally

[url]http://www.tio.com.au/contact.htm[/url]

cockneydoll wrote on Aug 30^th, 2010 at 11:37pm:

I got a good plan with Optus for my husband. BYO $19 a month and $150 worth of calls, with one nominated number free for 10 min. call.

I pay my Optus mobile and my wife's mobile on the same account. What that means is that all calls we make to each other are totally free for an unlimited period.

Calls to other Optus mobiles are free for under 5 minutes, but there is a cap on the number of calls - I think it's 500 on my plan.

- And yeah Optus's call centre is woeful and slow to connect.

Cockney Doll wrote on Aug 31^st, 2010 at 11:39pm:

Bobby. wrote on Aug 30th, 2010 at 11:52pm: When they give you a Yes 19i plan it seems to borrow from their popular Yes Time plan. Unfortunately - the old YES is not the same as the new YES. The new Yes means No. It's a con job. There must be millions of people who have been ripped off just like me. I just checked the Optus website. http://www.optus.com.au/portal/site/oca/menuitem.43cc470fed4d9ee33109002b8c8ac7a0/?vgnextoid=0b116c499f632010VgnVCM100000c8a87c0aRCRD&Page=1&Paging=true&QuerySubmit=true&QueryText=%22yes%2019i%22 I typed in "Yes 19i plan" There are no results. Whatever I have doesn't exist on their stupid website. If it's an old plan it won't be on the web site. If the plan you are one has been clsoed, they will not re-open it, but do as I suggested, Call the Telecommunications Ombudsman and then let them know youhave done it. It has worked fo me the twice I have done it. Here's the link. It has phone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses.Though if it were me I'd phone. It's easier to explain verbally [url]http://www.tio.com.au/contact.htm[/url]

Thanks Cockney.
It isn't fair to be changed over to a new plan - by force -
which charges you double the money.
It's criminal.

Bobby. wrote on Aug 31^st, 2010 at 7:32pm:

what_katy_did wrote on Aug 31st, 2010 at 7:33am: they changed all their plans to include more social internet stuff because that is what most people want now. of course, give with one hand, take with the other. Bad news for me. I use a proper computer to do all that. My mobile phone is 10 years old & still works perfectly.

I use fring and skype because the calls to other users are free, and it takes up very little bandwidth. I also have msn messenger running in the background. It switches to WIFI when I'm in range, so it doesn't cost anything. I have Scottish blood from way back, so getting something for free gives me a nice warm feeling.

Hey Bobby et al

I just googled and found this page: -

http://personal.optus.com.au/web/ocaportal.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=shoppingcart_mobproductdetail&productpath=/personal/mobile&packageCode=8243&fragCode=8243&producttype=MOB&FP=/personal/mobile/plansandratesmobile/yesplans/yes19&site=personal


Quote:

The 'yes' 19i Plan is available for new or eligible existing customers who apply to connect to the Optus Mobile Digital service, and pass the Optus credit assessment and who are accepted by Optus. Existing customers must demonstrate that over the three continuous months prior to applying you had an average monthly spend equal to at least the monthly access fee of your Optus 'yes' 19i Plan. The 'yes' 19i Plan is available as a month to month, 12 month or 24 month plan. If you have accepted a 24month term, the minimum total cost over 24 months is $456 plus the cost of your handset if any. If you have accepted a 12month term, the minimum total cost over 12 months is $228 plus the cost of your handset if any. The 'yes' 19i Plan includes up to $14 of included call credits and up to $5 of Included Data each month with a monthly access of $19. You will pay a minimum amount of $19 per month even if you do not make the $14 of calls and $5 of Data. If you connect to a 'yes' 19i Plan, you may select only one of the following plan offers: 'yes' Text, MyTime, 'yes' Text&Talk or 'yes' Time. If you do not select a plan offer, or your selection is not recorded, you will receive MyTime. Plan Offers may expire or be withdrawn at any time. Optus Fair GoTM Policy applies to limit access to the offers if you use the service in an unreasonable or excessive manner. See www.optus.com.au/mobilefairgopolicy. If you select a new rate plan and/or plan offer a fee may apply and any calls made during that bill cycle will be rated at the applicable rate of your new plan and/or plan offer from the date of the change. If you select the MyTime offer, allow up to 48 hours for your number to register or changes to be effective. The included data value can only be used for Wireless IP (WIP VPN), WAP, Internet, FAX, Asynchronous Data(CSD), MMS Standard, MMS Email Alerts, MMS MobileCard, MMS Movie Trailers, MMS Premium, MMS Sport, MMS Video News, MMS Webcams, and Blackberry Email. Included Call Credits can be used for national & international voice & video calls, standard text, Voicemail, Mobile Internet usage, Zoo Browsing, 124YES(937), 13 and 1300 numbers, PTT and National MMS. Included call credits exclude some call types such as International Roaming, Directory assistance, International/Premium/Group/Third Party/Web Text, International MMS, Optus Zoo downloads, Content Packs (unless specified in promotion), VoiP, Mobile IM, TrueLocal usage, True Local usage, Video Conferencing, 13, 1300 and 19XX calls. Rollover: Unused included call credits in any one month will expire at the end of two months and are not refundable, even at account closure. Rollback: You may be eligible to reduce your contract length on a 24 month 'yes' Plan if your average monthly call usage charges fall into one of the defined bands. Usage charges are defined as your total monthly charges incurred for service usage before your included call credits are deducted. Usage does not include International Video Calling, monthly access fees, equipment charges, termination/ suspension/ late payment fees, reactivation charges, or insurance charges. "On average" means average usage charges over the period of your contract that has already expired. The first date that you may be eligible for a contract term reduction is month 15 of your contract. Any remaining or overdue handset payments must still be paid. If you change to another rate plan, the monthly access fee of your initial rate plan will be used to calculate your eligibility. Termination: If you choose to pay the cost of your handset by the monthly handset payment option and cancel your Optus Mobile Digital Service or it is disconnected for any reason, or you switch carriers within this payment period you will be required to pay the remaining amount owing on your handset, if any. If you choose the 'yes' 19i 24 month plan and you cancel your Optus Mobile Digital service or your service is disconnected for any reason or you switch carriers within 24 months ("Termination"), you will be required to pay the remaining amount owing on your phone, if any, plus the following: for Termination between months 1-12; $540 for the 'yes' 19i plan, ("Initial Termination Fee"), and for Terminations between months 13-24 an amount in accordance with the following calculation: for months 13-15, 80% of the Initial Termination Fee, for months 16-18, 60% of the Initial Termination Fee, for months 19- 21, 40% of the Initial Termination Fee, for months 22-24, 20% of the Initial Termination Fee. If you choose the 'yes' 19i 12 month plan and you cancel your Optus Mobile Digital service or your service is disconnected for any reason or you switch carriers within 12 months ("Termination"), you will be required to pay the remaining amount owing on your phone, if any, plus the following: for Termination between months 1-6; $290 for the 'yes' 19i plan, ("Initial Termination Fee"), and for Terminations between months 7-12 an amount in accordance with the following calculation: for months 7-9, 70% of the Initial Termination Fee, and for months 10-12, 40% of the Initial Termination Fee. 'yes' Text:

Quote:

'yes' Text: Receive 100 included standard text each month. If you exceed your 100 Included Text, standard rates of your plan apply. If you select the yes text option, you will not receive the other calling offers available to this plan. 'yes' Text&Talk - Only applies to standard calls and text made to any mobile connected to an Australian mobile network and received within Australia. Pay 22c per 30 seconds for mobile voice calls and 22c per standard text sent. These rates are 18c on the 39 -79 plans. These rates are 15c on the 99 and 149 Plans. Flagfall applies per call. If you select the yes textand talk option, you will not receive the other calling offers available to this plan. MyTime: Receive included 5 minute calls to your five nominated Optus GSM Mobile or Optus Home Phone service numbers registered when you connect. Standard Call rates of your plan apply after the first 5 minutes. You may change your nominated numbers no more than once each month. Allow up to 48 hours for your number to register or changes to be effective. If at anytime during the month, your chosen MyTime numbers transfer to a non-Optus network, calls made to these numbers will automatically be charged at standard call rates. Optus Fair GoTM Policy applies up to 1000 minutes per month. MyTime may expire or be withdrawn at any time. If you select the My Time option, you will not receive any of the other calling offers available to this plan. 'yes' Time: Only applies to calls made and received within Australia and made between 8pm and midnight every night. Applies to calls from one Optus Mobile Digital customer to another (on the Optus GSM network), for no charge for the first 20 minutes per call, after which standard mobile rates of your eligible plan apply. 'yes' Time may expire or be withdrawn at any time. If you select the yes time option, you will not receive the other calling offers available to this plan. 'yes' for 5: Applies to national voice calls to other Optus GSM Mobile services on the same customer account number. Standard call rates of your plan apply after the first 5 minutes. Optus Fair GoTM Policy applies up to 1000 minutes per month. If you connect to the 'yes' 59i, 79i, 99i or 149i Plan, you will receive unlimited voicemail and 5 included standard MMS every month. All MMS must be made and received within Australia. If you exceed your 5 included standard MMS, standard rates apply. Offer excludes My Updates, Premium Content charges and International MMS. For International calling rates, please refer to Appendix J in the Standard Form of Agreement which can be found at www.optus.com.au/sfoa. Prices are subject to change without notice. International SMS: Message charges may be incurred for up to eight days from the original send date regardless of successful delivery or not. International SMS are charged at 50c per message. After the first 6 months of your contract, once a month you may change to another Optus Mobile Rate Plan with a lower monthly access fee at Optus' discretion for the remaining term of your contract. We may charge you a fee if you move from one pricing plan to another before the end of your minimum term. The amount of the fee will depend on various factors, including the terms of your current pricing plan, your call spend under your current pricing plan and the terms of the new pricing plan you are moving to. You should contact customer service for further information on the fee that may apply in your case. Depending on the billing system you are on, if you select a new rate plan/ plan option, 1.any calls made from the date of the change, will be rated at the applicable rate of your new plan /plan option or 2.any calls made during that bill cycle will be rated at the applicable rate of your new plan and/or call option. Enquire on the options applicable to you at the time of changing your plan. Change of ownership is permitted during the 24 month contract providing the new applicant meets Optus credit assessment criteria and both the current and new owner agree to the conditions on the Optus Change of Ownership form. Customers changing account ownership will not be eligible for Plan Scan. Optus 3G/'yes' G service: Use of Optus 3G/'yes' G Service is only available with compatible handsets, an Optus 3G/'yes'G SIM card and you must be in a Optus 3G/'yes'G coverage area. The Optus 'yes' G Network refers to our 3G 2100/900 MHz network. To access the network you'll require a 'yes'G handset or device. To access Optus' 3G services, you will require a UMTS2100 band compatible handset and be within an Optus 3G coverage area. Outside these areas, service will fall back to our GSM/GPRS network. For full coverage information please go to optus.com.au/coverage. Speed will vary and many factors affect speeds including internet traffic, your equipment, location, software and the source of your download. Optus Zoo & MyZooNow: Optus Zoo activation time may take up to 24 hours. Optus will endeavour to provide current, accurate information but makes no guarantee regarding the timely delivery, currency, or accuracy of any information provided to you as part of the Optus Zoo Update service. Content may be suspended, changed, or terminated without notice. Optus is not responsible for third party content, and sites may be subject to change. Additional charges may apply to access and subscription to third party content. Content is tailored for viewing... [...]

Thanks Equitist.
I'll spend a few hours trying to read & understand all that.

It looks daunting.
I don't know what they've put me on.
It looks like that plan has many sub plans.

Bobby. wrote on Sep 1^st, 2010 at 9:06am:

Thanks Equitist. I'll spend a few hours trying to read & understand all that. It looks daunting. I don't know what they've put me on. It looks like that plan has many sub plans.

If you have about 30 minutes spare, you can always try the call centre. I just got off there.   ;D

Bobby. wrote on Sep 1^st, 2010 at 9:06am:

Thanks Equitist. I'll spend a few hours trying to read & understand all that. It looks daunting. I don't know what they've put me on. It looks like that plan has many sub plans.

No wuckers - and good luck with trying to dismantle all of that (bearing in mind that I gave up after posting less than half of it)!

;)

Equitist wrote on Sep 1^st, 2010 at 9:34am:

Bobby. wrote on Sep 1st, 2010 at 9:06am: Thanks Equitist. I'll spend a few hours trying to read & understand all that. It looks daunting. I don't know what they've put me on. It looks like that plan has many sub plans. No wuckers - and good luck with trying to dismantle all of that (bearing in mind that I gave up after posting less than half of it)! ;)

It's deliberate so that no one can understand it.

What Really cheese's me off.... (I'm with Optus but Im sure they all do it now.)
With Pre-paid a $30.00 credit only lasts a month.  To me thats more  like a  $30.00 a month PLAN !

That is ( or they are ) so sleezy. [smiley=thumbdown.gif] [smiley=thumbdown.gif] [smiley=thumbdown.gif]

Quote:

With Pre-paid a $30.00 credit only lasts a month.  To me thats more  like a  $30.00 a month PLAN !

The Telstra ones last 12 months despite saying only a month or two.
Which is just as well as there's no mobile coverage in this area so the times I get to use the phone are few and far between.

Life_goes_on wrote on Sep 1^st, 2010 at 11:07am:

Quote: With Pre-paid a $30.00 credit only lasts a month.  To me thats more  like a  $30.00 a month PLAN ! The Telstra ones last 12 months despite saying only a month or two. Which is just as well as there's no mobile coverage in this area so the times I get to use the phone are few and far between.

Prepaid is deliberately more expensive. They want to lock you in to a contract.

Equitist

Quote:

'yes' Time: Only applies to calls made and received within Australia and made between 8pm and midnight every night. Applies to calls from one Optus Mobile Digital customer to another (on the Optus GSM network), for no charge for the first 20 minutes per call, after which standard mobile rates of your eligible plan apply. 'yes' Time may expire or be withdrawn at any time. If you select the yes time option, you will not receive the other calling offers available to this plan.

You've found it.
I couldn't find any free Yes time calls on my internet bill.
I'm sure some of them were after 8pm.
I'll have to revisit my account.

Mobile phone services have gone crazy in the last 3 months.

I don't know if this is true but I've heard of people with
GPS on their phone who are charged to use it.
GPS is a free service that you can pick up via satelite from a GPS device available from  - say - Dick Smiths.
Is it true that mobile phone companies are charging for it when they don't own it?