Vodacom Packages -

[Curtix2]

Some of you may know I am not from South Africa originally.
I am lost in the prepaid / topup / payasyougo world.
Can anyone give me a quick breakdown on vodacoms packages:
Contract - I am guessing 24month you pay X amount and get X minutes / sms

Top Up - no clue

Prepaid - I understand this i think but how do they have so many different pre-paidsrepaid, Starter Packs, Recharge Vouchers, Yebo4Less, All Day, Per Second Plus

And there are two different data bundles:
Mobile Data for Contract - no clue
Mobile Data for Prepaid / topup

---------------------------------
Sorry - dumb American here
Use to pay X per month - get unlimited effectively.
Don't hate! I am here suffering with you all now. For Good.

 

[dj_jyno]

Contract - I am guessing 24month you pay X amount and get X minutes / sms

100% correct.

Top Up - no clue

It works like a contract, but once your X amount of airtime is used up you cannot make more calls / send text messages. Once you reach this point you can top up with a recharge voucher.

Prepaid - I understand this i think but how do they have so many different pre-paidsrepaid, Starter Packs, Recharge Vouchers, Yebo4Less, All Day, Per Second Plus

Not too sure on the Vodacom packages, but basically you should look at the different prepaid offers and decide on the package that suits your needs best, e.g. if you make a lot of <60 second calls, you would be best off with a plan offering per second billing. You can also switch between the packages once a month, so it's not a train smash if you don't like the package you're on.

Starter packs contain a SIM card which allows you access to the network. Recharge vouchers contain a code you need to enter to add airtime to your number / "account".

And there are two different data bundles:
Mobile Data for Contract - no clue
Mobile Data for Prepaid / topup

These are basically the same, the only difference being on which type of account you are loading the mobile data bundle.

 

[Curtix2]

Great - But isnt prepaid and contract like oil and water?
Thats one place I get confused.
And why aren't all contracts top up - what happens if you go over on a non-topup contract?
Thanks a ton though!

 

[bboy]

just be aware that if you get any vodacom package that vodacom will SPAM you every other day with SMS's from VODACOM23 and no matter how many times you ask them to stop, or how many times you "opt out" of these messages you will still receive them

 

[dj_jyno]

Great - But isnt prepaid and contract like oil and water?
Thats one place I get confused.
And why aren't all contracts top up - what happens if you go over on a non-topup contract?
Thanks a ton though!

They used to be like oil and water.. now we have a top up emulsion

Seriously, though, it can be quite confusing. Once you go over your allocated benefits on a pure (non-topup) contract, e.g. 110 minutes on Talk 100, you get the first 100 minutes "free" and the other 10 are added to your bill at the standard contract rate.

Keep this in mind if you phone a lot, since there is no guarantee that Vodacom will softlock your account once you reach very high usage. This is the main reason why the top up packages were introduced. If, however, you are quite disciplined, the perks of a non-topup contract are worth it.

 

[Curtix2]

They used to be like oil and water.. now we have a top up emulsion

Seriously, though, it can be quite confusing. Once you go over your allocated benefits on a pure (non-topup) contract, e.g. 110 minutes on Talk 100, you get the first 100 minutes "free" and the other 10 are added to your bill at the standard contract rate.

Keep this in mind if you phone a lot, since there is no guarantee that Vodacom will softlock your account once you reach very high usage. This is the main reason why the top up packages were introduced. If, however, you are quite disciplined, the perks of a non-topup contract are worth it.

Well I am very nervous about contracts, but its becoming a problem running out of airtime on the phone with a client or something else important.
Long as I can check usage its might be OK.
Shot!

 

[dj_jyno]

Yeah, if you're scared that you might run out of airtime mid-call, contract would be a good option. I'd also suggest you ask the consultant for packages that include a large proportion of peak minutes if you mainly call between 7am and 7pm on weekdays. You can check your usage either by calling a number or logging in to www.vodacom4me.co.za.

Don't be scared of contracts - if you take a while to pick the best phone and package you will be sorted.