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Savings to be found by making the prepaid mobile switch
Australians could collectively save $669 million each year by switching to cheaper prepaid plans, it’s been revealed.
Savings to be found by making the prepaid mobile switch
Australians could collectively save $669 million each year by switching to cheaper prepaid plans, it’s been revealed.
Comparison site Finder surveyed 2,085 people and found that the equivalent of 5.8 million Aussies are forking out $40 or more a month for a SIM-only phone plan.
These consumers could be saving between $120 and $1,080 per year if they switched to a cheaper phone plan, Finder said.
Combined, these savings would be worth a whopping $669 million to consumers.
Angus Kidman, editor-in-chief and tech expert at Finder, has cited an increase in competition as leading to highly attractive prepaid plans being on offer.
Noting prepaid plans as having taken great strides forward over the past decade, he commented: “Gone are the days of heading in-store to purchase credit. You can now recharge online and register for auto top-ups.”
iPhone 11: Buy or bundle?
When it comes to the newest gadgets and trends, Finder said consumers looking to get the latest iPhone should pay for the phone up front.
While the upfront cost of $1,200 might seem steep for consumers, they would get greater value back through international minutes and data if they sign up to a SIM-only prepaid plan, it offered.
Mr Kidman noted that “by avoiding a lock-in contract, you can score as much as six times the data and save more than $400 over two years”.
He also said that you’d be better placed to “plan hop” as better offers come to market.
What to look for in a prepaid plan
Finder has offered up a number of tips of the factors consumers should consider when comparing prepaid plans.
Check the expiry period – Recharge periods range between 28 and 31 days, but some can last 365 days. Cheaper plans generally have a shorter expiry period, according to Finder.
Data rollover – Before signing up, be sure to check whether the telco allows for unused data to roll over on each top-up.
Unlimited calls and text – While this is now a standard feature across the board, some plans will also offer consumers unlimited calls to selected countries to sweeten the deal, Finder noted.
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