Mobile deals to keep cash in your pockets

Big savings can be made if you look at switching phone companies, writes Sophie Elsworth

THREE in four mobile phone customers have a deal with the big three – Telstra, Optus and Vodafone – and many are refusing to switch even if they could save.

Consumers remain confused about the ease of jumping telcos and some don’t realise they can keep the same number when switching.

An analysis by financial comparison website Finder.com.au, covering 2000 people, has found that only one in three say they would switch to save money. Also holding them back is:

say they are on a

32 per cent

• good deal. • say small players are not reliable.

15 per cent

Manroop Soin, 34, on holiday in Borneo last year. She takes out travel insurance when going on vacation.

10 per cent

• say it is too time consuming. • think they will lose their phone number.

Finder.com.au spokesman Alex Kidman said customers could easily switch and save themselves up to $200 per year.

“The reality is all telcos use one of the three big networks,” he said. “If you’re living in rural Australia and need Telstra’s coverage, you could switch to Woolworths or Boost, which are on the Telstra network.

“Switching to a smaller player is one of the easiest ways to save up to a couple of hundred dollars a year.”

Consumers who own their handset outright and don’t need to upgrade can find it easy to

5 per cent

165 BUNDA ST CAIRNS switch to a cheaper plan. Most deals include unlimited calls and texts, so it comes down to how much data is provided.

However, Telstra’s head of consumer, Kevin Teoh, said sticking with the nation’s biggest telco gave customers top coverage and additional perks.

“We regularly look at ways to offer better deals for new and existing customers,” he said.

“We know Australians love consuming more and more – SOPHIE ELSWORTH and higher quality – content on their smartphones. This drives better offers for our customers.”

Vodafone chief commercial officer Ben McIntosh urged telco customers to think carefully before jumping providers and to ensure they were not left worse off.

“Don’t get caught out by signing up to a leasing plan where you’ll pay off a handset that you will never own,” he said.

“Most importantly, read the JETSETTERS looking to save on holiday costs often take advantage of complimentary travel insurance that comes with their credit card.

But unsuspecting travellers need to be aware this can leave them without the necessary cover. The list of exclusions and fine print that comes with credit card travel insurance policies can include: • only the cardholder is covered. • medical conditions. • activities. • will only “activate” once you have paid for some or all of your flight, accommodation and tour costs on that card. • excesses and restrictions on age limits.

Lawyer Manroop Soin, 34, is a regular traveller and was stung trying to use credit card travel insurance for a trip Hong Kong.

“I have an Amex card that has travel insurance but when I booked my flights, my friend booked them on her credit card,” she

That Pre-existing Adventure The insurance Higher

fine print and don’t get locked into a plan that doesn’t give you the flexibility to get out if your circumstances change.”

Mr McIntosh said consumers had benefited financially from lower prices and higher data in recent years as the telco market had become more competitive. “Our message to consumers is to do your research and look for a better deal, because there are real savings to be made,” he said.

CAUGHT OUT:

said. “I didn’t realise this meant my credit card wouldn’t cover me for travel insurance because I didn’t book this particular trip with my own credit card.”

She said this was despite paying for all other holiday expenses on her card, so she had to take out a separate travel insurance policy costing about $50 for a six-day trip.

Zoom Travel Insurance director Natalie Ball said policyholders “need to understand what they are covered for”.

“A big thing people get caught out on is medical conditions,” she said.

“If you have any medical conditions outside of the card’s list, you are simply not covered.”

Insurance Council of Australia spokeswoman Lisa Kable said there was one simple way to work out if you should use credit card travel insurance.

“Choosing whether to use credit card travel insurance or a stand-alone policy comes down to answering one question: Does the card’s travel insurance cover everything you plan to do?” she said.

Zoom Travel Insurance’s Natalie Ball