Need help with plan change timing

[Fritz Z24]

Fido can match all Koodo voice plans... Just call and ask...

...

I've been running the numbers and options for the last couple of days and I'm seriously considering Koodo's Canada Wide 40 plan plus Data Connect 100MB. It's got everything I need usage and feature-wise all for $26.70 less than I'm paying now...

Fritz Z24...

Sent from my Apple iPhone 4 using Tapatalk

[MacDruid]

^Good Luck with the 30 day notice.

Also on Koodo, rather then $10 100MB data you are probably better off with the Flex Auto Adjust Data starting at $5

Sent from Bell LG Optimus LTE Running on Bell's LTE Network

Yeah, I was looking at the Flex, and you're right.
I'd probably be paying the $10 anyway, but good to have the flexibility.

I was also looking at Virgin last night and their plans are similar. I'm not sure about either company's customer service though. I've read a lot of negative things, esp. Virgin billing nightmares.

[MacDruid]

Fido can match all Koodo voice plans... Just call and ask...

Thanks Fritz. Good to know

I would like more flexibility zone-wise and a few texts and LD would help. However the real sticking point for me is that I'm paying for data I don't need. In the 3 years I've had this iPhone I've gone from an average of 575MB/month to about 75MB. So going to the $10/100 is better and would shave off $20 right there. BUT, the next thorn is that I'd want the next iPhone. I've been a Mac user forever and have had iCloud since it was iTools (14 years) so another iPhone is a forgone conclusion. I can't really afford the phone full price and so I'd want to use my FidoDollars, and preferably, as I'm grandfathered, buy the phone at the promo price, which would necessitate a $25+ data plan, and means I'd have to re-sign before I change my voice plan. Of course that would mean I couldn't negotiate a better voice plan as I'm already locked in.

I don't know. If I go Virgin or Koodo, I'd still have to wait to afford the next iPhone from Apple, as those carriers will not unlock them yet. If I stay with Fido, I've got a "cheaper" iPhone up front, but I'm paying more per month and more in the long run over 36 months. If Fido matches the Koodo price, I'm only paying about $8/month more, but then I'm buying the iPhone up front at a price I still can't afford.

If I ride out my contract and go month to month on my grandfathered plan, would I be able to still sign a contract with that plan later, or would I have to choose a new plan, thereby losing my ability to apply FidoDollars to the promo price of the phone?

[MacDruid]

If I ride out my contract and go month to month on my grandfathered plan, would I be able to still sign a contract with that plan later, or would I have to choose a new plan, thereby losing my ability to apply FidoDollars to the promo price of the phone?

Something else I'm thinking. If I ride out my contract and then agree to a 3Y term later, with a new plan, could I, forgetting about my FidoDollars for the moment, get the new iPhone at the promo price, or is that just for new customers?

[thirstyears]

Something else I'm thinking. If I ride out my contract and then agree to a 3Y term later, with a new plan, could I, forgetting about my FidoDollars for the moment, get the new iPhone at the promo price, or is that just for new customers?

What you call promo pricing is "SmartPhone-3Yr-Agreement-pricing", which is available to any Cx taking a 3 year agreement on voice and data (either renewal or new Cx)
...and yes you would be able to use your Fido$ if you go M2M for a while, before renewing (it need not be an immediate renewal)

You want to change your plans so get the whole notion of 'grandfathered' out of your thinking... {grandfathered is renewing (& KEEPING) your same voice and data plans... as soon as you make changes to either voice or data you lose your grandfather status and are subject to current rules ($25/$50 minimums on SP-HUP)}

Even if under agreement, you can change your plan at any time (so long as you continue to meet the SP-HUP minimum pricing rules); you are not stuck to a single plan for 3 years. As I said in my OP, you need not wait for your current agreements to expire... you can start saving $ now!

Call Fido, tell them which Koodo/Virgin/whoever's plans you are interested in, tell them you want a subsidized iphone, and any other relevant needs/wants (and that you are thinking to wait for the next iphone, if that is the case. IF this is the case, you will go M2M after your current agreements expire and until you renew when the new phone is released, but your new plans can start now/next billing cycle)

[MacDruid]

Thanks thirsty, you're a great help!

Not to be annoying but I want to work through this some more, so I understand better.

What you call promo pricing is "SmartPhone-3Yr-Agreement-pricing", which is available to any Cx taking a 3 year agreement on voice and data (either renewal or new Cx)
...and yes you would be able to use your Fido$ if you go M2M for a while, before renewing (it need not be an immediate renewal)

This is good news.

You want to change your plans so get the whole notion of 'grandfathered' out of your thinking... {grandfathered is renewing (& KEEPING) your same voice and data plans... as soon as you make changes to either voice or data you lose your grandfather status and are subject to current rules ($25/$50 minimums on SP-HUP)}

So, I joined Fido on Nov 15 2005 with CityFido, changed my plan to Urban 400 in 2006 when I moved to Vancouver, renewed on the same voice plan for 2 years on Nov 15 2007, and renewed early on July 19 2009, buying my current iPhone for the 3year term price of $199, to which I applied 120 Fido$, ultimately paying $79 for the phone. To do so I signed a 3year data term from July 19 2009 to July 19 2012. My Voice term renewed from Nov 15th 2009 to Nov 15 2012. From my perspective, that means that my voice and data terms are separate, and when my data term ends, I can change it from $30/6GB to $10/100MB, without affecting the status of my "grandfathered" voice plan. At this point I would be still in my voice term for another 4 months.

My understanding is, when they introduced the new plans in Nov 2008 and got rid of SAF, any new customers, or anyone switching to the new plans, going forward would no longer be able to apply Fido$ to the 3year term price. Instead they could only apply Fido$ to the full price. Fast forward to today. That means if I change my voice plan now, before my voice term ends, and wanted a 16GB "iPhone 5" in the future, I could only apply my 150 Fido$ to the $649, not the $159.

So, just thinking out loud here:

Additionally, I would have to again commit to $25 data, with a total bill of $50 or more (which is what I assume you mean by $25/$50). There is no $25 Fido plan that fits my needs. The $25/150 min. plan looks close to the Koodo CW 40, but by the time you add 100 extra minutes, UL incoming, and $14 Value Pack (giving me enough LD minutes) the plan is $61. Add $25 of data and it's $86.

Let's say Fido can exactly match the Koodo CW 40. Would they allow me to HUP to an iPhone with just a $10/100MB data plan (making my plan $50 minimum), or would they want me to pay $25/500MB? Me thinks the latter. So I'm still at $65. Are they going to give me $15 in additional credits after matching Koodo? Doubtful.

Again thinking out loud.

So what incentives can they give me in lieu of that extra $540 over 36 months? I suppose if you look at paying full price for the iPhone at Koodo, the 3yr term price at Fido almost makes up for it. There's still a $50 discrepancy. I guess I could ask to unlock my current iPhone for free. Then there's the $35 activation fee that's waived at Koodo, so Fido could waive the HUP admin fee to make up for that. BUT that's only if I pay the 3yr term price for the iPhone, not the full price minus Fido$.

So...

Even if under agreement, you can change your plan at any time (so long as you continue to meet the SP-HUP minimum pricing rules); you are not stuck to a single plan for 3 years. As I said in my OP, you need not wait for your current agreements to expire... you can start saving $ now!

Call Fido, tell them which Koodo/Virgin/whoever's plans you are interested in, tell them you want a subsidized iphone, and any other relevant needs/wants

If I changed my voice plan now to match Koodo, would they not want me to re-sign 3yr voice and data terms right away?

(and that you are thinking to wait for the next iphone, if that is the case. IF this is the case, you will go M2M after your current agreements expire and until you renew when the new phone is released, but your new plans can start now/next billing cycle)

I DO want the next iPhone, not the 4S, so what I'm taking from this is – ride out my voice contract and negotiate a new voice plan after I'm on M2M. When I've got the voice plan I want, then and only then (as you tirelessly detailed in your excellent retention tips thread) mention that I want the subsidized iPhone upon signing. Also, hold on to my Fido$ for posterity

OR

Forfeit my Fido$ and go to Koodo

Heaven forbid Telecoms make things easy eh? I think only Sprint's Unlimited Everything for $100 is easy to understand. Sigh.

Thank you for your feedback!

[Bad Liar]

this would be way easier if you just called in and told the CSR what you wanted.

[MacDruid]

this would be way easier if you just called in and told the CSR what you wanted.

Yeah, maybe, but I'd like to call with as much fore-knowledge as possible so I don't have to speak to 3-5 people to get what I want.

[MacDruid]

Thanks for all your input peeps! Much appreciated. I'm going to let it all sink in and call Fido in a few days.

Cheers

[thirstyears]

1) FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED/WANT... regardless of Fido$, contract expiry dates, "rules or regulations" etc. >>>'Ideally', what is it you need/want as far as SERVICES???
2) KEEP THINGS SIMPLE, tell the agent EXACTLY what you want and what you found with a competitor that seems to fit your needs at an attractive price; ALSO MENTION that you an 'apple-person' and are looking for the NEXT iphone at the lowest possible price over 3 years (term of an agreement) for both the handset and a service plan that will meet your needs without being excessive. Whether that is signing a new agreement or buying outright...
3) let the agent figure out the details
4) LISTEN AND TAKE NOTES of their suggestion(s).
5) WEIGH THEIR OFFER(s)/suggestion(s) against what you can find with what the competition offers for similar services + products
6) 'sleep on it' (if need be), then let Fido know who seems to have the best solution for your needs wants... if it is a competitor, then tell the agent and see if they make you a counter offer to THAT deal.

PS The tutorials I posted on HoFo are way out of date and i can no longer edit... In particular the strategy of telling agents about wanting a $$$ phone on HUP last. (Follow the link to the RFD tutorial which is up-to-date, which should be on the last page of the Fido PRIMER sticky thread).

Things (rules) have changed...agents need as much detail UPFRONT to formulate the best solution for you!. Tell them everything up front, to save both of you time and effort!

[MacDruid]

1) FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED/WANT... regardless of Fido$, contract expiry dates, "rules or regulations" etc. >>>'Ideally', what is it you need/want as far as SERVICES???
2) KEEP THINGS SIMPLE, tell the agent EXACTLY what you want and what you found with a competitor that seems to fit your needs at an attractive price; ALSO MENTION that you an 'apple-person' and are looking for the NEXT iphone at the lowest possible price over 3 years (term of an agreement) for both the handset and a service plan that will meet your needs without being excessive. Whether that is signing a new agreement or buying outright...
3) let the agent figure out the details
4) LISTEN AND TAKE NOTES of their suggestion(s).
5) WEIGH THEIR OFFER(s)/suggestion(s) against what you can find with what the competition offers for similar services + products
6) 'sleep on it' (if need be), then let Fido know who seems to have the best solution for your needs wants... if it is a competitor, then tell the agent and see if they make you a counter offer to THAT deal.

PS The tutorials I posted on HoFo are way out of date and i can no longer edit... In particular the strategy of telling agents about wanting a $$$ phone on HUP last. (Follow the link to the RFD tutorial which is up-to-date, which should be on the last page of the Fido PRIMER sticky thread).

Things (rules) have changed...agents need as much detail UPFRONT to formulate the best solution for you!. Tell them everything up front, to save both of you time and effort!

Thanks thirsty that's great advice. I had seen the RFD tutorial, but I'll have a 2nd look at it.

Thanks for all YOUR time and effort! And everyone else here.