‘Are they kidding?’: Hidden sting in Telstra’s revamped phone plans

Australia’s biggest telco has announced big improvements to its mobile plans, but this hidden sting has many Telstra users fuming.

Dreaded excess data fees and restrictive lock-in contracts have been ditched by Telstra in a major shake-up of its mobile phone plans.

But if you’re a Telstra customer who travels internationally, there’s another omission in the new plans that may leave you feeling short-changed.

Amid the fanfare of the telco unveiling its new plans yesterday, affecting 11 million Australians, some Telstra customers were disappointed to discover none of the plans came with included overseas data roaming.

I'd love to meet the person at @Telstra that thought it was a good idea to remove international roaming from their $199/month plan. Who is running this company? Now you can get 200MB a day o/s for $5/day...are they kidding?

— Paul Maric (@PaulMaric) June 25, 2019

Telstra releases what could be their worst plans to date. Rediculous monthly cost, no international roaming, no unlimited plan and an extra charge on some plans to use their extremely limited 5G network. Optus $45 for 100gb with roaming data included is looking very good

— Gareth Singham (@garethsingham) June 24, 2019

.@Telstra scrapping international roaming as part of their new plans is a backwards move. It's 2019, people.

— Wenlei Ma (@WenleiMa) June 25, 2019

So @telstra really has no idea that there is a world beyond the shores of Australia.

— Mike Boyd (@mike_boyd) June 25, 2019

Hah – this is the best part. Telstra very generously gives you 500MB and then charges you another $10! They are absolute muppets if they think anybody that relies on roaming data will move from their current plan that offers 10GB inclusive roaming data.

— Paul Maric (@PaulMaric) June 25, 2019

Overall they're looking for 'extras' to make up for the new plans.
If you're on the plan now you won't be impacted until it expires. I'm on unlimited + nice allocation for OS travel. Don't even think about it when on the road. Didn't even put a dent in it in Malaysia last week.

— Djuro Sen (@DjuroSen) June 25, 2019

@Telstra I saw someone mention "Telstra just removed included global roaming across all their new personal and small business mobile plans.

If you're reliant on global roaming being included... be careful if you are looking to change plans/re-contract."

is that correct?

— Alister (@alisterrobbie) June 25, 2019

Umm @andy_penn definitely consider the speed cap boost but seriously. Still no data sharing or companion plans, and we are axing the international roaming, unlimited data plan, and the other international calls/sms benefits... Not happy.

— Jordan (@Jordan_2k1) June 25, 2019

Many old Telstra plans included allowances for international data roaming, such as 2GB per month. Now, on all new plans, international data roaming is an add-on.

Customers travelling overseas will have to buy a $10 international day pass, which offers 200MB of data and unlimited call and text in more than 70 select countries. The day pass costs $5 in New Zealand.

The 24-hour expiry of the day pass is based on AEST — not the time zone of the country it’s being used in.

Those who exceed that 200MB allowance can pay $10 for an extra 500MB that must be used within 31 days. Telstra is also offering pay-as-you-go roaming for destinations where the international day pass isn’t available.

Many of Telstra’s old plans took the guesswork out of international data roaming, but now customers will need a new strategy for travelling overseas.

Telstra’s traditionally cheaper rival Vodafone, by comparison, offers a roaming add-on that lets customers keep using the data, calls and texts on their existing plan in 80 select countries for $5 a day.

Another loss in Telstra’s new plans is international calls, which were included on many old plans. Now, international calling and SMS packs can be added for $10 a month and applies to 21 countries.

Telstra’s phone plan revamp whittles down 1800 services into a simplified selection of 20 plan options. The plans will be offered month-on-month with no lock-in contracts and offered either SIM-only or bundled with new devices.

Telstra has streamlined its mobile phone plans, which are now offered with no lock-in contracts. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Some prices of new plans undercut similar plans offered by Vodafone and Optus, such as the new $50 plan with 15GB of data, which is $5 cheaper than its rivals.

Telstra chief executive Andy Penn said the new plans addressed customer “pain points” and eliminated bundles many customers felt they didn’t need.

“Customer expectations are changing and larger companies have got to be prepared to be bolder in terms of disrupting themselves before somebody else does it to them,” Mr Penn told News Corp yesterday.

“We’re taking on that challenge and trying to lead the way in transforming the telecommunications industry and how we serve our customers.”