We don’t call it prepay because we think that’s confusing. When prepay was originally launched, plans generally weren’t week to week or month to month, as long as you had credit you were fine, and once you ran out, you’d top up.
Upfront mobile means bills can only be paid by credit or debit card. While this means no more paying by bank transfer or direct debit, this is in line with many other services such as music and movie subscriptions. Of course, providers often pass on ‘convenience fees’ of around 2 percent when customers pay by card, but rest assured we won’t do that.
We’ve listened to feedback from customers, on social media, and our live chat team. Credit checks are a major barrier to getting Kiwis connected to their perfect mobile plan.
Have you ever got your bill and wondered why it cost a tiny bit more than you expected? Maybe you accidentally sent an MMS and didn’t realise they cost 51c each. With upfront mobile, what you see is exactly what you pay. And if you do want any add-ons, you’ll pay upfront so there are no unexpected end of month surprises.
