Rant: Rip-off Plusnet data bolt-ons

Chris4

I signed up to a 12m SIM-only contract a few months ago with Plusnet that was a great deal - £7pm with 10GB data, and cash redemption too.

But this month I've found myself without broadband after moving house for 3-4 weeks, due to issues with taking over the line from the previous owners, and me and my partner both work from home.

Initially we had to use our mobiles and found they charge £15 for 4GB of data, which being a MSE I was of course peeved to have to pay, as I've lost all the 'savings' made from choosing it as the best deal.

I've hopefully got a 5G USB dongle from work coming, and I'll get a different unlimited SIM card if needed, but I'm just peeved that Plusnet charges 3x as much for data for bolt-ons. In hindsight, I wish I'd paid a pound or so more per month and gone with some other network where I knew the data bolt-ons were reasonable, if I ever needed them.

I'm sure there's no way of getting out the contract now, but just a word of warning to anyone else considering them...

DullGreyGuy

99% of people dont use anything close to their contractual limits which is why they can be offered at a reasonable price. I am 14 days into this month and have used 3gb of my 30gb allowance - I bought the plan for the overseas use given I spend half my year overseas.

Add Ons for exceeding contractual limits are always massively more expensive with all providers because if you are buying them its because you are using them. One months charge of £15 effectively means you've paid just over £8 a month before rebates and so still seems a good price even if one month was a spike.

If I travel outside of the extended allowed zone rather than paying £25/month inc overseas I have to pay an extra £6 per day or £180 per month

Chris4

To compare, I've come from Smarty where their data add ons are £1 per GB. So for 4GB, Smarty charge £4 and Plusnet charge £15. Definitely overpriced!

southsidergs

I don't see what the issue is, they're add on's which are usually only used as a last result & they were up front about the cost, why the need for a rant I don't know

sevenhills

southsidergs said:

I don't see what the issue is, they're add on's which are usually only used as a last result & they were up front about the cost, why the need for a rant I don't know

What I did when I had this issue with Plusnet because of no BB was to get a sim from Giff Gaff. I had a dual SIM mobile.
10Gb with Giff Gaff cost me less, unfortunately the monthly tariff rolled on and I ended up paying for longer than I wanted.

Chris4

sevenhills said:

What I did when I had this issue with Plusnet because of no BB was to get a sim from Giff Gaff. I had a dual SIM mobile.
10Gb with Giff Gaff cost me less, unfortunately the monthly tariff rolled on and I ended up paying for longer than I wanted.

Yeah thanks I got unlimited data with Smarty; should have got that before the Plusnet bolt-ons. Oh well

Jonboy_1984

only time only time we have used the bolt on was moving home and without BB. Plusnet managed to not tell my wife she was running out via text or similar, and then she couldn’t apply for a topup as no mobile date and call centre was closed…

It emerged it was background use by a social media app had used half her allowance…

prowla

In hindsight it may have been worth looking at getting another SIM to supplement your 10GB allowance.