Eight Telecom discussion thread

[JAYSCS]

I agree it is too bad that one year plan cannot use the main wallet balance.

Hope eight can change this policy soon.

Hmm, 1 year plan is discounted (though quite a meagre one), then it will be discount upon discount in the event if the wallet includes amount acquired (usually) from 1-for-1 promo. The loss will be unfair to Eight Mobile.

 

[BBCWatcher]

Indeed, the rigidity in wallet system is frustrating but do bear in mind that it is because of this rigidity, it is able to offer great discount (eg 1-for-1) to the users.

OK, but reasonable guardrails are important, too. Eight and SIMBA (as notable examples) have a lot of seniors topping up their wallets into the stratosphere. Let's suppose a senior topped up their Eight wallet just twice in the recent $88 promotion. That senior now has nearly 6 years of prepaid mobile service on the senior plan! And if the senior unfortunately dies next year, most of the $176 they topped up is vaporized.

Is that fair and responsible business practice? I don't think so. Just let a surviving family member cash out whatever's left in the mobile wallet, disregarding promotional credits. In other words, for these purposes (payout on death) the cash portion is effectively drawn down first, then the promotional credits. Make it simple: for example, the mobile subscriber can list up to 2 other mobile numbers (belonging to 2 other people), and either line's owner can claim the remaining cash portion of the wallet upon the original subscriber's death. And set a reasonable limit on how much cash you can put into a mobile wallet. This part is important to maintain competition in the mobile market.

Mobile carriers shouldn't be playing life insurance-like actuarial games with their customers.

 

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nothing for existing eight users??

 

[hereiam7788]

The lag due to the message getting throttled by their worsening 4G network congestion?

Switching to CL 5G $8 plan cos of this throttling.

to be fair, i had been using eight since day 1, it is acceptable, i have not encountered issues with the 4G no matter where i go in lion city.

even roaming in jaybee, it is ok so far.

most importantly, with the $88 for $88 top up promo, i will be paying effectively $4 monthly for the next 5.5 years.

 

[Mancunian2]

Indeed, the rigidity in wallet system is frustrating but do bear in mind that it is because of this rigidity, it is able to offer great discount (eg 1-for-1) to the users. Remember prepaid plans even have buy $15 get $55 value package? If cash is allowed to be withdrawn, the telcos are giving out more money than they collected (however, transfer of ownership of the amount to another same plan type account should be allowed though but it is also unfair too as the effort to accumulate the amount was done by the original account and should not benefit another account). There is a reason why some telcos never adopt wallet system because they don't want to offer 1-for-1 kinda promo.

the 1for1 offer was designed to lock customers into the Eight web for a long time and they have accomplished that objective, so much so that their 4g network is often congested and some frustrated Eight users have left for other mnvo. I think it is unlikely we will see 1for1 anytime soon.

I am still keeping my eight line for 2-4 times travels a year, Locally , I find I need to supplement with another SIM card on the same phone, which I do by trying out differnet mnvo in @kelvinti style

 

[mosmos]

to be fair, i had been using eight since day 1, it is acceptable, i have not encountered issues with the 4G no matter where i go in lion city.

even roaming in jaybee, it is ok so far.

most importantly, with the $88 for $88 top up promo, i will be paying effectively $4 monthly for the next 5.5 years.

Ya so far using for my main line and spare phone No issues with data speed or connection in sg underground or above ground.

Other than underground mrt, notice that my phone using demensity cpu got better & faster connection mostly shows 4g+ than Snapdragon half time shows 4g

 

[Mancunian2]

Ya so far using for my main line and spare phone No issues with data speed or connection in sg underground or above ground.

Juz that notice that my phone using demensity cpu got better & faster connection at 4g+ and speed than Snapdragon 4g

eight 4g can get very congested in high density places, it has been reported to be unusable in amk central, clementi central, jurong east interchange and maybe bedok central as well,

my experience in downtown and city area is fine so far but then my usage is only whatsapp and google searches

 

[JAYSCS]

OK, but reasonable guardrails are important, too. Eight and SIMBA (as notable examples) have a lot of seniors topping up their wallets into the stratosphere. Let's suppose a senior topped up their Eight wallet just twice in the recent $88 promotion. That senior now has nearly 6 years of prepaid mobile service on the senior plan! And if the senior unfortunately dies next year, most of the $176 they topped up is vaporized.

Is that fair and responsible business practice? I don't think so. Just let a surviving family member cash out whatever's left in the mobile wallet, disregarding promotional credits. In other words, for these purposes (payout on death) the cash portion is effectively drawn down first, then the promotional credits. Make it simple: for example, the mobile subscriber can list up to 2 other mobile numbers (belonging to 2 other people), and either line's owner can claim the remaining cash portion of the wallet upon the original subscriber's death. And set a reasonable limit on how much cash you can put into a mobile wallet. This part is important to maintain competition in the mobile market.

Mobile carriers shouldn't be playing life insurance-like actuarial games with their customers.

In this aspect, if the wallet is accumulated to sizable amount, it is due to the fact that the user is willing to prepare to take the risk to forfeit it in the event of death as the offer is attractive enough. It is quite unfair to just blame the provider for loss in such situation as the greed is really coming from the user.

 

[BBCWatcher]

In this aspect, if the wallet is accumulated to sizable amount, it is due to the fact that the user is willing to prepare to take the risk to forfeit it in the event of death as the offer is attractive enough.

I think regulators ought to take reasonable steps to protect consumers, including vulnerable elderly consumers. Perhaps we disagree about that, but I hope not.

 

[mosmos]

eight 4g can get very congested in high density places, it has been reported to be unusable in amk central, clementi central, jurong east interchange and maybe bedok central as well,

my experience in downtown and city area is fine so far but then my usage is only whatsapp and google searches

Always use my phone weekdays at clementi central & je mrt, jem, Westgate during 5-6pm+

No issues, i don't watch tiktok videos, juz Instagram stories.

Juz now at bedok mall basement cashier said ppl got problems with data connection but i paid using capitstar & shopback app a breeze, maybe guess using simba

 

[Mancunian2]

Ya so far using for my main line and spare phone No issues with data speed or connection in sg underground or above ground.

Other than underground mrt, notice that my phone using demensity cpu got better & faster connection mostly shows 4g+ than Snapdragon half time shows 4g

my experience is that older 4g only phones can get better 4g connections

when I used my older 4g phones, I could get usable signals in my home study room for all carriers except simba

with 5g phones, only starhub 4g is usable and even singtel cannot function because the 5g phones refuse to stay on band 3 (with usable signals) and keeps latching on to other bands that have weaker signals

 

[JAYSCS]

I think regulators ought to take reasonable steps to protect consumers, including vulnerable elderly consumers. Perhaps we disagree about that, but I hope not.

I really don't see any unscrupulous practice here actually, compared to those hefty 2 years contract plans with phone especially fruit brand phone. To each his own.

 

[BBCWatcher]

I really don't see any unscrupulous practice here actually, compared to those hefty 2 years contract plans with phone especially fruit brand phone. To each his own.

OK, consider Singtel as a notable example. If you have a mobile or other contract with Singtel and die mid-contract, your survivors can straightforwardly terminate the deceased's contract with no early termination charges. Or transfer the account free of charge. Whichever the survivors prefer.

Hefty mobile wallet balances are a relatively recent "innovation." They should be handled fundamentally the same way when the owner dies: cash refunds, no penalties.

 

[JAYSCS]

OK, consider Singtel as a notable example. If you have a mobile or other contract with Singtel and die mid-contract, your survivors can straightforwardly terminate the deceased's contract with no early termination charges. Or transfer the account free of charge. Whichever the survivors prefer.

Hefty mobile wallet balances are a relatively recent "innovation." They should be handled fundamentally the same way when the owner dies: cash refunds, no penalties.

Hmm, this is because such plan structure is profitable enough for the telco to provide such exception for death, the telco are not really handing out cash upfront too especially when buying devices wholesale directly cost much less, usually after half way through the contract the cost is ploughed back. Wallet type plan structure is not so especially when the already-low price plans may even need to slash another 50% off.

2 years phone contract is the downright exploitation and it is definitely damaging the majority living one. That should be the concern.

 

[BBCWatcher]

Hmm, this is because such plan structure is profitable enough for the telco to provide such exception for death, the telco are not really handing out cash upfront too especially when buying devices wholesale directly cost much less, usually after half way through the contract the cost is ploughed back....

I think most people would agree that ethical mobile businesses don't seek to profit off the deaths of their customers. And, for those few that might try such stunts, regulators ought to step in to quash them.

Maybe we disagree. If so, you're not going to persuade me otherwise. It's a core, widely accepted and followed principle in consumer-oriented businesses. Eight and SIMBA are presently outliers.

 

[ichinisan]

Existing customer deal is released, and it's not top-up promo but to lock people to one year contract

What kind of promo for existing customers is that lol

 

[hereiam7788]

looks like $88 for $88 promo has no hope to come back any time soon.

 

[JAYSCS]

looks like $88 for $88 promo has no hope to come back any time soon.

Indeed not in the near future, as the response could be too overwhelming that users accumulate too much balance, and this sparks the concerns what when the users die and balance forfeited. What is supposedly a great offer becomes its curse. We brought this to ourselves that such promo cannot be often.

 

[sibeiTrolled]

What is supposedly a great offer becomes its curse

Self inflicted curse

Willing buyer, willing seller.

There are bigger more exploitative fishes to catch out there than this. Cannot just keep winning small and close case then wait for next time

 

[JAYSCS]

Self inflicted curse

Willing buyer, willing seller.

There are bigger more exploitative fishes to catch out there than this. Cannot just keep winning small and close case then wait for next time

Indeed, 愿者上钩。