topic Re: Long Distance Call — Options in Get Support

Long Distance Call — Options

sa7375 — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 06:42:34 GMT

A hypothetical question!

Say, if I've already purchased a long distance add-on of 500 Minutes to China, Hong Kong etc, for $15, and need to make a call to the US, do I have both or only one of the options below?

Call US without purchasing a new add-on of the US. Doing so will indeed make my call expensive, that is @ 3 cents/min.
Call US after purchasing another add-on for the US, that is 1000 Minutes to the U.S. for $15 — a cheaper option @ 1.5 cents/min.

I ask because purchasing additional add-ons for an odd call may not always be time & cost-effective.

Re: Long Distance Call — Options

will13am — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:08:35 GMT

@sa7375 , it used to work that way. I believe the add-on minutes cover only the countries as listed. You need to buy more add-ons but save on the call.

Re: Long Distance Call — Options

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:09:15 GMT

You've been here a while...did you pick up the gifts from the last couple Xmas's? Have you used them all up already?

But also, the beauty of the add-ons for this place, as you probably also know, are that they stay on your account until consumed.

Re: Long Distance Call — Options

Luddite — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:18:59 GMT

@sa7375 To call USA check out TextNow; free calling using wifi.

Re: Long Distance Call — Options

sa7375 — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:25:43 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
You've been here a while...did you pick up the gifts from the last couple Xmas's? Have you used them all up already?
But also, the beauty of the add-ons for this place, as you probably also know, are that they stay on your account until consumed.

My dear @Anonymous. Thank you for reminding me of my add-ons from Xmas. Yes, I still have some of that. 😄

I have no doubt whatsoever that add-ons will stay on my account till consumed. My question is if I can or cannot make a call to a country that has a cheaper rate from a more expensive add-on that I already own. The objective is to avoid purchase many add-ons unnecessarily for an odd call.

Re: Long Distance Call — Options

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:34:16 GMT

@sa7375 : When the new $5 add-on arrived it didn't get used in proper order. They fixed it. But check which bucket a call comes out of to see.

Re: Long Distance Call — Options

HALIMACS — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 21:47:28 GMT

@sa7375 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
You've been here a while...did you pick up the gifts from the last couple Xmas's? Have you used them all up already?
But also, the beauty of the add-ons for this place, as you probably also know, are that they stay on your account until consumed.
My dear @Anonymous. Thank you for reminding me of my add-ons from Xmas. Yes, I still have some of that. 😄

I have no doubt whatsoever that add-ons will stay on my account till consumed. My question is if I can or cannot make a call to a country that has a cheaper rate from a more expensive add-on that I already own. The objective is to avoid purchase many add-ons unnecessarily for an odd call.

This is a good question, and I understand your point, @sa7375

You're trying to maximize the benefit of gifted and purchased add-on's to avoid having to purchase additional add-ons for limited calling to certain countries.

Can you screenshot your Data and Add-On's section so we can see which calling add-ons you DO have so we can confirm? It'll look like this:

I like @Luddite idea of just using a web-based calling app if only irregular calling to the US.

Re: Long Distance Call — Options

sa7375 — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 12:36:11 GMT

@HALIMACS wrote:
@sa7375 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
You've been here a while...did you pick up the gifts from the last couple Xmas's? Have you used them all up already?
But also, the beauty of the add-ons for this place, as you probably also know, are that they stay on your account until consumed.
My dear @Anonymous. Thank you for reminding me of my add-ons from Xmas. Yes, I still have some of that. 😄

I have no doubt whatsoever that add-ons will stay on my account till consumed. My question is if I can or cannot make a call to a country that has a cheaper rate from a more expensive add-on that I already own. The objective is to avoid purchase many add-ons unnecessarily for an odd call.

This is a good question, and I understand your point, @sa7375

You're trying to maximize the benefit of gifted and purchased add-on's to avoid having to purchase additional add-ons for limited calling to certain countries.

Can you screenshot your Data and Add-On's section so we can see which calling add-ons you DO have so we can confirm? It'll look like this:

I like @Luddite idea of just using a web-based calling app if only irregular calling to the US.

Thank you, @HALIMACS. Indeed, you got my question right.

I would have no reservations posting a screenshot of my current add-ons, but it would serve no purpose because I'm currently well stocked in my international minutes. Essentially, it's a hypothetical question for the future when my current stock of international minutes is consumed — that is, looking ahead for my options when I have to purchase a new add-on.

Re: Long Distance Call — Options

HALIMACS — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 12:41:44 GMT

@sa7375

Indeed - you're in a good situation when you have more than one add-on which could qualify for calling to other countries.

Certainly no need to post anything from your account here - you seem to have things well understood.

What you may want to do is ask the moderators in what order of preference the add-ons are drawn from when more than one could be applicable for the destination country.

Re: Long Distance Call — Options

sa7375 — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 15:58:25 GMT

@HALIMACS

Spot on! Your suggestion on "ask the moderators" is valid, but I wanted the community to weigh in before going that route. I'll give it another day or so before asking the moderators for obtaining an official word. Thanks again.

Re: Long Distance Call — Options

Luddite — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 18:25:05 GMT

@sa7375 You can double check but I think there is no longer any overlap between the long distance add-ons, so going forward what you see is what you get. As far as the add-ons currently in your account they will be used for all listed countries even though no longer offered.

More specifically, if you have an old 400/500 minute add-on that covered Canada, US and others it will be used when you call USA & Canada even though mre expensive than the current offers. I have 2 in this category:

$0 Free Holiday Giveaway: 400min INTL Long Distance (incl CA & US)	18 / 400 MIN
$0 Free Holiday Giveaway: 500min INTL Long Distance incl CA & US	0 / 500 MIN

Re: Long Distance Call — Options

dabr — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 18:48:48 GMT

@sa7375 You can read this thread where @Jb456 and I tested how some of the add-ons were being treated and didn't find that PM had a hard and fast rule on it except for for the "last added, first used" rule seems to only apply for international mins. I only tested for calling out to one of European country that was on the list.

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Plans-Add-Ons/Order-of-usage-for-add-ons/m-p/623882#M80273

Re: Long Distance Call — Options

sa7375 — Sat, 10 Apr 2021 14:22:54 GMT

Thank you @will13am @Anonymous @Luddite @HALIMACS @dabr for your time, views and tips.

It seems amply clear that there is no published policy regulating which and in what order will add-ons be used if more than one exists on one’s account.

Considering that the subject doesn’t require any more time than it has already consumed, I’ll close it accepting @will13am as the solution.

Best wishes