Home > Categories > Telecommunications > Service Providers > 2degrees review
2degrees arrived on the scene in 2009, determined to give Kiwis the mobile phone company they deserved.
"We built a brand new mobile network that spanned the country and employed hundreds of Kiwi's to deliver a Kiwi service. Then, with simple products and fair pricing we changed the mobile market for good.
For the first time in living memory New Zealanders were set free, to communicate with everyone, for less, and stay close to the ones they loved and cared about. 2degrees of closeness, not 6 degrees of separation. It was more than just our name, it was our brand, what we stood for then, and what we stand for today.
Our Prepaid, Pay Monthly, Business and Mobile Broadband products and services continue to serve and liberate all Kiwi's, or Aotearoians as we fondly call them, on a daily basis. And two years on, hundreds of thousands of Kiwis live a 2degrees better life. Not content to rest on our laurels, we strive to be 2degrees smarter every day. Making our products and services fairer, smarter and ultimately allowing all of us to live in a world that is simply, 2degrees better."
Prices vary per plan
www.2degreesmobile.co.nz
Product reviews...
Legitimately the worst telco in New Zealand, which is sad because they used to be great. What happened 2Degrees? I made an online order for a phone and account plan, and waited a week without hearing anything about it. So I called in and was told it would ship any day. I called again three days later and was told the account had been flagged for fraud and I needed to contact the fraud team.
Why didn't the fraud team contact ME? Aren't I the customer? The one trying to spend money with your company? Ridiculous.
So I asked for an email, the lady said she'd text it to me. She didn't. So I called again the same day, get a different service rep, and THIS one tells me that my order was outright CANCELLED by the fraud team the DAY AFTER MY INITIAL ORDER. Why didn't person one or person two tell me this?
So I go into a retail store thinking I can just get it sorted in person, account is flagged again, and cancelled by the fraud team. Though this time they were kind enough to let me know. Just that it had been cancelled by the way - no reasons as to why.
So I went to Spark and got a phone & plan same day without any issue. We have great credit - well we did. After having to get multiple credit checks done by 2D and then Spark - it's likely that my score has tanked.
It gets better though, this entire saga happened two months ago and 2Degrees continues to send me emails saying I owe them $80 for an account that was cancelled next day and for a device I never received. This is despite their CS team assuring me in writing via email that there is no amount owing on my account.
The level of ineptitude at 2Degrees is mind-boggling - stay away.
I have a very bad review and a warning for all the other customers out there to share. I am not affiliated with any other company, I am just a very angry customer which has been scammed and ripped off by 2Degrees.
My story with 2Degrees starts when I had to find a convenient provider.... and the customer service of 2degrees suggested to switch to monthly payments. That's what I did. Unfortunately after one month I started to receive roaming charges. So they suggested me to disable Roaming, which I did. And to be sure that this would never happen again THEY DISABLED ROAMING ON MY ACCOUNT.
After few months I had to go overseas and even if my phone was on ROAMING DISABLED, and they previously disabled it, I was charged for roaming without not even using the phone! I ended up with few hundreds of bill. After several attempts I've managed to contact the customer care was so kind to halve it..
Yes, exactly!!! After being ripped off, I had to thank them for ripping me off half!
Hence, do you a favor... avoid those people. They are scammers and they will do whatever possible to take as much money as they can until it's possible. I wish I knew before joining them.
Agree with other comments here, they were good 3-5 years ago but the service has drastically gone down hill and the price has gone up. The help lines are useless, the average response time when they said they would get back to me was over 7 days. They keep referring you back and forth to different departments, at one point because I had spoken to 2 different areas that apparently don't speak to each other or central billing I received 2 bills for the same month with different prices, then was told I would just have to pay both and they would sort it out on next months bill!
On a different occasion I went onto a monthly set contract after being on pay as you go, they put me onto the monthly contract and starting billing me correctly, but also kept sending me the bill for what it would have cost on easy as you go! Cancelled my auto payment after that! Had to keep checking my bills regularly, as they are so bad. I cancelled my contract with them, and they kept sending me bills for 9 months, threatening to cut of my service, which I had cancelled the year before.
If you use 2 degrees you are going to have a lot of contact with the TDR (telecommunications dispute resolution service - I give the TDR a 5 star rating).
I have been with 2 degrees since they opened and slowly over that period the customer service has gotten worse and worse. I am definitely considering another supplier. They are unhelpful and absolutely no customer loyalty. While they offer very good pre-pay options, this too has slowly changed so that they can get more money out of you.
On a positive note they have a great role over plan and you can store up your minutes and calling to other 2degrees mobiles is free, however their data plans are hopeless. I do not often make reviews but I am sick and tired of these businesses being able to get away with making money out of the small guy. Data usage is so expensive in New Zealand you really need to be able to get the best offer in order to be able to afford to stay connected.
It is especially hard if you are a low income earner, and what 2degrees has done is market hard out their brand on all these special prices and then once they've got their monopoly increase the price. They all do it but at least some of the others have special connections with other companies to make it worth your while to be a member.
I have been using 2 degrees for about 2 years now. My step-dad and sister have also signed up to 2degrees in that time. Originally I was using prepay then switched over to pay monthly about 18 months ago. Overall I have found 2Degrees to be a great telecommunications service. I first switched over from Vodafone to 2Degrees as I found them to be cheaper and more cost effective.
On prepay I found that this service provider was great. Their plans meant that I was able to text everyone I needed cheaply. However it did become very expensive when I got a smart phone and had data usage taken out of my top ups. I then decided that it was time to get a plan.
While I was looking for a suitable plan that suited my needs and my budget, I found that 2Degrees was the one that gave me the deal and value for money. While I have been with 2Degrees I have continued to find the plan has met my needs and my cellphone usage.
Overall I have found 2degrees to be the best service provider for my needs and budget. The service does occasionally cut out in places where Telecom still has service.
I swapped from Vodafone to 2degrees as I wanted the cheaper prices and was a customer for a few years but when I got a new smart phone I had no idea about mobile network connections as my old phone didn't have anything like that and it went through credit rather fast. When I phoned to find out what was going on I was told that I must be doing something to use the credit and just to top up which I wasn't happy about so I called back and was told that I was trying to connect to the internet and to turn off my 3g connectivity. When I asked how I would do it as it is new to me I was told that I can't expect the staff to know everything and to play with the options on my phone or contact the phone manufacturer for assistance.
I solved the problem by moving my business to skinny for several reasons, one is that 2degrees automatically have the mobile network connection option running so you use data without even trying and that staff seem unable or unwilling to help you disconnect that option to save credit, another reason for the change was that I didn't want to be forced to top up $20 a time when I can top up $5 if I want... but will keep that for another review on skinny.
Personally I wouldn't recommend 2degrees to anyone but for some it is a good choice, just I had some problems with the service.
My husband and I both bought 2degrees prepaid simcards when 2degrees was first launched. We are both still prepay customers although we have had plenty of opportunity to change. Most of the time when we get new phone (which due to my husband being careless with his is quite often) we are given a free simcard.
We originally chose to change from Vodafone as we were sick of the duopoly they had with Telecom. We wanted to support the small guy. Although it was for charitable reasons it was a great decision financially. The other companies had low cost texts to phones on the same network 2degrees had an even better rate to every mobile in the country.
Neither of us make enough calls or texts to make it economical to be on a plan and there is no pressure from them to change from prepay. I have it set up that whenever my credit drops below $2.50 that I can do an auto top-up that is charged to my credit card. This means I am never caught short without credit especially if I'm on an important call. I even received a text from them reminding me my credit card was due to expire and to update it so the auto top-ups continue.
Last year I became the proud owner of a 3G iPad and purchased a 2Degrees microsim for it. The staff at the Hamilton Central Store were very helpful and when I asked a question they were unsure of rang their help desk so they didn't give my false information.
We have never had a problem with 2degrees and although the majority of the time we only require cellphone coverage around Hamilton it is great to see they are continuing to expand their coverage area. It is great to be collecting flybuys too and getting cheap movie tickets once a month too.
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