Switching from Prepaid to Postpaid before traveling, then back to Prepaid after returning

1. Not necessarily. Check whether Fast Switch shows up in your prepaid Self Serve under Change plans — with Fast Switch no new SIM is needed and your remaining prepaid balance transfers to your postpaid bill. The normal prepaid-to-postpaid process does require a different SIM. Either way a credit check is required for a monthly-billed activation: https://www.koodomobile.com/en/help/moving-prepaid-postpaid-monthly-service — and do the switch while you're still in Canada, since prepaid only works in Canada and the US, and the confirmation text goes to your own Koodo number.

0986l. Your point 2 looks cut off, so I'm not sure what you meant to ask. On the data side, the travel pass doesn't come with its own data — it uses the data on your monthly plan, so pick the plan based on how much you'll actually use for three weeks.

3. Mostly right, with two limits. Unlimited talk and text on the pass covers calls to Canada and to local numbers in the country you're in. A US number, or a toll-free number, called from overseas bills at the international pay-per-use rate. Also don't add the pass too early — passes don't stack with roaming perks, the last roaming feature added is the one that activates, and the pass has an expiry window from the date you order it. Details here: https://www.koodomobile.com/en/services/easyroam

4. There's no porting involved — both switches stay within Koodo, so you keep your number, it isn't a transfer from another carrier. For the postpaid-back-to-prepaid direction and any fees on that side, community reps can't access prepaid accounts, so I'd confirm with a prepaid rep at www.koodo.com/prepaidchat (http://www.koodo.com/prepaidchat) before you commit to the round trip.

When using fast switch there can be issues during the port process as it is a relatively new service, this has come up many times on here before. You can make the switch in a local store and yes in that case you will need a new SIM card each time you’re correct. They can do the port for you and if issues arise they can resolve them there and then. However, if you have any remaining credits on your prepaid account they won’t transfer and will be lost.

Regarding postpaid plans there are many that have a large amount of data so you will have to look into your average usage and come to a conclusion on how much data would work for you. Note that when you first activate you will have a prorated amount of data until your first billing cycle, so it would be best to switch before you plan to go on vacation and reach your first billing cycle so you have all the data available to you when you travel. Usually this is only a few days. https://www.koodomobile.com/en/help/proration

yes you can buy a global travel pass and that will allow you to use your plan while you travel in the applicable countries. It includes calling texting and data usage. For calling and texting, you can call and text back to Canada and to numbers in the country you’re travelling in. Note the pass will only work in the applicable countries to the pass. The global pass does include many countries but not all of them, so you should check this before purchasing. If you’re only travelling in a specific region it might be better to review the other passes instead such as the Europe or Asia pass if they cover the countries you’re travelling in as they’re cheaper.

When switching from prepaid to postpaid, this is number porting even if it is with the same provider. There is porting involved. Regarding fees, for switching to postpaid, the only current fees in store is the SIM card cost. This is normally $10 +taxes. There is currently no activation fees when switching to postpaid. They can transfer your number from prepaid to postpaid and back again and you can keep your number.

When switching back to prepaid, after the line has been ported back you will need to pay an additional SIM card fee for a prepaid sim but also the base plan cost of your prepaid plan for it to become active. There will also be a final bill issued to you for your postpaid account. This will be sent separately to you as the accounts are separate and not the same. Note you will need to choose whatever prepaid plans are in market so if you have an older prepaid plan that you like you won’t be able to get it back. Besides that, there is a credit check with switching to postpaid but that would be all.

That is a big hassle to switch back and forth. While it is relatively easy to use the Fast Switch Self Serve Option, it does take some time for your account to be transferred over to Koodo Postpaid.

Since it is a short trip, you can simply choose not to top up your prepaid account for a month and get a travel eSIM on Amazon or eBay at a fraction of the price. Upon your return, you can continue to use your prepaid service. 

​@MilkyWay 

Your solution is interesting and I have not noticed anyone make your suggestion. So to clarify, if I bought the ESim from either source for Europe, my phone number would stay the same ? I would be able to get 2FA texts, which would be my only need ? And when I get back, I switch back to my Koodo sim and my add-ons remain fully intact ? Why would I let my prepaid account lapse for 30 or 40 days until I got back ? Thanks. 

No, this is assuming that you do not need to use your prepaid plan and receive any calls or text messages. I believe prepaid plans will work in the U.S. if you purchase roaming add-ons, but it will not work anywhere else.

Thanks, that’s too bad, I hoped maybe you had discovered a work-around.  

@MilkyWay, I agree it is a big hassle, but as I mentioned, my phone doesn't take an e-sim. Also, I need to receive text msgs, e.g., bank 2FA via SMS, from Canada while I'm away. 
I know there are services like voip.ms that in theory allow one to get SMS without access to your usual phone number, but there are risks with this kind of solution too. 

@OliverC and @Dinh

I appreciate your detailed replies.

Do the pro-ration rules apply when switching between pre- and post-paid? The page OliverC linked doesn't mention either service. I assumed that when switching from pre to post it's like I'm a new Koodo customer, and my new plan's billing cycle would start over, regardless of the pre billing cycle.
Am I mistaken?

I checked that my destination is covered by the Global pass, and this pass is a better deal than the region-specific passes.

About the countries I can call while traveling, your answers makes more sense than the Koodo phone rep's claim that I could call any country in the world for free on the Global pass. I told her this seemed too good to be true, and she seemed uncertain about many other things also, which is why I asked the community here.

Hey ​@Optimizer 

yes you’re correct, pro ration would apply as you’re considered a “new postpaid customer”. Though owned by the same company, they are considered separately as prepaid is a prepaid subscription service and not a billable postpaid service.

I am glad you checked for the countries it’s best to get the best deal you can. 😎 let me know if you have any other questions! Especially regarding the calling and texting in case anything else needs to be clarified. I am not surprised they weren’t 100% on it, we have had to deal with it a lot on here so we have narrowed down with the help of community reps what is applicable and what is not.

​Hi @Oliver C ,

​I don't quite follow what you said about pro-ration; I am probably misunderstanding you.
If I'm considered a “new postpaid customer", doesn't that mean pro-ration wouldn't apply, since the pre and post accounts are completely independent?

To put my question another way, does your link  https://www.koodomobile.com/en/help/proration only address post to post plan changes or also post to pre? I know from experience it doesn’t apply to pre to pre changes. 

For a new postpaid customer, the contract' start date isn't necessarily the first day of the billing cycle. For instance, even if I sign up for a postpaid plan on October 1st, the billing cycle might not begin until October 15th. In that scenario—say, I get a 50GB plan—the data allowance for those initial 15 days would effectively be limited to 25GB. Consequently, proration could restrict the amount of usable data. (This is due to not being able to choose our own billing cycle.)

Also, if you pick a plan with a discount like an auto-pay discount, it only applies for full billing cycle. If you port back to prepaid before the full cycle, then they will charge you the discount back.