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Manage Smart Caps

Use Smart Caps to control how much data you use.

If you're on a Spark Pay Monthly plan, including Mobile Broadband, you can use Smart Caps limit how much you spend on data each month. With Smart Caps, you can choose how much data you want to use after reaching your plan's data allowance. Here's what you need to know about Smart Caps:

  • Smart Caps are for data products within NZ only
  • Casual data rates are $0.59 per MB
  • The Smart Cap limit for most of our mobile plans is $100. This is the default limit, but you can choose another limit. You can change your Smart Cap at any time.
  • For share plans, the Smart Cap limit on the leader's plan applies to all other sharers in the group
  • You can check and manage your Smart Cap using MySpark online or the Spark app
  • When you start being charged casual rates for data, we'll let you know via text. You may like to change your Smart Cap at this time.

What else do I need to know?

  • If you're heading overseas, check out our roaming data caps. Understand roaming data caps
  • If you've used up your plan's data allowance and reached your Smart Cap, you'll need to buy a data extra through MySpark or the Spark app.
  • Smart Caps apply only to data; they don't limit outgoing calls, SMS text messages or MMS messages (e.g. Messages with pictures, photos or other files attached).
  • Smart Cap limits can be set to the following amounts:
    • $0
    • $10
    • $20
    • $50
    • $100
    • Unlimited
  • You won't be stopped from using casual data unless you've set a cap limit.
  • You'll get a text when you've used up your plan's data allowance, and again when you reach first 80% and then 100% of your Smart Cap. After that, your phone or tablet will no longer use data that's not free.
  • You can choose to receive alerts on another mobile number and/or on an email address
  • After you reach your chosen limit, you'll be unable to:
    • Browse the internet, except for free sites
    • Sync emails
    • Download or upload data files
    • Send or receive photo and video messages (you'll still receive notifications)

Manage Smart Caps

  1. Download the Spark app on Android or iOS, or go to spark.co.nz/myspark
  2. Sign in with your email or mobile number and password. If you're not registered for MySpark, you'll need to register before you can sign in.
  3. See how much you’ve used and when your plan will be renewed.

To make your Smart Cap active after you've set it, you'll need to restart your mobile device. Otherwise it can take up to one hour to activate.

MySpark online

  1. Sign in to MySpark
  2. Under the General section on the left, select Settings
  3. Under the Mobile section on the left, select Mobile Settings
  4. Select your Smart Cap limit in the Manage Data section
  5. Select Update in the pop up box

Spark app

You'll need the latest version of the app.

  1. Sign in to the app
  2. Go to the Services screen and select your plan, or from the Home screen select your plan 
  3. Scroll down and select Manage Smart Caps
  4. Select or enter a limit for Domestic Smart Cap or Roaming Smart Cap
  5. Tap Save Changes, then Done

If you're using an older version of the Spark app follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to the app on your phone or tablet
  2. From the Products tab locate the number to set a cap for
  3. Tap on the number and you will see details page
  4. Scroll down and tap on change on the Casual NZ data Limit
  5. You will be prompted to choose to either set a new limit or remove the limit. Casual data rates are $0.59 per MB.
  6. Select your data limit from the bar
  7. Tap on confirm to set the data limit
  8. A green notification will appear to let you know the new limit has been set.

MySpark

  1. Sign in to MySpark
  2. Under the General section on the left, select Settings
  3. Under the Mobile section on the left, select Mobile Settings
  4. Tick the usage notifications box
  5. To get usage notifications sent to more number, enter the additional numbers and click Add

Spark app

You'll need to have the latest version of the app.

  1. In the Smart Cap screen, Scroll down and Select Manage Smart Cap notifications
  2. Tap the edit icon (pencil) on a plan or service to update the preferred notification choice
  3. Select from an existing mobile number or email address on the same account
  4. You may also add an email address or Spark mobile number. You will need to verify the change by entering the code sent to the email or mobile number.

If you're using an older version of the app, download now or follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to the Spark app on your phone or tablet
  2. In the Profile tab, select Notifications
  3. Select Usage
  4. Tap Manage next to the plan or service
  5. Move the slider next to an existing email address or mobile number on the account to start or stop receiving notifications. 
  6. You may also add an email address or Spark mobile number. You will need to verify the change by entering the code sent to the email or mobile number.
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