£7000 bill for using uk the Internet abroad

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
15/05/2010 12:29

On BBC TV breakfast today it highlighted a man who listed to radio 4 for 5 days whilst stranded by the ash cloud trying to get news of how to get home

His provider O2 had suspended their warning and credit limits to help people stranded

They offered to reduce the bill to £2500 and give him time to pay over a number of months

Be cartful with your i phones and androids usage as they eat the money the same way

The story will be featured on Money box radio 4 midday Saturday 15 it will be on iplayer after this

Its not just O2 its all providers when you cross borders with the phone or dongle

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
15/05/2010 13:35

Its robberry. They should be liable up to their credit limits and no more.

ismet

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
15/05/2010 14:42

Ismet there is no credit limit on most UK contract phones

There is an EU rule coming in in July but it can cost a fortune phoning the UKon a UK phone from TRNC as opposed to Roc as its outside the eu

The charges for data are even more exorbitant

I've just posted to make visitors beware as the providers do not give warnings

tonyhickey



Joined: 13/06/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
15/05/2010 15:02

Cant beat pay as u go

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
16/05/2010 08:24

I'm with BT Mobile ( which uses the Vodafone network ) and 3 ..



Last month I spent 4 days in Mallorca and thinking I was an 'expert' on mobiles had dating roaming turned off and physically turned OFF the phones' ability to obtain data... I bought a Spanish data sim for my dongle..



When I got the bill it was 558 GBP, and I was told some will show on next months bill which I just got.. 1055.99 GBP :0



When I pointed out that I could possibly have used this the data components were frozen and I only paid for calls/ sms (txt) - but I have not had a satisfactory answer as to HOW it was possible.



My advice - if you have a smart phone capable of data ( web browsing, email functionality) - have your supplier turn off data roaming NOW.. Record the date, and if you get a large bill, it is THEIR problem



3 UK suspended my bill when it hit 75GBP ( that was just calls) - so some phone companies are more careful to 'protect' you ...



Contact OFCOM, if the phone co. is not 'helpful'.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
16/05/2010 08:32

6 m's did you switch off preferred network setting and use manual choice?

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
16/05/2010 08:38

When you are roaming, data charges can be 1 to 15.00 a megabyte, and audio / video streaming will bump that up .. an MP3 song can be 2-5 megs.. would you pay 75GBP for a track ?!





ALWAYS use a netbook, with dongle - and a local sim - if you like to be connected 'on the road' .... I'm paying 17.50 month over two years for a Dell one and 1 gig of data allowance monthly..



That usage would cost 1000 - 12000 GBP if roaming in Spain - with the UK dongle.. so THAT's why you need to buy a local one..



An EU investigation into these data charges - I don't think it is recent - but it shows what could happen ..



http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/roaming/data/index_en.htm



As of March 2010 - thx to the EU ! - the companies in the EU will HAVE to reduce these charges and should cut of off when reaching 50 Euros -unless you requested the limit to be lifted to a higher amount..



http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/620

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
16/05/2010 14:49

I think the name smart phone is a miss noma as they take your money without consent



Mark these bills are frightening and unjustified often you will be using the network of vodafone or similar in spain turkey and they just rip you off with unjustifiable charges

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
18/05/2010 22:53

If you wonder why your roaming/internet are cost so high Vodafone have just reported £8.7 billion profit

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
18/05/2010 23:06

I remember phoning from Romania to Cyprus - tried half a dozen times unsuccessfully to get through and Vodaphone charged about ten bucks, or something ridiculous!

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
18/05/2010 23:29

his company will probablly be picking up the tab , ie good old tax payer ?

Smity



Joined: 14/09/2009
Posts: 826

Message Posted:
19/05/2010 00:42

If any one has or you know of has an I phone when you go abrord you must switch off DATA Roaming



On the iphone go to



Settings, then settings , network then turn off the data raoming

There is a paragragh below the on off button that says



Turn data roaming off when abroard to avoid substantial roaming charges when using email, MMS, web brousing and other data servises

Pass on



You will run up a huge bill just picking up you emails

Tangerineman


Joined: 08/03/2010
Posts: 318

Message Posted:
19/05/2010 01:09

My little uns ' borrowed ' my iphone last year and went onto You Tube to play a rubbishy kids game

Cost me £500 plus

Gutted

Smity



Joined: 14/09/2009
Posts: 826

Message Posted:
19/05/2010 01:15

Sorry put settings in twice I have now cahenged the order in which to turn off data roaming



If any one has or you know of has an I phone when you go abrord you must switch off DATA Roaming







On the iphone go to







Settings, then egneral , network then turn off the data raoming



There is a paragragh below the on off button that says







Turn data roaming off when abroard to avoid substantial roaming charges when using email, MMS, web brousing and other data servises



Pass on







You will run up a huge bill just picking up you emails