$15 per Mb!!!! What The........

[EE33]

Yes, that's right, got my phone bill today and the roaming data alone was $743.91. That's for 49.6 Mb download in 39 minutes.

I was in China/Hk last month and had both my ipad and iphone, use the ipad in the hotel where they provided WIFI and the iphone when I was out and about.
Bought a China SIM card, but didn't realise my phone was LOCKED to Telstra, therefore the Chinese SIM card was useless.
Just called Telstra and spoke to the consultant and there wasn't much he could do as the 2Gb of monthly data I'm allowed is only for Australia.
I guess I didn't read the fine print and did download the data, so I'll have to pay the bill......lesson learnt!

[sleddog]

That's an expensive lesson Des!!

I hate to say it, but I could have told you that....International roaming is horrendous, especially data!!
You need to get that Iphone unlocked buddy.. Google out Iphone unlock and you'll find there are suppliers of apps and downloads to do this..John should be able to help you with this!
Black Rain is one that comes to mind although not sure if this is still current with the later models.
I unlocked mine for that reason and use it when I travel to the States or Aus. for this reason, to use a local carrier..My whole 5 weeks in Aus. only cost me the $49 pay & go with Data included..and I used it alot!!
You'll need it for that next visit to China!

An expensive lesson for sure.....
I guess no beer this weekend?!?!?!

[johnbeth]

Des, I will need to do some spanking when I see u next. Why the hell didnt u ask !!!!!!!

[EE33]

Rob, I'll get the phone unlocked for my July trip.
Telstra has to unlock the phone now for free, CBF ATM.

After I spoke to the consultant, he asked me to hold on the line and answer some survey questions!!! Told him he had a great sense of humour!!!

Originally Posted by sleddog

I guess no beer this weekend?!?!?!

Never go dry my Friend, good or bad

[fusionstorm]

I was in Barbados for the past week and a half, and almost got bit by international roaming as well (but not nearly as bad as you). I'd enabled the international dial and text plans while I was there so I could call home and text while I was there. What I didn't realize was that I needed to power off and on my iPhone in order for texting to work while international data roaming was turned off. Luckily, I had only dl'ed 12MBs of data while I was there, and AT&T offered me a backdated 20MB plan for $24.99.

[sleddog]

Originally Posted by johnbeth

Des, I will need to do some spanking when I see u next. Why the hell didnt u ask !!!!!!!

Your in for some fun now Des!

Originally Posted by EE33

Rob, I'll get the phone unlocked for my July trip.
Telstra has to unlock the phone now for free, CBF ATM.

After I spoke to the consultant, he asked me to hold on the line and answer some survey questions!!! Told him he had a great sense of humour!!!




Never go dry my Friend, good or bad

[johnbeth]

Originally Posted by fusionstorm

I was in Barbados for the past week and a half, and almost got bit by international roaming as well (but not nearly as bad as you). I'd enabled the international dial and text plans while I was there so I could call home and text while I was there. What I didn't realize was that I needed to power off and on my iPhone in order for texting to work while international data roaming was turned off. Luckily, I had only dl'ed 12MBs of data while I was there, and AT&T offered me a backdated 20MB plan for $24.99.

U are lucky, aussie companies bleed u dry and then ask for the left over body parts too!

I tried to backdate and they told me to **** off in a polite way a few years back... Now I am screwing them by closing all accounts before contract expires and threatened legal action as their range is shit and loss of income... Guess what?? They waived all fees!! More then they charged a few years back...

[EE33]

Originally Posted by johnbeth

Des, I will need to do some spanking when I see u next. Why the hell didnt u ask !!!!!!!

I wish I'd known John. Phone calls are quite expensive but data download is absolute BS.

Originally Posted by fusionstorm

and AT&T offered me a backdated 20MB plan for $24.99.

That's good to hear that they offered you a backdated 20Mb plan......I did ask for one but the consultant said it was too late. Was happy to compromise and pay the $160.00 for 50Mb overseas plan, but no deal.

[johnbeth]

Originally Posted by sleddog

Your in for some fun now Des!

[EE33]

Originally Posted by sleddog

Your in for some fun now Des!

I'll pass, you can take the spot.

[johnbeth]

Originally Posted by EE33

I'll pass, you can take the spot.

[PanosI]

Des, this might be the solution for you Aussies.


http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....#ht_1112wt_714

[EE33]

Thanks for that Panos, found a free alternative
Telstra removes unlock fee for Apple iPhone for jet-setting Aussies http://exchange.telstra.com.au/?p=7698

[PanosI]

I see, they are doing the same thing for free.
Of course after they ripped you off

[bayerische]

I have both my and my wifeys iPhones data roaming locked by my operator, to prevent things like this.

Sorry to hear about this.

There was a guy from my country a few years back, that downloaded a movie while abroad he got a phone bill close to 10K euros if I remember correctly. That really put the data roaming rates in the spotlight over here.

[EE33]

Originally Posted by bayerische

I have both my and my wifeys iPhones data roaming locked by my operator, to prevent things like this.

Sorry to hear about this.

There was a guy from my country a few years back, that downloaded a movie while abroad he got a phone bill close to 10K euros if I remember correctly. That really put the data roaming rates in the spotlight over here.

That's a very scary story, no company can justify charging 10k Euros for a movie download, but they do.
I just rang Telstra and my phone is now UNLOCKED No point crying over spilt milk, it's nearly beer O'clock and I'm going to the pub, Kiipis

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by EE33

That's a very scary story, no company can justify charging 10k Euros for a movie download, but they do.
I just rang Telstra and my phone is now UNLOCKED No point crying over spilt milk, it's nearly beer O'clock and I'm going to the pub, Kiipis

In his case with the 10K, I think the Operator had to trash the bill because of the publicity it got.

Skål!

[swatty]

Did I read this correctly, you removed your Telstra Sim card, inserted a chinese one and still got charged by Telstra? this is crazy

[EE33]

Originally Posted by swatty

Did I read this correctly, you removed your Telstra Sim card, inserted a chinese one and still got charged by Telstra? this is crazy

Pete, I would be fuming mad if that was the case.
I removed the Telstra SIM card and inserted the good prepaid Chinese card and not have it work as my iPhone was locked to Telatra And Telstra only.
My phone's been unlocked as of late this afternoon.

PS: Our company be it small with only 6 mobiles, 4 land lines + a fax line have been with Telstra since day one (24 years), I still have the option to switch to another carrier, but I do blame myself In this case, as I didnt read the overseas data download clause. Play on.

[johnbeth]

Originally Posted by bayerische

I have both my and my wifeys iPhones data roaming locked by my operator, to prevent things like this.

Sorry to hear about this.

There was a guy from my country a few years back, that downloaded a movie while abroad he got a phone bill close to 10K euros if I remember correctly. That really put the data roaming rates in the spotlight over here.

Probably the most expensive mobile download ever! I hope the movie was worth it. I wonder what movie it was???

[esm]

good old Telstra - cant live with it & cant live without it

[EE33]

Originally Posted by esm

good old Telstra - cant live with it & cant live without it

Telstra & Optus/Hutchinson do rent the end of our complex and have mobile towers . We own 2 of 10 and dad's Chairman of Strata. Did I hear rent increase???

[GolfGuy]

ouch... usually i just turn on the wi-fi... soooo many unsecured networks out there...

[TheDude]

Yeah, data roaming is -RIDICULOUS- pretty much anywhere.

[esm]

Originally Posted by EE33

Telstra & Optus/Hutchinson do rent the end of our complex and have mobile towers . We own 2 of 10 and dad's Chairman of Strata. Did I hear rent increase???

depends on the rental agreement. it can range from very short to many many years - depending on the importance of the location of the base station to the network. if it is a tower (lattice or monopole) and has multiple carrier on it, then it should be one of those more important/ideally located ones.

check the rental agreement and see how much you can increase

[EE33]

Originally Posted by esm

depends on the rental agreement. it can range from very short to many many years - depending on the importance of the location of the base station to the network. if it is a tower (lattice or monopole) and has multiple carrier on it, then it should be one of those more important/ideally located ones.

check the rental agreement and see how much you can increase

They've been long term tenants, will check the lease agreement, pics to follow . Tower is massive. Location is pure too.

[2careless]

This is the standard (ripoff) 1.5c per kbyte roaming charge that Telstra puts on data roaming customers. They have not changed this pricing for like 10 years.

I was in Japan last December and I bought a $29 for 10Mbyte data roaming pack before I left, and measured my data usage on my HTC Desire carefully when overseas, to be found that when I came back they said I had never ordered a roaming pack in my account , and got whacked $159 for the 10Mbyte. After numerous complaints they finally found my record and rebated those extra charges.

Such is bloody Telstra.

BTW, have you ever measured the radiation level in your building/complex? Do you know how much microwave is blasted into you?

[Jocke]

Sorry that was a expensive way to learn.

In EU now we have laws that says your operator have to tell you when your bill is close to $100 and you have to aggree
to download more than that. I use to turn of the data reception / transmission when I'm in another country.

[esm]

Originally Posted by 2careless

BTW, have you ever measured the radiation level in your building/complex? Do you know how much microwave is blasted into you?

It doesn't really matter as long as you are more than 6 meters away from the antenna/microwave dish (directly in front of).
The TV and microwave in your house probably puts out more
Radiation than your nearest telecommunications base station....

[GoldenBear]

The same thing happened to me a few years back. I called my phone company to question/complain and the retroactively sold me an unlimited data package. They took care of the huge bill. Then I turned off the auto download feature. Lesson learned.