Massive Telecom Bill

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Klipspringer

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#894719 12-Sep-2013 12:51

This is one of the reasons I am still on prepay.

With all of my data use and international travel, being on contract is just a little too risky.

michaelmurfy

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#894733 12-Sep-2013 13:04

As Pete recommended, check out http://no8wireless.co.nz and see if you're able to take up one of their plans. It seems like the better option for you in the long-term. Their speeds seem to be quite good too: https://www.speedtest.net/my-result/2938855934

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keewee01

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#894774 12-Sep-2013 14:49

Out of curiosity, it wasn't a Galaxy S4 was it?

Dynamic

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#894809 12-Sep-2013 16:26

When I went way over my allowance on a mobile broadband account 18 months ago (using a Pocket WiFi device and multiple laptops on a summer holiday), Vodafone halved a $600 bill for me, but gave a warning this was just a one-off discount.

Vodafone's recent Data Angel service is absolutely invaluable, warning when you are near and again when you are at your limit. Shame it doesn't work for Pocket WiFi devices, as the SMS warning goes to the SIM in the device, so unless you are watching the device's screen it is very easy to miss. Shame you can't have it sent an SMS to multiple numbers.

Vodafone's iPhone app that tells you with one click how far through the month you are and how much call time and data you have remaining on your plan is excellent. Checking it is a part of my daily routine.

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BerG

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#894864 12-Sep-2013 18:28

keewee01: Out of curiosity, it wasn't a Galaxy S4 was it?

HTC One.

I have seen where my error was during setup.

I think I was in such a hurry to get the damn thing going I was just flicking through the setup without reading it. Too used to iOS, which doesnt offer me such functionality.

coffeebaron

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#894897 12-Sep-2013 19:23

BerG: I live between Karapiro and Arapuni, if anyone is interested.

Horahora road, or the other side?
I live in Putaruru

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boby55

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#894900 12-Sep-2013 19:28

BerG:
NonprayingMantis:
BerG: Thanks Plam!

What I would prefer, is that when I reach my data limit my internet is simply cut off so I know I'm at the limit. Seems like a con that its not like this in the first place. Who on earth is going to pay the casual rate of 20c/mb when if you know you have reached your limit you can buy a $15 data pack.

e.g. 3GB is $50, so you could topup $100 to last you 2 months. If on month 1 you happen to blow your cap without realising, the most you would end up spending is the remaining $50.

Great idea!

With the added bonus of feeling like a teenager again.

Pssst, It's called Data Angel

......... I'll go hide back in VF Forum

NonprayingMantis

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#895141 13-Sep-2013 11:44

boby55:
BerG:
NonprayingMantis:
BerG: Thanks Plam!

What I would prefer, is that when I reach my data limit my internet is simply cut off so I know I'm at the limit. Seems like a con that its not like this in the first place. Who on earth is going to pay the casual rate of 20c/mb when if you know you have reached your limit you can buy a $15 data pack.

e.g. 3GB is $50, so you could topup $100 to last you 2 months. If on month 1 you happen to blow your cap without realising, the most you would end up spending is the remaining $50.

Great idea!

With the added bonus of feeling like a teenager again.

Pssst, It's called Data Angel

......... I'll go hide back in VF Forum

given Data Angel sends you notifications via txt, and the OP is using a MiFi or similar device, that makes it pretty worthless.

dickytim

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#895160 13-Sep-2013 12:28

NonprayingMantis:
boby55:
BerG:
NonprayingMantis:
BerG: Thanks Plam!

What I would prefer, is that when I reach my data limit my internet is simply cut off so I know I'm at the limit. Seems like a con that its not like this in the first place. Who on earth is going to pay the casual rate of 20c/mb when if you know you have reached your limit you can buy a $15 data pack.

e.g. 3GB is $50, so you could topup $100 to last you 2 months. If on month 1 you happen to blow your cap without realising, the most you would end up spending is the remaining $50.

Great idea!

With the added bonus of feeling like a teenager again.

Pssst, It's called Data Angel

......... I'll go hide back in VF Forum

given Data Angel sends you notifications via txt, and the OP is using a MiFi or similar device, that makes it pretty worthless.

Confusing and annoying but not useless.

You may get confused when your internet stops working, but you are not going over.

Usually you would be redirected to a web page to buy more data.

Bung

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#895171 13-Sep-2013 12:36

NonprayingMantis: given Data Angel sends you notifications via txt, and the OP is using a MiFi or similar device, that makes it pretty worthless.

The OP is using an HTC One but when you need to get a txt it probably will arrive late.

boby55

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#895185 13-Sep-2013 13:16

Bung:
NonprayingMantis: given Data Angel sends you notifications via txt, and the OP is using a MiFi or similar device, that makes it pretty worthless.

The OP is using an HTC One but when you need to get a txt it probably will arrive late.

Data angel notifications are instant and when you hit 80% like others have said it redirects you to a page to buy more data.

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BerG

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#907024 3-Oct-2013 12:45

Update!

Well, because I didn't have a lot of time to sit down with the numbers in front of me, I ended up paying Telecom $450 toward the $1200 bill. $450 was my normal bill of about $350 plus what I calculated to be a fair amount to pay for the 5GB overage (based on Telecoms $49 for 3GB data add ons).

When I finally got around to calling them today, they credited the entire $850 of the over usage back to me! So now my account is about $200 in credit.

The reasons they credited the entire amount back were:

-The phone number that usage alerts were being sent to did not exist (I had never even heard of that number)

-I had never called them asking to be credited with anything else in the past

And also, I'm assuming, because I'm a good well behaved customer. He did warn me they would not be crediting me again if it happens in the future, which is fine.

So they gave me back more than I even expected, and I'm very happy. I'd been sniffing around for a new wireless provider, but wont worry about it now. The Telecom customer service is just too good.

trig42

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#907042 3-Oct-2013 13:02

BerG: Update!

Well, because I didn't have a lot of time to sit down with the numbers in front of me, I ended up paying Telecom $450 toward the $1200 bill. $450 was my normal bill of about $350 plus what I calculated to be a fair amount to pay for the 5GB overage (based on Telecoms $49 for 3GB data add ons).

When I finally got around to calling them today, they credited the entire $850 of the over usage back to me! So now my account is about $200 in credit.

The reasons they credited the entire amount back were:

-The phone number that usage alerts were being sent to did not exist (I had never even heard of that number)

-I had never called them asking to be credited with anything else in the past

And also, I'm assuming, because I'm a good well behaved customer. He did warn me they would not be crediting me again if it happens in the future, which is fine.

So they gave me back more than I even expected, and I'm very happy. I'd been sniffing around for a new wireless provider, but wont worry about it now. The Telecom customer service is just too good.

Thanks for the update. Good to see people post when good things happen too.

Zeon

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#907160 3-Oct-2013 14:37

I think the best protection would be a credit limit on the account?

Speedtest 2019-10-14

tripp

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#907628 4-Oct-2013 08:43

BerG: Update!

Well, because I didn't have a lot of time to sit down with the numbers in front of me, I ended up paying Telecom $450 toward the $1200 bill. $450 was my normal bill of about $350 plus what I calculated to be a fair amount to pay for the 5GB overage (based on Telecoms $49 for 3GB data add ons).

When I finally got around to calling them today, they credited the entire $850 of the over usage back to me! So now my account is about $200 in credit.

The reasons they credited the entire amount back were:

-The phone number that usage alerts were being sent to did not exist (I had never even heard of that number)

-I had never called them asking to be credited with anything else in the past

And also, I'm assuming, because I'm a good well behaved customer. He did warn me they would not be crediting me again if it happens in the future, which is fine.

So they gave me back more than I even expected, and I'm very happy. I'd been sniffing around for a new wireless provider, but wont worry about it now. The Telecom customer service is just too good.

Good to hear, telco's are normally good when it comes to a first time thing, it's when people ring back after being warned and saying things like "well you did it last time so do it again".

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