Dodgy Telecom Billing Practices

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Dodgy Telecom Billing Practices

lestag

100 posts

Master Geek

#101735 7-May-2012 22:09

Hmmm,
Now that I have got your attention...
Was trawling (or should that be trolling...) through my "unbilled calls" online telecom account and noticed that at random points in time the IP data packets were racking up the odd cent or two....
Now , I just travel between hamilton and whangarei, no overseas travel (except when I am asleep , dreaming) , well under my 1GB data plan.

Is this just a glitch? or have i stumbled on to how they are affording the new CEOs salary? Do i need a tinfoil hat?Will this make the 6pm news?

I will tell you something for nothing, I will be asking for a detailed account

I mean it is a whole 6 cents (+GST) which makes it like 7 cents arrrrghhh!

wakaridnnz

226 posts

Master Geek

#621315 7-May-2012 22:27

I've noticed it as well, in fact I tweeted them about it but never got a reply. I'm also on a 1GB plan and my current unbilled total is $2.01 and I still have all my minutes and plenty of data left? dodgy alright!

boby55

1539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#621330 7-May-2012 22:51

Do you have a Smart Phone?

Chances are its just "Calling Home" and thats where your few kilobytes of data are going. Smart Phones are made to be connected 24-7 to the internet and like to call home to check.

jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#621331 7-May-2012 22:53

boby55: Do you have a Smart Phone?

Chances are its just "Calling Home" and thats where your few kilobytes of data are going. Smart Phones are made to be connected 24-7 to the internet and like to call home to check.

The OP suggests they have a 1GB data pack but every now and again some data slips out of this and is charged at the casual rate.

lestag

100 posts

Master Geek

#621335 7-May-2012 23:02

jbard:
boby55: Do you have a Smart Phone?

Chances are its just "Calling Home" and thats where your few kilobytes of data are going. Smart Phones are made to be connected 24-7 to the internet and like to call home to check.

The OP suggests they have a 1GB data pack but every now and again some data slips out of this and is charged at the casual rate.

Yup its a Lumia 0800
But I would not call it a casual rate??
random snippets from the unbilled calls below to get a comparison1 027-xxx xxxx IP Packet 00:30:00 10/04/2012 0:21am $0.00
1 027-xxx xxxx IP Packet 00:21:00 10/04/2012 1:20am $0.00
1 027-xxx xxxx IP Packet 00:01:00 10/04/2012 2:11am $0.00
1 027-xxx xxxx IP Packet 00:01:00 10/04/2012 2:11am $0.00

1 027-xxx xxxx IP Packet 38:22:00 01/05/2012 8:52pm $0.03

1 027-xxx xxxx IP Packet 19:22:00 22/04/2012 12:11pm $0.02

1 027-xxx xxxx IP Packet 17:43:00 25/04/2012 6:04pm $0.01

1 027-xxx xxxx IP Packet 01:09:00 10/04/2012 6:22pm $0.00
1 027-xxx xxxx IP Packet 04:23:00 10/04/2012 7:18pm $0.00
1 027-xxx xxxx IP Packet 00:48:00 10/04/2012 8:18pm $0.00

lestag

100 posts

Master Geek

#621336 7-May-2012 23:03

wakaridnnz: I've noticed it as well, in fact I tweeted them about it but never got a reply. I'm also on a 1GB plan and my current unbilled total is $2.01 and I still have all my minutes and plenty of data left? dodgy alright!

Some of the $2 may be voicemail calls?

wakaridnnz

226 posts

Master Geek

#621359 8-May-2012 00:17

lestag:
wakaridnnz: I've noticed it as well, in fact I tweeted them about it but never got a reply. I'm also on a 1GB plan and my current unbilled total is $2.01 and I still have all my minutes and plenty of data left? dodgy alright!

Some of the $2 may be voicemail calls?

Yeah the $2 were text messages to Reunion and Radiosport but the 1 cent is a mystery.

snnet

1410 posts

Uber Geek

#621370 8-May-2012 03:34

its not uncommon for unbilled calls to not be charged at the end of the billing period, particularly with included data. Wait till you actually get billed.

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riahon

946 posts

Ultimate Geek

#621373 8-May-2012 06:32

I had noticed them as well for many years, I am on 1GB plan and have never exceeded that allocation. I have never been charged any extra data. Nothing to see here - move along.

plambrechtsen

1948 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#621420 8-May-2012 08:55

It sounds similar to my own experience.

My wife's mobile account is on our bill and we sometimes get 1-2 cents of unbilled traffic then at the end of the month it all all ends up correctly and we don't get charged for going over her data plan. The only costs we have on her mobile is when she checks her voice mail.

If you do have concerns please PM me or e-mail me at pl at telecom dot co dot nz with your affected phone numbers and account number and I will look to pass it onto someone who can assist.

Have you tried calling 123 about it? What answer did they give you?

lestag

100 posts

Master Geek

#621890 8-May-2012 20:54

plambrechtsen:
If you do have concerns please PM me or e-mail me at pl at telecom dot co dot nz with your affected phone numbers and account number and I will look to pass it onto someone who can assist.

Have you tried calling 123 about it? What answer did they give you?

I've got my tin hat on at the moment , do you think im gonna dial 123??? :D

I will wait until the bill arrives, Im sure as you and others have observed it washes out at the end. And if it doesn't, I have a couple of account managers I can wind up as well.
Thanks for the offer tho, it is nice to see helpfull staff (from all carriers) on the forum.