Massive Intl data roaming charges exceeds 2deg credit limit

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webup

545 posts

Ultimate Geek

#79693 21-Mar-2011 11:22

So in two days and approximately 2 1/2 hours of using Googlemaps and navigation on my Android from Melbourne city out to the suburbs I now have $380 of data charges on an account with a $250 credit limit!!

$30 per Mb in 2011 is absurd regardless of which end is to blame for the extortion.

Letting the bill pass the credit limit of $250 is even worse.

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19282 posts

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#450311 21-Mar-2011 11:24

Roaming charges for Postpay connections as I understand are not real time like prepay

John

jjnz1

1358 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#450312 21-Mar-2011 11:24

Ouch!
What did you think would happen when roaming and using data?

johnr

19282 posts

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#450314 21-Mar-2011 11:26

Did you not check the data roaming rates before you left NZ?

geekiegeek

2513 posts

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#450316 21-Mar-2011 11:29

Much better to just buy a local SIM. I paid $20 dollars for a prepay Optus SIM that came with 500MB of data.

Do 2 degrees have anything in their terms to show that the credit cap doesnt work when roaming? This is probably your only way out - My guess is you would still be up for $250 though, just not the overage on your cap.

2degreesCare

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2degrees

#450318 21-Mar-2011 11:36

webup: So in two days and approximately 2 1/2 hours of using Googlemaps and navigation on my Android from Melbourne city out to the suburbs I now have $380 of data charges on an account with a $250 credit limit!!

$30 per Mb in 2011 is absurd regardless of which end is to blame for the extortion.

Letting the bill pass the credit limit of $250 is even worse.

Please can you PM me your 2D number and I'll look into it.

Cheers

^POB

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#450320 21-Mar-2011 11:39

the charge is what it is.
You might think it is high, but ultimately you could have chosen other option like
a) not use data at all
b) use a local sim for data,
c)use a NZ provider who offers cheaper roaming (Voda and Xt are both cheaper than 2D).
d) use a form of satnav that doesn't use data e.g. a Navman
e) use a paper map

nobody was forcing you to use 2D roaming.

However, as for breaching the credit limit you probably have a case. (without reading the T's and Cs myself there may be an exception).
I would say you should only be liable for the $250 and no more.

did you acually try calling 2D for a solution before coming here to rant? They probably would have credited you the difference ($380-250=$130) straight away.

webup

545 posts

Ultimate Geek

#450331 21-Mar-2011 12:02

NonprayingMantis: the charge is what it is.
You might think it is high, but ultimately you could have chosen other option like
a) not use data at all
b) use a local sim for data,
c)use a NZ provider who offers cheaper roaming (Voda and Xt are both cheaper than 2D).
d) use a form of satnav that doesn't use data e.g. a Navman
e) use a paper map

nobody was forcing you to use 2D roaming.

However, as for breaching the credit limit you probably have a case. (without reading the T's and Cs myself there may be an exception).
I would say you should only be liable for the $250 and no more.

did you acually try calling 2D for a solution before coming here to rant? They probably would have credited you the difference ($380-250=$130) straight away.

If I removed the exclamations marks would it appear less of a rant? It certainly wasnt a rant from my point of view and I thought forums were for commenting and expressing thoughts?

I am also fully aware I should have asked for a map from the rental car company.
Researched offline GPS,data charges,local sims etc beforehand but traveling on short notice and with a 7 week old baby time is never on your side.

I assumed rightly or wrongly that it cant be using too much data with the GPS as its only pulling down street names and hardly detailed graphics.

My surprise was that the credit limit didn't kick in.

I have messaged the 2degrees rep who kindly offered assistance above and we shall see what they can do.

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NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#450334 21-Mar-2011 12:11

webup:
NonprayingMantis: the charge is what it is.
You might think it is high, but ultimately you could have chosen other option like
a) not use data at all
b) use a local sim for data,
c)use a NZ provider who offers cheaper roaming (Voda and Xt are both cheaper than 2D).
d) use a form of satnav that doesn't use data e.g. a Navman
e) use a paper map

nobody was forcing you to use 2D roaming.

However, as for breaching the credit limit you probably have a case. (without reading the T's and Cs myself there may be an exception).
I would say you should only be liable for the $250 and no more.

did you acually try calling 2D for a solution before coming here to rant? They probably would have credited you the difference ($380-250=$130) straight away.

If I removed the exclamations marks would it appear less of a rant? It certainly wasnt a rant from my point of view and I thought forums were for commenting and expressing thoughts?

the words 'absurd' and 'extortion' make it appear a rant.

I am also fully aware I should have asked for a map from the rental car company.
Researched offline GPS,data charges,local sims etc beforehand but traveling on short notice and with a 7 week old baby time is never on your side.

I assumed rightly or wrongly that it cant be using too much data with the GPS as its only pulling down street names and hardly detailed graphics.

My surprise was that the credit limit didn't kick in.

I have messaged the 2degrees rep who kindly offered assistance above and we shall see what they can do.

did you already call 2D prior to making this thread? If not, why not? seems a pretty simple billing issue.

"Hi, I'e been billed $380 when my account has a credit limit of $250."
"very sorry about that sir, clearly we have made an error there. I'll take your details and arrange the difference to be credited to your account right away."

problme solved.

valtam

396 posts

Ultimate Geek

#450335 21-Mar-2011 12:12

I thought GPS was free of data charges unless he was using AGPS?

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kobiak

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#450342 21-Mar-2011 12:24

valtam: I thought GPS was free of data charges unless he was using AGPS?

It's free, but he was using google.maps which downloads maps of the net, unless you cache them

helping others at evgenyk.nz

kyhwana2

2566 posts

Uber Geek

#450343 21-Mar-2011 12:24

valtam: I thought GPS was free of data charges unless he was using AGPS?

Not if he's using google maps, which will be loading maps, etc.

freitasm

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Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#450347 21-Mar-2011 12:33

You will find that any GPS program (TomTom, and others) are probably always cheaper than using an online solution such as Google Maps or MapQuest, if you travel frequently.

I understand you had a short notice for this travel, but it's something to have in mind.

jjnz1

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Lifetime subscriber

#450354 21-Mar-2011 12:53

What he really should have done is disable 3G data on his phone, buy a portable Mifi device with a local sim, and connect to it using his phones Wifi.

You could even go one step further and upgrade your phone to Gingerbread and use the integrated VOIP tool for free/cheap calling.

SORTED!

foamfollower

152 posts

Master Geek

#450365 21-Mar-2011 13:06

Wow! Makes the $9.72 for Navdroyd a bargain.

I have been using it on both sides of the Tasman in the last few weeks. It has some limitations, but if you have enough time to insert your Points of Interest before you head off, it seems to perform decently. The one time it let me down - finding the street but not the number of a building in Brisbane - a few minutes of Google navigation talked me in.

gjm

808 posts

Ultimate Geek

#450376 21-Mar-2011 13:50

props to 2degrees rep guy for taking an interest, regardless of outcome I say. That kind of service is becoming rarer and rarer ....(not affiliated with 2degrees in anyway by the way)

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