Data charges

[Lynne Heuvel]

Hello there, i have been using a blackberry for a few months now, not even a year. My main reason for getting a blackberry was of course for the "free" data that was advertised. I also wanted to download movies and music which i was also told i could do. My contract is R199 per month and i of course thought i was going to save on data. I was also told from a few friends and inside friends at Vodacom that i should only download from Blackberry "friendly"sites. The way i had this tested normally was with my cousin who also has a blackberry but on prepaid. I would ask her to test which sites she could download from while she literally only had her BIS fee of R60 loaded onto the phone. I had about 2 sites which i normally accessed. I then started downloading movies from the blackberry browser only from these sites only, and was charged very little. I could download movies, music, series and whatever i wanted really and it was always in avi format and it seemed to be compressed as well. One month my charges were as little as .59c Even if my charges went to R60 i was ok with it as thought it was still amazing for all the movies i was getting. On the 2nd June 2012 however the unthinkable happened. It was in the morning, i started downloading, i remember the speed that morning was incredible and i managed to get 3 movies and about 7 episodes of a series. I did this all in less than 30 minutes. A few minutes therafter my line was soft locked telling me i exceeded my call limit, i called the assistant and could not believe my ears when she informed me that i had accumalated R621 worth of data usage. I wanted to cry. They first told me it was a data error that caused my line to lock. A few days later i was informed my bill has escalated to R998. A data investigation was put through and the data department sent me a spreadsheet of all my downloads that morning, it showed that i had made 70 connections. Anyway, i tried to argue with Vodacom telling them that i always use these sites, how can i be charged this month? They say the "sites" i use were hidden from Blackberry before and this month the "sites" must have been noticed and that is why the charge went through. This sounds ridiculous. I dont know what to do, i am so upset. I was told i could pay this off but still, if i have been deceived or misled by Vodacom somehow, please can anyone assist me.

Thanks,

[eehellfire]

You're in a bit of a pickle there, Lynne Heuvel. The networks have specifically been clamping down on users such as yourself that have been contravening the BIS (free internet) policies by making multiple large downloads. The main problem that the networks have is that usage like yours deteriorates the network for other users.
There has been quite a lot of publicity around this topic, and I am quite sure that you have signed/agreed to the fair usage policy at some stage - thus legally you probably also haven't really got any recourse.
Pay the bill and consider it a very expensive lesson learned - if it sounds too good to be true ("free" data); it probably is.

On another topic completely, you shouldn't use your real name on a forum. The main problem with doing this is that whenever someone Googles your name from this point forwards, this post will come up in the results.

[Africaner]

Ha Ha So you got caught out. You are not alone. People are desperat for cheap internet. You don't get cheap internet in South Africa. Live with it and pay for it. Dstv will never approve of cheap and fast internet. They need your money

[R13...]

You were late to the party young dude. The abusers (like you) have forced the networks to make a plan with BB to peek behind the scenes and see exactly how you guys manage to use gigs of data "just browsing".

[OGroteKoning]

Anyway, i tried to argue with Vodacom telling them that i always use these sites, how can i be charged this month?

Ooooops ... how much do you think Vodacom will "backcharge" you for the abusive usage? You might end up payng much more if they have their way.

[Lynne Heuvel]

Why is everyone except ehellfire being so mean. I genuinely did not know and as I said thought it was ok as everyone else I knew did it?? At eehellfire, how can I deactivate this account and thanks for telling me, at least now I know.

[eehellfire]

Ooooops ... how much do you think Vodacom will "backcharge" you for the abusive usage? You might end up payng much more if they have their way.

I don't think they are 'backcharging'

[Lynne Heuvel]

I don't think they are 'backcharging'

Thanks, how do I deactivate this account, thanks

[PsyWulf]

if i have been deceived or misled by Vodacom somehow, please can anyone assist me.

The only ones to mislead you were the ones that legitimized the usage to you. This was against the terms of use you read through and signed on the dotted line for.

Your options regarding the contract are to keep it till the contract expires or cancel it and pay in the difference for the value of the contract plus phone minus a percentage,and the data fees you owe

[eehellfire]

Thanks, how do I deactivate this account, thanks

Unfortunately this isn't really a viable route.
You can deactivate the BIS service (as this is an add-on and may not form part of your contract) and save R60 a month, but the penalties on cancelling a cellphone contract are purposefully harsh and therefore it will probably be in your interest to keep using the contract until expiry.

[Swa]

This is controversial. Not everyone agrees that usage contributes to Vodacom's poorly maintained BB network.

As for the backcharging I don't think so. This would be illegal and if they are able to do so it would also blow their claim that they can't supply usage details (people have tried before). Most likely as large file downloads don't work (there are ways though) on the bb apn it defaults to the internet apn. This also happens for other reasons both with new and experienced users so is in contravention with the CPA. The best would be to lodge a complaint against them. And no the Ts&Cs are not so airtight that they could claim you violated the contract.

As for getting your name removed pm one of the admins: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showgroups.php

[isie]

Why is everyone except ehellfire being so mean. I genuinely did not know and as I said thought it was ok as everyone else I knew did it?? At eehellfire, how can I deactivate this account and thanks for telling me, at least now I know.

you not going to get any love here becuase you admited to downloading movies and series on your BB. The thing is becuase of abusers the normal legitamte users all get affected by crappy speeds, and I understand you didnt know and asumed its OK becuase everyone does it but still doesnt make it right. Hell it annoys me and I dont even have a Crap berry!
you want movies and series do what we do get an uncapped internet line (or simmilar)- and abuse that like the rest of us

and welcome to MYBB hope you enjoy your stay

[Swa]

Can people stop quoting her name? **** can't people think.

[STS]

Can people stop quoting her name? **** can't people think.

facebooked her too

[abzo]

Is she the one with her arms outstretched?