BEWARE International Data Roaming charges!!!

ic said:
Just one issue I would like some clarification on, I'm assuming that the billing from an international network does not reach Vodacom in realtime, specifically that there is likely to be a delay of weeks to possibly even months before Vodacom receives the bill from the international network, which Vodacom would then pass on to the customer's cellular service provider - which in turn would bill their own customer.

Assuming that lengthy delay from the international network to Vodacom or for that matter MTN or CellC, to be correct and what normally happens, then what do you suggest our local network operators should do to make international roaming less dangerous as far as huge fees are concerned?
Click to expand...

I think in the past it used to be weeks/months before the records were passed. From what I have seen on on personal call records, it seems that they are coming in much quicker, within days...still too long, but hey.

I mailed the executive responsible for Vodacom online to query that price on the website, since 1.2 odd MILLION rand is a little excessive.

WRT your question: Personally, I would not even entertain roaming partners that charge that amount. But business is business and like a poster said a while again, the need is there, so they will offer the service regardless. I mean can it honestly cost that must to carry the data, or interconnect it???

I remember a proposal of some sort before I left, that as soon as you registered on the roaming network, it would send an sms notifitying you of some random info like customer care's number etc etc.

From this, if it is at all possible then an SMS stating the call rates and data rates would be awesome....but Dev is money and everyone is tightening their belts atm.

My point is how can a company justify that? I know they have to offer the service; but I would think object of it all would be to try lower costs.

Lastly, in my all-over-the-place-arguments. Please explain to me how, in this country it costs R2/mb, in Mozambique it costs around R2.50/mb I think and Vodacom charges R92.29/mb?!?!?! AND ITS THE SAME F-ING COMPANY?!?!?! (attached pic)

I mean does it really cost R90 a MB to inteconnect / move the data 600km to S.A.????

http://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wtfgn7.png
 
Last edited:
ajax said:
@RichargG, is the 40 euros offer restricted to a single European country? I have to travel to Europe soon but will be hopping between France, Netherlands and the UK in a matter of a few days.
The only solution I see is to use the Vodafone passport (R17.50/MB) option.
Click to expand...

I normally use Wifi at free hotspots like McDonalds etc. In Holland open Wifi is very common. I never ever use my Vodacom or MTN contract phones on roaming. In the UK I use a 3 sim where I pay 25 pound for about 7 gig.
 
ic said:
Are there any cellular options available that work in parts of Europe, i.e. a SIM Card that allows reasonably-priced roaming in the UK and parts of Europe? - specifically referring to Drunkard #1's posts from earlier today...
Click to expand...

I used a Virgin SIM purchased in the UK in most parts of Europe and the costs seemed reasonable.
 
Roaming charges are regulated in Europe (for European networks), so all networks should have reasonable rates. I remember that there was talk about regulating data roaming charges, but I'm not sure if they got round to doing it.

I'm sure that if I put my mind to it, I could find a way to recharge my Vodafone UK prepaid account while I'm on the mainland, but it's so much easier to just use Vodacom. You're right, I'm lazy.
 
Vodacom 3G: R19170 for 49 minutes

Could these Vodacom roaming charges be correct?

I was in Dubai for business for three days and used my Vodacom 3G card to send and receive emails. In total my usage (upload and download) was 176.51 MB. My online time was 49 minutes and 45 seconds.

I was charged R19170 by Vodacom. Is this another Vodacom scam or a joint international mobile provider customer ripoff?
 
It can be verified - ask any of the vodacom reps to do so.

Roaming charges are much higher. It is advisable to disable 3G/GPRS when going international, and to use alternative methods to send/receive email.
 
Last edited:
Moer. That is a rip of note.

Surely logic should have kicked in though? 176mb overseas? First thing I would have done is buy a prepaid card of find a wifi hotspot.
 
The time spent online is irrelevant. The data downloads is what costs money. And that figure looks about correct, but it is not fair to have to pay so much for so little without being 'warned' first.

EDIT: Topic should actually read R19170 for 176 Mb. :)
 
G2V;2416061I was charged [SIZE="5" said:
R19170[/SIZE] by Vodacom. Is this another Vodacom scam or a joint international mobile provider customer ripoff?
Click to expand...
Bet your you-know-what clenched up when you opened that bill.

I hope it was a mistake. :o
 
G2V said:
Could these Vodacom roaming charges be correct?

I was in Dubai for business for three days and used my Vodacom 3G card to send and receive emails. In total my usage (upload and download) was 176.51 MB. My online time was 49 minutes and 45 seconds.

I was charged R19170 by Vodacom. Is this another Vodacom scam or a joint international mobile provider customer ripoff?
Click to expand...

It's quite possible. Some providers in the UK charge up to R170 per megabyte... and obviously Dubai would also be somewhere around that. But you should have checked what 3G costs abroad.
 
That's utterly disgusting of Vodacom! :mad: I can't see any means of how they could justify such pricing.
 
V3G beat me too it.

I still think its not really right, at least not without warning the client first somehow.

What about international roaming?.. does it have to be activated like it does on voice contracts?
 
i have seen pricing like this before, a while back, the MD of the company I was working for went on a business trip and used the 3G card and racked up R15000, it's insane!!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X