Call Line Identity rip off!

[ClintZA]

Just felt the need to vent. Maybe someone can provide a valid "excuse" as to why the do fleece us the way they do with caller line identity.

I took a contract out for the GF. From passed experience I know about all the extra costs you get charged as part of the rip off but I stupidly assumed CLI would be included. It wasn't, so this morning the GF was receiving calls from unknown numbers the whole time. Phone Vodacom and unsurprisingly was told it is an add on service at a cost of R9-odd per month.

Now why?! Why should it cost at all? Surely the company has to identify the line that the call comes from to be able to direct it to you anyway so it's not like they are now going out of their way to find it out for you. Does it really cost them R9-odd per subscriber to send this information to your phone?

And to rub salt in the wound, the GF was on pay as you go and had CLI included at no additional cost per month!

Why are the cell companies allowed to fleece us like this? Where are the authorities clamping down on the extortion?

 

[froot]

From passed experience I know about all the extra costs you get charged as part of the rip off but I stupidly assumed CLI would be included.

So you knew about all the costs, but you assumed this was free?

CLI has been a charged-service for as long as I can remember. Think of it as just another way for Vodacom/etc to make more money

 

[ClintZA]

So you knew about all the costs, but you assumed this was free?

CLI has been a charged-service for as long as I can remember. Think of it as just another way for Vodacom/etc to make more money

Let's not be silly about this now... I know some people get their jollies out of ridiculing others but let's try and get over this for once, ok. Please note how I already admitted to stupidly thinking CLI was included so let's get over the snide comments, I dissed myself already. Ignore all your little digs about knowing etc. Do you think it is justified to charge R9,50 for a service like this? If not, then why is it just accepted?

By the way, I have a contract with MTN, CLI was included. On my previous contract it was also included. And the costs I was talking about being aware of are ones like connection and SIM costs at sign up. Connection cost?! Another bloody rip off.

EDIT: In hindsight, your post was clearly meant in jest but as they say, it is sometimes best to not poke the bear

 

[Velenoso]

It's R9,50 for christ sake. Either accept the charge as part of the package or don't. It's there in your statement!

It's not like MTN taking an extra 750 bucks every month like they were to me for international SMS I didn't send (don't use SMS)! This went on for 6 months, still haven't got a credit.

 

[ChilliGirl]

It's R9,50 for christ sake. Either accept the charge as part of the package or don't. It's there in your statement!

It's not like MTN taking an extra 750 bucks every month like they were to me for international SMS I didn't send (don't use SMS)! This went on for 6 months, still haven't got a credit.

/OT

:erm:

As my folks are in the UK we talk on skype. The times are normally arranged by SMS.

On MTN this is at first covered by SMS in bundle and after "free" SMSs are used it costs.
I use my cell for business and some clients enjoy minor updates via SMS as I ussually have their PC(no point in sending email updates) and calling not really required... So I SMS a lot

My additional SMSs seldom cost more than R20.

So I wonder how those charges or yours happened...

 

[Velenoso]

/OT

:erm:

As my folks are in the UK we talk on skype. The times are normally arranged by SMS.

On MTN this is at first covered by SMS in bundle and after "free" SMSs are used it costs.
I use my cell for business and some clients enjoy minor updates via SMS as I ussually have their PC(no point in sending email updates) and calling not really required... So I SMS a lot

My additional SMSs seldom cost more than R20.

So I wonder how those charges or yours happened...

No idea. And I DO NOT use SMS whatsoever. I have free SMS's that have accumulated to the max.

 

[ClintZA]

It's R9,50 for christ sake. Either accept the charge as part of the package or don't. It's there in your statement!

It's not like MTN taking an extra 750 bucks every month like they were to me for international SMS I didn't send (don't use SMS)! This went on for 6 months, still haven't got a credit.

And this is the bizarre attitude that makes little sense to me! People bitched like hell about paying 20c for plastic packets at shops. They bitch about commission paid to financial advisers (yes, first hand experience of this). They bitch about the cost of an SMS. But they happily bend over, and take it from the cell companies.

So you are saying you have the right to bitch about your issue but I don't. It's not all about you only, as with your issue. This R9.50 is charged to EVERYONE, EVERY MONTH! That is a crap load of money being fleeced from us as the public. And how is that charge justified? What does it cost the provider to do this? And why are they able to provide it free to pay as you go clients?

We are being screwed but some of you prefer to just take a swipe at the messenger. Easier I suppose.

Just as an aside, I have had a cell contract for more than 10 years now, much more, but let's just keep it simple here. R9.50*10*12= R1140. My issue is actually bigger than yours.

 

[R13...]

It is a rip off. How are the sleazy networks able to give this service for free to prepaid customers? Customers who spend way less. On a side note over the term of my current MTN contract CLI was charged and then recredited every month.

 

[Dion Disco]

It is a rip off. How are the sleazy networks able to give this service for free to prepaid customers? Customers who spend way less. On a side note over the term of my current MTN contract CLI was charged and then recredited every month.

Because prepaid users have crappy cheap phones and need all the TLC the service providers can give them - after all, they got their money prepaid

Contract users want that shiny, new R8,000 phone every 2 years, sponsored up front - service providers then add all sorts of clauses to provide contract users with their fix ;-)

 

[Bundu]

And this is the bizarre attitude that makes little sense to me! People bitched like hell about paying 20c for plastic packets at shops. They bitch about commission paid to financial advisers (yes, first hand experience of this). They bitch about the cost of an SMS. But they happily bend over, and take it from the cell companies.

So you are saying you have the right to bitch about your issue but I don't. It's not all about you only, as with your issue. This R9.50 is charged to EVERYONE, EVERY MONTH! That is a crap load of money being fleeced from us as the public. And how is that charge justified? What does it cost the provider to do this? And why are they able to provide it free to pay as you go clients?

We are being screwed but some of you prefer to just take a swipe at the messenger. Easier I suppose.

Just as an aside, I have had a cell contract for more than 10 years now, much more, but let's just keep it simple here. R9.50*10*12= R1140. My issue is actually bigger than yours.

I agree with you - another irritation I have, is that itemised billing is also often a forced additional charge - I thought that when I buy something, it is the sellers duty to indicate what I have bought... Imagine buying stuff at a retailer and them charging you for your till slip...

 

[Notgood]

Clint, reading your rant I see my 9 year old son in front of me performing his tantrum trick because he cant get a sweetie.
Sorry, maybe u are 9 years old.

 

[MKFrost]

Contracts in my opinion are a ripoff. Port to Cell C. I'm with them on prepaid, the 99c thing and have CLI included at no additional charge.....

 

[MKFrost]

Because prepaid users have crappy cheap phones....

Not always true. 5 Prepaids in my household. 2 x iPhone 4s, 3GS, HTC Desire HD and an older Nokia 7160 or something which is the backup phone. All bought cash as it works out far cheaper in the long run.

Also the statement made by others that prepaid users spend less is also not quite true. I know yes, in general that is the case but it is not necessarily the norm. We spend on average just over R4,000 per month these 5 prepaids, EXCLUDING DATA which is bought in the large bundle specials as they come up.

 

[SAdata]

Not always true. 5 Prepaids in my household. 2 x iPhone 4s, 3GS, HTC Desire HD and an older Nokia 7160 or something which is the backup phone. All bought cash as it works out far cheaper in the long run.

Also the statement made by others that prepaid users spend less is also not quite true. I know yes, in general that is the case but it is not necessarily the norm. We spend on average just over R4,000 per month these 5 prepaids, EXCLUDING DATA which is bought in the large bundle specials as they come up.

Prepaid works out far more expensive if you look at it over 2 year periods (the normal contract term). Assuming you are using MTN (which is not the cheapest option there is) On prepaid for a Samsung GS3 you are paying almost R7000 for the phone + lets say you need R100 airtime, 25sms and 150mb data a month. Just that "fluff" would cost you at least R160 a month if you structure it - R100 airtime, 30 sms bundle @ R10 and a 300mb bundle split over 2 months at R99/2 months = R50. Over 2 years that works out to a total of R7000 for the phone and R3840 for the network services - R10840 in total. On contract you can get the exact same for R329 a month all inclusive which works out to R7896. So its R2944 cheaper to go contract. If you factor in the effect of the time value of money this would be even more... I haven't worked out the figures for CellC (which I agree is much cheaper than MTN) but it would probably still work out. Plus I have a feeling that you have at least one MTN or Voda prepaid sim in any case

Yes if you look at it over a 3 or 4 year period it might work out cheaper in nominal amounts than a contract for the same amount of time. But then on the contract you are getting a new phone after 2 years. Plus by the type of phones you have it seems like you stay fairly up to date with phones so I would think that you will buy a new one within the next 2 years.

So all in all what I'm saying is you are deluding yourself if you think prepaid is cheaper than contract. Yes its less hassle and gives you more freedom, but it is not cheaper. Having a 2 year contract and then going onto prepaid afterwards and keeping the phone on your contract is the most efficient way to go...

 

[Velenoso]

Also the statement made by others that prepaid users spend less is also not quite true. I know yes, in general that is the case but it is not necessarily the norm. We spend on average just over R4,000 per month these 5 prepaids, EXCLUDING DATA which is bought in the large bundle specials as they come up.

Smoking a bit o crack over the holidays there mate?

 

[genetic]

Also the statement made by others that prepaid users spend less is also not quite true. I know yes, in general that is the case but it is not necessarily the norm. We spend on average just over R4,000 per month these 5 prepaids, EXCLUDING DATA which is bought in the large bundle specials as they come up.

:erm:

You're shafting yourself if you spending THAT much on prepaid. Contracts can save you a lot of money on calls.