Is MTN over-billing?

Ok, I HAVE AN ANSWER.

I just called MTN and they have passed a credit for the over charged amount. Only took them a month to deal with the problem.

So, the answer is, yes, MTN have been over charging customers in this way. Marco just posted a message in the MTN group indicating the same problem.

Everyone, I would advise you to check your MTN bill, or more specifically, the last transaction that takes you over your bundle limit. It is likely that you have been billed for the entire transaction at out of bundle rates.
 
Skeptik said:
That doesn't make sense. I think I see what you mean, but when I try and come up with an example it also doesn't make sense.:o
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How about this. Lets say I have a limit of 1GB on my bundle and my out of bundle rate is R2 per meg over:

Usage day 1: 100Meg
Usage day 2: 1GB

Total over limit = 100 Meg (1GB + 100Meg - 1GB in bundle)

Correct amount to be billed: 100Meg * R2 = R200

MTN's version: 1GB * R2 = R2000

MTN are charging for the last transaction that takes you over the limit and not for the amount you actually used over your limit.
 
That SUCKS.... big mistake... why is this not a mybroadband news article???
Do MTN pay too much in advertising?
 
Bradbowlllama said:
:p my bad... I guess the question is then... why isn't there a follow-up story and an MTN interview
- thanks for pointing this out xrapidx
Sorry RPM - my bad! :o
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It does not look like MTN have responded to RPM's requests for more information. I have had no contact (despite posts here, PM's to MTN_Data_Dude and lots of calls to the call centre) and the only way I got any joy was chasing the MTN help desk every couple of days. The fact that they gave me a credit (yesterday), confirms that it is in fact a problem. I get the feeling that they think that hiding their heads in the ground will make it go away.
 
Abe, I would guess MTN had first to calculate how big the problem is in terms of potential refunds b4 they responded to your request. It could easily cost them a few million in refunds if it is a widespread problem. At the same time, they needed to fix it immediately - would have appeared stupid if the same problem came up again next month. As the Russian president in Sum Of All Fears puts it: its better to appear guilty than incompetent.

However, why not hold them accountable for interest and other expenses incurred by you to recover the monies? They do the same with monies owed to them. Or is your contract's fine print excluding this option?
 
Oupoot said:
Abe, I would guess MTN had first to calculate how big the problem is in terms of potential refunds b4 they responded to your request.
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It took 4 weeks before billing even looked at the problem and about 2 days for them to issue the refund. My guess is that they know about it and only sort out the people who log a problem.

It could easily cost them a few million in refunds if it is a widespread problem. At the same time, they needed to fix it immediately - would have appeared stupid if the same problem came up again next month. As the Russian president in Sum Of All Fears puts it: its better to appear guilty than incompetent.
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Someone else just reported the same problem in the MTN group so I am sure it's not yet fixed. I think they are waiting for their new billing system and just hope it goes away. It's a pity we don't have class action lawsuits here. The companies would certainly react differently if there was.

However, why not hold them accountable for interest and other expenses incurred by you to recover the monies? They do the same with monies owed to them. Or is your contract's fine print excluding this option?
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I am sure the contracts prohibit it but it's not worth the fight as they only overcharged by about R350. Other people are probably more badly effected and don't even know it. I am looking at using it as a way to cancel the contract but I am sure they have clauses preventing that as well. On 702 they had a lawyer speaking about the cell phone contracts and how most would get thrown out by courts because they are too one sided.

What really bothers me is that I have no problems with Virgin Mobile for calls and only got the MTN one for the internet access as we need a backup for our ADSL because of Telkom's incompetence. It feels like each provider has problems. Cell C has no 3G, Telkom's service is rubbish and unreliable, VC is overloaded and we kept getting disconnected, iBurst does not have good coverage in our area and MTN's billing is a shambles. Next stop, Neotel.
 
What about your previous bills Abe? And the thousands they send out every month... I'd love to know how much money this has made for MTN - their illegal billing under false pretenses.... how long has this been the case I wonder...
Sure it may have been an innocent human error, but watching this space to see them issue a public apology let alone a refund will be futile IMO... surely it's millions.
 
Bradbowlllama said:
What about your previous bills Abe?
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For me, I activated the bundle for 1 month (ADSL down), did not go over that month and then called 1 day too late to stop the bundle for the next month. So thought bugger that and used it at the end of the second month to download patches and updates for our components rather then throw away the R400 odd rand that we were forced into keeping for another month. It occurred on this second month. We only use it when we have problems with our ADSL so it's not kept on and has not effected us before.

And the thousands they send out every month... I'd love to know how much money this has made for MTN - their illegal billing under false pretenses.... how long has this been the case I wonder...
Sure it may have been an innocent human error, but watching this space to see them issue a public apology let alone a refund will be futile IMO... surely it's millions.
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My guess is that they are making a tidy packet from it. Most people will use a fair chunk in a session and if you assume that the average session is 50Meg then they could be billing quite a bit extra every month without people picking up on it. I picked it up because we did not use any data after that last session and I compared the total usage against the available usage. If my last session had been smaller then I would probably not have picked it up. People are sheep and will just pay the bottom line.
 
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Abe said:
My guess is that they are making a tidy packet from it. Most people will use a fair chunk in a session and if you assume that the average session is 50Meg then they could be billing quite a bit extra every month without people picking up on it. I picked it up because we did not use any data after that last session and I compared the total usage against the available usage. If my last session had been smaller then I would probably not have picked it up. People are sheep and will just pay the bottom line.
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I agree - that's when most people go ape - at the end of the month. I also agree with the last comment... it's about how much your time is worth. Problem is that MTN are getting away with it and getting very rich on it...
 
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