Massive mobile broadband bill?

is there any benefit to a mobile data contract.
prepaid & contract cost the same & there are no suprises with prepaid. plus if you need an itemised bill vodacom does provide it at an extra charge iirc. don't know about mtn prepaid statements.
 
larrychang said:
is there any benefit to a mobile data contract.
prepaid & contract cost the same & there are no suprises with prepaid. plus if you need an itemised bill vodacom does provide it at an extra charge iirc. don't know about mtn prepaid statements.
Click to expand...

People on contract get "free" phones. So, you get a new iPhone or HTC and then that device runs up R5000 in data usage - and there is zilch you can do.
 
If he was roaming than that bill will make sense.
But I think he has a virus on his Laptop/PC.
 
Some facts!

When we analyzed this usage we found numerous attempts to download MS updates as well as virus definitions for their anti-virus app.

We have credited the disputed amount on the data usage bill even though we believe that most of this usage was probably valid. This has been done as a show of good faith and indicates MTN's level of customer service.

We are busy implementing a process to flag "unusual" usage as quickly as possible to warn customers when something like this happens.

It must also be stated that this level of usage is actually quite easy given current network capability.
 
I have a friend with lupus who was hit R5000 bill one month, his normal phone bill is R400. After fighting with MTN and going to their office in Sandton, his phone was cut off, and MTN's attitude was pay up or we blacklist you. Nice huh?
 
Its very easy to pick up if there is a virus, the data usage increment are similar.
 
Alchemist said:
I have a friend with lupus who was hit R5000 bill one month, his normal phone bill is R400. After fighting with MTN and going to their office in Sandton, his phone was cut off, and MTN's attitude was pay up or we blacklist you. Nice huh?
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You know why this happened.
It's because your friend didn't take it further... get people from News24 to hear his story, maybe even goto the papers.
As soon as you start trashing a companies name for 'threatening' publically, they decide to be nice.

I remember when I was going crazy and downloading like a freak on Telkom (I even had a thread about it)

Telkom noticed and PHONED ME when I went over my normal amount and told me... MTN and others WAIT till your bill is has HIGH as possible (so to make money) before they say anything.

Call Centres... ag plz... cheap stupid labour if you ask me!
 
MTN_Data_Dude said:
Some facts!
We are busy implementing a process to flag "unusual" usage as quickly as possible to warn customers when something like this happens.
It must also be stated that this level of usage is actually quite easy given current network capability.
Click to expand...

thats definately good news... but IMO it should be a total disconnect (of course with the option to reconnect immediately with USSD/sms request - to cut out help desk).
Sometimes a flag would come too late, as u say, with the speeds some guys are able to achieve, even an hour delay can be a big cost.
Unless the flag can be customised (that would be great service) to custom value, custom action, as per customer choice.
Some of us have several data modems for office use, and the guys who use it, don't care about the account, so I'd like to get them disconnected, before doing more damage, so I can contact them and explain.

But a flag will definately help a LOT! Anything to prevent nasty bills!
 
prepaid is the way to go. The network operators know there is no way charge you more than the bundle amount and thus ensures the metering is up to scratch. I'll never go back to contract based internet for my day to day needs.
 
Can't be just updates no way! 20Gigs is 5 times the complete install disc of the operating system. And anti virus.... you must be joking. Naw ill keep my 64kbps trottled iBurst acc thank you.
 
MTN_Data_Dude said:
We have credited the disputed amount on the data usage bill even though we believe that most of this usage was probably valid. This has been done as a show of good faith and indicates MTN's level of customer service.
Click to expand...

How about showing your good faith and your level of customer service by slashing those near-criminal out-of-bundle data charges.

Do that and this kind of thing wont happen.
 
MTN Billing is up there with Iburst. I ported my last account to Vodacom in October, yet I got billed for November and December. All relevent documents were completed timeously so no reason for this.
Anyway now nearing end of Feb and still no refund despite promises. I wont let the @k slide though as the A..holes would have referred me to legal if I owed the for 4 months. i gave them till end of month before I issue summons
 
Vodacom SP offers a call limit option to contract subscribers where you can advise VSP the amount that you will allow. So, lets say you are on a MyMeg 500 contract, you can stipulate that after the 500 Meg is finishedf, you will allow a further R200.00 to be charged and then the line must be locked untill the 1st of the next month when the line will again be opened up automatically. You can go to your nearest Vodashop or Vodacom dealer and request the Call Limit form. Be sure to follow up to make sure that it has indeed been activated. You can also contact 0821082 to request the service. Vodacom however does stipulate that should the call limit for any reason not be enforced, you are still liable for the amount charged. I do think this is a very good option though to safe guard against any extravagant billing.
 
Mrs Dragon was on MTN prepaid - every so often her balance went down, she got sick of calling the support centre, and also a visit to their shop proved useless - so she ported to Virgin and never had a problem - she said she was sick of being told it was not MTNs fault, when it clearly was
 
ocleroux said:
Vodacom SP offers a call limit option to contract subscribers where you can advise VSP the amount that you will allow.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the VodacomSP guy did mention that, on 500Mb contracts and up.
But still, if they don't take responsibility IF the limit is not enforced, that doesn't help much. Nice loophole :D
 
Well, VSP of course will make a best effort attempt to enforce this call limit. It is automatically done on the billing system and 3 warnings are sent out via sms to inform you how much of your limit have been reached. I think it is done on 50% 70% and then last one is 90%. With data there can be a slight delay in the billing and therefore there might a a over run in the call limit before the system can lock it, but this is a very good way of keeping your billing in check. I used to have a call limit on one of my lines and the limit was enforced every single time. From a user's point of view, I would advise people who are concerned with massive data bills to take this option. It will cost you nothing extra for a little bit of extra peace of mind.
 
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