Massive Vodacom data bills

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gizmoza

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Hi All,

I would like to find out a couple things regarding the billing system that vodacom utilizes for their data. My mom has a MyMEG 600 contract with vodacom and the last 3 months she has received bills exceeding R5000 per month. This months is R2800. We have been in contact with vodacom and they send me this:

dialling_number call_date time_of_call call_duration number_dialled call_charge apn unique_id down_bytes up_bytes total_bytes long_description
798814711000 2010/07/30 23:58:56 0 (null) 4.33 internet 5388715_655.01.196.46.161.140 3310599 999866 4310465 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/07/31 23:42:38 0 (null) 1572.31 internet 459323709_655.01.196.46.161.141 2064756734 128665975 2193422709 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/03 15:39:53 0 (null) 28.47 internet 599486639_655.01.196.46.161.141 22446535 5812485 28259020 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/04 17:33:57 0 (null) 103.42 internet 89890765_655.01.196.46.161.140 94262455 8610120 102872575 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/05 16:26:26 0 (null) 48.46 internet 99231502_655.01.196.46.161.140 44028550 4163977 48192527 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/06 10:56:29 0 (null) 132.98 internet 258714272_655.01.196.46.161.140 122960173 9379985 132340158 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/07 13:46:30 0 (null) 412.63 internet 230455811_655.01.196.46.161.140 395342412 15194172 410536584 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/08 15:18:15 0 (null) 4.03 internet 207490696_655.01.196.46.161.141 3655234 355712 4010946 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/08 15:35:02 0 (null) 135.83 internet 230539124_655.01.196.46.161.140 121926159 13211426 135137585 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/10 23:58:58 0 (null) 201.13 internet 90326402_655.01.196.46.161.140 176892720 23189577 200082297 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/14 08:43:17 0 (null) 202.97 internet 581145183_655.01.196.46.161.141 196179113 5784400 201963513 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/14 19:29:32 0 (null) 1013.51 internet 399224216_655.01.196.46.161.140 823943501 184410628 1008354129 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/21 08:23:30 0 (null) 146.53 internet 261450434_655.01.196.46.161.140 136689162 9078707 145767869 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/24 08:59:04 0 (null) 608.41 internet 550887578_655.01.196.46.161.141 547473707 57920871 605394578 Data Usage

The bold and underlined session for example was over R1500 alone. I have requested Vodacom to give me a complete breakdown of the websites or even IP's accessed (can perform DNS lookups) but Vodacom state they have no systems in place to provide me with such information, which I find really hard to believe...

The times when the big transactions go through are always around midnight, but the data card is not connected at this time. Can anyone help me with regards to getting more information on the ip's accessed when the large amounts were transferred. I agree, windows and av updates can cause a lot of data, especially when they fail, and the times also points out that it is something that is automated, but if the 3G card was not even in the machine (hard to prove to vodacom) then I dont understand what is going on here.

Any ideas?
 
It might not sort out your bill, but change the contract to a Top Up asap.
 
It can be yes. But if u are a light user then I should not be a problem. The problem comes in with heavy downloaders where the downloads happen in quick sucesion and not giving the postpaid billing system to update quickly enough to send out the warning sms to either ure data sim being used in the modem or the nominated alt number.
 
ocleroux said:
It can be yes. But if u are a light user then I should not be a problem. The problem comes in with heavy downloaders where the downloads happen in quick sucesion and not giving the postpaid billing system to update quickly enough to send out the warning sms to either ure data sim being used in the modem or the nominated alt number.
Click to expand...

Or a virus or windows update or or or, too may ors for me.
 
From someone on the inside, this is both true and not true.

The information regarding all sessions DOES exist, but it is currently not possible to make use of it. This is due to the sheer volume of transactions that take place.
 
Could be someone has made a "copy" of your mothers sim card and is using it for there own use too... Suggest you get a new sim card and make 100% sure that they have no issued out a dual sim on ur account.
 
I got caught by vodacom and their iffy postpaid billing system a couple of years ago. Vodacom3g / Jannie sorted it out for me then. I was lucky - just a hundred or so rands. As AntonF says, never, never again.

Like the OP, the data erroneously billed was at times when the modem and pc were both off. Hard to prove, as he states, but I knew it to be so. My conclusion from the whole episode? Vodacom don't care. Seems they are still having problems. As I said then, if it were the prepaid billing systems which were misbehaving, they'd have been fixed within the hour.

Gizmoza, get your mother off contract and onto prepaid ASAP.
 
Last edited:
Freaksta said:
Could be someone has made a "copy" of your mothers sim card and is using it for there own use too... Suggest you get a new sim card and make 100% sure that they have no issued out a dual sim on ur account.
Click to expand...

Might also be worth checking if a DataSIM has not appeared on your contract. There was a post a while back of people getting huge bills and then discovering a DataSIM had been activated on their contract fraudulently.
 
Turn off all automatic updates, except anti-virus database updates. Anti-virus software updates can be hefty too. In addition, use software that blocks other software to access the internet. Adobe updates can also chow data.
 
thesadguy said:
From someone on the inside, this is both true and not true.

The information regarding all sessions DOES exist, but it is currently not possible to make use of it. This is due to the sheer volume of transactions that take place.
Click to expand...

As well as the Legalities surrounding offering the information. Even if the systems are in place Vodacom will not be able to issue clients with this info on hard copy.
 
gizmoza said:
Hi All,

I would like to find out a couple things regarding the billing system that vodacom utilizes for their data. My mom has a MyMEG 600 contract with vodacom and the last 3 months she has received bills exceeding R5000 per month. This months is R2800. We have been in contact with vodacom and they send me this:

dialling_number call_date time_of_call call_duration number_dialled call_charge apn unique_id down_bytes up_bytes total_bytes long_description
798814711000 2010/07/30 23:58:56 0 (null) 4.33 internet 5388715_655.01.196.46.161.140 3310599 999866 4310465 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/07/31 23:42:38 0 (null) 1572.31 internet 459323709_655.01.196.46.161.141 2064756734 128665975 2193422709 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/03 15:39:53 0 (null) 28.47 internet 599486639_655.01.196.46.161.141 22446535 5812485 28259020 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/04 17:33:57 0 (null) 103.42 internet 89890765_655.01.196.46.161.140 94262455 8610120 102872575 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/05 16:26:26 0 (null) 48.46 internet 99231502_655.01.196.46.161.140 44028550 4163977 48192527 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/06 10:56:29 0 (null) 132.98 internet 258714272_655.01.196.46.161.140 122960173 9379985 132340158 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/07 13:46:30 0 (null) 412.63 internet 230455811_655.01.196.46.161.140 395342412 15194172 410536584 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/08 15:18:15 0 (null) 4.03 internet 207490696_655.01.196.46.161.141 3655234 355712 4010946 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/08 15:35:02 0 (null) 135.83 internet 230539124_655.01.196.46.161.140 121926159 13211426 135137585 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/10 23:58:58 0 (null) 201.13 internet 90326402_655.01.196.46.161.140 176892720 23189577 200082297 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/14 08:43:17 0 (null) 202.97 internet 581145183_655.01.196.46.161.141 196179113 5784400 201963513 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/14 19:29:32 0 (null) 1013.51 internet 399224216_655.01.196.46.161.140 823943501 184410628 1008354129 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/21 08:23:30 0 (null) 146.53 internet 261450434_655.01.196.46.161.140 136689162 9078707 145767869 Data Usage
798814711000 2010/08/24 08:59:04 0 (null) 608.41 internet 550887578_655.01.196.46.161.141 547473707 57920871 605394578 Data Usage

The bold and underlined session for example was over R1500 alone. I have requested Vodacom to give me a complete breakdown of the websites or even IP's accessed (can perform DNS lookups) but Vodacom state they have no systems in place to provide me with such information, which I find really hard to believe...

The times when the big transactions go through are always around midnight, but the data card is not connected at this time. Can anyone help me with regards to getting more information on the ip's accessed when the large amounts were transferred. I agree, windows and av updates can cause a lot of data, especially when they fail, and the times also points out that it is something that is automated, but if the 3G card was not even in the machine (hard to prove to vodacom) then I dont understand what is going on here.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Hi Gizmoza

I have checked the connection you referring to and it reflects that you were connected from the 1st to 3rd without disconnecting.

Access to internet sites would be questionable in this instance as you would not have been infront of your pc for 3 days browsing. It is possible for your pc to be connected and have applications running in the back ground using data with out your knowledge
 
VodacomData said:
As well as the Legalities surrounding offering the information. Even if the systems are in place Vodacom will not be able to issue clients with this info on hard copy.
Click to expand...

Why not? If its the clients data - isn't it the same as providing them with an itemised billing listing the numbers they called?
 
Last edited:
@VodacomData. Again this thread and the many other before it clearly shows the need for Vodacom to do something about the lack of real-time billing and hard caps on contract. If you had the systems in place (as you should have) then there wouldn't be a need for this thread and your customer would not be in the pain they are now.

It really is shameful state of affairs.
 
VodacomData said:
Hi Gizmoza

I have checked the connection you referring to and it reflects that you were connected from the 1st to 3rd without disconnecting.

Access to internet sites would be questionable in this instance as you would not have been infront of your pc for 3 days browsing. It is possible for your pc to be connected and have applications running in the back ground using data with out your knowledge
Click to expand...

Standard reply from vodacom. Still trying to blame the customer. Gizmoza, don't accept this. It's their first salvo in their attack on your complaint. Resist.

The whole point here is that the billing system has gone awry, but vodacom then use the evidence of that billing system to justify your alleged usage... :wtf:
 
Last edited:
I'm a lil :confused: until about a year ago i HAD a 3g data contract. Then moved to prepaid.

While on contract: the Dec in the middle of the 2 years. :eek: got a R3k+ bill & was not even near the pc or device for 2weeks as all was here & i was away. Got the bill :eek:.

Made arrangement to pay over 2 months. Also got a cap put on. Cant remember amounts but woulda been something like : Contract R250, requested cap R300. It never quite cut off correctly on the cap but never went over by more that 20 something R. It did mean that i sometimes had no net for a few days. I was ok with that in an effort to not get such ''nice'' surprises.

From what's being said here this cap is not or can't be done anymore. Why not?
 
Venomous said:
got a R3k+ bill & was not even near the pc or device for 2weeks as all was here & i was away. Got the bill :eek:.
Click to expand...

This seems to be the pattern. Then vodacom insist it's your fault.
 
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