Nashua Mobile/MTN Data Over Charging

[riyaadm]

We have had an on-going billing dispute with Nashua Mobile for the past 2 years. We have an MTN number via Nashua Mobile.

I was roaming in the UAE and used data on my Nokia N82 device. Upon returning we received an itimised bill from Nashua Mobile for around R4,000, two weeks later we received an updated bill for around R69,000 - with one new line item. No explanation has been given as to the two separate bills.

The one line item was a data charge for 441MB of data downloaded in one session.

After looking into the bill, we noticed that there were some serious technical issues with the session. We were able to confirm with MTN and the foreign network that I was on a GPRS connection, which is 48kbps. According to the itimised bill, the session lasted for 6 hours. After consulting with various people in the mobile industry, we confirmed that it is technically impossible to download 441MB of data, in 6 hours on a GPRS network. I have sent numerous emails to Nashua asking them to answer the question, "Is it or Is not possible to download 441MB of data on a GPRS network in 6 hours?" - a question which has never been answered. Instead, we get told to speak to their lawyers.

We presented a very detailed report, compiled by a leading mobile data fraud analyst, to Nashua and MTN and have yet to receive any detailed response to the report. Instead, Nashua have insisted to go the legal way and attempt to force us into paying the bill. The report was sent to them 2 years ago and again on numerous occasions asking for a response, nothing has been received to date.

I'm fortunate enough to work in the mobile industry and have been able to pick up the errors in the bill (not fortunate in the way it was dealt with), it should be a concern in South Africa as to how many other people have been forced to pay for events like this, because they do not know the technical issues or have the resources to have legal representation.

Has anyone else had similar problems? How should we deal with this?

Can you folks also help confirm that if it is technically possible to download 441MB of data, in 6hours on a 49kbps GPRS line (using a Nokia N82).

Thanks,
R.

 

[ajax]

Ok, 441 MByte in 6 hours you say:
kiloByte_total = 441x1024 = 451584 kB
kilobit_total = kiloByte_total x 8 = 3612672 kb
kiltobit_total_persec = kilobit_total/(6*60*60) = 167 kilobit/sec

167 kilobit/sec is possible only on an EDGE network. According to gsmarena the N8 can do GPRS only up to 107 kilobit/sec. On EDGE it can do up to 296 kilobit/sec. But then only if the tower is enabled for this. So the downloaded amount IMHO is possible but only on an EDGE tower.
So either there is a discrepancy or the tower was actually an EDGE tower.

 

[riyaadm]

the foreign network confirmed that it was a GPRS tower, with a max speed of 48kbps.

I looked at other sessions in the same bill, the average speed I was getting from the same location was around 2kbps for all other downloads.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

In a laboratory it might be possible, but in the Real World™ you won't get high, sustained transfers.

 

[riyaadm]

so how would I go about addressing this with my SP? any advise welcome. they're refuse to respond to any technical reports and have taken legal action already.... they're ignoring all the facts before them.

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

Then you go to court, with your argument, and all supporting documents ... , , not a pleasant prospect, but then they have to prove their case, or you pay up and smile "broadly" - seems the only options you have left ...