Prevent cellular bill shock

jes

jes

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Prevent cellular bill shock

Have you ever lost track of your data, voice, or SMS usage and been nailed with an astronomical cellphone bill? SA’s mobile networks answer questions on their ability to prevent bill shock
 
I have one very simple way to prevent bill shock....I have a prepaid sim card. I don't understand why people still have contracts.
 
The only or rather main problem with Vodacom, is that reports aren't available in realtime, but are delayed by at least 3 hours. Do you know how many rands can be burned on a fast connection in 3 hours...quite a lot at R2/meg.

Also, their SMS notifications are useless, I receive mine days or even weeks after the balance has been reached. Other times, I receive a certain percentage usage notification when I haven't even come close to that value...further, it is really awesome when I receive my notification sms at 3 in the morning, just as my REM fase peaks...so if you ask me they might as well just deactivate it.
 
Bill shock is the reason I am on pre-paid now for the last 5 years.

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
 
I like Virgin's way of doing it. MTN just looks pathetic.

deweyzeph said:
I have one very simple way to prevent bill shock....I have a prepaid sim card. I don't understand why people still have contracts.
Click to expand...

Convenience. Also much easier to get a high end cellphone.
 
Qwikslver said:
I like Virgin's way of doing it. MTN just looks pathetic.



Convenience. Also much easier to get a high end cellphone.
Click to expand...

Convenience? Prepaid is much more convenient than contract. Also, if the only way you can afford a high-end phone is by getting it on a contract, then you shouldn't be getting a high-end phone. Either buy it cash, or don't buy it at all.
 
deweyzeph said:
Convenience? Prepaid is much more convenient than contract. Also, if the only way you can afford a high-end phone is by getting it on a contract, then you shouldn't be getting a high-end phone. Either buy it cash, or don't buy it at all.
Click to expand...

With contract I get one debit order every month. Gets done automatically. I never have to worry or even think about it. I use the phone as I need it.

With pre-paid I have to constantly check my balance and try plan ahead what my usage will be so that I don't run out when I need the phone. It's a hassle I'd rather not have. It's one of the reasons I'm on uncapped.
 
I was overcharged R1300 by MTN over two months, when they forgot to allocate my data bundle to my contract and charged me incorrect rates on my SMSs. Fortunately they reversed it after a lot of shouting.
 
Qwikslver said:
With contract I get one debit order every month. Gets done automatically. I never have to worry or even think about it. I use the phone as I need it.

With pre-paid I have to constantly check my balance and try plan ahead what my usage will be so that I don't run out when I need the phone. It's a hassle I'd rather not have. It's one of the reasons I'm on uncapped.
Click to expand...

I just set up a scheduled stop order with my FNB account that automatically tops up my prepaid account every month. Not sure if you can do that with other banks but with FNB you can.
 
3G watchdog. Works like a charm. Doesn't stop me from getting a huge bill, but at least I know that I'm gonna get a huge bill.....
 
nelwa said:
The only or rather main problem with Vodacom, is that reports aren't available in realtime, but are delayed by at least 3 hours. Do you know how many rands can be burned on a fast connection in 3 hours...quite a lot at R2/meg.

Also, their SMS notifications are useless, I receive mine days or even weeks after the balance has been reached. Other times, I receive a certain percentage usage notification when I haven't even come close to that value...further, it is really awesome when I receive my notification sms at 3 in the morning, just as my REM fase peaks...so if you ask me they might as well just deactivate it.
Click to expand...

So many inaccuracies (and wrong assumptions) in this, I'll try and respond to them one by one later.
 
One of the biggest issues we have with peeps running over is that they use data SIMs in devices such as tablets and routers and do not get the notification SMS's.

We built an ALTNUM function years ago (this forum actually asked for it originally) but many seem to have forgotton about it.

So please update your data SIM settings with the ALTNUM details. Last time I look, we had a few 100K of subs not using the feature. Will help you manage your account much better and prevent bill-shock.
 
jannievanzyl said:
One of the biggest issues we have with peeps running over is that they use data SIMs in devices such as tablets and routers and do not get the notification SMS's.

We built an ALTNUM function years ago (this forum actually asked for it originally) but many seem to have forgotton about it.

So please update your data SIM settings with the ALTNUM details. Last time I look, we had a few 100K of subs not using the feature. Will help you manage your account much better and prevent bill-shock.
Click to expand...

How do I check how many MBs I have used on my (non-data) contract?
 
jannievanzyl said:
One of the biggest issues we have with peeps running over is that they use data SIMs in devices such as tablets and routers and do not get the notification SMS's.

We built an ALTNUM function years ago (this forum actually asked for it originally) but many seem to have forgotton about it.

So please update your data SIM settings with the ALTNUM details. Last time I look, we had a few 100K of subs not using the feature. Will help you manage your account much better and prevent bill-shock.
Click to expand...

Why don't you just allow people to set a limit and then cut them off when they reach that limit?
 
deweyzeph said:
Why don't you just allow people to set a limit and then cut them off when they reach that limit?
Click to expand...

Been there for years. CLL (Call Limit Lock) works on both data and voice.

Furthermore, Vodacom specifically built the Top-Up data contracts for people who want the advantages of contract without the possibility of bill shock. Again, this has been available for years.

ALTNUM is not just for when you go over, but for any notification. Everyone who does not use data on their primary voice contract should configure it. Unless you have the need to complain about triggering a threshold in the middle of the night. (And your phone does not have a silent mode setting. ;))
 
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jannievanzyl said:
One of the biggest issues we have with peeps running over is that they use data SIMs in devices such as tablets and routers and do not get the notification SMS's.

We built an ALTNUM function years ago (this forum actually asked for it originally) but many seem to have forgotton about it.

So please update your data SIM settings with the ALTNUM details. Last time I look, we had a few 100K of subs not using the feature. Will help you manage your account much better and prevent bill-shock.
Click to expand...

It has now also been made mandatory for us to input a ALTNUM when activating a 3G contract on Fastrak Jannie. I think this is a good thing.
 
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