Huge R60 K bill while roaming on MTN

D

dd1313

Expert Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2005
Messages
1,552
Reaction score
0
Hi GUys

A friend of mine got a huge R60K bill while he was roaming on MTN in Israel.
Hoe can he take this up cause he says he only did emails and occasional
skype

Thanks
DD
 
"only did emails and occasional skype" also count as bandwidth usage. Sorry, can't help you there.

By now people should be aware of the dangers of roaming - and they should rather be using prepaid SIM's from the country they're in, instead of their own contract SIM's.
 
In general you get torn a new one when using data while roaming.

from mtn website

Cautionary Advice:
Please note that while MTN SA has multiple data roaming agreements with foreign 3rd party network operators, the costs associated with using data services while roaming are currently much higher than local rates. Also note that any inclusive data or value bundles do not apply to usage outside of South Africa.
MTN understands that data roaming can be costly, and is therefore in the process of negotiating better rates with various operators. Connectivity rates those 3rd party operators charges are still high and form a significant portion of our cost structure. We are now in the final stages of negotiations and will be launching a simpler data roaming pricing model shortly. If you intend roaming in the meanwhile, your service provider will be able to advise you if there is data coverage and provide you with data rates for the particular country you are visiting.
If you have a smart-phone (or any other device which uses data) and do not intend using data while roaming, please ensure that you disable all data related activity. For example, stop your device from receiving email. For further details, please refer to your phone manual or alternately contact your service provider
Click to expand...
 
Alternatively, to be 100% sure you will not be using any data whilst roaming, purchase a cheap Nokia 1200 and use that instead.
 
The_Librarian said:
Alternatively, to be 100% sure you will not be using any data whilst roaming, purchase a cheap Nokia 1200 and use that instead.
Click to expand...

Lol Ill just go without a phone. Roaming charges, a good excuse to get some peace and quiet.
 
In a moral country or a moral business this type of corporate theft would be outlawed.

Its not hard for MTN to block roaming by default then only to enable it on request once the customer is fully aware of all costs.
 
w1z4rd said:
In a moral country or a moral business this type of corporate theft would be outlawed.

Its not hard for MTN to block roaming by default then only to enable it on request once the customer is fully aware of all costs.
Click to expand...

They actually do that (although they don't make you aware of the costs when you ask for it to be turned on) . I always had to ask them to turn roaming on. Hell Vodacom even said they won't turn on roaming if your contract is less than 6 (or 3) months old....
 
diabolus said:
They actually do that. I always had to ask them to turn roaming on. Hell Vodacom even said they won't turn on roaming if your contract is less than 6 (or 3) months old....
Click to expand...

Okay, I cant speak for MTN, dont use them, but with my vodacom sim, it worked fine no matter where I went, and not once did I request the roaming feature. Luckily I understood the consequences so my bill was only around R1000.
 
The problem is if you want voice roaming, you will automatically roam for data as well if you were already provisioned for data in SA.
 
Skype is a very dangerous tool, if i log in after being offline for 2 days its about 8megs of traffic, just to sign in, now R140 a meg! * 8 = R1120 in a few minutes. Then Skype can also act as a super node, so Bob in Japan could send Jane in America a 2MB photo of his willy and you are out R300 odd.

Hope your friend has a big tube of Vaseline handy, because MTN are going to bend him and *******.. The Cell Networks are friendly like that
 
Good luck to your friend.
Surely the networks should put in place a sms notification check if data is being used while roaming.

If ((Roaming(MSISDN)) && (DataCosts(MSISDN) > 1000))
{
sendsmswarningnotification(MSISDN);
}
else
{
carry_on_milking(MSISDN);
}
 
My advice from personal experience is to purchase a prepaid sim from the country you are in. I then keep my SA sim with roaming activated in case of an emergency. I was once stranded at Luanda airport and 20 mins of calls to SA to sort out flights cost me around R500 (Thanks for the overbooking SAA).
 
Jase said:
My advice from personal experience is to purchase a prepaid sim from the country you are in. I then keep my SA sim with roaming activated in case of an emergency.
Click to expand...

Just wish prepaid sims in some countries were as cheap as here in SA. In France had to pay 40 Euro's for a prepaid sim.
 
Strange I paid €19.99 in France for sim and free minutes (can't remember how many think 60)
 
The_Librarian said:
"only did emails and occasional skype" also count as bandwidth usage. Sorry, can't help you there.

By now people should be aware of the dangers of roaming - and they should rather be using prepaid SIM's from the country they're in, instead of their own contract SIM's.
Click to expand...

data is very expensive on roaming you look at R126 per mb in some countries
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X