Who actually uses Global Roaming Data

[ajca]

Interesting my client went on a cruise for a month last year didn't have global roaming/data services switched off and came back to a Telstra bill of around $6000. The employees at the Telstra store had made no mention of switching off data services/roaming when they visited the store just before their trip.

It took 3 weeks but they received a full refund so strange that the France trip is still in dispute for your friends. Just shows YMMV!

When it comes to getting a massive Telstra global roaming bill reduced, YMMV certainly does apply.

This year I got back with a $900 bill. I somehow talked them into giving me a $900 credit. So not only did I get the roaming charges for free, but I got a refund for the normal phone part of my bill!

But the guys who ran up the $1000s and $10,000s bills had (I believe) previously used the "I had no idea" excuse. So Telstra's patience was wearing thin...

 

[Inver]

This year I got back with a $900 bill. I somehow talked them into giving me a $900 credit. So not only did I get the roaming charges for free, but I got a refund for the normal phone part of my bill!...

Nicely done! Glad to see that Telstra has some flexibility and compassion.

But the guys who ran up the $1000s and $10,000s bills had (I believe) previously used the "I had no idea" excuse. So Telstra's patience was wearing thin...

In that case I have no sympathy for them. If you have faced an issue with such a large bill previously there is no way you're going to forget about it and fall into the same trap again.

 

[ajca]

Nicely done! Glad to see that Telstra has some flexibility and compassion.

I'm not sure it was compassion - I'm sure it was an accident so more just standard Telstra incompetence. But appreciated nonetheless!

In that case I have no sympathy for them. If you have faced an issue with such a large bill previously there is no way you're going to forget about it and fall into the same trap again.

They are very senior execs whose bills (no matter how extraordinary) are paid by the company. And they have EAs to sort out this kind of thing. I'm sure Telstra will eventually end up waiving the data costs when an account manager gets involved and realises how large the accounts involved are. Still, a couple of data packs could have saved a lotta hassle.

 

[HW]

I use it reasonably extensively for work, but then again my work has a pretty good corporate deal with the provider due to the size and profile of the company. I've come to depend on it so if I changed companies it would be a big habit to break!

 

[2impulsiv]

After a recent trip to NZ for the rugby, my mate received a bill for over $900 for the three days we were there. This was for some limited data use checking Facebook and the weather.

Thankfully, Telstra agreed to waive all of the costs as even they agreed it was ridiculous.

I just looked at my bill and think I better call Telstra tomorrow.

I have two phones, a blackberry for work and an iPhone for personal stuff. Since I have jail broken my iPhone, I have a toggle switch to turn on and off data while roaming. I thought if I used it for short periods ( around a minutes a few time a day ) it would not be too expensive. However I just seen my bill and the roaming data came to $608.32!! I was only there for 3 days and didn't spend that much time on there at all!!

I'd hate to see my blackberry bill as I used it non-stop due to some issues at another site I had to sort out.

Wish me luck with Telstra!!!

 

[bossreggie]

I have usually kept data on whilst traveling. Yes the bills are pretty high, however I think it's a necessity nowadays

12 days overseas per month is usually around $1500, but that is for 2 - 3 phones.


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[2impulsiv]

On my bill it states: 26kb roaming data used for a cost of $608.32.... That's ridiculously over priced!! Mind you 26kb seems a little low too...

Now if I have to pay I will, but if there is a chance of reducing the charge I'll have a go.. Won't hurt to ask..

 

[MatF]

On my bill it states: 26kb roaming data used for a cost of $608.32.... That's ridiculously over priced!! Mind you 26kb seems a little low too...

Now if I have to pay I will, but if there is a chance of reducing the charge I'll have a go.. Won't hurt to ask..

Oh come on, that's only $23,958 per MB, or $24,533,452 per GB. Seems totally reasonable :shock:

 

[simongr]

I have usually kept data on whilst traveling. Yes the bills are pretty high, however I think it's a necessity nowadays

12 days overseas per month is usually around $1500, but that is for 2 - 3 phones.

You must have a good plan for overseas travel - I got hit for $400 in one day in SIN...

 

[Bundy Bear]

In New Zealand I brought a vodafone sim card from the airport, I think it was $29.00 for 50mbs,
If you added about $30 to your account then you could get another 50mbs, so total 100mbs in 1 month.
I was in New Zealand for 1 week and I got through 100mbs in about 6.5 days.

Telstra has an option I think it is 60mbs for $150.00 AUD, so not cheap, just don't go over and it is not widely known, but at least you can keep the same sim card and contact number.

When going to UK you could buy a sim card for the UK.

Last year I did 2 trips to Europe traveling through 8 countries and purchased a sim card from a company called maxroam, they are based in Ireland.
The data plan was about Euro 35 for 50mbs and you could keep adding to the account. As a phone it wasn't so good but for data, especially using google maps it was invaluable, saved me from getting lost a number of times.

 

[2impulsiv]

Oh come on, that's only $23,958 per MB, or $24,533,452 per GB. Seems totally reasonable :shock:

Yeah but Nah...


After calling Telstra today, I found out that I apparently used approximately 380mb while in NZ for just over 3 days. I was amused that the lady I was talking to could not even give me an exact amount used and even more that my bill states only 28kb!

I have filed a complaint due to the excessive amount of data charged to me as I know I hardly used my phone and would not have run up that amount of data..

See how I go, I just want to be charged fairly. Oh, I was told that data is charged at $15 per MB, that’s fine with me if charged correctly.

 

[dajop]

https://www.bridgealliance.com/datasim.aspx is a good option for most users.

Singapore has free wifi...

After some significant bills for my company blackberry I discovered a Bridge alliance plan (in Singapore through Singtel) that has unlimited data roam on blackberry (for email/web browsing and RIM/bberry apps) for $72SGD per month, on selected carriers in about 20 countries, including Optus. Knowing this I did use roaming more freely and a rebate of $1100 on my bill because off usage under this plan (ie effectively my only data roaming charge was the $72 and about $8 in e-ideas charges). As Optus is owned by Singtel, do they have anything similar? The cynic in me says not a chance.

 

[DeKa]

I just looked at my bill and think I better call Telstra tomorrow.

I have two phones, a blackberry for work and an iPhone for personal stuff. Since I have jail broken my iPhone, I have a toggle switch to turn on and off data while roaming. I thought if I used it for short periods ( around a minutes a few time a day ) it would not be too expensive. However I just seen my bill and the roaming data came to $608.32!! I was only there for 3 days and didn't spend that much time on there at all!!

I'd hate to see my blackberry bill as I used it non-stop due to some issues at another site I had to sort out.

Wish me luck with Telstra!!!

The roaming data switch on iOS is nothing to do with jail breaking - it's a standard function. By default it is off.

 

[2impulsiv]

The roaming data switch on iOS is nothing to do with jail breaking - it's a standard function. By default it is off.

My toggle switch is located in the SB setting drop down with is a add-on after jail breaking. I know you can do this in the setting however I wanted to be able to do this with minimal gestures.

Cheers.

 

[amaroo]

I've had a $1,600 call charge reversed - I was in Singapore for three days and when I received the bill it showed that I was calling the same number over & over & over again. Rang Telstra and without any argument they deleted the charges.

Data roaming & Telco's billing in general - can be very suss.

 

[2impulsiv]

Well, finally got some where with Telstra today. It turns out I had used approximately 40MB while in NZ. Possibly correct but still more than I thought I used. They have agreed to reduce the charges to match on of their roaming data packages. My $608 data bill has been reduced to $164. I'm happy with that as I have said from the start I wasn't expecting something for nothing. Interesting thing is, they chage their packages to a data cost not per MB used. So if you spend $164 you will receive $950 (approximately) but if you go over look out as you will be charged at $15.70ish per MB. There is also an option to pay $350 something for $2,200 worth of data, approximately 150MB.. A little over priced I think...

Anyway I feel I had a win and am happy to pay the reduced charges.

 

[Simo]

Data roaming cost can be very expensive.

I work for a Telco and see and hear about horror stories everyday.

Biggest bill I have heard about is 37K for a trip OS.

One of my customers staff members did 5K in a 2 day trip to NZ, They where doing work for a client. I wonder who ended up paying the bill.

 

[drewbles]

Data roaming cost can be very expensive.

I work for a Telco and see and hear about horror stories everyday.

Biggest bill I have heard about is 37K for a trip OS.

One of my customers staff members did 5K in a 2 day trip to NZ, They where doing work for a client. I wonder who ended up paying the bill.

Working specifically in the pre-paid global roaming mobile market, I see things like this quite frequently. People don't read the fine print, don't realise that some companies are charging them at $30/mb and then cough about it when they get back.

Yes, it's stupidly expensive, but it's in the T&C's, and you agreed to it when you enabled global roaming.

I could tell some horror stories (and would love to) but my employer would not be happy

 

[Simo]

Working specifically in the pre-paid global roaming mobile market, I see things like this quite frequently. People don't read the fine print, don't realise that some companies are charging them at $30/mb and then cough about it when they get back.

Yes, it's stupidly expensive, but it's in the T&C's, and you agreed to it when you enabled global roaming.

I could tell some horror stories (and would love to) but my employer would not be happy

Would love to swap some war stories one day over a few drinks...

 

[serfty]

Had some nervous moments last weekend with my 2 weeks old Galaxy S II over on the states.

I stopped "packet data", "data roaming", "Background Data" (sync) & "Auto-Sync". I turned off the "data Network" mode option as well.

With all that I still was not sure I had it all.

Can someone tell me why I could not download apps using wi-fi whithout re-enabling "packet data"?