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MSE News: T-Mobile announces huge overseas call cost hikes

Former_MSE_Natasha
Former_MSE_Natasha Posts: 672 Forumite
edited 24 September 2009 at 5:04PM in Mobiles
This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"T-Mobile is more than doubling some charges to use your mobile phone abroad this autumn. A 30-minute call from the US, Canada or Down Under will cost £36 instead of the £16.50 ..."



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PS. This thread discussion had already started before the news story was published. We’ve inserted this post so all discussions are in one place. Thanks to amsquared for the original post.
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Comments

  • amsquared
    amsquared Posts: 2,342 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 21 September 2009 at 10:40PM
    T Mobile increases Roaming Charges from 26 October

    See their own FAQs here - I don't think the changes to the exchange rate warrants an increase to roaming charges by nearly 100%

    FAQs

    • Q. Why have you made changes to the cost of making and receiving calls from abroad?

      A. When customers use their mobile abroad, we pay the local provider a fee for the use of their network. With the weakening of the pound, these costs have gone up and for this reason we've had to look at changing some of our own prices.
    • Q. Which customers will be affected by the price change?

      A. The new rates apply to all T-Mobile pay as you go and contract customers (including business customers who we've sent a text message to)
    • Q. Does this apply to registered business customers who are on a consumer plan?

      A. Yes, the rate change will apply to all business customers who we've sent a text message to.
    Best Comp wins in 25 years of comping. Holidays to Hawaii, Toronto, Thailand twice, Dubai twice, Cyprus, Spain, Lake District, Glasgow and London. A couple of £1000 wins as vouchers. 2 Dimplex Fires. Baby cot and chest of drawers. £500 of blinds. Shibumi Jacket. Various small cash prizes under £500 and shopping vouchers. Cosmetics & weedkiller!
  • ACDeag
    ACDeag Posts: 742 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    amsquared wrote: »
    T Mobile increases Roaming Charges from 26 October

    See their own FAQs here - I don't think the changes to the exchange rate warrants an increase to roaming charges by nearly 100%

    FAQs

    • Q. Why have you made changes to the cost of making and receiving calls from abroad?

      A. When customers use their mobile abroad, we pay the local provider a fee for the use of their network. With the weakening of the pound, these costs have gone up and for this reason we've had to look at changing some of our own prices.
    • Q. Which customers will be affected by the price change?

      A. The new rates apply to all T-Mobile pay as you go and contract customers (including business customers who we've sent a text message to)
    • Q. Does this apply to registered business customers who are on a consumer plan?

      A. Yes, the rate change will apply to all business customers who we've sent a text message to.
    Convenient excuse on their part. Pretty dreadful prices, of course they wont let you cancel the contract as this is an "additional service" and not part of you contract so they say.
  • Legally you should be able to cancel your contract, but T-mobile will refuse all the way to court.
  • But roaming charges are not an add on, if you use your basic contract abroad. You get charged the higher rate. Its a core service.
    Sure there are some add-ons that reduce price, but basic prices are core.
    Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.

    There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies
  • sporedude
    sporedude Posts: 1,563 Forumite
    Legally you should be able to cancel your contract, but T-mobile will refuse all the way to court.

    How? Its an additional service, Not in your contract, So no, Legally theres no leg to stand on.
  • ACDeag
    ACDeag Posts: 742 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    sporedude wrote: »
    How? Its an additional service, Not in your contract, So no, Legally theres no leg to stand on.

    The additional service definition works when you can choose someone else for that service. When that provider is the only service supplier and you have to have an underlying contract to use it, then I think it is a con and purely a way they can try to wriggle out of their responsibilities.
  • Viks
    Viks Posts: 120 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    sporedude wrote: »
    How? Its an additional service, Not in your contract, So no, Legally theres no leg to stand on.


    I disagree with this - reason being the terms and conditions state:


    3.8. We’ll use Our reasonable efforts to make commercial
    arrangements to enable You to access other networks so that You
    can use the Services whilst Roaming. We can’t guarantee the
    quality and coverage that any other network may provide.
    Additional Charges for Roaming are set out in Our “What It Costs
    (Non Standard Charges)” booklet. You may have to ask Us to set
    up Your Account for Roaming.


    From this Roaming is part of the contract. Unless i have read this wrong? Additional Charges for Roaming therefore are part of the contract right?

    I am awaiting T-Mobile to get back to me as they cannot justify such a big rise in charges, especially when I use my phone in USA to recieve calls when I frequently travel there.
  • OneADay
    OneADay Posts: 9,031 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Just got the text.

    Started my contract end of may 2009 (12 month) - first cashback next month.

    Take the cashback and cancel or not -decisions decisions decisions.

    Damn it - it will work out more expensive if I cancel - well annoyed as its the first opportunity to have the experience of cancelling a contract but cant :eek::mad:;)
  • sporedude
    sporedude Posts: 1,563 Forumite
    The fact that T-mobile can remove roaming from your account makes it an additional service. If you have a poor credit score with them, They can disable roaming, If you fall behind on the bills, They can disable roaming. They do not have to allow you to use roaming, As it can be disabled with the click of a mouse.
  • OneADay
    OneADay Posts: 9,031 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Has to be said the price hikes are astonishing http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/uk/08-09-roaming/

    I texted me sis in US a while back and made calls - wont be doing that again from mobile.
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