Monumental mobile internet charges when abroad

Hammyman

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

Nice edit Hammyman.

What do you think I've edited and when? I do edits usually straight after I've posted when I think of something else to add.

Hammyman

stulaunch wrote: »

Gordon Hose, I'm with you on this, it would be good to know who else on here is sick of jumped up nerds coming on abusing posters for not having their level of intelligence on certain matters.

Simple question:

Were we born with this knowledge?

If not, how did we get it?

Is this something that is only restricted to a very limited amount of people?

adouglasmhor

You can tell when you are connected by 3g there is a little symbol on your screen. Even on older phones.


Clue for those who are not "tech savvy" it says 3G on it.

gjchester

stulaunch wrote: »

Gordon Hose, I'm with you on this, it would be good to know who else on here is sick of jumped up nerds coming on abusing posters for not having their level of intelligence on certain matters.
We all know what kind of character these people are don't we, bigheaded know it all's. Can't stand them if I'm honest.
If you can give some helpful advice great. But if your comments are for your own personal ego, then please stay away.

I can understand the sentiment but by the same token there are a few often repeated themes on MSE.

• I went abroad and my phone bill is huge, how do I get out of it..
• I gave my kids a contract phone and my phone bill is huge, how do i get out of it...
• How do I get out of my contract because...

Many, Many of these get posted and the advice is always the same, the service has been used and you need to pay for it. Yes non UK data is expensive, and it may well be a cash cow, but you can thank the EU for that, they forced down calls and texts so somethings got to go up. If the EU forced down data roaming rates no doubt it will be seen as a consumer victory but in reality something else will go up to compensate.

Every phone I have ever had has come with a booklet or leaflet on getting used to the phone, whats covered in your bundle and the terms and conditions, and I have glanced at them but never fully read them. However I've at least read what is covered and how to use the phone.

It's also common sense to at least try and find out the costs of something before you use it, such as calls or data abroad. It's not hard, a call to customer services or check the web site, Heck most times I hit anouther country I get a text telling me thecost of calls, it's not as if it's secret or hidden.

If people don't want to pay these high charges they don't have to, leave the phone at home, get something sorted with the operator (and make sure you know how to use your phone) or get a local sim card but most of the time people just don't bother.

stulaunch

Hammyman wrote: »

Simple question:

Were we born with this knowledge?

If not, how did we get it?

Is this something that is only restricted to a very limited amount of people?

Fine, then share your knowledge with people who are trying to learn but are not as wise as yourself. Its the only way they learn.
Its the way all life works.

I have been helped many times on techie forum with computer problems over the years, now I show my children and help friends with what I've learnt.
If somebody had told me I was stupid and shouldn't have a computer if I couldn't work it then I would be none the wiser.

Guys_Dad

stulaunch wrote: »

Gordon Hose, I'm with you on this, it would be good to know who else on here is sick of jumped up nerds coming on abusing posters for not having their level of intelligence on certain matters.
We all know what kind of character these people are don't we, bigheaded know it all's. Can't stand them if I'm honest.
If you can give some helpful advice great. But if your comments are for your own personal ego, then please stay away.

Surely these forums are here to help people who don't understand certain things, why ask a question otherwise.

As for OP's plight. I would rather criticise the Telecom companies who charge, what I think are extortionate costs for data roaming, rather than the OP.
When the banks charged fees that were not in proportion to their own costs ( bank charges etc ) big campaigns were launched MSE for people to claim back. Its a shame more people are not saying the same for these shisters.
I dont know many people who haven't had a problem with Telecom companies ripping them off in the past.

There seems far to many of these posts on here about massive roaming bills when returning to the UK from abroad,

PLEASE SWITCH OFF MOBILE INTERNET WHEN ABROAD

I think the only way to reduce this bill is to plead with them, but I think you'll need more than "good luck" though.

Rant over

Ok - given that the world is as it is and changes may take some time to achieve, then just what advice would you give to people who use their phone overseas? Your advice in red above is good - but if people don't read the manual, they don't necessarily understand what is "Internet" and how to switch it off. see Preying_Mantis' post above.

The point is that people don't take the time to learn the basics about the technology that they have acquired and, as a result, get big roaming bills and them come on to moan.

The only advice you can give in such a case is to throw themselves on the mercy of the network, as the network is usually not at fault.

However, I do agree that roaming charges are high and Orange's in particular are almost criminal - but they are very clear on their web site as to what the charges are and really people should take time to read about potential costs and how the new smartphones actually work, with syncing, updating etc all going on in the background.

Lastly, it is not about nerds on the one hand and people without intelligence on the other. It is the difference between people who make time to understand and those who wing it. Not intelligence, but laziness.

cinereus

Hammyman is spot on. If you have the responsibility to earn the money to buy a smartphone you also have the responsibility to learn how to use it and to understand the VERY BASIC way in which the various services are charged.

Nobody's stupid enough to make hundreds of phone calls when abroad then complain about a £XXX phone bill - why do we excuse them when it's data?

izools

Bottom line - if you don't understand every clause of a contract, don't sign it.

Those that choose not to read it use ignorance as an excuse - but as soon as that thing is signed that excuse flies out the window.

Sorry, but that's the way it is. If you signed power of attoerney over to some fraudster the court wouldn't accept "I didn't read it" as an excuse. Same (smaller scale) here.

Gordon_Hose

Switching your data roaming on and off has got nothing to do with signing a contract.

madalice

Seems like only sm @rt asses should be allowed to use smartphones judging by some of the replies in this thread.

And I can't wait until the day comes that the likes of Orange make you take your test on a mobile before they let you give them your money. Shame it's never going to happen though.