iPhone roaming charges - please help.

Guys_Dad

Can't help with any advice except to try to negotiate a reduction and even payment plan with Orange. Just be careful about your credit history as it could badly affect you in the future. Personally, I would try hard to get a reduction and then use savings, overdraft or loan to pay off balance to keep credit history good.

On another matter - and this may help others coming to this thread - Orange are the DEAREST network for roaming data - far more than Vodafone not only per Mb but also roaming bundles.

So NEVER EVER take an orange phone overseas if you want to use data.

See Martin's article http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-roaming-calls

On a point of semantics, dappyhel, ignorant has a definition of "Lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular:" which is, actually far better than "stupid", so don't feel too bad if someone called you that. :beer:

DUTR

dappyhel wrote: »

I googled 'iPhone data roaming' last night in an attempt to find some information and it came up with a news article on the MSE so I thought I would do a little more searching/see if others have experienced the same problem. Some people have been very helpful and I'm grateful for that.

As for being able afford such a holiday, I don't think that's really relevant but it did take me 2 years to save for it. I'm not intending to play on people's emotions at all, I just don't particularly like being called ignorant.

I think every response has been helpful, just some responses would be wrapped up in a way you wish to read them, hope you remain a regular visitor and you will soon learn why folk get tired of these sort of stories, in fairness you say you will take the hit if you have to, also whilst you were there you may have noticed digicel sim cards available, which the rates to call back to the UK were something like 15p/min when I were there and the data was cheap too, £15 or £20 vs hundreds is a no brainer really. As long as you have learned from the experience.

dappyhel

emeraldbugle wrote: »

Sorry about your big bill OP. Did you not receive any texts when you arrived in the Carribean, telling you the charges? I know this happens in the EU, just wondered if it was the same worldwide.

I have a company mobile, O2 cut you off if you reach £200, but you can override it. It seems a real shame that the mobile networks can't provide some sort of maximum balance to all tariffs, then you won't exceed your maximum balance.

These bill shocks seem far too common.

I received a couple of texts regarding calls and text messages but nothing about roaming. With past contracts they've notified me if I've been close to the limit but apparently not this time. I am coming round to the idea that I'll be paying it but it's frustrating to find that I'm not the only one who has had a bill shock.

emma_829

When I went to Mexico I recieved a text message to let me know that stuff would be more expensive it didn't neccasarily mention data roaming though and I did leave mine one because I stupidly presumed it meant text messages and phone calls. I know all about data roaming and knew it could charge but I can't say the text was very explanatory if even I didn't realise thats what they were on about. My bill ended up costing me £220 pounds (it was cut off as the fair usuage is £200) then tesco had the cheek to charge me £40 for going over the fair usage so by the end of it I had a bill that = £264. I paid it and I'm a student with no money left and a well overused overdraft, I couldn't afford it but I figured it would be a lesson that would most deffinatly make me remember to switch it off next time. There was no excuse it was my own mistake and we learn by them. (My holiday to Mexico was a joint 21st birthday present from my family just incase anyone wonders how I have no money but went abroad)

In the OP's defence you could ask why orange didn't contact you somehow or cut you off to let you know the bill was so large, ask them what the limit is before they will temporarily bar the phone as Tesco did for me. See what their reason is and see if you can use that to knock abit off. I don't know if you could use the excuse you didn't know about data roaming though because if you have ever been into the settings of your iphone which I am sure you have then you will have seen the switch for data roaming underneath this when it is turned on a warning message is displayed to tell you that it will be expensive if you go abroad and that message stays on settings until you turn it off. And it is set to off unless you yourself turn it on so there are many clauses they can use to get out of being sympathetic to your situation because they will say you should have learnt the functions of the phone.

2sides2everystory

Reading so often about data roaming charges surprises of this magnitude indicates indicates quite clearly that we may be witnessing a deliberate scam by some networks who sell iphones on contracts knowing that they are a loaded gun to the uninitiated. We probably hear twice as many complaints about this with iphones than with other handsets.

I speak as someone that incurs data roaming charges regularly and is responsible for paying the bills on more than one iphone used for data roaming including outside EU (where this can no longer happen beyond fifty quid's worth without your knowledge).

Of all the networks in the UK I believe 3 mobile probably takes the most responsible attitude. For a start irrespective of handset, you can turn data roaming on and off immediately via their website.

Second, if you DO need to leave it switched on, they send warning messages when you have spent maybe £3 in one session.

I have read some threads where the whole amount of one of these bills has been excused so there must obviously be guidance issued to some network customer service staff about when they can do this.

It would be useful if we MSE'ers knew a bit more about how the networks make such decisions.

Does anyone know? Is it based on some customers being very firm with the networks about such incidents and complaining more effectively sometimes?

Guys_Dad

Do try to get a reduction as this forum reports that many members have had some success.

If you are very nice to the CS - keep trying till you get a UK based rep - and admit you expected the handset to be set off for roaming (it wasn't a replacement refurb one was it, as that puts a slightly different complexion on it?) but if anything they can do to help, you would be so very grateful etc etc. See if they can improve their initial offer too.

At the end of the day, it's your money and do what you can to save as much of it as you can.

macman

You only receive these texts in the EU, where it is a regulatory requirement. Turkey is not an EU member.

SnowTiger

dappyhel wrote: »

I'm just very scared and worried about how I'm going to find the money and was hoping that someone could offer me some reassurance and perhaps experience in the matter.

Perhaps your best bet is to write to Orange and explain your problem. You have nothing to lose; I've read here and elsewhere about customers getting their bills reduced by 50% or so.

macman

dappyhel wrote: »

I received a couple of texts regarding calls and text messages but nothing about roaming. With past contracts they've notified me if I've been close to the limit but apparently not this time. I am coming round to the idea that I'll be paying it but it's frustrating to find that I'm not the only one who has had a bill shock.

As already mentioned, these 'on arrival' texts are sent in the EU only. Since the roaming charges are not passed back to the UK operator in real time (it can be hours or days later, depending on the local network you connected to), it's not possible to monitor such usage.

dappyhel

Thanks very much to all of you who have commented, I must admit I have been quite highly strung since seeing the bill and have only really calmed down and started to see sense now that I'm on here and reading everyone's responses. All of your advice is very much appreciated, I may have taken things the wrong way with a few posts and I do apologise - it could well be the shock talking!

I am going to ring Orange this evening, armed with information from this thread and the MSE, then compose a letter to back up the phone call. And then I will wait. As much as it pains me I may have to use some savings but, as you have said, better that than a poor credit rating, especially in this day and age.

Thanks again to all, my head is feeling much clearer.