Huge bill after watching netflix

simax

The roll on charges are higher because everything "in bundle" is subsidised.

If I used 900 mins, 500 texts and 2GB data on PAYG in a month on Orange I'd pay £270 for calls, £75 for texts and £1331.20 for data! (Total = £1676.20)

Just alone on PAYG choosing Dolphin and buying 9 x 100 min x-net bolt on at £7.50 each (ie: £67.50) would mean that £70 in top ups would cover everything (900 mins, unlimited text and 3GB data) and would only cost £67.50 and still leave £2.50 spare to play with.

On contract you can get a contract on EE with 10GB data, unlimited mins and texts for under £40 and get a top end smartphone chucked in too.

Pay as you use for most people would price them out of the market. Hence subsidised bundles and more expensive roll-on rates. They have to exist otherwise people just wouldn't use mobiles anymore.

NFH

simax wrote: »

The roll on charges are higher because everything "in bundle" is subsidised.

Subsidised by what?

simax wrote: »

Pay as you use for most people would price them out of the market.

Not true. If a pro-rata rate (i.e. the bundle price divided by the number of units in the allowance) was charged, then it would be transparent and simple. This is what postpaid corporate tariffs charge and what Three's prepaid tariff charges. Why can't this same straightforward pricing model be available to everyone on a SIM-only postpaid basis? Why should everyone have to predict exactly how much they will use each month? We don't have to do this with energy suppliers, so why with mobile networks?

MillicentBystander

simax wrote: »

Because they are - and it's not going to change however much you rant on about it.

Most networks now give unlimited mins and texts away but data is where it's at. You pay £xx for XXGB of data - exceed and you're charged. Simple. We're all adults and are responsible for our actions. Do we have to rely on a "nanny state" where you have to get your hand held wherever you go?

Jeez you'll be suggesting we make jaywalking illegal next!

People had the exact same defeatist attitude in this thread as well. I was one of the few dissenting voices. Upshot? It's going to be changed by the regulator, I'm sure mostly as a result of people contacting Which who then launched a campaign. We get the dire service we experience in this country because of attitudes like yours, I'm afraid. It really is quite shocking how we as consumers in this country just accept the status quo as correct. Unless you work in the industry of course, which would better explain such an attitude?

mobilejunkie

I'm not sure what that has to do with anything. It's an entirely different issue and there is no reason to expect the regulator to change this one - nor should they. I like contracts as they are and am not "defeatist". I also see absolutely nothing wrong with bundled allowances and state meddling usually results in a far worse siutuation for consumers - just as is/will happen with current moves in the energy market, since that has been raised.

NFH

mobilejunkie wrote: »

I like contracts as they are and am not "defeatist".

You really like contracts as they are? So if a 1GB bundle costs £10 and you only use 750MB in a month, you would prefer to pay £10 for a full 1GB (250MB of which you didn't use) rather than pay £7.50 pro-rata for what you used? Three (unfortunately only on prepaid) charges 1p/MB, i.e. you only pay for what you use. What is the advantage to consumers of bundles over a simple unit pricing system? Why doesn't the energy sector operate with bundles as well?

MillicentBystander

mobilejunkie wrote: »

I'm not sure what that has to do with anything. It's an entirely different issue and there is no reason to expect the regulator to change this one - nor should they. I like contracts as they are and am not "defeatist". I also see absolutely nothing wrong with bundled allowances and state meddling usually results in a far worse siutuation for consumers - just as is/will happen with current moves in the energy market, since that has been raised.

Contrary to your assertion, you are a defeatist...;)

mobilejunkie

NFH wrote: »

You really like contracts as they are? So if a 1GB bundle costs £10 and you only use 750MB in a month, you would prefer to pay £10 for a full 1GB (250MB of which you didn't use) rather than pay £7.50 pro-rata for what you used? Three (unfortunately only on prepaid) charges 1p/MB, i.e. you only pay for what you use. What is the advantage to consumers of bundles over a simple unit pricing system? Why doesn't the energy sector operate with bundles as well?

Yes, I do. I choose my contracts according to my use and their profitability; If I were forced to adopt your model it would cost me money instead of making me some. I currently have six contracts but more often have run 10 or 11. Why should I be forced to lose out to save those who prefer the latest phone regardless of the costs just so the charging is transparent?

The Energy sector is completely different and a complete red herring, but if you really want to compare use the financial servies industry. Regulation has forced it to (theoretically - as always it never works that way in practice) - to transparency of charging; the result is fewer financial advisers and customers who now don't use them because of the "transparent" costs - definitely NOT an improvement but a detriment in many areas to thousands (if not millions) of people.

mobilejunkie

MillicentBystander wrote: »

Contrary to your assertion, you are a defeatist...;)

That's why I make money on ALL my contracts and never actually PAY for any of my calls, data or texts. Long may I be a "defeatest" (must be your definition of someone who plays the system and who disagrees with your crusade).

NFH

mobilejunkie wrote: »

If I were forced to adopt your model it would cost me money instead of making me some.

Unless you have bundles with an unlimited allowance, how would a pro-rata charging system cost you more than a bundle?

littleboo

I would assume that the price per unit in a bundle is always going to be cheaper than a pay per unit price. The whole point of bundles is you're paying for something that you aren't using.If you only paid for what you actually used, the unit price would be higher. It would be nice to have the option though