Filton Caught Off Guard by Familee Telco

[makapaaa]

Jun 22, 2010

Phone user gets a 'data roaming' shock

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<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->IT IS common knowledge that accessing the Internet on mobile broadband locally is cheap and not recommended overseas.
However, what is not obvious is that when you are overseas and have both mobile broadband and a roaming plan, the data connection is automatically used without any forewarning.
On a recent overseas trip, I had turned on my cellphone and left it in the hotel in the morning. When I returned in the evening, I was shocked to receive two text messages informing me that I had already utilised 18MB of data.
I was told by customer service that e-mail messages may have been downloaded in the background as I had configured my smartphone to receive them. Hence, I would have to pay the data charges even if I had not used the Internet intentionally.
When I requested to terminate the data roaming plan, I was told that I will need to terminate the roaming service as well.
I am aware that I can turn off the General Packet Radio Service on my cellphone. But when there is a change of SIM card (which was so in my case since my friend had borrowed my cellphone to use an overseas SIM card), the service is automatically enabled again.
The telcos should put in more safeguards for consumers so that a user's permission will be sought when the first data packet is used.
Filton Ong

 

[halsey02]

Filton ryhmes with spittoon....should be renamed the later..when signing up with any plans they never ask? that is why the familee telco is using filton like a SPITTOON....

 

[NoNewsGood]

Jun 22, 2010

Phone user gets a 'data roaming' shock

<!-- by line --><!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->IT IS common knowledge that accessing the Internet on mobile broadband locally is cheap and not recommended overseas.
However, what is not obvious is that when you are overseas and have both mobile broadband and a roaming plan, the data connection is automatically used without any forewarning.
On a recent overseas trip, I had turned on my cellphone and left it in the hotel in the morning. When I returned in the evening, I was shocked to receive two text messages informing me that I had already utilised 18MB of data.
I was told by customer service that e-mail messages may have been downloaded in the background as I had configured my smartphone to receive them. Hence, I would have to pay the data charges even if I had not used the Internet intentionally.
When I requested to terminate the data roaming plan, I was told that I will need to terminate the roaming service as well.
I am aware that I can turn off the General Packet Radio Service on my cellphone. But when there is a change of SIM card (which was so in my case since my friend had borrowed my cellphone to use an overseas SIM card), the service is automatically enabled again.
The telcos should put in more safeguards for consumers so that a user's permission will be sought when the first data packet is used.
Filton Ong

I do not know whether it is even possible for the telco or the SIM card to change the setting of the user's phone. Even if it is possible, there is no good reason for the telco to do so especially this would reduce the telco's income.

This user is obviously not smart enough to use a smart phone. More so confirmed by him writing this letter.