A word of caution

Glenhuon (Bill) · #1 25-02-2009, 03:57 PM

While travelling I've been using a Telstra Prepaid Mobile Broadband modem. On purchase you get $10 of credit which I noted expires after 30 days. I added $60 more as i wasn't sure how quickly it would be used up. When i tried to connect a couple of days ago, no go. Finally discovered not only had the $10 expired (was only 3 left), they had taken the $60 as well.

Called the help desk, made a fuss and got it back after threatening an official complaint.
Just a word of caution if you use one of these. Top it up a little at a time as the 30 days starts from the last top up and your full balance is carried forward, otherwise they snatch the lot at the end of the 30 days.

Bill

Jen · #2 25-02-2009, 09:17 PM

thats robbery stoopid mobile phones

TrevorW · #3 25-02-2009, 09:23 PM

Did you get fries with that !!!!

Kevnool (Kev) · #4 25-02-2009, 09:27 PM

Thats why ive got a sierra 7.2 card for my lappy where i can control it.....be carefull optus prepaid users as i haer they use 1 mg blocks so if you use 40 kbs you pay for 1 mb ....just read the fine print on prepaid internet.
Cheers Kev.

acropolite (Phil) · #5 26-02-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

.....be carefull optus prepaid users as i haer they use 1 mg blocks so if you use 40 kbs you pay for 1 mb

Yes, I have a workmate who had one of the earlier hourly plans, each login was debited 15 minutes despite the actual time. I suppose if you travel the internet superhighway you should expect to encounter highway robbery....

Ric · #6 26-02-2009, 08:10 AM

Blooming con artists, they are already fleecing us for every cent we have with inflated prices for everything and then they want more.

I think the old saying of "shareholders first, customers second" seems to ring quite true in my ears.

Cheers

Glenhuon (Bill) · #7 28-02-2009, 10:21 PM

The saga continues. Got my 60 back but next night credit disappeared at a rapid rate. Rang up the next day and got it back, or so I thought. Rang up today and raised hell again. Got back 40 as I had been on for a while and the lady said I had been overcharged. Getting very close to contacting the local MP and making this official.
As far as I am concerned it is a form of theft. I have paid for a service and I am not getting it. Does'nt matter if I use that service in 30 days or 3 months, I have paid for it and it should be provided. The fact that it is in the terms and conditions is beside the point. If enough people make a noise about this, perhaps we can get this kind of thing made illegal.

Bill

JethroB76 (Jeff) · #8 28-02-2009, 11:57 PM

Gotta pay Sol out with something...

Wavytone · #9 01-03-2009, 12:18 AM

Anybody but not Telstra.

Dog Star (Phil) · #10 01-03-2009, 03:57 AM

G'day Bill,
Very sorry to hear that these people are mucking with you!

Caveat Emptor doesn't really apply here in my opinion!
Although I have no personal experience with the position that you have found yourself in, it makes my blood boil!
I'm tired of hearing how the big fellas rip the little fellas off!
If anyone knows how to institute constructive anarchy against these mongrels, may I respectfully suggest that this thread is the place to post such information.
Evil happens when good men say (and do) nothing!

Analog6 (Odille) · #11 01-03-2009, 06:49 AM

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

You can make your complaint online and yes, they really do investiagte and you get good results and follow up.

acropolite (Phil) · #12 01-03-2009, 08:44 AM

FWIW I noticed that 3 mobile have prepaid plans and for $149 you can recharge with 12Gb limit and 12 months to use. Sounds like the best option. Given that I managed to get by on 1Gb a month when I first got ADSL that should be plenty. Other than that if you're a regular user, there are capped plans which simply slow your connection once your download limit is up. If John (xstream) sees this thread he can fill in the details.

kinetic (Steve) · #13 01-03-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevnool

Thats why ive got a sierra 7.2 card for my lappy where i can control it.....be carefull optus prepaid users as i haer they use 1 mg blocks so if you use 40 kbs you pay for 1 mb ....just read the fine print on prepaid internet.
Cheers Kev.

Bill, Kev,

a naive apprentice at work recently got an $800 dollar mobile internet
bill for just one month.
He said he and his brother only got online every few nights to do the
usual teenage 'music' thing.
Even though the fine print might say something about $ per Mb
(and music would be pretty large), it should also have something
about the provider sending warning emails that you have reached your
monthly limit or have had it shaped to a slower kB/sec speed.
After a whinge and protest about their bill, they only paid $100 of it.

But like you say Bill, I bet they try and sneak it on to the next account
somehow.

Steve

Glenhuon (Bill) · #14 03-03-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wavytone

Anybody but not Telstra.

Unfortunately in this case its not viable. I'm doing a fair bit of travelling at the moment and Telstra have the best coverage, otherwise I woul'nt have anything to do with them. When I eventually decide to stay someplace, it'll be any company but for my fixed line connection

Bill

erick (Eric) · #15 03-03-2009, 03:32 PM

Same issue, different game. I use private airport parking when I fly. Never quite understood the way it was charged, but, it was OK, still cheaper than on-airport parking. I pull in 4pm Friday, drive away early Sunday, get charged three days. One day I asked what a "day" was. No, it's not elapsed time, it is the actual day. So pull in 9am, leave 5pm, get charged one day - fair enough. But, hypothetically, pull in 11:50pm and leave 12:10am and you will be charged two days for 20 mins parking! Must be some interesting fine print in the advertising where they advertise their "per day" rates.

Here it is - I just found the fine print:- "You pay only the progressive total for the number of calendar days or part thereof you stay." Hmmm - "or part thereof"

MrB (Simon) · #16 03-03-2009, 10:00 PM

Bah, don't get me started on broadband, of any type.....
Still on dial-up and not changing any time soon.
Tho that 3 mobile deal that Phil has mentioned may warrant further investigation.

Jen · #17 06-03-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrB

Bah, don't get me started on broadband, of any type.....
Still on dial-up and not changing any time soon.
Tho that 3 mobile deal that Phil has mentioned may warrant further investigation.

dial up what the hell is that
i would die if i was on dial up again

xstream (John) · #18 06-03-2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acropolite

FWIW I noticed that 3 mobile have prepaid plans and for $149 you can recharge with 12Gb limit and 12 months to use. Sounds like the best option. Given that I managed to get by on 1Gb a month when I first got ADSL that should be plenty. Other than that if you're a regular user, there are capped plans which simply slow your connection once your download limit is up. If John (xstream) sees this thread he can fill in the details.

Yes I use the BogPond Liberty 5GB plan with the Gateway 7.2 Wifi NextG modem in the Caravan with an external GME AE815 aerial. With this setup I get connection where you can't even get reception with your mobile.

Expensive, yes but if you want the coverage you have no option other than Telstra, I must say I've been more than happy with my plan.
Go over your 5GB monthly usage and it's slowed to 64kbps. Normal speed is as quick as ADSL.