The Worlds Most Expensive 1.5 MB...

[rcs2k4]

...When my contract cell provider "Three UK" totally screw everything up with the upgrade to my new Lumia 800.

One agent's blamed the computer their end, another's blamed me using wrong APN settings for the UTMS data connection on the phone, but both said it's "Fixable, but maybe not in time for the next bill to be produced." Thats in 17 days time - Three UK, you FAIL at billing customers properly.

Anyone else had issues like this and get it resolved quicky?
Can anyone see my £73 for 1.5 MB and raise it?

I'm contacting Guinness World Records already...

[thegleek]

only $115.4628 US dollars for 1 month? that's NORMAL my friend. lol, i pay that every month for unlimited data service.

plus. i don't see any extra charges on your bill there.

[rcs2k4]

Oh, I should explain... The contract charges are not shown, thats just my allowances screen. I'm on what Three call the one plan - It's 5000 same network minutes, 5000 texts, 2000 any other network/landline minutes and unlimited data. I feel bad bringing it up now, but it's a flat fee of £20 a month.

That extra £73.05 is on top of the £20 and should not be there (as it's for only a pathetic 1.4MB of data @ £73 - WTF). Still, this is an expensive tariff here (on a network no-one likes admittedly). I think i'll keep quiet, as I didn't realise it was just soo much more expensive across the pond?

[derFunkenstein]

is that an overage fee you're paying that they goofed up on? That does suck in any country.

[Captain Ned]

For the privilege of three Droids with unlimited data (swapped phones the last possible day) & unlimited text, plus 2400 pooled minutes (includes the basic no-text no-data phone we gave the MiL), I write a check to VZW for about $270/mo.

[rcs2k4]

is that an overage fee you're paying that they goofed up on? That does suck in any country.

I don't think so, they said that my data usage in this billing cycle is currently at approx 350MB and is not considered high usage. I guess a FUP kicks in if your really milking it, but I don't know where thats set. Definatly not at a provisional 1GB for this month.

They never said why this has happened, but it looks to me like a really random and high charge for a little snippet of data (It's not gone up since btw, and my Lumia's still tweeting and facebooking). Very odd.

[thegleek]

They never said why this has happened, but it looks to me like a really random and high charge for a little snippet of data (It's not gone up since btw, and my Lumia's still tweeting and facebooking). Very odd.

You'd be seriously surprised on HOW much background sync'n goes on with smart phones these days. with OUT an unlimited plan, yer just waiting for trouble to happen (mo money mo money)

[TDIdriver]

but it says "All-you-can-eat data" in his allowances...

[Captain Ned]

but it says "All-you-can-eat data" in his allowances...

Which means a billing computer barfed somewhere and it'll take several months to peel back the onion to figure out why.

Besides, here in the US "unlimited" rarely means unlimited.

[mikehodges2]

Wow, you guys pay a fortune! I'm on a rolling contract with O2, which has unlimited data, and only costs me £15 a month

Oddly, back when the data caps came in, my T&Cs intro'd a 500MB cap, but when I was checking them before I got my iPhone in October, it had vanished, replaced with a vague "If you use so much that it affects other users.." section. I went over the 500MB cap the first couple of months, when I had spotify, but haven't gone anywhere near it since I cancelled the subscription. Everywhere I go has wifi anyway...

[MrJP]

I just ditched 3 because I was getting lots of calls around contract renewal time from unrelated companies who had all my current contact details. I haven't published this stuff anywhere, so 3 must have lost/sold my details somewhere along the line. I just don't trust them anymore, and every contact with customer support along the way has been a painful experience. I get a good deal on Vodafone through work, so I'm giving that a go instead. They won't have to try too hard to beat 3.

[Washer]

You'd be seriously surprised on HOW much background sync'n goes on with smart phones these days. with OUT an unlimited plan, yer just waiting for trouble to happen (mo money mo money)

Eh... I think you'd be surprised how many people with smartphones just stick to WiFi. I keep my data disabled the vast majority of the time. My work, my house, and the down town of where I live are all covered by free WiFi.

[Philldoe]

Geez, you guys pay a lot for your phones. I have a plan with AT&T with unlimited data for only about $50 a month. I have the lowest possible talk time and no texting. I do my texts through google voice. Everyone in my area has AT&T because Bluegrass Cellular sucks so I don't really use my air time. I'm getting by easy.

[derFunkenstein]

Honestly, I'm on a pre-paid plan that gets me 750 talk minutes/web minutes (at some slow-ass speed)/texts for $25/mo. It's a dumb java phone made by LG. My wife has the same phone and the same plan. Neither of us have come close to using all of that. So for the two of us and a combined 1500 units of whatever, it's $50/mo. I think MVNOs are beautiful. You guys on actual carriers with contracts keep on subsidizing the network so I don't have to, ok?

[glacius555]

Are you sure that it is indeed 1.5 MB they meant? Coz I'd expect Lumia or any other MS phone to send 1-1.5 MB of data back to MS, whether you want it or not. My Samsung Omnia 7 does that, despite all my limitations to prevent that..

[Captain Ned]

You guys on actual carriers with contracts keep on subsidizing the network so I don't have to, ok?

I'm a corner case, but I often find myself working in spots with no 'Net access. Since I no longer carry hard copy of any of the laws/regulations, I sorta need the 'Net. I pay VZW what I do because I can root my Droid (and the 2 others in the household), tether it/them to my work lappy, and not run into their tether block.

Of the $270 I quoted for 4 phones, the 3 smartphones each have $45/mo data plans. I know I'm overpaying now, but I get to grandfather my unlimited data as long as I don't change phones. Given 4G battery life issues, I'm OK with where I am now. The ability to kill MotoBlur is a godsend (YMMV).

[Vrock]

only $115.4628 US dollars for 1 month? that's NORMAL my friend. lol, i pay that every month for unlimited data service.

Er...you are paying way, way too much then.

[Vrock]

Geez, you guys pay a lot for your phones. I have a plan with AT&T with unlimited data for only about $50 a month. I have the lowest possible talk time and no texting. I do my texts through google voice. Everyone in my area has AT&T because Bluegrass Cellular sucks so I don't really use my air time. I'm getting by easy.

You know you're in a crappy cell phone coverage area when AT&T is the best option, sheesh.

[Compton]

You guys on actual carriers with contracts keep on subsidizing the network so I don't have to, ok?

I'm a corner case, but I often find myself working in spots with no 'Net access. Since I no longer carry hard copy of any of the laws/regulations, I sorta need the 'Net. I pay VZW what I do because I can root my Droid (and the 2 others in the household), tether it/them to my work lappy, and not run into their tether block.

Of the $270 I quoted for 4 phones, the 3 smartphones each have $45/mo data plans. I know I'm overpaying now, but I get to grandfather my unlimited data as long as I don't change phones. Given 4G battery life issues, I'm OK with where I am now. The ability to kill MotoBlur is a godsend (YMMV).

Whoa....

I got grandfathered in on unlimited data @ $30/month for my VZW line. When I went to get a new phone (and I asked for months prior), I was told when I got a new phone it would carry over. I checked one last time with a rep before I took the plunge and signed a new contract (I refused for years and had been buying phones on the Ebay). So I'm getting unlimited data on my phone for what is supposed to be $30/month with Big Red.

I hope I haven't been lied to. Wouldn't be the first time.

[thegleek]

only $115.4628 US dollars for 1 month? that's NORMAL my friend. lol, i pay that every month for unlimited data service.

Er...you are paying way, way too much then.

I know. And I have no clue what to do about it. It doesn't seem that there exists anything cheaper that will handle 2 smart phones. Lemme post what's up...

First off, I am in a 2-year contract with T-Mobile. Both our smart phones are MyTouch 4G.

What's included in the plans/services I'm paying for:


Not sure why the summary of charges comes up to $195.96/mo, but here it is:


The "actual" charge per month comes up to be around $170/mo for 2 phones:


The only place I can see to shave $16 off my bill is to get rid of the insurance on both phones.

Here is our "actual" usage per line:

[Philldoe]

Honestly, I'm on a pre-paid plan that gets me 750 talk minutes/web minutes (at some slow-ass speed)/texts for $25/mo. It's a dumb java phone made by LG. My wife has the same phone and the same plan. Neither of us have come close to using all of that. So for the two of us and a combined 1500 units of whatever, it's $50/mo. I think MVNOs are beautiful. You guys on actual carriers with contracts keep on subsidizing the network so I don't have to, ok?

I buy my phones at full price, Contracts are a no-no for me.

Geez, you guys pay a lot for your phones. I have a plan with AT&T with unlimited data for only about $50 a month. I have the lowest possible talk time and no texting. I do my texts through google voice. Everyone in my area has AT&T because Bluegrass Cellular sucks so I don't really use my air time. I'm getting by easy.

You know you're in a crappy cell phone coverage area when AT&T is the best option, sheesh.

Normally I'd agree. But AT&T is actually pretty awsome in my area. Bluegrass is just a Kentucky-fied version of Verizon that has horrid Customer Support and just generally crappy service. AT&T has worked hard to be dominant in this area and they really do a good job. (VZW won't let me get a cell phone with them, they refer me to Bluegrass)

I'm not saying AT&T as a whole is good, last time I went to Ohio I hated having to use my phone.