Contract

[arkani]

i've just logged into my account, and had a nasty surprise.

I'm on a $49 cap, for my phone, and a $30 plan for my internet.

All up, it totals somewhere about the $80 a month mark for my bill.

I don't have any excess data usage that i'm aware of, but then, I haven't actually seen my bill come in yet.

Last month, when I had my first bill, I was in credit just over $100, due to an agreement with the store I got my phone from.

I should still have about $20 of that credit still, why is my bill so high?

[Nick]

Hi arkani,

When your bill is generated, it will show the credit that was applied by the staff in store, as well as any excess data/calls that may have been used. You should also be able to see any credit remaining from the staff in store, which will be taken from the bill.

Once you receive your bill, are you able to get back to me if you are still confused about the credits and charges on it? At that stage I will be able to check out what has happened if required.

Thanks,

Nick

[arkani]

Hi Nick,

Well, my bill hasn't turned up on my account yet (but is listed on the iphone app, even though I can't access it - weird) but i'll definetly take you up on that if I need explainations.

It just strikes me as REALLY WEIRD and annoying in a way - I look at my usage *every day*, assuming it's excess usage - like I said, I can't see if it is or isn't yet -  to see how it's going, so it's not like i'm just downloading willy-nilly.

It's been 3 days inclusive since the new month rollover, any idea when I should be seeing that bill?

And would it be better to pay some of the bill now, or wait until I get the bill?

[arkani]

After reading this, the Re: Excessive and Unexplained Data Usage thread ( http://community.vodafone.com.au/t5/Contract/Excessive-and-Unexplained-Data-Usage/td-p/50447/page/8 ) I have a few comments to make, excpecially that there is, after reading it, it may be appliccable..

The social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are definitely free when accessed using the official application or the m.facebook or m.twitter site. If you view a video that a friend has posted on Facebook or Twitter, this is not included in the free access. The Facebook Messenger application is also not included with the infinite social networking.

Really? So You only get limited usage of something that is claimed to have Unlimited usage of?
Where does it state, on the booklets that I can get from the stores, Or on the internet where the plans etc are, that this is the case? Because I certianly didn't see it when I was going into the contract.
Explain to me what the point of being able to use Twitter and Facebook is, then? isn'tfacebook and twitter MEANT to be used to view other's thoughts, pictures, videos, social networking?

This was also something that was NOT told to me during the process of getting this plan and phone - I was assured that unlimited usage meant exactly that.

Do you always close your application after use? If you unlock your iPhone and double click on the round button at the bottom of the screen, this shows you all your open applications which are running in the background, you can scroll across to see all the ones being used. To close these press down on them and hold and then you can close and re open when you need to use again.

Whyyyy is this NOT explained to you when you go into the contract with an iPhone? I understand that looking at the manual is a well and good thing, and it should be done, but after a year with an old iPhone 3, and never knowing about this feature - and therefore never having shut down an app like that, and NEVER having one excess usage bill while having it... I don't buy that my apps were eating that much data.

I have the same apps on the old phone as the new phone, and the other ones I have put on don't connect to the game center, or whatever it's called.

I have all my apps set to manual/no pushing/off - whatever the option is, to NOT have any internet / data action without my doing it.
Does this mean, that with the apps I closed, but not 'properly', that they would still chew data if I have told them *not* to?

[arkani]

My bill has finally come in!

NO excess usage.

but, this did get my attention:

Mobile Payment Plan
Mobile Payment Plan 13-Feb to 10-Mar No 1 $5.00
Final Charges for MPP No 1 $184.00
Sub Total 1 $189.00

WHAT IS THIS MADNESS?

Why is there a 200 addition to my bill?

I don't understand!

[Bart]

---

arkani wrote:

but, this did get my attention:

Mobile Payment Plan
Mobile Payment Plan 13-Feb to 10-Mar No 1 $5.00
Final Charges for MPP No 1 $184.00
Sub Total 1 $189.00

---

Hi arkani,

A charge listed as 'Final charges for MPP' refer to a mobile payment plan that has been ended early either as part of an upgrade and starting a new mobile payment plan, manual payout of the mobile payment plan, or the starting of a new mobile payment plan (you're not able to have two running at the same time).

You mentioned in your post above that you've recently updated from an iPhone 3, did you have an existing mobile payment plan when you completed the upgrade? Keep in mind that a mobile payment plan can be taken out at any time and so may have different start/end dates to your connection's commitment.

Rest assured we'll work with you to ensure you're aware of what you're being charged for.

Thanks, Bart.

[arkani]

Hi Bart,

My old 3 was given to me, and I moved over from a different company to get this phone, so it can't be that.

I don't have any plans that were ended early, either. :/

When I was going through the process of getting this phone, IT decided to give me an extra MBB connection instead of a phone line, would that have anything to do with it?

Also I have a 12 month MBB plan as well, that I got a month or two before I got this phone. Would that have made this happen? (I actually don't use the included pocket wifi 2 thingy that came with it - I have one that I bought outright months ago, and have continued to use that one.)

[Maddie]

My old 3 was given to me, and I moved over from a different company to get this phone, so it can't be that.

I don't have any plans that were ended early, either. :/

When I was going through the process of getting this phone, IT decided to give me an extra MBB connection instead of a phone line, would that have anything to do with it?

Also I have a 12 month MBB plan as well, that I got a month or two before I got this phone. Would that have made this happen? (I actually don't use the included pocket wifi 2 thingy that came with it - I have one that I bought outright months ago, and have continued to use that one.)

Hi Arkani,

You can't get a MBB device on a monthly payment plan (MPP) and therefore you wouldn't be charged a final MPP for your MBB devices.

At this stage I would like to have a look into your account, to determine exactly what you've been charged for. To do this I'll need to take our conversation private, as I'll need to confirm some personal details before accessing your account. I've sent you a Private Message explaining how to send this information in. You can access this by clicking here

I'll definitely help clarify these charges after I've investigated your account. 

Thanks, 

Maddie 

[arkani]

No worries Maddie, I'll do that now

[arkani]

Done and done. Now just waiting on call/email