AT&T charges me $6000 (USD) for Mexican roaming internet on my PDA - A vacation horror story
Written by Commodore64 on June 16, 2008 – 9:03 am -
Hello Boys and Girls,
Commodore 64 here once more to expose another seething injustice of man vs. machine. I’m the one that touted AT&T’s excellent EDGE service in articles I’ve written about both the 8125 and the 8525. I’m the one that never said an unfair thing about AT&T in any of my various articles on Mobile Internet or Windows Mobile.
- But now this is a kick in the head.
The “Billing Overview” widget from AT&T’s Account Management website is a screenshot of what happens if you log into my account. Now granted this is not where the story begins. The story began at $6000 as stated in the title of this article. and it goes like this:
My fiance’ and I were lucky enough to get away for a short , but well deserved week of vacationing in one of the more premier all-inclusive resorts in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
When we arrived at our room, I laid my phone to rest knowing nobody would be calling me, however leaving it on only in case a family member or loved one had an emergency of some sort that warranted my attention. I had no qualms with leaving it on because the phone gave me no indication that it was roaming or anything so I didn’t think anything of it.
The phone essentially stayed in the safe that came with our room. Little did I know, devious things were happening at some Mexican telecom.
Fast forward to day 4 of our vacation. Not even 3 days left to the trip. I get a text message stating my account is showing unusually high activity and that I should specifically call the phone number prescribed in the text message. The only problem was, I didn’t know how to dial back to the US, the phone wasn’t getting my calls through. Most likely I wasn’t dialing the country codes correctly. No go.
So I got on my phone to try to browse the AT&T website to find some clue as to how I can possibly get in touch with ANYBODY at AT&T to figure out what the damages were. Finally after about an hour of worrisome browsing around on my phone, I found a phone number to call. I also had to learn how to dial out. Apparently you can hold down the “0″ key and get a “+” plus sign. This magical “+” is what allows normal human beings to communicate beyond geographic boundaries.
Needless to say, by this time, my fiance’ and I were very distraught over all of this, as the vacation was already costing us an arm and a leg to begin with.
After about 15 minutes of hold time (while roaming!) I finally got through to the person who had actually sent me the text message, and came to find my phone bill was $6000+ dollars!
My first reaction was “Is that in US dollars? Clearly this must be a mix-up between Pesos and Dollars.” (the current exchange rate is roughly 10 pesos = $1)
This lady was trying to tell me that for the price of a brand new Hyundai, in good old US American Dollars I can have some internet in Mexico!
Not all is lost.
The lady on the phone was kind enough to prorate my account to have a 20MB international data roaming plan. Which basically means for $29.99 I get my $6000 phone bill chopped down to $1900+ dollars that you see in the pic above. A substantial step, but nonetheless, $1900 is still the price of something you can drive away in, not the price of wireless internet. Still completely unfair pricing on the part of AT&T.
The way I see it one of three things is happening here:
- AT&T has secured a complete monopoly over the price of wireless internet abroad, in which case they are completely price gouging it’s hapless customers who might wander into some accidental PDA internet usage while away on vacation. This means federale monopoly busting is in order.
- AT&T is being swindled by the Mexican telecoms who themselves have secured a monopoly on wireless internet provision. This means that AT& is being price gouged and is passing the gouging along to me, the customer. Basically they are throwing me to the Mexican wolves and might even be looking to make an example of me. Sadly, the real moral truth is that AT&T should be protecting me from situations like this.
- Someone on the AT&T side forgot to convert the Mexican Peso to US Dollars. In which case I actually owed $600 which was proactively reduced to what is now $190. This is perfectly normal pricing and I would pay anywhere between $190 and $600 promptly and this whole ordeal would be forgotten
When I had asked the CSR on the phone why I wasn’t informed earlier of impending financial distress, for example when the bill hit $1000 rather than $6000, she stated that AT&T was not informed of this by the Mexican telecom until it was too late. She stated that I was informed as soon as they were informed.
So what recourse do I have? Writing this article is one of them. Filing a formal complaint with the better business bureau is another. Who knows maybe a lawyer will want to pick up the case. In the end I’d rather pay the lawyer some money than AT&T. I feel that in this case a lawyer would be more deserving of that $1900 than AT&T would. Take that how you want to.
The fact is, I’ve paid AT&T over $130 per month over the last few years. I’m not the type to skimp for phone service. I believe that for $130+ a month, I should have been informed in a timely manner. I also believe that both myself and AT&T are getting swindled, and rather than sticking up for it’s customers, AT&T is deciding to bow their heads like pussies while I take the brunt of the punishment from the Mexican telecom. I was also adamant at stating that I am willing to pay a reasonable price for overage while data roaming internationally. I believe anything along the lines of $200-$300 for international data usage should more than sufficient , unless they are trying to cover ALL their backbone costs on poor little me. In this case $6000 operating costs for a week of running a Mexican wireless ISP sounds about right.
In the meantime, I’m told that my account is in dispute so I wait.
But, not in any sense of the word, do I wait idly. Actions will be taken on my part if no action is taken on theirs. This ordeal ruined my vacation, and I want to be sure nobody else gets caught out by AT&T like I did. I’ll survive regardless of the amount I have to pay, but some others might be thrown into terrible despair by an incidental $1900 bill.
I will keep this post updated with any progress, forward or backwards, that I come across.
Commodore (can’t afford 64 no more)
Tags: General
Posted in General |
71 Responses
to “AT&T charges me $6000 (USD) for Mexican roaming internet on my PDA - A vacation horror story”
2 Trackback(s)
- Jul 31, 2008: Cell Phone Roaming Horror Stories | Technipages
- Jul 31, 2008: The $6,000 Cell Phone Bill ~ OzTech
By El Di Pablo on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
Wow! Commodore! That sucks! I hope everything gets straightened out!
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:02 am
In the end I still had to pay them about $1900 after they sent my acct to collections and threatened to screw up my credit.
I guess all’s well that ends shitty
By Eric on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
That is insane. I have had a few high phone bills before which I thought were AT&T's fault and not mine, but nothing like $6000. I agree with you that AT&T should have notified you earlier. And besides that you weren't even using your phone until you needed to figure out why you were being overcharged.
P.S. the ironic part is that the Google ads on this page are for AT&T :)
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:03 am
Adsense ironies are a dime a dozen today, but i love each one of them. I’m a big fan of irony.
Thanks for reading Eric
-C64
By JoeG on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
Had that been me, I would have gone immediately to the nearest US consulate and complained of theft and price gouging. That is absolutely ridiculous.
And don't give AT&T any leeway here, if they can knock the bill down to $1900 from $6000 by changing your monthly plan, then they can eliminate it entirely. I'd also write complaints against AT&T to the FTC and FCC (both of which have governing power - of some sort - over AT&T).
Man what a suck way to end a vacation. Hope you get it resolved to your satisfaction.
By DigitalTerry on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
Do you know what exact activity you were being charged for? Is it that you were charged for every minute the phone was on? How would one know that a country did that? That is just insane! "Welcome to Mexico, thanks for supporting our cellular infrastructure!"
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:04 am
Yes I was charged for aparently browsing the web, which was on my statment as Kb used.
I paid that for 400 megs of pulling over a period of 8 days.
By AskTheAdmin on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
I saw the ATT ads as well! Talk about great placement! I also feel for you Commodore and hope ATT rectifies the situation. Joe is right that if they can lower the bill by almost a 3rd they can drop it down to almost nothing.
The worst part is that I have ATT as well and have never had these problems including racking up the data points in Costa Rica around a year ago. Is this what we have to look forward to now that the iPhones are all 3g like?
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:06 am
Yes, I believe I saw this coming with my first 8125 phone from ATT. I had found a very under-published way of tethering my internet. Bec of this they saw higher usage on my (unlimited) acct and acted pretty quick after that. Their justification was that because of the relatively smaller screen of a phone compared to a laptop, laptops would cause their users to pull more data on their “unlimited data” plan. I guess “unlimited” has grey area i didint know about…
By Michael on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
Thanks Pablo, I hope so too, because I've had this phone number for like 10 years, and I would hate to have to change it
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:07 am
I ended up keeping my phone # but im with Verizon now and had to pay $1900 to get ATT off my back…
By Michael on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
that is pretty ironic Eric, though i do not discrimnate against AT&T's marketing dept, I do discriminate against their dispute resolution department, and I'm hoping their PR department will catch wind of this as well
By Michael on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
I'm told it was per kilobyte, and that my overage was in the area of 400+ Megabytes. And yes, I do feel like I can now set up shop in Mexico leasing time from Mexican Telecoms for $6000 a week unlimited
By Michael on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
Yeah, my vacation will require a redo. Writing complaints to FCC and FTC sounds like a great idea. Thanks Joe
By Michael on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
It does seem they are catching onto something, but they are clearly taking advantage of this caveat
By FuckATT on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
Good luck with fighting the power but I doubt it will work because I got stuck with a 1200 usd bill that they dropped down from almost 9 grand. They told me in the end that was what they were required to pay to the foreign telco.
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:08 am
so who do you think we should blame? ATT or the foreign Telco?
By Johnny5 on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
So your device was just normally polling the system and your email. Did it say roaming or anytjhing like that? Did it show it was on home service? Do you have a native ATT device (branded as such?) If so then this is an outrage as their phone should have alerted you to the fact BEFORE you the problem occurred.
And good luck with the 6k a week unlimited… Sounds like it would;d be more like 10k/
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:09 am
I agree, and it was a branded ATT device…
By Michael on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
I understand that part, but their supposed to protect themselves, and their customers from such injustices
By Michael on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
Yes I have a Cingular branded 8525 which i purchased right before Cingular became ATT. The phone gave me no indication of any kind of roaming - I even had Edge!
By Bitchy1 on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
That is just wrong! I submitted this article to StumbleUpon hopefully you can get enough attention to get ATT to cave!
As Johnny5 said above (the robot?) if the device is branded then it should have a way to tell you what network its on and if you are incurring other add'tl charges.
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:10 am
Thanks Bitchy… A year later and no dice, but the overwhelming response to my article has given me a warm fuzzy feeling inside…
Thanks for reading and stumbling…
-C64
By Jon on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
As much as I have sympathy for you, this is a basic and novice mistake when traveling. If your phone is on and it is setup for data usage, it will be using it. it is well known about the horrors of traveling in another country and the data prices. As far as telling whether you are off-net, you need to get a code added to your account so it will tell you on your phone.
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:10 am
Seems pretty technical and specific for any average schmo like myself to have known before-hand without learning the hard way first.
Thanks for reading Jon,
-C64
By Michael on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
Not a mistake. I knew quite well that I would pay a fee for using some internet. The mistake on my part was leaving my phone running. But I am willing to pay a human amount of money for the mistake that I made. As I stated, 3, 4, even $500 is fair in my eyes. But $6000 or even $1900 is just too much money to be paying for internet anywhere. It is the price of a small car.
I'm obviously being taken advantage of by somebody. I know the feeling all too well. There is error on my part, but I'm willing to pay fair market value for that error. Not some imaginary number dreamed up by someone looking to make a killing on me and pay all their bills in one shot on one customer.
By Jackn on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
What kind of code gets added? Is this like a sms message? I never want this to happen to me or my family.,Jack
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:11 am
this is the stuff loans are made of…
By NinjaAdmin on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
I don't know about you Jon but have you ever used your data plan abroad? I have and I have never been charged extra if I was on my home network. Now if my phone said MexicanMafia for my carrier I would have thought differently.
I feel for u commodore! and agree with the Admin above that it prob has to do with new stuff in place for the jesus phone.
By Michael on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
I think it's supposed to eb some sort of indicator on the home screen. However I had no such indicator, which would have prevented this fiasco.
By ATTblowsDonkeys on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
Is this the plan they gave you?
DataConnect North America $109.99 per month.**
Take your laptop with you for all of your data needs when you're traveling in Canada or Mexico. This plan includes:
* Unlimited domestic U.S. data usage.
* Up to 100MB of data usage per month in Canada and/or Mexico (on same select Canada and Mexico carriers available with the DataConnect Global plan) $.005/KB (approximately $5/MB) overage rate in Canada and Mexico (on select carriers).
* $.0195/KB rate in all other countries where AT&T currently has data roaming agreements.
* Access to UMTS/EDGE/GPRS where available based upon device capability and network capability.
* One year minimum term required for this plan.
* Currently available in select markets.
if so .05 cents per MB thats what 120gb? or is my math way off? How did they computer ur total? and what $29.99 plan when this $109.99 plan looks lik,e it would have helped you out more?
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:12 am
No thats not the plan they gave me. This was only having to do with the phone, not tethering with a PCMCIA card airmodem…
By AskTheAdmin on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
What great responses! Keep them coming guys I know Commodore appreciates them. Maybe he won't have to continue selling bodily fluids to raise the dough for his att bill!
The att ads are even funnier now as the one below this box says
"Save money on your ATT bill today!"
LMFAO!
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:12 am
Irony - deserves its own song…
By AskTheAdmin on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
Keep reading the fine print that plan says minimum One year obligation. So I don't know how that would work out. But hey ask the CSR next time around!
By Michael on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
I was a sheep being led by my neck. I took whatever they gave me. It's possible that they couldn't prorate that plan for me. All they did was add to my existing plan.
By Aaron on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
Can we chip in? I would like to donate some money towards this cause.
By Michael on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
thanks bitchy1, lets hope att smells this mess
By Michael on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
hahahahahah
By Michael on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
Aaron, the sad truth is I wouldn't want to take the money of kind, generous people such as yourself, to then turn around and hand it over to AT&T on account of their indiscretions and unfair practices.
A thousand thank-you's
be well
By Alexander Muse on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
What a nightmare.
By Michael on Jun 17, 2008 | Reply
Yup, its one of those things that can ruin any vacation. after i heard im in the can for
$6k, i was just moping around the resort after that. Couldnt really bring myself to have any fun.
By Slothman on Jun 17, 2008 | Reply
This guy would like to thank you for your contributions to his billions.
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires0...“> “>http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires0...
By Slothman on Jun 17, 2008 | Reply
This guy would like to thank you for your contributions to his billions.
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires0...“> “>http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires0...
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:13 am
he is sorely welcome
By ATTSUCKS on Jun 17, 2008 | Reply
lOOK A FACE TO PUT WITH THE EVIL!
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:13 am
seems polished and pretty, like most crooks today
By Michael on Jun 17, 2008 | Reply
I have no qualms with him. On the contrary I could learn alot from him. All he has to do is change the policies he hands down to magmt, which in turn hands that down to the CSR's standard operating procedures. Not sure that he even knows about this. I would be flattered if he did. Although price gouging might actually make its way up the corporate ladder, even in Mexico.
By EvilDee on Jun 17, 2008 | Reply
"All he has to do is change the policies he hands down to magmt, which in turn hands that down to the CSR's standard operating procedures."
And turn his billions into hundreds of millions? Never!
By Michael on Jun 17, 2008 | Reply
Oh he's a bastard, I can't argue with reason… I knew that.
By Veronicca on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply
I say screw AT&T. Switch to T-Mobile! No, but seriously, I would write letters to them, BBB, etc. That simply makes no sense. I wish you luck!
By Michael on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply
Thanks Veronicca. I wouldnt want anyone to go through what i went through. I am already in process of submitting this case to BBB online.
By Jay C on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply
Keep us posted!
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:15 am
the long and short in the end is that I submitted thisw story to consumer reports and BBB, both of which told me my article would be published. I haven’t seen it come up in any search results besides right here on AskTheAdmin. I paid them their $1900. Now I’m with Verizon.
By Michael on Jun 18, 2008 | Reply
I most certainly will Jay C
By TheDonkey on Jun 21, 2008 | Reply
Arrived from StumbleUpon, looks like the plan's working :)
Try and get a newsletter thing set up and email my comment email when you get an update :)
On second though, I shall add yoo to my google reader :)
By Jay C on Jul 1, 2008 | Reply
Any new outcome?
By Michael on Jul 1, 2008 | Reply
No new outcome yet, at least not from their part. I did however port my number over to Verizon to try out the new htc touch. Cnet also decided to link to my article here : http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-9981729-16.html...“> “>http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-9981729-16.html...
By Trey D on Sep 5, 2008 | Reply
Wow, for someone smart enough to write up a post you sure don’t understand wireless service very well. First of all, while roaming outside of the US, you are only charged for actual usage (i.e. your phone’s connection to the network) so had your phone really been in a safe and remained untouched you would not have incurred data roaming charges; unless you’re using an iPhone at which point the device connects to the network automatically which is explained in the iPhone terms and conditions which are agreed to at the time of activation. The roaming rates are clearly defined on AT&T’s website (both voice and data) and are easily accessible. Additionally, when dialing the AT&T International Support number, you are not charged as this is an international toll free number (I’ve used it myself). As with most ‘consumer rip-offs’ listed online this boils down to a simple matter of an uneducated consumer failing to take responsibility for their actions and blaming the ‘big-bad company’ for ‘taking advantage of them’. Grow up, be an adult, and ensure that you are informed of the charges you’d incur prior to using a service.
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:21 am
Trey I do appreciate your comments whether they are for me or against me. The fact of the matter is, I wasnt rallying for ATT to make the bill FREE… I just wanted them to charge me a ‘fair’ amount for data usage. I still don’t believe $1900 for 400 megs of data is fair for that time period. I mentioned in my article - I AM COMPLETELY WILLING TO PAY FOR MY MISTAKE. the issue here is GOUGING not CHARGING.
By Jackie on Jan 24, 2009 | Reply
This just happened to my husband and I. we were in mexico for 10 days and wound up with a 700 bill (not 3000, but still much more than we can afford). whats more, we are being charged for roaming in nicaragua!! (in addition to mexico charges). and no, we were never anywhere near nicaragua. i wasnt even carrying my phone around with me, and my husband only made a couple of calls and texts. we even borrowed a family member’s phone so we wouldnt have to use ours. this is really suspicious. not sure what the outcome will be, we’re still working it out. but i got some good tips here. thanks.
Karl L. Gechlik | AskTheAdmin.com Reply:
January 25th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Please come back and let us know how it goes and if you need any assistance! Flucking ATT!
MIRANDA Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
How would you give assistance on this issue?
Karl L. Gechlik | AskTheAdmin.com Reply:
May 9th, 2009 at 4:29 am
write an email/post - put some pressure on the carrier - class action suit?
Commodore64 Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:22 am
so how did that turn out for you Jackie?
By MIRANDA on Apr 25, 2009 | Reply
I got a $6,000 phone bill too! We’re in dispute right now! We had an air card that we keft in the laptop even though we didn’t have the internet on and it was transferring information for a month and a half!! No one called us to warn us!! I am so pissed. $6,341. I feel we were taken advantage of.
aaronblu17 Reply:
May 27th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Lol computers still takes up data even though the internet browser is not on. This is YOUR fault for not shutting off the computer/disabling the internet access.
MIRANDA Reply:
May 27th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Funny because when we spoke with an AT&T representative on the phone, she said that this was not the case, and that a webpage needed to be open to be transferring information. Also, when I bought the card, the sales rep said that the card did not need to be pulled out every time I stopped using the internet. I specifically asked this question because I was trying to decided between buying an Airport card or the USB key.
And Aaronblu, NO, your computer does not transmit data if there are no webpages open or another program that accesses the internet. We had that same card plugged into the computer for 6 months with no problems in our bills until that last month.
Regardless, After two weeks of phone calls between AT&T and myself, the charges were dropped down to $400. Our phone bill is normally $300. Thanks AT&T!
“Oh you so smart”, Aaronblu.
Karl L. Gechlik | AskTheAdmin.com Reply:
May 28th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Don’t blame the user there are clearly no safeguards in place. Seeming you pay your carrier $$$ they should be at least looking out for you when they have to impose other people prices on you in this case the mexican mafia… excuse me Mexican Telecom.
I am very happy to hear you got your bill down to $400! You are obviously a better negotiater than some!
How did you do it? inquiring minds…