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Pedicures, and the Utter Absurdity of Data Roaming Charges
Posted Tue 30 October 2007 @ 9:12 a.m. by Ernie
I got the following message from a distraught Telecom Mobile customer in my in-box this morning:

"I worked for 2 days in Australia last week remotely and had discovered prior that the resort did not supply broadband. So I rang Telecom to ask for options, and they suggested using my Telecom Data Card, with a cost of  $8 per megabyte download. This didn't sound so bad so based on this information, I spent approximately 15 hours consciously aware that I was not to open any email attachments if I were to keep the downloads to a minimum.  I did, however, manage a huge amount of emails, that were 9 times out of 10 one line requests or responses. I have just received an invoice from Telecom for over $1000 just for those roaming hours.  This equates to around $70 per hour of email management. If I had known, I would have booked into the Hyatt, had several luxurious spa treatments, and hooked up their in-house broadband whilst having my toe nails manicured at the same time!"

Now come on, mobile operators! How does $1000 relate to your underlying costs? Surely charges like this are really a form of entrapment for innocent customers who go to use your services in good faith?

Until there is some sanity in international data roaming charges, any corporate that allows the use of mobile data services overseas has rocks in its head. Beware all!
 
Categories: Light relief | TUANZ policy | Wireless carriers
     
Comments (4)

4 Comments

M Freitas says:
It is always cheaper to use WiFi at a cafe or the in room broadband than mobile roaming. People should be aware of this.
Added: 30 October 2007, 10:52 a.m.

Craig Knights says:
Could the bill have been inflated by Windows Updates or something??
Added: 2 November 2007, 2:18 p.m.

krusta says:
Were you using a Webmail client by chance? These can be particularly heavy on data traffic. It's not silly to arrange hotels based on connectivity options offered (WiFi etc). Could be a great opportunity for travel booking agencies to improve their services?
Added: 2 November 2007, 2:20 p.m.

Perpetual Visitor says:
You should come to Hanoi instead. In my mini hotel the price is $20 a day for the room, clean, tidy and comfortable, broaband included!
Added: 2 November 2007, 3:23 p.m.

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