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Level 1

0 points

AT&T blames iPhone 3G for roaming data charges in excess

This is Outrageous. AT&T Called me Sept. 19 to advise my iPhone service would be cancelled. They are trying to collect $10,000 because the 3G was ROAMING Data in the background ONE day in Frankfurt Germany, 480MB they say.
After 4 HOURS in the phone today (landline) with mutliple customer service agents, a family ready to go on Prozac because of the anxiety caused by this issue, and much heartburn on myself, I am without service and with a Billing Problem that AT&T does not want to take responsibility for.

I swear to GOD, I did not use such amount of Braodband and I certainly can not afford to pay such large sum just because AT&T says so; fine print or not, this is plain burglary!

AT&T customer services blames the iPhone 3G as a device which constantly "in the Background retrieves data from the network", in other words, the data and broadband was not a direct request of me, the consumer, and therefore not a practical application or service rendered, if in fact the 3G pulled such large amount of data as AT&T claims it did.
If someone have had this problem, of hidden, surprise, OUTRAGEOUS charges, and know a way to resolve, please advise. The AT&T customer service people on the telephone have no authority to investigate and clarify. They cannot offer proof of what are 480MB consisting of, and simply demmand immediate payment if marginally reducing the amount on the spot.
What an intimidating group of people at AT&T. I really hope someone in AT&T would look at these cases and realize how illogical and senseless it is to follow this inpersonal, irrational, unethical billing practice.
I hope somebody in AT&T, or in the legal world, can help me out of this!

A. Lira
Dallas Texas

iPhone 3G, Mac OS X (10.5.5), iPhone 3G

Posted on Sep 22, 2008 3:41 PM

36 replies

ajrenk

Level 1

4 points

Mar 2, 2009 10:59 AM in response to alfredolira

Hey Alfredo, what happened with this? I just got stuck for $4500 for 48 hours in Canada...

ajrenk

Level 1

4 points

Mar 2, 2009 11:01 AM in response to imagine engine

I got and SMS alert the day AFTER I got back from Canada. A lot of good that did me. THIEVES AND CHEATS!

Tamara

Level 6

13,738 points

Mar 2, 2009 11:11 AM in response to ajrenk

I would go to an ATT store in person with the bill and work up the food chain. The person you get on the phone is the lowest tier of support and can't do anything. I know it's annoying but you may want to be polite at the store and keep the rants at home.

Randy Fast

Level 4

1,426 points

Mar 2, 2009 11:18 AM in response to alfredolira

What did you have turned on for the iPhone to use 480MB in a single day? I just don't see push email, contacts, calenders using that much. Now streaming or something else similar might.

Mar 2, 2009 11:32 AM in response to ajrenk

It is my understanding that you must request international roaming be enabled for your line/number - this is not done automatically by AT&T.

So did you request international roaming be enabled for your account and if so, did you check what the additional cost would be for calls, SMS, and for data via the cellular network while in Canada? And since data roaming is off by default with the iPhone, this must be manually turned on by you.

Are you saying that you did not download or upload anywhere near the data amount you are being charged for while you were in Canada?

tokatta

Level 3

869 points

Mar 2, 2009 11:36 AM in response to ajrenk

I hope you get a breakdown of the bill. I go to canada regularly with Push email enabled and use google maps.

My data bill for 3 days is maybe a $100 to $200.

Mar 2, 2009 1:16 PM in response to alfredolira

How devastating. I hope it works out. I could have my last smartphone on with nothing working in the background so I may have found myself in the same situation. Other than airplane mode and shutting it completely off, how can this be avoided? I'm going to Canada for 4 days or so next month (and we travel there a good amount of time)and am afraid to take my phone. I was hoping to use WIFI atleast and thought turning off data roaming and fetch would be good enough. What about location services and why are they blaming 3g and not Edge? I'm tempted in asking at&t to document it in advance what they advise me in case they give me the wrong info so they'd be responsible. The reps seem to have different answers to one question.

Message was edited by: surferchick2

Mar 2, 2009 1:25 PM in response to surferchick2

Data roaming is turned off by default with the iPhone, which must be manually turned on, so do not turn on data roaming unless you want or need to.

GPS access doesn't cost anything, but not much good without internet access to download maps data with the Maps application for example.

You can enable Airplane mode followed by enabling wi-fi access for wi-fi access only - all other iPhone radios will be off.

Mar 2, 2009 1:41 PM in response to Allan Sampson

Thanks. So on other words, if you want nothing running in the background using data, it has to be in airplane mode or off the entire time? I guess I don't understand how someone could accrue such a bill if not using anything (other than push being on, which would be nominal).

Mar 2, 2009 1:45 PM in response to alfredolira

This is an issue with the iPhone. You never hear about it with other phones. The reason is that most other phones will warn you, where the iPhone doesn't. It requires user intervention. It's not AT&T's fault that you didn't turn it off, it's your own. Next time, RTFM before using a product.

Tamara

Level 6

13,738 points

Mar 2, 2009 1:49 PM in response to Irish John

Data roaming is turned off by default so it is the user's fault if they accrue huge data charges.

Mar 2, 2009 2:07 PM in response to surferchick2

No.

Please read the first sentence in my previous post.

Mar 2, 2009 5:16 PM in response to alfredolira

I would seriously suggest contacting a lawyer local to you near Dallas.

It will be worth the few hundred dollars (if that) for a consultation and a demand letter may go a long way in settling this ridiculousness at the outset. If you don't you may very well be way too far along before you know it with your credit rating, a lawsuit and possible judgment in AT&T's favor.

You need to get this straightened out, yesterday. Posting here won't get you anywhere with what ATT&T is most certainly deeming a "contractual obligation" on your part to pay for "services rendered".

When I spent 5 weeks in Russia (adopting our baby girl 🙂......you can be SURE I had data roaming off!!

Good luck.

Edit: Just noticed this OP was from September....so, to Ajrenk, I would apply the same to you in Phoenix. Good luck!

Message was edited by: Lear Pilot

Message was edited by: Lear Pilot

carl wolf

Level 6

14,625 points

Mar 3, 2009 12:16 AM in response to alfredolira

"isn't the simple solution here to turn off "roaming" and "3G" when out of the country..."

Of course, unfortunately that would mean that the user has some responsibility for his actions. The OP seems to be a person of drama, and refuses to acknowledge any responsibility. Fun reading, though.

Mar 3, 2009 1:06 AM in response to carl wolf

I've never had any problems with my iphone when I travel in Europe. I always turn of the push feature/any features that require the phone to get info(i.e., email, apps, browser, etc.). Better yet--spend a couple of bucks and get a cheap unlocked phone plus SIM when you get to that country. Will save $$$ and headaches. Never had any problems with ATT when traveling with my iphone in Europe. It also helps to take the time to read ATTs info on international text/data rates. I guess many will not admit that they didn't read the information. Interesting how some people blame others for their ignorance.

AT&T blames iPhone 3G for roaming data charges in excess