I refuse this offer that I cannot refuse!

[Seanette]

I have Virgin Mobile. Supposedly, you see a major speed drop once you hit your allotment for the month. I've never used more than about 1/4 of mine, since I'm not into streaming media on my phone, so haven't personally experienced it.

[EricKei]

I find it facinating that in the US you just charge the overage

Wireless companies (not employees, the companies! ) set it up so that you can easily go over the limits *because* they know that doing so will incur the -- at times -- exorbitant overage charges. I believe their usual rationale is that cutting off data (or talk time/minutes) would be poor customer service. Pre-paid/pay-as-you go (no-contract) plans, however, do cut you off as soon as you run out, as they have no way of making you to pay for overages.

Though as a consumer, I do admit that it'd be nice if you could set the data limit to be a hard limit (and it'd no longer work until the monthly reset).

I've looked into this in the past, and was told by more than one company that they *cannot* just cut off data once you pass the limit (which is BS). This was a few years ago, so this has (hopefully) changed since then.

[Ghel]

It sounds like the SC wanted to retroactively make his data limit a hard limit, so he wouldn't have to pay for data he'd already used.

I get an email from Death Star Wireless when I've used 2/3 of my data, which usually happens about 2 days before the end of my billing cycle. So plenty of ways to keep from going over your data usage.

[Catwoman2965]

I don't have that kind of phone (I use a prepaid) so tell me if I'm wrong, but hasn't he already incurred those additional charges? He can't refuse to pay for something he's already used.

Well, can't as in he owes the money. We all know SC's want everything for free.

Yes. That's my understanding of how it works. I did think though, because I have friends who have the red checkmark as their providers, that they get messages as they approach their limit. At which time they either cut back, or if they need to, up their data plan. I don't know if that's something that's done automatically, or you have to set up, but perhaps he did, ignored it, and therefore was charged the over fee.

[notalwaysright]

Yes. That's my understanding of how it works. I did think though, because I have friends who have the red checkmark as their providers, that they get messages as they approach their limit. At which time they either cut back, or if they need to, up their data plan. I don't know if that's something that's done automatically, or you have to set up, but perhaps he did, ignored it, and therefore was charged the over fee.

I believe you have to set it up, at least on my Red Checkmark phone. It is very simple, to a non-SC. Apps>Settings>Data Usage>Limit Data usage & Alert me about data usage.

And I feel like we've had a rash of posts about people wanting money back after they've used whatever it was. The person wanting their money back for gas, for example.

[Mikkel]

Here my phone company will let me go over data limit free BUT when my limit is reached they cut the speed way down. I can still check my email, at least enough to read the mails, and enjoy very limited surfing. Updating large apps is a pain. It can take up to an hour.
I still have an app running to warn me when I'm close to the limit. Why not? It will save me from having very slow internet in the end of the month.

[AccountingDrone]

There are apps to view that and manage your account, but of course that would require one to be *gasp* vigilant and actually pay attention.

There again, if he's got 5 lines (as he claims) data shouldn't be an issue.

And if he does want to go to Death Star, then he'll have to pay for data. I pay for data each month on my mobile share plan (2 lines) and it's only 101 and some change per month.

But then I only have as much data as I need. And how did I figure out how much I needed? They have a handy feature online when I view my account that shows how much data both phones used for the last 3 months.

Not hard at all to figure out. He's just being a cheapskate.

LOL I have one of the legacy unlimited data plans from red checkmark - we got the account before rob even worked for them and even *I* have the data monitoring app installed. I think we originally got the account for smart phone in 02 when I was going to be stuck in hospital and needed it for my phone so i wouldn't go nuts from boredom.

[panamared]

Why try to protect this sort of person. If they want a bad credit score, let em have it
Simple.

[Evannah]

The way I read it is that if he went over his limit, you'd take care of it for him. As in, if he needed to pay the charges, he could phone you up so that he could discuss payment. That, and/or discuss payment plans/contracts that might work for him. That's probably what the employee at the store said.

Customer is entitled and hearing things he wants to hear.

[wolfie]

Wireless companies (not employees, the companies! ) set it up so that you can easily go over the limits *because* they know that doing so will incur the -- at times -- exorbitant overage charges. I believe their usual rationale is that cutting off data (or talk time/minutes) would be poor customer service.

I've looked into this in the past, and was told by more than one company that they *cannot* just cut off data once you pass the limit (which is BS). This was a few years ago, so this has (hopefully) changed since then.

Should be fairly simple to send out automated text messages at 75% and 90% as warnings, then another at 100%. For the 100%, possibly give them an offer that if they call customer service within 24 hours, they can upgrade to the next higher data plan starting with the current billing cycle rather than waiting until the next billing cycle to do the upgrade and paying overage charges for the current cycle.

I get automated texts when I'm in the U.S. telling me that I'm roaming and should sign up for a "roaming package" that will cover a set amount of usage over a specified number of days, for $20. Slight problem - the plan I'm on INCLUDES U.S. roaming.

I get an email from Death Star Wireless when I've used 2/3 of my data, which usually happens about 2 days before the end of my billing cycle. So plenty of ways to keep from going over your data usage.

So what I suggested is DEFINITELY possible from a technical perspective.

Looking at the customer's "logic", why would a phone company set things up so that if someone went over the data usage in their plan, they could call Customer Support and get the overage charges removed? That would essentially be giving unlimited data usage that the customer would need to call in for once per month - so why not dispense with the cost associated with taking the customer service calls and have it be an unlimited plan in the first place?

[taxguykarl]

I get a text at 80% and a text at 100% at which point my data usage is stopped.

Similar to my plan with Red Checkmark--we get one when our data his 50% as well. When I went for an upgraded phone, they offered a plan for more data with the same rate as we hit 90% for several consecutive months.

[EricKei]

Should be fairly simple to send out automated text messages at 75% and 90% as warnings, then another at 100%.

Agreed...but it seems that most places only do so at your request. It's in their best interest that you DO go over your limit, so many do not until prompted.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

It sounds like the SC wanted to retroactively make his data limit a hard limit, so he wouldn't have to pay for data he'd already used.

I get an email from Death Star Wireless when I've used 2/3 of my data, which usually happens about 2 days before the end of my billing cycle. So plenty of ways to keep from going over your data usage.

I've gotten those text messages back when I had a X minutes/month plan. Since I went on the mobile share, I have enough data that I've not (so far, that is) went over the monthly allotment at all.

Of course, if I were to go out of town, that might change. But since I'm usually at work or home (and at home I'm connected to my home wi-fi network) I'm not worried about it.

[mathnerd]

I have four teenagers with smartphones. Data usage is something that can be an issue. Red Checkmark does have quite a few ways to help you keep from going over.

[Aragarthiel]

While I agree with sending texts at certain percentages of call/text/data usage, my husband's provider takes it overboard. He has a prepaid phone and his calls are regularly interrupted with an automated message stating how much of each he has, then it hangs up the call.