Smartphone - any unwanted charges/bills?

wazza2004 · 16-06-2012, 03:10

I am thinking of buying a smartphone on a contract. Can i control my bill?

Have heard of some apps which when installed send unauthorised text msgs etc leaving you with a nasty bill. I know that only a few apps do it. I think angry birds apps was on the news a while back.

If this does happen is there something one can do to prevent it apart from not installing apps?

Also what is data packet (i think that is what it is called) which is to do with internet and can increase your bill.

Thanks in advance for your replies

**Maggy** · 16-06-2012, 12:29

Get the deal that suits you data,text and phone call charge wise.Do some homework..go visit online sites,go to your local shopping centre and visit the phone shops.

16-06-2012, 13:03

HI, I would agree with Maggy J do your homework,the three angry birds issue came up with the free app only, if you downloaded it they got their "money" by getting it to send data to your phone in the form of ads! the paid for version did not do this.

I am with three and they do some very good bundle deals with very high data useage,and i have never gone anywhere near my official limit if that is what you are worried about.

As always with smartphones you have to be careful what you download if in doubt do not download,as some apps are data as well as battery heavy.

The thing i always do is my research on the net then go see when your armed with some info and can ask questions.

pengedragon · 16-06-2012, 13:14

its fairly straightforward to manage data, you can switch off apps as and when needed

techguyone · 17-06-2012, 16:20

use Wi-Fi as much as you can, when leaving phone like overnight etc, go to Airplane mode, no danger of any data getting out then.
Switching to 2G also, minimises a lot of data usage as the pipe is too small to let much in/out

grim reaper · 17-06-2012, 17:32

yup ... simply turn off the 3g when you aren't using it and no data can get in or out thus no unepected bills

wazza2004 · 17-06-2012, 22:24

Thanks for the replies

Telly_ · 17-06-2012, 22:32

If you're worried about data charges go with 3's oneplan. I use it often when called to London as I can tether my iPad. It has unlimited data and allows tethering.

I must be honest though, my phone, iPad, Car are part of a works package lol. So I don't actually know what my works phone bill is. I do have a iPhone 4s with 3 on the one plan of my own and its never gone over its bill once.

But then I have nether used it for tethering.

ZeroZero · 29-06-2012, 16:21

In January i bought a smartphone. I had a old contract with no data charges. I phoned Virgin to ask for some data and to renegotiate my contract. I was told I could have 1 gigabyte of data 'free' per month if I increased my payment by Â£2 per month. I agreed.
Virgin dont sent an itemised bill and the only page internet explorer 9 has trobule in viewing is the bill page - all other virgin media pages work here except that page. So, I didnt really look. It a hassle tracking down the page.

Eventually I realised my bill was too much and I rang virgin and they confrimed that they were charging me 50p for each connection to the internet. I explained I had the 1 gig and they said they would rectify it. They didnt - next bill same thing.
I rang and spoke to a supervisor who told me that there was no such thing as the package I had been offered. By this time we were six months into a new contract.She said there was no comdented evidence from the call on their notes. I told her that Virgin recorded all phone calls and all she had to do would be to listen to the original call. She said she would give me half my money back as 'a good will gesture'. I told her that this was not right. She said she would and would ring me back then next day. She didnt. I made a formal complaint - no answer.
I rang again this time speaking to the team for people that 'are considering leaving'. The team confrimed that I was correct and there WAS a record. Thgey refunded all my money.

I resigned and am now with 02 I keep getting phone calls from Virgin asking me to return. In order to get my number transferred I was told by a virgin operater they had to 'reactivate my account'. I have never received a cancellation confirmation though the SIM is destroyed. I am concerned I will get further bills because plain english seems something Virgn do not understand.
I trie to phone today (at 50p a minute) I hung on for about ten minutes but I just got RAP music. I gave up on this so sent an email.

I do not expect a reply.

Frankly, I dont expect any honesty from Virgn or good service