[earlyretirementz]

Can any of you help? I called TMobile last month before a trip out of the country to ask if there was any charge to tether my blackberry. I have the international plan and the agent said "no".

I have a Blackberry and never use it for phone calls outside of the country and normally never tether it but I read about it so I called in to ask.

Now I get my bill and it's $2,700! I told them I was going to Brazil and I figured the agent knew Brazil was outside of the USA. Now they are saying there is nothing they can do and I MUST pay it.

Does anyone know of any legal way to get out of paying all of this? They are saying that no agent said that. I didn't call in from my Blackberry to ask. I called their 800 # and they never asked for my cellphone. I asked the question and got the answer.

Does anyone know if there is anything I can do? I don't have the $2,700 now to pay this.

Thanks so much.

[Laura Knotek]

From their Web site. "International Internet service

With T-Mobile Internet, you can access the Internet from locations around the globe�for $10 per MB in Canada and $15 per MB in other countries. Charges will vary depending upon the amount of data you send and receive, and/or the amount of data you download. ** You may be miles from home, but you won�t be far from the information you need."

[earlyretirementz]

Yeah, that's what I was charged. $15 per MB. Apparently there is no charge to access to tether in the USA but they charge $15 per MB outside of the USA. That's why I called in to ask. My mistake for listening to the agent (which I mistakenly believed knew what he was talking about).

They are saying they can't do anything and I must pay it... anyone have any ideas to help fight this?

[Reed McLay]

normally never tether it ...

If I understand correctly, you did use your BlackBerry as a modem is Brazil. It will be simple enough to check your T-Mobile Statement for the daily data use while out of the country.

If you used it, there is no option except to pay for it now. Unfortunatly, you have no evidence that a customer service consultant advised you, one way or the other.

[hudss]

Borrow some TARP money.

[earlyretirementz]

Yes it looks like I'm SOL. Actually my bill was for $700 this month and they said my next bill will be $2,500 + based on what they can see so far for usage. I'm just very lucky that I noticed my online bill today and freaked out when I saw the $700 amount! I guess if I didn't see it I could have spent the next few weeks using it.

What I can't figure out is that I'm not downloading anything. I'm just using it to check emails and surf a few sites but no heavy content.

[Snarfler]

What I can't figure out is that I'm not downloading anything. I'm just using it to check emails and surf a few sites but no heavy content.

Microsoft has a pushed out a few updates in the last week or two, is your laptop set up for automatic MS updates? How about auto updating antivirus software?

[mofoahh]

well according to some calculations its stating you used 166mb if your bill was $2500. unless you left your bb thethered to your laptop for long amounts of time. I wouldnt think checking emails and surfing a few sites will go up to 166mb.

[earlyretirementz]

Mofo,

Exactly! No, I didn't have any large files downloaded. Actually I don't download any music, files, etc. The only thing is many occasionally some files in Outlook but they are no more than 1 MB each and maybe only less than 10. I haven't gotten the 2nd bill yet. They said that will come next month...the one this month was $700 but they said the 2nd definitely is coming and so far it's up to $2,500+.

Is there any way they can verify what the usage is? Any chance they are making a mistake? I don't download heavy files as it's so painstakingly slow via tethering.... Just some emails on Outlook and reading some Yahoo mail, etc.

[fdb8231]

For my info as well as others. Does anyone know if the app TETHER would of helped in this situation? Or would he still of been charged? By the way I'm sorry this happened.

[Laura Knotek]

For my info as well as others. Does anyone know if the app TETHER would of helped in this situation? Or would he still of been charged? By the way I'm sorry this happened.

The data usage still occurs, whether one uses an app or not. That is why folks who use Tether is warned not to exceed 5 GB even in the US. If one goes over 5 GB of data in a month, it tips off the carrier that he is tethering without a carrier's tethering plan.

[earlyretirementz]

I don't think I want to EVER hear the word "tether" after this incident! LOL. So frustrating. I don't think the carriers care if you "tether" in the USA..... in fact I just used the Blackberry Desktop software....

Now I'm scared to try it even in the USA for fear I might somehow get charged..... They said today over and over there is no fee to tether unlimited amounts of data in the USA via T-Mobile..

Can everyone confirm this?

[RACHELLE98023]

I was in the same boat as you. My daughter went to Guam, and the Phillippines to visit her father. Before she left I contacted T-Mo and asked if she was able to use her blackberry overseas/international.. Well, the customer service rep added the internattional package and I asked her questions like if she was to browse on the web will that cover it, she said yes took her name down, date and time etc. When my daughter came back from her trip well I got a bill for $1900.00 and that was just for charges that fell on the billing cyle, of course I was upset contacted T-mo, they found the documentation on hand and apologized saying that the CS Rep gave me wrong information..and could not do anything about the charges. I was so mad, I wrote and email directly to T-Mo, gave the name of the rep, date and time we spoke and I also mentioned I would be contacting the BBB (Better Business Bureau) to file a complaint, and I did exactly that the BBB investigated, got and email from the carrier stating that the best they can do was drop the charges to $500.00, paid that bill and closed out my contract with T-Mobile.

[earlyretirementz]

Hi Rachelle,

Thanks for posting your experience. I knew that other people had to be in this boat. You were VERY smart to write down the name of the agent and the date/time. I called two months ago and can't even remember the exact date I called. It would have been easy if I called from my cellphone/Blackberry but I didn't. I called from a landline phone while I was at the Airport in the American Airlines lounge on one of my business trips. I have approximate dates but not sure which one but it doesn't sound like that matters as T-Mobile just denies it.

They say (of course they won't admit it) they have no record of the call I made. Today they said I'm still responsible for it. They kept denying that they had a record that I called in and said if I didn't call from my Blackberry that I couldn't prove it. It sounds like even contacting the BBB didn't completely help but I'll try that.

I only wish I took down the name of the agent and the date and time. I'll make sure to do that in the future. I'm just glad I got my online bill today and saw the shocking bill or I would have still been using it. I will most likely also close out my account with T-Mobile. It's hard to believe they won't accept some responsibility for giving out wrong information.

I would have just preferred for the agent to have said he didn't know and to check online or something. But to give out wrong information and then get hit with a $3,000 bill is shocking....

I just told my friend about the situation and he joked that he hopes I downloaded some good porn from that! LOL. This will go down in record as the most expensive internet access for a few weeks. I've only been here 3 weeks so that will come out to $1,000 a week in internet access to check emails. Sickening...

Thanks.

[docsmody]

If as it seems TMO randomly may give you bad information, here's what I would do. Call them again, asking the same question, and record the conversation. Check if you live in a 1 party state -- that way you don't have to inform them that its being recorded. Call back until you find one that confirms your original story. Then, if you get them on tape saying that internet usage is included, at that point, ask for a supervisor. Tell them to fix this problem, otherwise you are going to upload this all to youtube and let it go viral on its own. Remind them that they are still being recorded.

I used this with Sprint once when I was promised free 6 PM nights and then was charged $10/month, all while they were coaxing me to renew my contract. Should've seen how fast they started backpeddling once I played the recorded conversation to them to show how shady their own reps can be.

Good luck. its a huge amount. I would definately try some various creative ideas before paying the bill.

[howie]

I don't think I want to EVER hear the word "tether" after this incident! LOL. So frustrating. I don't think the carriers care if you "tether" in the USA..... in fact I just used the Blackberry Desktop software....

Now I'm scared to try it even in the USA for fear I might somehow get charged..... They said today over and over there is no fee to tether unlimited amounts of data in the USA via T-Mobile..

Can everyone confirm this?

T-mobile didn't give you bad information. You just didn't ask the right question(s). T-mobile didn't charge you for tethering, they charged you for using data in another country (whether it was data on the laptop or on the BlackBerry itself). So, to tether in the US or any other country T-mobile doesn't charge you to do that. But, they do charge you data usage in other countries. Even if you weren't tethering, and you had your BlackBerry on, it will rack up data charges outside of the US.

[wicked clown691]

I don't think I want to EVER hear the word "tether" after this incident! LOL. So frustrating. I don't think the carriers care if you "tether" in the USA..... in fact I just used the Blackberry Desktop software....

Now I'm scared to try it even in the USA for fear I might somehow get charged..... They said today over and over there is no fee to tether unlimited amounts of data in the USA via T-Mobile..

Can everyone confirm this?

I can confirm this. Within 6 days of last months billing cycle I tethered my Blackberry curve 8320 for 250MBs of data and it didnt add any extra charges to my bill. I called before hand to make sure of this. Also I used the BB Desktop Manager to connect. Waiting to see how much was in this billing statement.

[iamjustacartoon]

My kid did that one time and i just explaned and they let me off Was not that much $$ though !! I would call them and try to explain it was an honest mistake and not at all intentional. They may work with you if you are a long time customer and see it was just a misunderstanding.

[Splitz]

Hmmm...sounds like in this instance that T-Mobile is not at fault, but the user is...hopefully nobody takes offense.

Whether you have the International Data ($19.99/month only includes emails no surfing) or you just roam Data...you will get charged the $15MB. That's just the way it is. Verizon has a "true" International DAta plan for $60/month.

It is up to the user to find out how much data will be internationally, T-Mobile's website advises how much it is ($10MB in Canada/Mexico, and $15MB everywhere else). Now, I had experience with this, but I was monitoring my usage and writing down how much was downloaded via the connection manager. I got them to half the bill from $600 to $300.

Next time...turn off "Data off while roaming" on your BB Device...or, use it as WiFi only and look for an open webz access.

Sounds like your SOL.

I think it also comes down to T-Mobile not training its CSRs properly.

[SLVR6]

Unfortunately for the OP you are really out of luck. It states right on the website the cost for roaming for voice and data. The "international" package at T-mobile means you can actually use your phone when travelling, that's all. T-mobile is not the most friendly for traveling as they offer no package like VZW and Att. T-mobile has also become VERY strict with forgiving charges recently. My 8320 was dieing while on my trip to France last fall, the battery was shorting out (internally exploding, it twice the size it should be!) And while I thought when it shorted out and turned the phone off, it turns out it was almost off and drawing data since it randomly launched programs. I returned and found out what was happening and tried to talk to them about the bill, no luck (and it was only $300). I wouild highly suggest speaking with retentions quickly to see if they may be any more forgiving, otherwise ask to get on a payment plan. Good luck.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[boondocker]

you shoulda have asked the agent for his id number and name, because they do record calls.

[K Bear]

you shoulda have asked the agent for his id number and name, because they do record calls.

Recorded calls are only kept for a short period of time for quality assurance. Always, always get agreements in writing. If it's not documented, it didn't happen. That's the law!