How To Stop Ais Stealing B48 From My Payg A/c Each Month?

[Trevor]

In June 2007 I bought a B99 pay-as-you-go SIM card from an AIS distributor in Nong Khai. One year's validity without topping up, B2 first minute, then B1 per minute.

Calls seemed to be charged at the stated rates but I soon received an SMS notification about some stinking AIS picture messaging promotion with a monthly fee of B100 or B150. Took it to AIS shop at Future Park, Rangsit ... said they couldn't predict whether I would have money deducted for this unrequested service each month or not, and they couldn't even stop it for me -- what a farce. Now I've found they have taken precisely B48 off my balance in late June and late July 2007 for no reason. Bunch of thieving criminals, just like their founder. Seems they initially sell SIMs by charging cheap call rates, then cut the customer's balance by means of monthly fees for unrequired services. Why do the good Thai people put up with these sordid business practices, totally illegal in the West?

The AIS website has no means of contacting them (via email) in English, not even a service number -- which I know they would charge me for calling anyway. I can't be bothered to go to an AIS shop again, and have no confidence in their staff anyway. What can I do to claim a refund and stop the deductions? I'll be returning to DTAC once the AIS b*stards have stolen back my remaining balance. Thanks.

[lomatopo]

email: [email protected]

or

dial 1175 from your phone, then press 2 for an English-capable CSR.

I suspect your calling plan requires a monthly fee of 48 baht. But either of the above customer service contacts will be able to explain. You can change your calling plan, dial *777, press 1 to hear current promotions, your current plan or to change plans.

[H2oDunc]

WOWTrev stealing a whole 48 baht from you. How did you manage to survive the rest of the month??????????????? I doubt for 1 minute they stole anything from you. More likely YOU have agreed to pay them 48 baht but dont realise it. As for it being hard to sort, come on get real! just call 1175 and speak to someone and they will sort it. If 48 baht is a major concern to the budget then maybe its time to go home. I know you are going to give me the big WHEHO " its not the money its the principle " crap! It is about the money and yes you are being cheap

[Guest Reimar]

WOWTrev stealing a whole 48 baht from you. How did you manage to survive the rest of the month??????????????? I doubt for 1 minute they stole anything from you. More likely YOU have agreed to pay them 48 baht but dont realise it. As for it being hard to sort, come on get real! just call 1175 and speak to someone and they will sort it. If 48 baht is a major concern to the budget then maybe its time to go home. I know you are going to give me the big WHEHO " its not the money its the principle " crap! It is about the money and yes you are being cheap

I agree to the above!

Baht 99 for a Simcard and calls 2 and 1 a minute!! Wow! How pur he must be if he can't afford to pay 48 baht a month for service?! How much is one bottle of Beer, the cheapest one? I don't know becaus I didn't drink any alcohol but I can pay for my mobile and other services I take from someone!

[Guest Reimar]

Oh and by the way: Have to be carefull to talk about "stealing" may it can be a "shot" with an "beck-fire"!

And better to proof yourself and all what you do before you try to do with others!

[cdnvic]

Let's all pass the hat around and try to get Trev back on his feet after being robbed

[Trevor]

email: [email protected]

or

dial 1175 from your phone, then press 2 for an English-capable CSR.

I suspect your calling plan requires a monthly fee of 48 baht. But either of the above customer service contacts will be able to explain. You can change your calling plan, dial *777, press 1 to hear current promotions, your current plan or to change plans.

The email is actually [email protected] . Thanks for the contact info, which is not available at their website via a Google search; DTAC's site is better, and more transparent, though not perfect. AIS did reply to my email. The problem partly stemmed from lack of honesty on the part of the shop selling the SIM, and the accompanying literature from AIS. Basically the B2, then B1 rates were only a 30-day promotion, which subsequently doubled, and doubled again when calling to 'other networks', i.e. most calls. So as a previous DTAC-user on a flat and honest B2 per minute tariff I was suckered-in by the B1 rate. However, there is still substantial credit from my balance missing, and I've asked them to look into it; not holding my breath, though!

I think the flippant replies here were uncalled-for. This is a serious discussion on call charges. A friend bought another type of DTAC card only to find the charges were way above those stated on their website. He subsequently reverted to the flat B2 promotion which worked OK. In the past I've had to stop an AIS ring-melody service which was added and debited monthly without my permission; no refund was available for the period prior to when I realised what was going on. So foreigners here are well-advised to keep a sharp eye on usage and unexpected deductions due to the sharp practices of the phone companies, which they wouldn't get away with in the West. Thankfully calls are still relatively cheap here, so I won't be needing the collection hat. Thanks all the same!

[calibanjr.]

If you need to do a face2face, hit telewiz, they're kind of AIS agents anyway.

[Guest Reimar]

If you ever read the small printing you'll find one sentences: All Service Charges are Subject to change without prior notice! Period!

Things you done wrong wasn't to complain but to tell in public that those company is "Stealing" your money! With this kind of "speeches" you must be very carefull!

[jasreeve17]

If you ever read the small printing you'll find one sentences: All Service Charges are Subject to change without prior notice! Period!

Things you done wrong wasn't to complain but to tell in public that those company is "Stealing" your money! With this kind of "speeches" you must be very carefull!

Reimar, get back to your exciting computer projects if you can't add anything other than criticism...

[Guest Reimar]

If you ever read the small printing you'll find one sentences: All Service Charges are Subject to change without prior notice! Period!

Things you done wrong wasn't to complain but to tell in public that those company is "Stealing" your money! With this kind of "speeches" you must be very carefull!

Reimar, get back to your exciting computer projects if you can't add anything other than criticism...

That have nothing to do with critics! I also do not like many things what they doing and if I have a real proof I'll go against them. But without proof you need to be very carefull. And that's already what he din't have: a proof!

If someone of the readers think that was ciritic from my side I'll frankly ask for an excuse, may I don't use the right words!

[Naam]

Let's all pass the hat around and try to get Trev back on his feet after being robbed

is Trev a twin brother of Weho?

[jasreeve17]

If you ever read the small printing you'll find one sentences: All Service Charges are Subject to change without prior notice! Period!

Things you done wrong wasn't to complain but to tell in public that those company is "Stealing" your money! With this kind of "speeches" you must be very carefull!

Reimar, get back to your exciting computer projects if you can't add anything other than criticism...

That have nothing to do with critics! I also do not like many things what they doing and if I have a real proof I'll go against them. But without proof you need to be very carefull. And that's already what he din't have: a proof!

If someone of the readers think that was ciritic from my side I'll frankly ask for an excuse, may I don't use the right words!

You're not a native speaker, but that's no problem, I wish that I could write another language as well as you do.

My point is that the telecoms companies here are awful with their charging / billing tactics. Everyone knows that, including the CEO's who are always "at each other" with complaints...

Picking on the postee because he didn't use the correct legal language, on this informal forum, is pointless. He is basically correct, in that this sector needs (and has needed for many years) good regulation.

Though, to be fair to Thailand, this particular market sector is a problem all over the World, with consistent complaints, legal battles and government fines.

[Guest Reimar]

You're not a native speaker, but that's no problem, I wish that I could write another language as well as you do.

My point is that the telecoms companies here are awful with their charging / billing tactics. Everyone knows that, including the CEO's who are always "at each other" with complaints...

Picking on the postee because he didn't use the correct legal language, on this informal forum, is pointless. He is basically correct, in that this sector needs (and has needed for many years) good regulation.

Though, to be fair to Thailand, this particular market sector is a problem all over the World, with consistent complaints, legal battles and government fines.

jasreeve17:

You see, I don't mind to go against someone or an organization if I've the proof of them's wrong doing!

I've done this against CS-Loxinfo and won the case even as they was trying 3 times to start a legal action against me but finally they have to pay back what I've paid to them. A lot critics about my action against CS-Loxinfo on this forum that time, most of them funny wise by pm and not posted on the forum, not any offers to "help" in my "war" against CS-L, advices to stop my actions because is useless and and and!

I dont like many things what this Phone/Service companies doing. But that isn't the point! The point is that the OP publicly announced that the Phone Company "steal" his money. And if I wrote against this I wasn't mean it as critic I meant it as advice to be carefull with publication like that, special those days! And one thing you can be sure, all this companies having some staff who just reading around in the forums. This ist for TRUE, for TOT, for DTac and for AIS and all others as well not to talk about the Government!

Critics by the way fine as long as they fundamental and I like that but I do not like critics which going to far to personell, not on public that should be done in an quiet envoriment.

As most of the humans know very well: Humans are very imperfect and I like to be so for my own person.

[jasreeve17]

Your views are fair enough Reimar.

However, I think that most people would disagree with you.

This forum is an informal place to exchange ideas and information. If I want to say that I think AIS are unprofessional thieving barstadoses with an awful level of customer service, I will.

I am not worried about an AIS "spy" on the site.

I am aware of libel and slander legalities. I'm also aware of my consumer rights. My rights to voice my opinions. Your rights to disagree...

[Guest Reimar]

Your views are fair enough Reimar.

However, I think that most people would disagree with you.

This forum is an informal place to exchange ideas and information. If I want to say that I think AIS are unprofessional thieving barstadoses with an awful level of customer service, I will.

I am not worried about an AIS "spy" on the site.

I am aware of libel and slander legalities. I'm also aware of my consumer rights. My rights to voice my opinions. Your rights to disagree...

I do know very well that the most will disagree with me! But that do not means that I'll change my "way"! And everybody will go thems own way. And that's ok! But one thing we shouldn't forget: The voice makes the music but how that music will be?!

Anyway thanks for your answers and I would others go the same way.

[chevykanteve]

WOWTrev stealing a whole 48 baht from you. How did you manage to survive the rest of the month??????????????? I doubt for 1 minute they stole anything from you. More likely YOU have agreed to pay them 48 baht but dont realise it. As for it being hard to sort, come on get real! just call 1175 and speak to someone and they will sort it. If 48 baht is a major concern to the budget then maybe its time to go home. I know you are going to give me the big WHEHO " its not the money its the principle " crap! It is about the money and yes you are being cheap

The OP was merely questioning. No need to verbally bludgeon him with (possibly unfounded) accusations of "cheapskateness".

[nikster]

In June 2007 I bought a B99 pay-as-you-go SIM card from an AIS distributor in Nong Khai. One year's validity without topping up, B2 first minute, then B1 per minute.

You know what they say... if it sounds too good to be true, that's probably because it is! If its valid for one year, it would make sense that it has a monthly use fee or minimum monthly use or something like that.

No excuse for these companies to rip everyone off with their byzantine promotions and offerings - you at least are in a good position of being able to recognize when you are getting ripped off and being able to correct it. The customer service in english is generally pretty good - a lot better than in thai too because way fewer calls. I know there are many poor and uneducated Thais that will not figure this out and for whom 49 baht is actually money. So count yourself lucky

To be honest, if they deducted 49 Bht from me every month, I would never notice. I just buy refills whenever I run out. I might call and ask now, so thanks for the warning.

I don't find the snide remarks appropriate either - Is it OK to get ripped off when it's a small amount? Most likely it was part of the promotion but also most likely that was anything but clear when signing up for it...

[OneeyedJohn]

I think ais are crooks as well in that they hide the real costs. Their promotion a while ago ( less than a year ) was for free calls between 5 - 5 am and pm by you buying 300 baht credit per month. This is why I acquired a second phone to allow my wife to yap all day with her friends for what was virtually nothing.

I might be wrong ....was it Dtac with this offer ??

The thing is on the last day of the month where you had to refill with this offer her attempts to refill failed because the whole network was down, subsequently resulting in a loss of hundreds of baht credit as she was informed the offer was no more.

Anyway my phone is ais and if I want to cal 1175 call centre it is chargeable.

If I want to change plans they deduct 35 Baht for the pleasure.

If they suddenly decide to discontinue a plan without notifying me, I end up paying for calls at a higher rate.

I agree with Op in that the staff selling this stuff are blatantly hiding the truth.

Usual story, ask a difficult question and what do you get in response.

Edited August 5, 2007 by OneeyedJohn

[calibanjr.]

I think ais are crooks as well in that they hide the real costs. Their promotion a while ago ( less than a year ) was for free calls between 5 - 5 am and pm by you buying 300 baht credit per month. This is why I acquired a second phone to allow my wife to yap all day with her friends for what was virtually nothing.

I might be wrong ....was it Dtac with this offer ??

The thing is on the last day of the month where you had to refill with this offer her attempts to refill failed because the whole network was down, subsequently resulting in a loss of hundreds of baht credit as she was informed the offer was no more.

Anyway my phone is ais and if I want to cal 1175 call centre it is chargeable.

If I want to change plans they deduct 35 Baht for the pleasure.

If they suddenly decide to discontinue a plan without notifying me, I end up paying for calls at a higher rate.

I agree with Op in that the staff selling this stuff are blatantly hiding the truth.

Usual story, ask a difficult question and what do you get in response.

It's actually 199 THB per month, 5am-5pm within AIS network unlimited, outside the hours or the network, 3THB first min. and 1THB thereafter, they call it "DAY CALL" Never had a problem, been using this promotion for 7 months I think, had one similar before that, basically keeps my phone expense at 3-4 hundred baht/mo. since my wife and friends are almost all AIS.

Not to be didactic or whatever, but I recommend you and your wife go to telewiz and find out exactly what you want and have them do it for you, things might be clearer, but, as always, TIT!

[raro]

Let's all pass the hat around and try to get Trev back on his feet after being robbed

is Trev a twin brother of Weho?

That was my first thought when I saw the topic title

And in all fairness, if AIS charges 48 Baht for a service not ordered, it is robbery and I would have raised hel_l at the shop and later also at their headoffice. It is not about the amount, it is about the principle and 48 Baht from a lot of customers is a lot of money wrongfully collected!

However, read the fineprint of your contract before sticking your head too far out of the window!