Mobile phone rip-off

[Seastallion]

I got a new sim nearly 2 years ago. Started out with 200 bht credit. At the end of each calendar month, I would get a message to top-up. If I didn't top-up credit, my credit was frozen until I topped up again. So I would top up maybe 20 or 50 baht. The amount of credit went up and down, depending on my usage.

Anyway, I gradually built up to 190 baht and they froze the credit again, asking me to top-up.

I was a bit tired of this, so asked wifey to call the telco to ask why they always freeze my account when I have plenty of credit. She did this, and got back to me and said they can give me 4 months at a time. Sounds good....go for it.

Well, those 4 months cost me 30 baht per month! They took 120 baht of my credit, so I can use the remaining 70 baht over the next 4 months

120bt, for nothing. No service rendered.

This is how the rich get richer and the poor poorer.

I'll be glad for any advice on whether or not there is a better telco or a better plan.Or how to complain.

I will not name and shame as it's against the rules.

[chrisinth]

Not sure which company you are with but DTAC offer the extension of service for a couple of baht a month (literally 2 baht a month), up to 180 days i think.

With DTAC, the code is: *113*[number of days to request extension for]*9#[call button]

I would assume other providers will have similar.

[Seastallion]

Not sure which company you are with but DTAC offer the extension of service for a couple of baht a month (literally 2 baht a month), up to 180 days i think.

With DTAC, the code is: *113*[number of days to request extension for]*9#[call button]

I would assume other providers will have similar.

Thanks.

Not DTAC.

What gets me is what is the legal rationale for a company to receive your money and hold it in credit, but disallow you to use that credit after only one month unless you pay more? It's not as if the service costs go up significantly each month. It's not as if you have bought air-time, you have paid for credit against current charges...if call charges go up, your credit goes down faster, which is fine. They are actually impelling you to use it and ransoming your money if you don't spend enough.

[KhunBENQ]

If the topic starter would have named the provider an answer would be easier

"Not DTAC"

Is this the kindergarten.

Bye.

Edited September 22, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[Seastallion]

If the topic starter would have named the provider an answer would be easier

"Not DTAC"

Is this the kindergarten.

Bye.

Well, I did write a sentence, the first three words of which coincidentally had the same initials as the company, but someone has edited it out.

As I said, I am not allowed to name the company by forum rules, even though there may be advice specific to them.

[NanLaew]

Drop this thread (ask a Mod to lock it?) and then open a new thread in the internet-computers-communication-technology forum and simply name it "Can someone explain the [insert your carrier] charging?" Labeling the company as rip-off gets no answers since any responses may be construed as libelous and they do love that sh!t here.

[FritsSikkink]

If the topic starter would have named the provider an answer would be easier

"Not DTAC"

Is this the kindergarten.

Bye.

Well, I did write a sentence, the first three words of which coincidentally had the same initials as the company, but someone has edited it out.

As I said, I am not allowed to name the company by forum rules, even though there may be advice specific to them.

i got 1 2 call and don't have that problem

[topt]

If the topic starter would have named the provider an answer would be easier

"Not DTAC"

Is this the kindergarten.

Bye.

Well, I did write a sentence, the first three words of which coincidentally had the same initials as the company, but someone has edited it out.

As I said, I am not allowed to name the company by forum rules, even though there may be advice specific to them.

i got 1 2 call and don't have that problem

I think I know the issue with 1 2 Call as I had it previously. When you check your balance it will also give you the credit validity. Depending on the amounts you have used and over what period you can easily find you have credit but the validity runs out - usually if you are not using that much. So the service you are getting is to keep your Sim live

With respect they should have explained this to your wife as well as the details on the 30 baht per month. In the past you would normally be able to use in calls for the next 5 days or something so not totally lost. Not sure if this has changed however.

[FritsSikkink]

If the topic starter would have named the provider an answer would be easier

"Not DTAC"

Is this the kindergarten.

Bye.

Well, I did write a sentence, the first three words of which coincidentally had the same initials as the company, but someone has edited it out.

As I said, I am not allowed to name the company by forum rules, even though there may be advice specific to them.

i got 1 2 call and don't have that problem

I think I know the issue with 1 2 Call as I had it previously. When you check your balance it will also give you the credit validity. Depending on the amounts you have used and over what period you can easily find you have credit but the validity runs out - usually if you are not using that much. So the service you are getting is to keep your Sim live

With respect they should have explained this to your wife as well as the details on the 30 baht per month. In the past you would normally be able to use in calls for the next 5 days or something so not totally lost. Not sure if this has changed however.

got a validity of a year

[kentb21]

With 1-2 call you can extend your credit expiration date 30 days every time you top up so if you buy from 7/11 for example, the minimum amount top up code, which I believe is 50 baht, and buy six separate 50 baht top up codes, each time you enter one code your balance will increase 50 baht and your expire date will extend 30 days, so you will extend your validity by six months. You can do that for a maximum of one year, as I have done for many years when I spend three or four months in Thailand and then come home for 8 months. When I return to Thailand the following year my credit is still valid and I have no money deducted from my account for non-use. Instead of paying 30 baht a month just to your keep your credit valid, pay 50 baht a month and get the actual credit to use.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

What you need to do is to go to the top up machines outside 7 Eleven and the like. MyPay is another option. Then you can top up 10 or 20 baht at a time, that way getting 30 days per top up. Beats having to pay 600 baht in 50 baht increments to get validity for a year, even if it stays as usable credit. This way you just have to top up 240 baht max, which will then be valid for up to twelve months.

[RichCor]

Yes, this certainly sounds like it's about account SIM Validity

On most AIS/12Call PrePay (PAYG) SIM Packages...

[KhunBENQ]

What you need to do is to go to the top up machines outside 7 Eleven and the like. MyPay is another option. Then you can top up 10 or 20 baht at a time, that way getting 30 days per top up. Beats having to pay 600 baht in 50 baht increments to get validity for a year, even if it stays as usable credit. This way you just have to top up 240 baht max, which will then be valid for up to twelve months.

Top up 10 Baht with a fee of 2 Baht and get one more month of validity at the orange colored "7 Eleven" machines.

Those orange colored machines are about everywhere (like mom&pop shops).

Example starting from 0:

top up 12 times 10 Baht plus 2 Baht fee, makes 144 Baht for 120 Baht credit valid for one year.

You can do that repeatedly/accumulate in one session, no need to go monthly.

(I believe this is a difference to the table from AIS above, you can not accumulate?)

At the AIS shops you can use the machines without fee, but have to topup 20 Baht for one month (240 per year).

I would not call a minimum topup of 120 Baht plus 24 Baht fee per year a "rip-off".

I currently have a credit of 129 Baht valid until 31 July 2016.

Edited September 23, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[Seastallion]

Yes, this certainly sounds like it's about account SIM Validity

On most AIS/12Call PrePay (PAYG) SIM Packages...

Yes, well here is my gripe.

Sim validity? That's just a term invented to cover the scam (whatever company I was referring to, which I have still not mentioned). And it is a scam. Keep paying to keep your sim alive. There is no cost to the company if a sim just sits there for emergency calls (for example), and the monthly credit builds up and up, and then the customer has to pay again to actually use that credit.

[Seastallion]

What you need to do is to go to the top up machines outside 7 Eleven and the like. MyPay is another option. Then you can top up 10 or 20 baht at a time, that way getting 30 days per top up. Beats having to pay 600 baht in 50 baht increments to get validity for a year, even if it stays as usable credit. This way you just have to top up 240 baht max, which will then be valid for up to twelve months.

Top up 10 Baht with a fee of 2 Baht and get one more month of validity at the orange colored "7 Eleven" machines.

Those orange colored machines are about everywhere (like mom&pop shops).

Example starting from 0:

top up 12 times 10 Baht plus 2 Baht fee, makes 144 Baht for 120 Baht credit valid for one year.

You can do that repeatedly/accumulate in one session, no need to go monthly.

(I believe this is a difference to the table from AIS above, you can not accumulate?)

At the AIS shops you can use the machines without fee, but have to topup 20 Baht for one month (240 per year).

I would not call a minimum topup of 120 Baht plus 24 Baht fee per year a "rip-off".

I currently have a credit of 129 Baht valid until 31 July 2016.

Ahhh, KhunBen...you see, your attitude, although understandable, is what is making the telco rich for doing nothing. For effectively ransoming your money, albeit it is a small amount. They ARE saying, pay more or the money you have paid gets frozen.

Imagine a bank saying you have to make another deposit or else your account is frozen and you can not withdraw, and then turns around and deducts an amount in lieu of you making a deposit, just so you can make a withdrawal. It's the same thing.

10 baht per month just to keep your credit available, multiply by a few million customers...

And in my case, they charged me 30 baht per month to release my remaining credit.

It's a GREAT little earner for a company that expects nobody to complain.

[FritsSikkink]

Yes, this certainly sounds like it's about account SIM Validity

On most AIS/12Call PrePay (PAYG) SIM Packages...

Yes, well here is my gripe.

Sim validity? That's just a term invented to cover the scam (whatever company I was referring to, which I have still not mentioned). And it is a scam. Keep paying to keep your sim alive. There is no cost to the company if a sim just sits there for emergency calls (for example), and the monthly credit builds up and up, and then the customer has to pay again to actually use that credit.

there are costs to keep the sim alive

[KhunBENQ]

10 baht per month just to keep your credit available

Wrong wording. 10 Baht minimum calls per month.

Who needs a mobile phone and does not do calls/SMS worth 10 Baht a month?

There is no cost to the company if a sim just sits there for emergency calls (for example)

Believing that a live SIM (and booked into the network) does cost the Telco nothing is naive.

Without any cost for keeping alive they would sooner or later run out of available numbers.

For emergency calls you don't need a SIM.

My advice: throw it to the bin.

Edited September 23, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[metisdead]

Moved to the Mobile internet and devices (including cell phones) forum.

[taotoo]

There is no cost to the company if a sim just sits there for emergency calls (for example)

Your phone being connected to their network uses up resources. You are paying a fee to have instant access to their network whenever you want it.

[rocketboybkk]

I don't see the drama, just go to another provider, you're not under contract

Vote with your feet

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jiu-Jitsu]

What you need to do is to go to the top up machines outside 7 Eleven and the like. MyPay is another option. Then you can top up 10 or 20 baht at a time, that way getting 30 days per top up. Beats having to pay 600 baht in 50 baht increments to get validity for a year, even if it stays as usable credit. This way you just have to top up 240 baht max, which will then be valid for up to twelve months.

Top up 10 Baht with a fee of 2 Baht and get one more month of validity at the orange colored "7 Eleven" machines.

Those orange colored machines are about everywhere (like mom&pop shops).

Example starting from 0:

top up 12 times 10 Baht plus 2 Baht fee, makes 144 Baht for 120 Baht credit valid for one year.

You can do that repeatedly/accumulate in one session, no need to go monthly.

(I believe this is a difference to the table from AIS above, you can not accumulate?)

At the AIS shops you can use the machines without fee, but have to topup 20 Baht for one month (240 per year).

I would not call a minimum topup of 120 Baht plus 24 Baht fee per year a "rip-off".

I currently have a credit of 129 Baht valid until 31 July 2016.

I use the 20 baht machine for two reasons. The main one is that I don't need to obtain a lot of 10 baht and 1 baht coins. 12 10 baht coins and 24 1 baht coins. Easier just to obtain 20 baht notes. The second reason is that you will be giving 24 baht away for nothing.

At least with the 20 baht method, one's credit remains intact. Can easily use that on my Internet packages.

The OP should stop complaining and just utilise the solution. It costs them nothing in the long run.

[zoza]

well i couldn't agree more, my old nokia was replaced by a shiny new ais smart phone last week while i was in the shop i topped up 700 baht

via the machine by the entrance,as i also had a new 3g sim i thought i would try the internet service while i was waiting for 3bb to install in the condo

i selected a promotion for 199 baht i think for 1 week, and got the message "you have selected blah blah promotion and will receive a confirmation

sms in due course" i waited nothing? so i looked for another promotion but it just done the same?

after about six days i checked my balance 100 baht!!!!! so i phoned the helpline and spoke to a fluent english speaking lady who i asked what had

happened to my credit, and after a story that i might have been logged on to an expensive wi-fi and been charged by the minute, i said to the lady

that i was unsure of the workings of the phone but did not believe i had used the internet for a long time and the promotions i had selected appeared

to of deducted 600 baht in a very short time, she "gave" me a promotion and basically warned me from willy nilly use of the "smart phone"

the only warning messages i got from ais were multiple daily reminders encouraging me to top with more money......the internet via the phone

was 500 % more expensive than my condo's wi-fi, the smart phone is in a draw and a shiny new nokia has taken its place.

[Howitzer]

Not sure which company you are with but DTAC offer the extension of service for a couple of baht a month (literally 2 baht a month), up to 180 days i think.

With DTAC, the code is: *113*[number of days to request extension for]*9#[call button]

I would assume other providers will have similar.

Thanks.

Not DTAC.

What gets me is what is the legal rationale for a company to receive your money and hold it in credit, but disallow you to use that credit after only one month unless you pay more? It's not as if the service costs go up significantly each month. It's not as if you have bought air-time, you have paid for credit against current charges...if call charges go up, your credit goes down faster, which is fine. They are actually impelling you to use it and ransoming your money if you don't spend enough.

it's the expiry date. What i am getting from you is everytime it's near your sim's expiry date you get a msg telling you to top up to extend the expiry date but your rationale is that since you already have credit inside the phone why should it even have an expiry date am i right here?

Well you don't expect the phone company to simply have your sim card operating all because it has credit in it and also the credit you add in extends the sim life but stays there it doesn't get wasted. This is the only logical explaination.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

There are and were a limited amount of mobile numbers to go around. So the validity period ensured that numbers would be utilised or recycled.

You have a solution now. Use it instead of complaining about 'rip off'. Most of the time when I see claims of 'rip-off', I can be sure it is not.

Other operators do the same, but in this case DTAC allow you to add validity for 2 baht per month. If you wish to keep your number, you will make this small effort.