 ColorBASIC8-bit FunPremium
join:2006-12-29
Corona, CA
4 edits | Huh? $3,000 data bill is insane, especially when AT&T made it impossible to check usage but I don't believe this story for a simple reason.
How does a self-admitted "web developer" not know how large a kilobyte is or how large an average web page is.
He knew it was a pay per use plan (not an unlimited plan) and knew the per KB rate.
At .005/KB and 3,000, that's about 600MB. 600 megabytes isn't incidental browsing. At 30-100KB per page, that's 6,000-18,000 page views. That's a LOT of browsing.
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Macintosh Users Group Serving the Inland Empire |
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 MemphisPCGuySenior Systems EngineerPremium
join:2004-05-09
Memphis, TN
 ·Comcast
1 edit | Do the time... pay the crime! said by ColorBASIC:How does a self-admitted "web developer" not know how large a kilobyte is or how large an average web page is But he knows 20MB ain't jack 
The problem here is advertising rates that are $.005 per anything. Americans can't handle the math, we don't think do small. If it had been marketed as $5 per Meg chances are he would have had a firmer grasp on the true cost. Still, he did the time, pay the crime.
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»www.memphispcguy.com |
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 Greg_ZPremium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | reply to ColorBASIC
Re: Huh? Impossible to check useage? The handsets have a resetable timer on them for Data. As for the amount of data, the other Person obviously does not know how data works, and must of been going back and forth to the page, or watching videos & streaming music. I have a bulk plan, and only once went over the limit on it, with my handset. |
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ColorBASIC8-bit FunPremium
join:2006-12-29
Corona, CA
1 edit | reply to MemphisPCGuy
Re: Do the time... pay the crime! There has to be other surcharges in there somewhere. There is no way that guy goes through 600MB while knowing it's a pay per use plan.
Too bad he didn't give them a copy of the bill to post (at least I didn't see one).
'Cause it he did go through hundreds of MBs of data, I have zero sympathy. If it's $1,500 in bullcrap surcharges, eh, maybe.
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Macintosh Users Group Serving the Inland Empire |
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ColorBASIC8-bit FunPremium
join:2006-12-29
Corona, CA
4 edits | reply to Greg_Z
Re: Huh? Actually I don't think iPhones have data counters. All domestic iPhone plans are unlimited. At least I don't see one in my iPhone SW.
EDIT - NEVERMIND...
Under Settings - Usage is EDGE Network Data usage both incoming and outgoing.
Then it's just a question of whether or not all data going in an out is counted there. |
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 60127178K.U. Sweet 16Premium
join:2001-02-15
Wichita, KS
kudos:1 | reply to ColorBASIC
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but the International BB data plan is EMAIL only? Heh, I am correct. This guy is a dooshbag. BlackBerry® International $69.99 per month**
Use your BlackBerry device to send and receive unlimited e-mail in the U.S. and around the world in over 135 countries. Call 1-800-331-0500 to sign up now. --
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 djrobx
join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA
kudos:1
 ·Verizon Wireless..
·RoadRunner Cable
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·VOIPo
·PHONE POWER
| reply to ColorBASIC
Yeah, for some stupid reason whenever you make a billing change you can no longer track your usage until the next billing cycle. For that reason alone AT&T should offer this guy some credit. quote:
At .005/KB and 3,000, that's about 600MB. 600 megabytes isn't incidental browsing. At 30-100KB per page, that's 6,000-18,000 page views. That's a LOT of browsing.
True, but the iPhone can't easily tether. Perhaps he was using a lot of Google Maps (quite a possibility if travelling) and didn't realize the significant amount of data usage he was pulling. I agree though, 600MB of data is pretty impressive usage on a cell device, especially over EDGE.
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Laser eye surgery rocks! I love frickin' laser beams. |
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ColorBASIC8-bit FunPremium
join:2006-12-29
Corona, CA | If he was using EDGE data, the phone itself has a great EDGE Network data counter built in. AND it has a calculator. Knowing the price and these 2 tools he could have EASILY figured he was going to get a very fat bill. |
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 TechieZeroTools Are Using MePremium
join:2002-01-25
Gibsonton, FL
·Verizon FiOS
| reply to ColorBASIC
Re: Do the time... pay the crime! said by ColorBASIC:There is no way that guy goes through 600MB while knowing it's a pay per use plan. LOL only a *CD* worth of data? |
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 birdfeedrPremium,MVM
join:2001-08-11
Warwick, RI
kudos:5 | reply to ColorBASIC
Re: Huh? said by ColorBASIC:...How does a self-admitted "web developer" not know how large a kilobyte is or how large an average web page is. Quote from BoingBoing article:
"I'm a web developer as part of my career and I couldn't even tell you how many KB the average web page is." [emphasis added]
Looking at his website »www.3rdeyedesign.com it is clear he's an illustrator from before computers who took well to a wacom tablet. Fast forward to today and he's a web developer? Trust me, he dabbles in it, and expanded his resume a bit.
He still hasn't figured it out: Blackberry email-only is not a high rate data stream.
Granted, he had no way to check his usage.
He should take the $400 settlement now, and commit to the $300 a year plan with data limit. Otherwise, suck it up for $3000 and call it done. |
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 ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4
·VOIPo
| reply to ColorBASIC
Re: Do the time... pay the crime! said by ColorBASIC:'Cause it he did go through hundreds of MBs of data, I have zero sympathy. If it's $1,500 in bullcrap surcharges, eh, maybe. »www.newnetworks.com/AppleIphoneatt.htm
"International messages are charged additional fees as are files over 300Kbps. "
Bet he did not read the fine print...
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macaholicPremium
join:2003-08-31
Jackson Heights, NY | reply to birdfeedr
Re: Huh? said by birdfeedr:said by ColorBASIC:...How does a self-admitted "web developer" not know how large a kilobyte is or how large an average web page is. Quote from BoingBoing article: "I'm a web developer as part of my career and I couldn't even tell you how many KB the average web page is." [emphasis added] Looking at his website » www.3rdeyedesign.com it is clear he's an illustrator from before computers who took well to a wacom tablet. Fast forward to today and he's a web developer? Trust me, he dabbles in it, and expanded his resume a bit. He still hasn't figured it out: Blackberry email-only is not a high rate data stream. Granted, he had no way to check his usage. He should take the $400 settlement now, and commit to the $300 a year plan with data limit. Otherwise, suck it up for $3000 and call it done. Actually its a $400 discount... they want $2600 from him.
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"You don't subject minority rights to a referendum." Justice Minister Irwin Cotler of Canada |
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ColorBASIC8-bit FunPremium
join:2006-12-29
Corona, CA
1 edit | reply to birdfeedr
In looking at my iPhone, there is a usage app that displays total talk time and data uploaded and downloaded. So he could have kept track of his own usage through the phone.
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Macintosh Users Group Serving the Inland Empire |
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 koolman2Premium
join:2002-10-01
Anchorage, AK | reply to MemphisPCGuy
Re: Do the time... pay the crime! Maybe he thought it was .005¢ per kilobyte.
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There's no place like ::1. |
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1 edit | reply to Greg_Z
Re: Huh? While he's doing all that browsing, he could have went to check his account online and see how much he's burning through. Or call customer service. No excuse. |
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Host:
Road Runner
PC gaming GAMES
PC gaming Tech
| reply to birdfeedr
quote:
He should take the $400 settlement now, and commit to the $300 a year plan with data limit. Otherwise, suck it up for $3000 and call it done.
Good thing he didn't. Looks like AT&T now gave him a full refund and an apology. |
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Re: Do the time... pay the crime! No because it was activated over the phone on the way to airport? |
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PDXPLT
join:2003-12-04
Banks, OR | reply to ColorBASIC
Re: Huh? said by ColorBASIC:How does a self-admitted "web developer" not know how large a kilobyte is or how large an average web page is. High-level web development tools. Even clueless types like liberal arts majors can now do web pages.  |
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He has the wrong information. You only get the .005/KB rate if you sign up for there $29.95 a month plan with gives you 20 MB a month of internation data. The overage is charged at .005/KB.
Otherwise you are charged .0195/kb, which is the rate he was charged at so he probably used about 1/4 of that 600 MB.
What I don't get it why he didn't use Wifi.
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 Jmartz
join:2000-07-20
Tenafly, NJ | reply to ColorBASIC
said by ColorBASIC:$3,000 data bill is insane, especially when AT&T made it impossible to check usage but I don't believe this story for a simple reason. That is ridiculous. When I am at my house, and call my friend in Israel using my cell phone, it takes upwards of a week to even show up on-line. I was down in South Carolina and used some mobile internet on my blackberry with the Slingplayer Mobile software, and it's been 3 weeks since I got back, and the data usage is just now starting to show up on my account... so if it takes a week for an international phone call to show up on-line, and nearly a month for data usage outside of my home state to show up... what in the world makes you think the on-line account access is going to be accurate for a couple weeks when roaming overseas? That's patently up surd. It takes at least 6-8 hours for calls to post, could take over a month in some circumstances depending on the network you are roaming on... |
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