News: Man Gets An $85,000 Cell Phone Bill For Modem Use

[EricM9104]

We've seen $3,000 cell phone bills. We've seen $10,000 cell phone bills. But now we've got a bill that's approaching six figures, as a Canadian man has been hit with an $85,000 invoice.

And no, it's not a computer error.

Piotr Staniaszek had been using his cell phone as a modem for his computer, thinking he was covered under his $10-a-month unlimited mobile browser plan from Canadian telco Bell Mobility. He actually caught the bill at $65,000. When he called to complain, he was told that it had hit $85,000 for the use since the bill was mailed.

The likely problem is that Staniaszek got understandably confused about what his recently signed $10 data plan covered. Such plans often cover data use on the phone itself (such as texting or using the built-in browser on the phone), but not when it's used as a modem with a PC. (Without going into extreme detail, the connection types are different, and the phone company can tell the difference between the two types of traffic.) Bell Mobility has dropped the bill to just $3,243, but Staniaszek is still fighting it. (Of course.)

Staniaszek also notes that the phone company should have notified him when charges started to spiral out of control; previously he'd gotten a call when he racked up a mere $100 in charges on his old data plan. Now his bill climbs into the thousands and no one bats an eye. I'd be peeved, too.

Remember that all cell phone plans are not created equally, and "data" has numerous definitions. Before you connect your phone to your computer, make sure you understand the charges you're setting yourself up for, and check your usage on your phone company's website periodically (especially if you're using your phone for something new) so that you don't get slapped with any financial surprises.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/61440

[Xplorer]

Wow, thats messed up. Glad I don't do that

[cmrs2k]

Looks like I would be back to smoke signals cause there is no way I would pay that.

[david in germany]

Looks like I would be back to smoke signals cause there is no way I would pay that.

Glad I have a prepaid.. when it is empty it is empty.

[Aaron813]

i just had the same kinda scare not nearly that big but i have a pda and i didnt know how much internet was and i had used so much that at the end of last month i saw the bill and almost crapped my self then i talked to my phone company and got it down to like $65 witch is alot better than what it started at

Edited December 17, 2007 by Aaron813

[fourlug]

Reminds me of this in alberta, $104,000/yr for insurance, he's been in 3 crashes and ten speeding tickets!

This guys insurance rates

[Aaron813]

If that was my kid he would be driving a moped i know some one whos id like 500 a month but that was after he got in a wreck and is now parallelized

[fourlug]

To give you something to compare it to, I'm 17 (18 in a month) I've been driving since I was 16, I have a clean record and it costs $4500/year for me to have full coverage on a 2001 Honda Accord. $1600/year for liability only on a goddam 91 caravan. Insurance seriously rapes us here.

[Aaron813]

Believe me i hear ya just try to not get any speeding tickets

[fourlug]

Just got one in Fort Worth on my way to Houston 73 in the 60