Comments on: Why data roaming will cost you way too much (even when you don’t use it)

By: global citizen

global citizen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:00:56 +0000

AVOID FIDO! I HAVE NEVER HAD DATA SERVICES WITH FIDO, I only ever and always use WiFi, and my recent bill shows approx. $1,400 worth of US data roaming charges between June and July 2011 my solution is to just leave Fido altogether. I’ve also been a Fido customer since 2004 and since Rogers took over it’s been worse and worse. So get this – I don’t have a data plan with Fido! I’ve never paid to connect to data or never asked them to provide me with data. I use WiFi only. So apparently (and maybe something changed with the system) but for a few days in June and then for 1 transaction in July when I was in transit in the US when I thought I was connected to my hotel or apartment WiFi apparently AT&T roaming 3G kicked in again. REMEMBER – I have never had a data plan with Fido, nor have I even paid for one of the day or week passes in Canada. One transaction alone (on June 30/July 1) for 32 megs was billed at over $900! One transaction at a time when I was in bed in a hotel connected I thought to WiFi. REMEMBER – I HAVE NEVER HAD A DATA PLAN WITH FIDO EVER! I HAVE NEVER PAID FOR DATA SERVICES. I HAVE NEVER ASKED FOR DATA SERVICES. I was traveling on another continent for the month of July and didn’t see the charges on my bill until August. I called in specifically about the single $900 charge because it is what stood out as OUTRAGEOUS on the bill. They told me it was my fault and the charges were legitimate because I had used the services. Lots and lot of really annoying boiler plate customer “non-service” until after one hour on the phone I got a sympathetic ear. After one hour on the phone they finally gave me the privilege of paying $62 for a data pack and they gave me a “credit” of $833 back on the account (after the sticker shock of fighting against a $900 charge that you never ever requested you are relieved to have any concession). BUT THERE IS MORE, and this is important. In there own language and belief, I am still at fault. Therefore they did not reverse, cancel or remove the original charge which actually means they think they did not admit any fault or responsibility and actually did me a big huge favour for which I should be grateful. By “accepting” their offer, again in their own special language, I was accepting that the deal was closed and they would never, ever do anything special for me ever again. THEN THE KICKER, at the end of the call the sympathetic CSR mentioned that she also saw approximately $450 worth of additional type charges on my account from in June. (REMEMBER according to FIDO that because I “accepted” their resolution for the single $900 I was no longer entitled to even a discussion regarding the additional charges that resulted from the same root problem.) So today, after my account was suspended for non-payment and still at a balance of about $1,000 because I am contesting almost half of that account and therefore won’t pay the amount I don’t believe is owing I spent 3 hours (YES THREE HOURS) on the phone again being told that my logic was flawed, I am wrong, they can’t and won’t discuss the other charges with me and it’s all my fault. I asked three reps to shut down my account and at 2 hours on the phone was told they couldn’t do that because the department to close accounts was closed. I then got a fifth reconciliatory CSR who offered the $100 deduction (which I took) and hopes I’ll stay with FIDO (she only did this because I told her I want to get as far away from FIDO as possible and am switching carriers tomorrow). NOT A CHANCE WILL I STAY WITH FIDO. They refused to offer me the same resolution for the earlier transaction that have the same root cause as the single transaction they did “credit” back to me because it’s my fault and because they say they don’t ever have to do anything for me ever again. I DON’T KNOW HOW ROGERS THINKS THEY CAN STAY IN BUSINESS WHEN THEY CONTINUE TO TREAT CUSTOMERS THIS WAY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A DATA PLAN WITH FIDO. 3G KICKED IN WHEN I WAS IN THE U.S. ON ROAMING WITHOUT MY CONSENT AND FIDO CHARGED ME $30/mb. Long story short – avoid FIDO and ROGERs totally! I’m switching to Wind or Mobilicity as soon as I can get to an outlet.

By: JC

JC — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:29:58 +0000

I have the same situation at last month bill. I am sure I turn off all my data roaming setting and related connected and switch to airplane mode too. But I got the charge for 65M with CAD 380 dollars for US data roaming. Then I called to Fido customer service the said I have to know the possibility and do something like to purchase their special traveling Add-on.
I think I will call them again and try to ask them to waive the bill. Does anyone have any suggestion?

By: Irene

Irene — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 03:36:49 +0000

Fido was extremely rude and willing to lose customers for this. I got charged 200$ for data which I didn’t use when I went to Florida for 3 days!!!! She said that I could cancel but would come out to the same things cause I still had to pay it!!!

By: PS

PS — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:13:41 +0000

$30,000 per GB ($0.03 per kB) is a joke.

SCAM!

By: Saria

Saria — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:18:35 +0000

I am in the same situation and I am going to get charged $350 in the next bill for 15.9MB use…I called them today and notified them that i will be charged in the next bill and they said they wrote it down and will do something about it once it shows up in the bill. Hope they help me out. Regardless, I am up for some sort of a twitter or youtube movement against fido anyday

By: FuckFido

FuckFido — Sat, 28 May 2011 04:47:13 +0000

I spent a week in Miami and used only wifi and got charged for 100mb, Fido bill came in with $650.00 on it.

By: Nik

Nik — Tue, 03 May 2011 21:54:09 +0000

I have the same problem with FIDO. I do not have a data plan and my data roaming OFF during trip to German and Italy and I received bill $500. They charge 0.03 per Kb. Its’ unbelievable. What I have to do in this situation any advice. Thank you

By: channelle

channelle — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 06:02:53 +0000

i m alo in the same situation with fido i ve charged like 900 $ FIDO doesent wann do anything!!!!!!!

By: Ada

Ada — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:04:08 +0000

I am in the same s**t problem. I want a full refund too!! They always point the blame to us consumers and force it onto us to pay for something we never used. When we ask them to investigate, they just simply say that the charges are from our sim card, so like it or not, we have to pay on DUE DATE. I did not realize that there are so many of this same problem out there. I thought I was the only one. The biggest problem is FIDO is not even trying to resolve our problems appropriately…. and they say that they care!!

By: X

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:48:50 +0000

Similar storie here , My sister just received a call from FIDO , informing her of a 1000$ bill.
She was in the US in December for a week and used the WIFI in the hotel only.
She doesn’t even have a 3G plan.

I m not sure what to do , If anyone has any idea or advice please share.
Thanks For your help.