When Your New Mobile Phone 'Drains Your Wallet'
My excitement knew no bounds, when my I received my brand new dream mobile phone, Samsung Galaxy S8 plus. A pretty expensive mobile device, but one in which you'll not be dissapointed. So, while trying to get used to the mobile device, about a month ago, all passwords to my steemit account were erased from my protonmail account, an encrypted email, where some of my data are stored. That disaster was averted. Thanks to steemconnect. The next major challenge I have to deal with now is that of having to pay 6 times my usual telephone bill. Now, that really sucks!
How I Incurred Unexpected $84 Telephone Bill
For prepaid subscribers, don't bother about this issue that I'm writing about. However, postpaid subscribers should please, pay attention to this. When you buy a new phone, make sure to check all of the features and be sure that you do not making any mistake to touch a button that will 'drain your wallet'.
At the moment, I am far away from home, but always keep in touch. Communication with my family is done through whatsapp, skype or any good voice over IP (VOIP) service, since it is a lot cheaper for me to call that way. I think it was my mum I called that day and we had a long chat (as always). Little did I know that I had mistakenly called using my direct telenor line. After a couple of days of making that call, I received a message from telenor informing me that I had spent a lot more than I usually spend. That was a little shocking to me. Curiously, I quickly dialled *311# to check. What did I see? A whooping sum of over 8,000 RSD (8,491.30RSD /~$84) waiting to be paid.
Hmm...the speed with which I got to telenor office that day can only be better experienced than imagined. When I got there, they checked and discovered that there was an international call that was made to Nigeria. The cost for that call alone was over 5,000 RSD (~ $50). How would I be paying 6 months telephone bill for just 1 month? For the monthly subscription packet which I am on, Telenor Play + 20, all calls, sms and internet are unlimited and the cost is 1,436 RSD /month (~$14), under normal circumstances.
I have written to telenor customer care or relklamacija as it is called here to see if anything can be done about it, otherwise the bill waiting to be paid is still
Lesson learnt: Never use a new phone to make international calls, until you become familiar with it.
Have you ever experienced a situation where you incurred telephone bills which you never budgeted for? Please, share in the comment section.
All images are original screen shots captured with my Samsung Galaxy S8 mobile phone, except image 1 from shutterstock.
I have other issues with mine cause I have a family account and it is not ....
Service is great and no issue. Phone service in the US (post-paid) tends to work better but pricey.
I had tried pre paid but you are limited using your phone.
Glad you mention whatsapp, now you can use Telegram as well, skype , etc...
Keep on steemin'
Hello @pouchon. Good to see you here.
Having a family account is a good way to go. They have something similar here for families.
Limitation is one major reason why I cannot use mobile prepaid plan. I don't like to be limited when I'm talking or sending SMS' or even using internet data. Yes, telegram is good too. My mum, uncle, the older one, who aren't really used to current tech are the reason why I still call mobile lines. My siblings and I all use whatsapp to communicate. Thanks for your contribution.
The chat with mama for don sweet well sote you forget to check fone sef after calls. Pele.
Good warning for those who might fall for this.
No be lie oo...@cwen 😄😄😃😃. The chat sweet and e dey always sweet. I hear ur 'pele' ooo. Those telenor people, I tell dem say make dem come use their police fain me for my village 🤣, because that kain 6 months money, I no go fit give dem for one month.
Yes, good warning for those who might fall for this.
thanks for the warning. no be small bill be that ooo
I use frynga on mobile voip to make calls to landlines or not internet connected numbers. It kinda cheap. You can download mobile voip on playstore.
Hello, my friend @turpsy. Frynga? This is my first time of getting to know about that. There are many voip services out there. Usually, I use telbo. It was the service I thought I used to make that call my mum that day. Yes voip is cheap I call home for 70 cents/minute.
Sure will be careful in purchasing any new smartphone in the coming times !
Well, @rehan12, the smartphone is not the challenge, in my opinion, but mastering how to use it. The mistake is usually costly when you press
the wrong button.
i never made an intentional call in my entire life but this is a lesson to be learnt
Are you kidding me, @starboye?
Hahahaha. I couldn't help but laugh at this.
It just reminds me of when I started using an android phone. I did a normal subscription like the other phones I used and few hours later I was notified that the subscription had finished. Lol. I no fit cry. I been already dey feel like boss o, only to hear sey na xo android dey swallow mb.
the worst thing you can do with phones is to have a plan - always buy your own phone and pre pay -otherwise you will always be scammed with surprising charges
Hi @daydreams4rock. My new phone, actually, was not bought from the mobile service provider, telenor. The post paid plan has been working well for me for about 7 yrs, until I changed plan to unlimited last 2 months.
Nice phone, Thats my Favorite too, The Camera test i saw was brilliant and the design, Actually i think apple phones are great, but i cannot forget android, especially in Samsung Galaxy S8 plus :)), thats was why i love more this phone than even Iphone X.
Thanks for ur post.
All those who have reveiwed Samsung Galaxy S8, says the camera of the phone is better than iphone 7. Well, I haven't had any iphone before, but my experience having used this Samsung S8 plus for one month reveals how superb the quality of photographs are captured with it. My good friend, Stoja, has an iphone 7 plus, but the difference in clear when you look at the pictures both phones produce.
The video quality too is very good. All these are not really what is on my mind now, but the unexpected bill.
hmmm forget about that, think more about the phone especially the camera:)) it makes you feel happy :D
Thanks for the warning, anything postpaid we dont do it here cos those telecom company will rob you. They will just increase all charges on your head and you wont know how come
lessons learnt from it this is very important for everyone to understand