Text in Bahrain 40p each.

[Monkeyman]

Just back from Bahrain. Just had a long "discussion" with O2 (BT Cellnet) over how the cost of text has suddenly changed. They admit that at the moment I was charged 40p for each "incoming" text. ie adverts aswell. This is being looked in to but as of 23 April outgoing text will be 40p each. Nice earner for someone somewhere!! Please pass this message on. It may well be the case in other parts of MEast. So 10 text = £4.

[difar69]

Bahrain eh? You lucky b#####d.
Here in Thumrait we don't have phones (lie). You're issued with 2 cups and a piece of string.
Oh my god , I may have given those adminners a money saving idea.

[StopStart]

It is indeed a splendid little money-spinner for some shiny-suited gimp in telephone-land.

Those of you reclining in Karachi may be delighted to learn that it's 59p to receive a txt. A month of text convserations with the Mrs and the regular txt insult exchange with the co-pilot in the next-door room resulted in a rather magnificent bill of £647 for me. http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/eek3.gif

Fortunately I'm so rich that I paid it out of the spare change in my flying suit pocket...

http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/icon5.gif http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/cry.gif http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/whinging.gif


http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/explode.gif

[massingbird]

I wondered why my bill was suddenly so high, are they sticking with the charges for the received messages or are you in negotiations?

[Monkeyman]

My negotiations are over. Ended with a credit after a lot of haggling. Thought I was back in the souk! They (O2) are looking into why rx text are costing 40p. They say this is clearly wrong . I mentioned the fact that a lot of personel will be in for a shock when they return home, as they are presently unaware. I asked if they could send a text to their customers. Didnt seem lightly to happen. Next bill could be revealing!

[StopStart]

Just spoken to my lot (Vodaphone via Singlepoint) who told me, basically, to knob off. The rx charge is imposed by the foreign network and there is nothing they can do about it blah blah.

How much of a credit did you receive?

Think I'll sharpen my quill and send Vodaphone a "Livid of Lyneham" letter.




Damn. Just given away where the secret wiltshire airbase is....

[Monkeyman]

£30. It took a lot of hassle and three phone calls ending up with customer services. As you say their point of view is Sympathy is in the dictionary between .....!

Also said it was the foreign agency blah. Im sure our adminers will sort it all out for us as this is going to bite and be bad for morale. Ha Ha. Mustn't let it spoil the holiday though!!

[BEagle]

Skodafone have also just decided to stop including 0800, 0500, 0808, 0845 and 0870 numbers in your monthly allowance of inclusive minutes. So, if you've been used to connecting to an ISP via an 0870 or 0845 number within your monthly allowance, it'll now cost you...... I gave them stick about this - all I was offered was 1 month's free line rental plus a waiver of their £2.50 itemised billing charge.

But the Consumers' Association were very interested when I told them about Skodafone's methods - and even more at their advert stating "Don't wait 4 a postcard 2 beat u home. Take your mobile abroad & snd a txt instead. Simply call the number on your bill & get your roaming bar removed. Subject to credit checks" . But nowhere do Skodafone indicate the level of the charges for such "txt msgs" - to use the child vernacular.

Mobile phone spivs are worse than double glazing sales men and time share touts these days!

[Farfrompuken]

Primate chap,

Here in Bahrain I get billed nowt for rx text, and 10p for sending them.

Orange have this as a standard charge. Calls cost about 150p per min, and incoming ones cost about 70-80p per min, to/from the UK

Hope this helps,

See you down the pub!!