After recently having used my phone a lot more than usually, I thought it was a great to see how much more before I got my bill. So I could stop using the phone as much if I was reaching my plan’s ‘Cap’. Apparently this is only a service offered to Prepaid users… Because, well, if they know how much they’ve used, they’ll buy more credit! If planned users knew mid billing cycle however, well they might cut down their usage, or change to a more economical plan.. Not good for business you see…

So I received my bill… it was $540… this is over and above call cap!! So a total of $800 or there about…

Hence the inspiration for the letter below sent to a number of Government and Regulatory bodies.

Suggestion for increased consumer confidence, in mobile phone plans

There is an ever increasing problem amongst consumers of mobile telecommunication services. More and more frequently I hear of consumers running in to significant financial difficulty to because of mobile phone bills. Although this is not through any direct action of mobile telecommunications providers, it could arguably be considered a result of their inactions.

Within the period of month it is extremely easy for a consumer to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on mobile phone services. Despite the relative ease of accruing such a large debit in such a short period of time, there are no requirements for service providers to warn or inform consumers within a billing period.

As a consumer I would like to suggest that it be legislated that mobile services providers be required to offer their clients access to an up-to-date report of account use, within a billing period. Or alternatively at a bare minimum a warning mechanism to alert clients of accounts exceeding nominated/specific dollar amounts.

This information and similar warnings are already offered but ONLY to clients with prepaid accounts in both the form or a warning (close to depletion), and access to the information at any point in time. Presumable with the intention of increasing prepaid sales.

Providers of Internet access services already provide services along these line, with both email warnings and online access to usage information. At any point in time an internet access subscriber can check to see how much of their plans ‘included usage’ has been used.

‘Premium’ priced phone services are dominating television advertisement slots, with products such as Ringtones, Wallpapers, Dating services, Competitions, Voting polls etc. Some charging as much as $6 per SMS! With the ability to check a Mobile phone account mid billing cycle, consumers can not clearly see the affect in their ‘pocket’.

Considering how easily consumers can accumulate a quite significant debt, it is irresponsible for service providers not to provide access to this information. Consumers would be shocked if a Credit Cards transaction history and balance was only available at the end of a billing period! Although Credit Cards are significantly different, both can quite easily cause serious financial hardship!

I urge you to assist mobile service consumers around the country!