Meteor: €400 charge for 20 seconds!

I.S.T. · 23-10-2008 9:30am

ArseBurger wrote: »

It's not unreasonable.

Can you explain to me why you think 2c a kb is not unreasonable? That's over €20 a Mb or €60 to download a typical mp3 file.

Zynks · 23-10-2008 9:32am

Funny how people expect everybody should be aware of all the catches, just because they know them.

Operators don't have a cost per kb. They choose to map their costs against kb because it is measurable. It is not a perfect model, but usable. If they are setting up data packages for €10/month (or whatever it is) it provides another way of spreading their costs - or target revenues - per customer.

If €10/month is sufficient, cases like this are like Xmas, only that santa in this case is the OP....

As I said originally, yes they CAN do it, but it doesn't make it right. No matter how I look at it, Meteor is CHOOSING to milk it in cases like this, but they don't seem to care that it could mean a good customer turning against them and costing them much more in the long run.

craichoe · 23-10-2008 9:44am

IrishSpeedTraps wrote: »

Can you explain to me why you think 2c a kb is not unreasonable? That's over €20 a Mb or €60 to download a typical mp3 file.

Its not unreasonable because you can choose not to use it. Or get a data plan with another provider.

Gone Drinking · 23-10-2008 10:32am

Friend of mine bought a Nokia N95 with O2. He used it for a few weeks and got a text then stating his bill (which he showed us all). It was for €1195 or something like that. He'd been watching streaming porn not knowing it was costing him a fortune.

He rang them and they said because he's a new customer and didn't realise they'd kill off €1000 of it. He was happy to pay the rest.

Maximilian · 23-10-2008 11:03am

I only had a quick scan of this thread but I would just make one point. Just because something is seemingly covered off in terms & conditions, that does not necessarily mean it's legally enforceable.

If a particular term is "unfair" under the EU Regulations for example, it could be struck down by a Court, particularly where you have charges that are more in the nature of a penalty and are disproportionate.

It's worth reading the regulations, as they give guidelines. I don't think the public in general are very aware of them.

For example, one unfair term which might have application here is the following:

( l ) providing for the price of goods to be determined at the time of delivery or allowing a seller of goods or supplier of services to increase their price without in both cases giving the consumer the corresponding right to cancel the contract if the final price is too high in relation to the price agreed when the contract was concluded;

Tarakiwa · 23-10-2008 11:13am

I agree with the consensus view ......... get to know the charges before you use the service.

I have signed up to a data bundle and am more than happy with the price and quality of the service!!

Nody · 23-10-2008 11:58am

Maximilian wrote: »

It's worth reading the regulations, as they give guidelines. I don't think the public in general are very aware of them.

For example, one unfair term which might have application here is the following:

But the price has not increased during the duration of use, what he's doing was to use a new service with out bothering to check what it would cost to use. That is like walking in on a resturant, ordering in a full dinner with out checking the prices and then complain that the price on the final bill is to high and unreasonble.

Sam Vimes · 23-10-2008 12:08pm

derry wrote: »

At least lots of us now are more informed and can opt to avoid meteor

you're absolutely right!!!! let's all move to o2....who are exactly the same. or vodafone.....who are exactly the same unless you use a crippled service where almost nothing works

if you look back through the history of this forum and the mobiles forum you'll find dozens of threads like this about every network except 3, who's pricing for the internet is different

derry wrote: »

A lot of pay as you go costomers dont knowthat meteor rates callfrom land lines to thier phones through the eircom service is often 50% higher than other companies

not anymore it's not. you can get free meteor calls from landlines and vice versa with eircom. eircom now own meteor btw. and iirc, the price used to be 22c versus 29c, not a 50% difference

derry wrote: »

Having worked for some of the TeleecoNs I can tell you they are all scum bags with some hidden way to rip your face but meteor are the top of the s***e pile for the dirty tricks

do you have any examples of "dirty tricks"? the two above are untrue so you've yet to provide any. and in all my years dealing with meteor both as a customer and professionally i never found any

and for a person who apparently worked for a telco you don't seem to know very much since you suggested leaving meteor because they do the same thing as the other two big networks in the country

Maximilian wrote: »

If a particular term is "unfair" under the EU Regulations for example, it could be struck down by a Court, particularly where you have charges that are more in the nature of a penalty and are disproportionate.

these prices have been around for a few years so i think that if they were going to be struck down they would have been by now

Maximilian · 23-10-2008 1:30pm

Nody wrote: »

But the price has not increased during the duration of use, what he's doing was to use a new service with out bothering to check what it would cost to use. That is like walking in on a resturant, ordering in a full dinner with out checking the prices and then complain that the price on the final bill is to high and unreasonble.

Sam Vimes wrote: »

these prices have been around for a few years so i think that if they were going to be struck down they would have been by now

Sure, I was just giving an example really. The examples in those regulations is be no means exhaustive. And just because it hasn't been challenged yet doesn't make it ok. Generally your average punter would never risk taking on a big company in litigation over a few hundred euro, so if there were patently unfair terms there for argument's sake, they might never ever be challenged.

Having said that, I'm sure an army of lawyers drafted those T&C's but that doesn't mean they would all stand up to judicial scrutiny.

Zynks · 23-10-2008 11:56pm

Tarakiwa wrote: »

I agree with the consensus view ......... get to know the charges before you use the service.

...and read in full the terms and conditions/EULA of every piece of software you install, and for every online service you sign up for, right?

eamon234 · 24-10-2008 12:05am

No, just the important bits - like charges

Fighting Irish · 24-10-2008 1:00am

OP is your typical irish thick, buy something then complain about the price later.

Want to know why they charge a sh1t load for 1kb, its because of people like you

Cabaal · 24-10-2008 3:34pm

Zynks wrote: »

...and read in full the terms and conditions/EULA of every piece of software you install, and for every online service you sign up for, right?

there's a massive different between a telco's service and software, tbh anybody who signs up for loans, broadband, phone, mobiles etc and does not read the T&C's before hand is a bloody retard imho!

KhanTheMan · 24-10-2008 8:19pm

craichoe wrote: »

Its not unreasonable because you can choose not to use it. Or get a data plan with another provider.

Its disgraceful is what it is. Use it or not.

Zynks · 25-10-2008 1:42am

Gone Drinking wrote: »

Friend of mine bought a Nokia N95 with O2. He used it for a few weeks and got a text then stating his bill (which he showed us all). It was for €1195 or something like that. He'd been watching streaming porn not knowing it was costing him a fortune.

He rang them and they said because he's a new customer and didn't realise they'd kill off €1000 of it. He was happy to pay the rest.

There you go, a sensible approach!

But by recent comments, your friend is a "typical Irish thick" for running the cost inadvertently and O2 are probably fools for letting him get away with such stupidity :rolleyes:

My interpretation? A very good business move by O2. It didn't cost them anything anyway, they got 200 yo-yos and they keep a happy customer.

derry · 25-10-2008 7:42am

Zynks wrote: »

There you go, a sensible approach!

But by recent comments, your friend is a "typical Irish thick" for running the cost inadvertently and O2 are probably fools for letting him get away with such stupidity :rolleyes:

My interpretation? A very good business move by O2. It didn't cost them anything anyway, they got 200 yo-yos and they keep a happy customer.

The OP has pointed out how he became a victim
He is typical of the thousands out there every day who fall for the same trick
I have sold in my time life Asurance and seen how useless life products can be easily sold to hapless victims before finally it got so bad a regulator had to be aponted to stop the most blatant rip off scams that the life assurance Industry was doing and most of that new regulations was because the UK introduced the rules
So your going to now tell me all the victims of bad life assurace policies were thicko's

The going price on the internet back bone service what the TelecoNs pay for one giga byte is E0.50cent(Euro)

So a mega byte is frations of a cent and Kilobyte is nearly impossible to measure in costs

The rip off come as the TelecoNs in Ireland control the off ramps to the internet back bone and chose to charge ridiculious mark ups for the Giga bytes of info even on land lines compared to other countries which actualy protect hapless telecoNs victims

So you want to try to tell me that a E200 euro rip off policy is good policy compared to an even higher rip off policy hwen if you check the most of the rest of eUROPE THE TELECOnS PULLING THE SAME STUNT WOULD HAVE A ARMY OF THE GOVERNMENT IN TO PUT THE TELECONS IN JAIL FOR THAT STUNT
The TelecoNs are a complete Cartel and its only which one rips your face the least

The Irish that agree with these telecons rip off policies are either share holders working for the telecoNs or turkeys voting for christmas

I left the TelecoNs industry as bad as the life assurance Industry is was and still is the TelecoNs were absolute scum bags beyond redemtion who should have the most severe regulator posssible controling every aspect of the Industry

Derry

Fighting Irish · 25-10-2008 11:05am

derry wrote: »

The OP has pointed out how he became a victim
He is typical of the thousands out there every day who fall for the same trick
I have sold in my time life Asurance and seen how useless life products can be easily sold to hapless victims before finally it got so bad a regulator had to be aponted to stop the most blatant rip off scams that the life assurance Industry was doing and most of that new regulations was because the UK introduced the rules
So your going to now tell me all the victims of bad life assurace policies were thicko's

The going price on the internet back bone service what the TelecoNs pay for one giga byte is E0.50cent(Euro)

So a mega byte is frations of a cent and Kilobyte is nearly impossible to measure in costs

The rip off come as the TelecoNs in Ireland control the off ramps to the internet back bone and chose to charge ridiculious mark ups for the Giga bytes of info even on land lines compared to other countries which actualy protect hapless telecoNs victims

So you want to try to tell me that a E200 euro rip off policy is good policy compared to an even higher rip off policy hwen if you check the most of the rest of eUROPE THE TELECOnS PULLING THE SAME STUNT WOULD HAVE A ARMY OF THE GOVERNMENT IN TO PUT THE TELECONS IN JAIL FOR THAT STUNT
The TelecoNs are a complete Cartel and its only which one rips your face the least

The Irish that agree with these telecons rip off policies are either share holders working for the telecoNs or turkeys voting for christmas

I left the TelecoNs industry as bad as the life assurance Industry is was and still is the TelecoNs were absolute scum bags beyond redemtion who should have the most severe regulator posssible controling every aspect of the Industry

Derry

If people pay the price then its not a rip off. If you think the price is too high maybe its because some people pay the price and maybe because O" or whoever are a business and i presume you know why business's exist

Zynks · 26-10-2008 12:40am

derry wrote: »

...So your going to now tell me all the victims of bad life assurace policies were thicko's...

I was quoting someone else earlier. I'm with you in this one. I guess the sarcasm didn't come through very well.

derry wrote: »

...So you want to try to tell me that a E200 euro rip off policy is good policy

When the bill was 1200 and O2 brought it down to 200 because it was a "first infraction", yes, I think it was a cool move. they didn't need to do it, legally speaking.

On the OP's bill, I think Meteor should certainly reconsider the charges.

Solair · 26-10-2008 12:53am

These kinds of data charges are absolutely insane. I don't know how they're able to justify them.

Frankly, I think there should be a "If you wish to continue, this service will cost you €10/click" or whatever the nutty charge they impose if you don't have a data bundle is.

It's daylight robbery, simple as that.

derry · 26-10-2008 8:02pm

Fighting Irish wrote: »

If people pay the price then its not a rip off. If you think the price is too high maybe its because some people pay the price and maybe because O" or whoever are a business and i presume you know why business's exist

Are you for real or just a windy up type who hasn't a bean to rub together and I bet your popular in Carlow or worse are you one of those commuters who sleeps there

Look in Holland in or close to the red light area you can go into bar order a beer expecting the price to be something between 5 and 10 Euros with the average being about 5 euros there

Then when you go to pay they ask for 1000 euros a beer
You blurt out but thats ridicilous whatever but the two heavies blocking the exit make it clear that its either pay 1000 Euro a beer or eat hospital food

Rule in Holland ask the price for each beer before ordering as even the first one can be said to be 5 euros but the rest after that can be 1000 euros each

Now in fact it is illegal bar practice but try proving it but others like you with their heads up thier dark parts might think that this a fair practice

Same for the TelecoNs rip off scams except they love twots who pay any ridiculos price TelecoNs demand

Derry

Sam Vimes · 26-10-2008 11:30pm

derry wrote: »

Are you for real or just a windy up type who hasn't a bean to rub together and I bet your popular in Carlow or worse are you one of those commuters who sleeps there

Look in Holland in or close to the red light area you can go into bar order a beer expecting the price to be something between 5 and 10 Euros with the average being about 5 euros there

Then when you go to pay they ask for 1000 euros a beer
You blurt out but thats ridicilous whatever but the two heavies blocking the exit make it clear that its either pay 1000 Euro a beer or eat hospital food

Rule in Holland ask the price for each beer before ordering as even the first one can be said to be 5 euros but the rest after that can be 1000 euros each

Now in fact it is illegal bar practice but try proving it but others like you with their heads up thier dark parts might think that this a fair practice

Derry

this has what to do with telco data charges? They don't change the price, they don't try to hide the price and they don't force you to use it. they clearly advertise the price. Yes it is a high price but, for example, cafe en seine in dublin is very expensive so.........i don't go there :eek: a ridiculous concept i know

chrislad · 27-10-2008 12:47pm

Stop saying TelecoN. It's not clever, and quite frankly, it makes reading your posts tiresome. It's the the same league as $ony, Microshaft, Micro$oft etc. It's not clever, especially when it's repeated!

MOH · 28-10-2008 11:35am

derry wrote: »

Are you for real or just a windy up type who hasn't a bean to rub together and I bet your popular in Carlow or worse are you one of those commuters who sleeps there

Look in Holland in or close to the red light area you can go into bar order a beer expecting the price to be something between 5 and 10 Euros with the average being about 5 euros there

Then when you go to pay they ask for 1000 euros a beer
You blurt out but thats ridicilous whatever but the two heavies blocking the exit make it clear that its either pay 1000 Euro a beer or eat hospital food

Rule in Holland ask the price for each beer before ordering as even the first one can be said to be 5 euros but the rest after that can be 1000 euros each

Now in fact it is illegal bar practice but try proving it but others like you with their heads up thier dark parts might think that this a fair practice

Same for the TelecoNs rip off scams except they love twots who pay any ridiculos price TelecoNs demand

Derry

What are you ranting about? I've never heard, even as an urban legend, of anyone in Holland being charged 1000 euro for a beer in a bar. And I lived there over a year. Plus 5 euro for a beer is definitely not the average price.

And as for your anti-Meteor rants, they're the third Irish mobile company I've used, and been a lot better than the first two I tried.

Gone Drinking · 28-10-2008 11:54am

Zynks wrote: »

But by recent comments, your friend is a "typical Irish thick" for running the cost inadvertently and O2 are probably fools for letting him get away with such stupidity :rolleyes:

Nothing stupid about free porn.. my mate = winner.

deman · 28-10-2008 12:24pm

craichoe wrote: »

Jaysus thats madness.

Vodafone Netherlands give 30 days unlimited internet for 10 euros. Think i downloaded 30 gigabytes on my last payment

That's more or less the as me in Finland. I'm paying 9.90 euro per month for unlimited download on my phone.

GreeBo · 28-10-2008 12:36pm

derry wrote: »

.......yawn....Derry

You are the very person who drives to France to buy cheese by the KG rather than spend the extra cents buying it over here. Thus, you obviously check the price of things before you purchase them. The OP didnt. Where is the confusion?

Also; please stop posting in forums I read. You are very annoying.
That is all.

Phototoxin · 28-10-2008 12:53pm

Whats really the issue is that Irish telecoms businesses can do whatever th heck they like. I pay 25 yoyos for a 1meg connection. Other countries would have 3 10 or even 20 meg connections for the same price. Ireland is rife with price fixing too. While the internet helps with goods there are some services you have to get here which are a total joke. The place is so small that businesses know there are only limited other options for customers to go to.

In addition we've all survivied before mobile phones I dont see why we can't survive without them...

Rashers72 · 05-11-2008 9:53pm

Sorry for taking over this thread, but a quick question on a similar note.
Never used WAP/Internet on my mobile. On Meteor, talk 60.
Got a new phone, which had a shortcut to Meteor webpage on the home screen.
Anyhow, had phone in my pocket. The button was pushed in at some point. No idea when. Somewhere between 5 mins + 3 hours before hand.
Connected to meteor web page. No other pages/ Did not download anything etc.
Rang Meteor, but they could not assist till the next working day.
Seeing some of the nightmare stories here, any thoughts?

chrislad · 06-11-2008 1:39am

You are not billed for how long you are on the internet, you are billed for what you download. If you only went to the Meteor home page, and didn't go to any other page, as you say, you will be charged nothing, as the Meteor home pages are free to access on bill pay.

craichoe · 06-11-2008 12:23pm

MOH wrote: »

What are you ranting about? I've never heard, even as an urban legend, of anyone in Holland being charged 1000 euro for a beer in a bar. And I lived there over a year. Plus 5 euro for a beer is definitely not the average price.

And as for your anti-Meteor rants, they're the third Irish mobile company I've used, and been a lot better than the first two I tried.

Not an urban legend but somewhat true, you buy a girl a glass of champagne but it turns out the glass of champagne is 300 euros including some sort of sexual stuff thrown in. Not an issue for me anyway as i'd never buy a stranger a drink :P

Completely unrelated to Meteor though, look ... If it costs that much then DON'T use it, SIMPLE AS. It could be a similar argument with Car Insurance, but you NEED that, you don't NEED internet on your mobile phone to message all your friends on bebo or whatever.

Meteor: €400 charge for 20 seconds!

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