Comments on: 3 bans its broadband customers from overseas data usage

By: Tina

Tina — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:13:37 +0000

Hey guys,
I don’t know about you guys but I have just switched from Vodafone over to 3 because I found that I was getting bill shock every single month with my yappy mouth.
I know this has nothing to do with broadband, but I have recently signed up to their 99c a day talk and text and it seems to be great. I get 700 texts and 200 minutes to talk to whoever I want and I am no longer scared of being charged a ridiculous amount because I control everything on prepay.

By: renaissance chambara | Ged Carroll - Links of the day

renaissance chambara | Ged Carroll - Links of the day — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 23:02:36 +0000

[...] 3 bans its broadband customers from overseas data usage [...]

By: Evert Bopp

Evert Bopp — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:09:36 +0000

this is nothing new really. I’ve ran into this problem with 3 as far back as September 2006. Had bought a 3G phone from them and travelled to the UK. Tried to access their 3G service with no luck. When I called customer service I was informed that “for the Irish subscribers their 3G service only works while on the Irish network”.
This was probably even more stupid than their walled garden approach to Internet access…

By: renaissance chambara | Ged Carroll - Pat Phelan gives me 3UK heart attack

renaissance chambara | Ged Carroll - Pat Phelan gives me 3UK heart attack — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:02:53 +0000

[...] a roaming bar by default on 3UK broadband dongles. When I saw Pat Phelan’s post this morning 3 bans its broadband customers from overseas data usage, it scared the crap out of [...]

By: The data roaming cost cushion from 3 : NevilleHobson.com

The data roaming cost cushion from 3 : NevilleHobson.com — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:20:50 +0000

[...] (Via Pat Phelan) [...]

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:59:05 +0000

If customers don’t like it, they can go elsewhere. It may end up hurting 3, but I’m sure there are quite a few people like myself who would rather avoid the risk of bill shock.

By the way, will you agree that you are incorrect to say 3 “totally banned it customers from using their mobile broadband devices outside their home country.”?

By: Pat Phelan

Pat Phelan — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:49:12 +0000

@james
I have heard possibly ten cases of huge bills amongst the billions of roaming data minutes used.
I am not in favour of any carrier enforcing its rules on its paying customers
The 3 ceo makes it quite clear that £50 is the limit
this is about 2-4 megs if you have moved outside a 3 partner which makes the device beyond useless.

By: mediahackers

mediahackers — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:47:02 +0000

From the 3 UK website:

When you’re on a 3 Like Home network, you can use your inclusive allowance to call or text standard UK numbers. You can also use your Skype, Internet and Mobile Broadband allowance as well.

All you have to do is ensure that you’re using a 3 network. Your headline is **very** misleading.

By: James Gallagher

James Gallagher — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:43:34 +0000

In all fairness Pat, a credit limit is usually negotiable particularly if you’re someone who frequently uses data abroad and accept that it may lead to large charges. We bemoaned the huge bill that chap got downloading Prison Break the other day – isn’t this somewhat preferable while data charges remain ridiculously high?

(Disclosure: I’m a 3 customer and the company I work for has a business relationship with 3. Though I think my point is broad enough to avoid bias)

By: Pat Phelan

Pat Phelan — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:27:54 +0000

Dont think so Kevin
£50 maximum is about as handy as an ashtray on a motorbike

“Kevin Russell, chief executive of 3 UK, on Tuesday added that contract customers could still opt in to use their mobile broadband dongles in “non 3 markets”, but said that even in such cases a £50 credit limit would be placed on their accounts to avoid thousands of pounds’ worth of charges accumulating”