Man Gets $4,190.76 iPhone Bill
Kidding aside, international roaming on your iPhone is a bad idea, in case you weren't already aware. This handheld Mac is big on media features and e-mail, meaning it burns through data pretty quick. Without an international data plan, that $0.05 per kilobyte adds up -- sometimes to over $4,000.
Pierre -- some dude who wrote to Consumerist -- took his iPhone on a vacation through Ibiza, Spain and Europe and managed rack up a $4,190.76 bill, mainly for international data roaming fees. He managed to talk a customer service rep into retroactively giving him the 20-megabyte-per-month international data plan, which dropped the price of additional data down to $5 per megabyte. Pierre's bill was slashed to just $900 which -- come to think of it -- is still insane!
Just remember that your unlimited data plan, on any phone, isn't really unlimited if you use it outside of the U.S. Check the fine print.
From Consumerist
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
SCole @ Aug 20th 2007 2:54PM
What an idiot!!! He could have gotten an international calling card for about $100 and been alot better off
sei @ Aug 20th 2007 3:44PM
iphone sounds pretty crappy after this story
Lee @ Aug 20th 2007 4:05PM
I'm sure he felt that all he used his iPHONE for was necessary, so he should have to pay the bill like all of us who make use of a service.
chorlette @ Aug 20th 2007 8:03PM
at@t gotta love or leave them alone.
Brandy @ Aug 21st 2007 6:41AM
I did use my cell phone (verizon wireless) in the Bahama's and Puerto Rico while on a cruise. I did not get any additional Charges. I have done considerable amount of research on the best cell phone plans around and Verizon has the best one I don't understand why everyone is against that company any input here would be very welcomed.
renee @ Aug 21st 2007 9:19AM
Love my Verizon plan/phone whatever you want to call it. Never had a problem with them and I have been with them since 1996. I don't understand why people get new cell phones every few months with new companies and new phone numbers.
Tiler Cassidy @ Aug 21st 2007 11:31AM
I personally love Verizon and dislike AT&T. (Their basic phone charges are almost the same.) But I am addicted to Apple products... I haven't gotten the iPhone yet. (After reading so many iHorror stories recently, how could I?) But I think I will wait for the next line of iPhones, to see if they have worked out any of their problems.
Olivia @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:32PM
retard! everybody knows you arent supposed to roam with iphones. i have one, and im a teen, and i still know its pricey to use it in foreign countries. way to go pierre or whatever the crap his name is.
Gunsmoke @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:42PM
To all of you cattle branded zombies it's time to smarted up and use your hard earned cash for better things you can enjoy in your spare time, like a "forty sack" of grass and rolling papers - and you'll still have enough to take your Old lady for a Honey moon at the Roach Motel.
Diane @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:51PM
I just got what I thought was an unlimited data plan too and I've been on roam for 3 weeks wondering what my bill is going to be. Yikes!
chocobunny @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:01PM
Having been to Ibiza ... and owning a tri-band phone since 2003... (my current phone is a blackberry its quad band)... Everyone with half a brain who intends to use their phone beyond U.S. their phone outside of Canada pays the extra $20.00 bucks a month to turn on international service. I'm sure he had the travel plans prior to buying the phone... Ibiza sells out for summer by March... but then again its the having half a brain thing.... he should have stayed in Seaside Heights, New Jersey... where he could have impressed the locals with his expensive toy... I'm sure he was texting "like a pimp" and calling home to "Ant" aka "Antony"... in Kearny, New Jersey to boast about how many bums he grabbed at the foam party.
FFS... did he use the film "Eurotrip" in which a dude uses a tri band phone to pretend that he was in the States as his guide...
andrew @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:10PM
i also had an iphone and was on full usage plan and received a bill of over $400 when my plan was only 169 for everything. they immediatly said they can slash the price and have authority to reduce other things and finally withing 5 min was down to correct price..i wonder how many people dont even look and just paid it as i usually would do..they are prob making an extra 100 million in mistakes on bills. i was alitlle offended
Maureen @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:13PM
FIRST OF ALL.... NEVER TAKE YOUR CELL PHONE ON VACATION!!!! ESPECIALLY IF IT'S TO EUROPE, NO MATTER WHAT PART!!!!! :)
Dee @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:24PM
Rule of thumb: Know Before You Roam!
netster @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:34PM
Why the heck wasn't he just enjoying Europe instead of obsessively using his iphone??? I don't have a cell phone nor do I want one. I think they're absolutely annoying and so are the people who have them glued to their face 24 freakin hours a day! Most people with cell phones can NOT drive or go to the store without talking on the phone, sheesh! Don't believe me? Just try going shopping or running errands without talking on your phone. Betcha can't do it.
Marionne @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:38PM
Poor iPhone. It's reputation is getting tarnished by a few morons.
brandon @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:45PM
if you can afford an iphone trips to Ibiza, Spain and Europe im sure it didnt hurt him any..prolly just a reason to get some publicity.this is just some rich shmuk...
mista big @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:47PM
I am shocked to hear so many positive things about verizon. I was verizon customer for 10 years, whne the new every 2 plan came out I signed up, 2 years later, they stated they had recollection of such a thing and only offered me $25 off a new phone. After 10 years (most of them when cell phones were new and the plans were outragious) they just threw me to the way side. Mind you I was never late or missed a payment, and I would have to say I was an A1 customer. Thats why I switched to cingular/AT&T and I must say I can't be happier.
Mike Ingenito @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:52PM
I think it's going to take some serious immage & price reduction on product & services for any one to consider EVER getting an I Phone. only the GULLABLE would ever get one,you know who you are and you deserve it !
robliano @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:54PM
You people are so stupid, look at his prior bill, almost $500, that has nothing to do with the iphone, it rocks, you probably can't afford one, and yeah, I posted this with my iphone!!!