Overall, my experience of UW on the mobile front is very poor, problems with data services in and poor coverage, plus, they still don't have 4G - not a progressive company. Most recently though, I was hit by an unexpected high data roaming charge. Of course I am quite familiar with the concept of ensuring my phone is not roaming when visiting foreign countries. In this instance, I'd tried to use the airport's wifi and inadvertently turned on mobile data. I did turn it off a short time later after realising this.
But think about that for a moment - I'm being actively told not to use my data service when overseas in case I get hit by a large roaming charge. I guess it's too naive to think that given the business dependence on internet communication these days, that service providers like UW and their operators can't actually get together and put their customers interests first - and PROTECT THEM.
I was told that UW can't guarantee their €50 data roaming cap, which generally applies to Europe. Actually they can't even guarantee it in Europe, so don't trust that one. However, I guess it's pretty naive again to assume that when a company provides a figure like €50 as guidance, that your eventual charges might be close to that. Not a chance. Mine were close to SIX times that when traveling to parts of South East Asia.
It's only the big unexpected bills that hit the headlines these days, but this is happening all the time to people and it seems that companies like UW don't really care, it's enough for them to make warnings, throw a figure out there as some form of misguided reassurance that doesn't mean much and let the customers foot the bill, all in the name of profit.
When I called and complained to UW customer service, 'it was water off a duck's back' - "No problem Sir, we'd be happy to set up a payment plan for you". After reading the UW reply to my written complaint, I don't even think their customer service people even read it. They did though apologise for my inconvenience and "frustration" - "Frustration" - Ya Think!!
When in Europe, I get a message upon connecting to a new operator, telling me my charge rates - even data roaming rates. When travelling elsewhere, such as areas where there are high roaming costs - where you really do need to know, I don't get such helpful reminders. I do still get a welcome message though - almost as soon as I connect. Amazing how that works. It's almost as if UW don't want me to know what i'm in for.
It's not about the money, it's about the principle, and these companies just don't care and are happy to take your money and consider you paying £18 per mb . . . "a valid charge". Who in their right mind knowingly pays a 'valid charge' of £18 per mb ?? read more
