iPhone runs into more iWoes
iPhone runs into more iWoes
September 11, 2007:One AT&T customer from the US has received a US $4800 phone bill for emails received on his iPhone when it wasn’t even switched on.
Joe Levy, along with his wife and daughter, are the proud owners of the much hyped Apple iPhones. When the three of them left the US on a Mediterranean cruise they took their iPhones with them, but had them turned off.
Despite being turned off, the iPhone’s were receiving emails so they were able to be viewed the moment they were turned back on. Unfortunately this also means they were being charged for data sent to an overseas location and nestled in a myriad of fine print is a host of international AT&T data charges.
"They have periodic updates on their data files, and they translate into megabucks," Levy told Newsday. "This is akin to your bank having automatic access to your ATM machine and is siphoning money out during all times of the day and night without your knowledge."
The 54 page, US $4,800 bill that Mr Levy was sent on his return was naturally disputed, however AT&T refused to acknowledge there was a problem and the complaint escalated all the way up the AT&T food chain to the president of the company himself. AT&T has offered to refund US $1,500 to the Levy family, which has been rejected in favour of demands for the full amount to be refunded.
AT&T’s website actually stipulates that "Substantial charges may be incurred if phone is taken out of the U.S. even if no services are intentionally used" however this line is enmeshed in a 6,707 word terms and conditions document.
This incident is the latest in a string of iPhone debacles, stemming from problems activating with AT&T at release, customers receiving outrageously lengthy bills in excess of three hundred pages and technical complaints such as dead spots on the touch screen.