Hi guys,

Just off the phone with Maxis CallCenter 10minutes ago in regards to my complaint on the excessive data usage (2K MB over 4 hours on the same day vs 460MB or so for the whole month,displayed under the Iphone's usage).

Their final respond : The data usage displayed under Iphone's usage needs to be reset daily in order to get accurate reading.But since I was not advised during the purchase of Iphone nor was it stated in the agreement,they have agreed to allow me 50% rebate in next month bill.End of my complaint.

dear all

i would like to share my experience with you all, even though i am using celcom as my telco service provider, however it does reflect the same thing...

as steve jobs would define iphone as "internet communication device" when he first introduced the iphone years ago, iphone does heavily depends on internet. you can see clearly all the native apps such as wheather, maps, youtube etc, that will constantly try to connect to the internet where ever possible to update etc.

personally i also face the same experience after switching to iphone 3g after 2 and half year of SE w810i. the different reflects in my bill really crazy as i dont realize of using such a huge data, and at the end have to pay for almost rm200-300 just for data.

while im not so sure about maxis, but bear in mind, that iphone itself is a real data sucking device, so be wise when using it..

I would like to share with everyone my experience.

I am subscribed to the iValue 2 at RM 155 a month.

My first bill was RM 250 which was fine, I may have used a little more talktime than usual but its ok. The second month was RM 400.. which was shocking, and so I thought that my data usage was a bit higher and therefore I cut down. My third month.. after paying the bills in full... I got a bill for RM 720.

I flipped and called Maxis. After 3 days and 4 calls.. they still cannot tell me where the problem is.

Today, I lost my cool and screamed at the customer care on the receiving line because after so many calls, I was assured to get a call back from them to explain what the issues are within 1 hour (which did not happen). I waited all night and frustrated from the promise from them, I made a call only to give them a mouthful.

I am sick and tired of the charges but especially the poor customer service.

Do anyone know how much it will cause to pay off the penalty to end the contract and switch to another operator?

This is unacceptable.

I know a lot of Maxis staff are in Low Yat as well, tracking these forums...

I will contact CMC, Consumer Forum and all the regulatory bodied to highlight this matter. The charges are exorbitant, customer care cannot even explain what happened.

MY ADVICE.... To those interested in getting an iphone... DO NOT get the package from MAXIS. Buy the singaporean or any unlock iphones out there and subscribe to the unlimited data plan. You will be better off. I know this because I did that before. I was using a foreign Iphone on Maxis unlimited data... NO ISSUES what soever... Issues only started when I am on the "OFFICIAL" iphone package.

It makes no economic sense at all...

This post has been edited by inganokusari: Jun 1 2009, 12:31 AM

Oh shoot, sorry to hear that. AFAIK, Singapore & Malaysia share the same batch model. I think it's just the blood-sucking plans that affects you.

yes, thats why he say buy the SG iphone, and subscribe the unlimited data plan from maxis which only cost rm99 per month (or celcom one at rm68/98) per month

so in total, your bill wont get a crazy amount like rm720

my is value 250...but my bills this two months is 400++.....before i buy i phone only 200++

tats y i took da unlimited offer...
even though i noe i wun be using as much, but i knew i wudnt be charged excessively

wow my bill rose from 200 previous month to 280 in half months time.
My usual phone usage was only RM80 per month.

I have never used 3g and got pissed when my internet usage is RM230.
I gave maxis a call today and guess what they told me ? Everytime i use wifi i will also be using 3g.

Can someone verify this ?

This post has been edited by lazarus7247: Jun 1 2009, 01:15 PM

if maxis said tat wifi wud be charged...they hv gone nuts...
if u dun use 3g, use bosspref or smting n off u 3g, edge,...shud help da pocket...")

they told me as long as there was a connection to wifi, i would also be charged in 3g i told them to switch off my 3g etc already.

that's plain nonsense.. how can wifi and 3G be lumped 2gether? totally different things! they dun know what they are talking about most of the time... to be 100% sure just do what harmeet suggested, use bosspref to disable EDGE or 3G. but the only thing is need to jailbreak... i'm using iphone 2G and using bosspref to disable EDGE, so far no problem, only use wifi, and the cellular usage meter doesn't go up also..only when i really need internet on the go i'll just enable EDGE again.

It seems that I am not the only one who is having this issue when I first started this thread.

Ever since I complained to Maxis with regards to the inconsistency of the data usage and billing me an additional RM250 - they said they will look into this matter and will call back but THEY HAVE NOT CALLED BACK!

Word of advise - Be cautious of your data usage. I may launch a complain with MCMC with regards to this.

AND I noticed that Maxis hires talk cocking CS people which dont understand the iValue Plan or about data usage - I must agree how can you lump wife and 3G data together? This is just ridiculous.

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Added on June 1, 2009, 2:37 pmDo you mind breaking down what did Maxis charged for RM720... It is quite impossible that the bill came up that high.

Let's say you use RM155 package + RM30 for sms + RM50 for international calls (for example) = RM235.00 - and let's say you exceeded on your data usage so that is RM250.00 = Total bill should be RM585.00 or less. To be billed RM720, you calls & sms should be additional RM140 ++

This post has been edited by yewjin: Jun 1 2009, 02:37 PM

That is a problem.. coz my earlier plan has itemized billing.. but under the iValue... they told me that the details are not available unless I request to subscribe to them.

They even had the cheek to tell me that they might not be even able to give me the breakdown to my bills..

Thats Bull Shxx. Sue Them. Or send an invoice to their CEO, stating he/she need to pay to you RM7200.00.

Many service providers in Malaysia provides not so good quality service, and worse at all, is their billing department, which somehow "deliberately" bill the customer with wrong amount. The time and stresses spent dealing with their customer service should be measured and converted into cash and billed back at them.

You need to get your bill itemised. By not getting them itemised it is like giving them the license to charge you anything! Please get it itemised. Call 123 now!

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Added on June 1, 2009, 9:45 pmA lot of iValue users does not realise that the iValue plan does not include SMS usage, International calls, Roaming charges and toll free numbers. That means if you are subscribing to iValue 155 and your itemised bill is as below :

1. Usage - RM10.00
2. Toll free numbers - RM30 by calling stupid tm net
3. SMS - RM55
4. International calls - RM40
5. Roaming charges - RM30

What you will be paying is - RM155 (even though you use RM10) + RM30 + RM55 + RM40 + RM30 = RM310.00 is what you will be billed. AND if you exceed your 1GB data usage you will be paying additional RM250 - so it is RM560.00 not inclusive service tax and value added charges.

And just to let you know if you dont pay your bill on time, the refund on the deposit will be on hold till you pay your bills promptly.

This post has been edited by yewjin: Jun 1 2009, 09:45 PM

perfectly explained break down bro...
tats da one fact ppl fail 2 understand...

No, that is not true. We've shown here before that when you're on WIFI, the OS will not use 3G cellular data. As pointed out, they both cannot be lumped together. Also, the applications do not automatically download data unless you're using them. One reason could be because the 'Fetch New Data' is configured to 'Push'. Then the 'Fetch' section is not set to 'Manually'. Thats how the application could be mysteriously using your cellular data. Anyway I have yet to see these issues on my side.

Try monitoring your iPhones at the home screen topside where the telco logo is. Whenever data connection is used, there'll be a clockwise turning animation. That means, it is using data. What kind of connection? That depends if the WIFI logo or 3G logo is shown.

I think there is a confusion between wifi and 3G - which one will be clocked?

From where I see it, with both wifi and 3G turned on, if wifi signal is weak, 3G will step in. This is what I gathered from one of the staff but I could be wrong.

I have 3G turned off. Am using WIFI but then sometimes EDGE steps in..and that is probably how you got charged.. I noticed when your phone automatically locks and you unlock it, EDGE will be used for a moment before the WIFI steps in..

Should i just quietly pay my bills ? Or should i make a fuss about it ? Im thinking of changing my mobile service provider to digi as my friend who is using an iphone doesnt have any of this issues.