Hi,

Here is my story.

My parents went to China last week. While I am dead sure that the "Data roaming" option on his Galaxy Note 4 is turned off, few days after his vacation he received this:



And soon he hit his credit limit and his line was barred.

After he returned to Malaysia I called up Celcom careline to find out what went wrong, the answer I got was "sorry, this month's bill still not yet generated. You have to wait till the bill cycle". (What the hell.....) Fine, i'll wait.

So, bill came, and I saw this:



GREAT! So I lodged a complaint via their customer self service portal. 2 days later this is what I got:



So, I called 1111 to follow up on the case number to only find out that the case was actually already closed without further notice/discussion!
Immediately I requested the agent to file an appeal for me over the weekend, and today I login again into customer self care portal and it's again, closed without contacting me or any response:




To further "convince" myself, I traveled to Stulang Laut, Johor Bahru and did this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK1tVJiT26g

Basically what I did was after making sure data roaming is turned off, I connect to one of the so called "celcom roaming partner"'s network and tried to fool around before switching back to home network. The result?



And, it seems that I'm not the only victim
http://www.complaintboard.com/celcom-l2392.html

and L Ng quoted an example of this happening (http://www.iphoneincanada.ca/carriers/rogers/fido-charging-iphone-data-roaming-setting-off/) and the Telco operator admitted its their fault and made a refund.

The next experiment I'd probably do is connect to CELCOM ROAMING PARTNER and this time, even with "cellular data" turn off before I turn to MCMC for help...




UPDATE 12/4/2016 5:15pm
Wrote to CFM and in less than an hour after i furbished CFM with all the details:

RM0 RM144 rebate has been approved and will be reflected in ur next month's Celcom bill. Stay connected on the fastest network. TQ

BRAVO CFM!


UPDATE 15/4/2016
As advised by grazy, i tried again at the same spot, same roaming partner, local data on, but network "3G or below" only, and VOILA! no charge.

Obviously Celcom needs to fix this shit ASAP.

This post has been edited by adam7979: Apr 17 2016, 12:10 AM

ok, time to port out everyone.

thats why onexox not allowed data roaming

if u use 4G, it still gonna transmit a small amount of data, even when u turn data transfer/roaming.

some forummer suggest to switch to 3G line in order to avoid this hassle... i cant remember who... i think its OKLY ?

This post has been edited by kurangak: Apr 11 2016, 06:53 PM

welcome to malaysia!

*all* telcos are the same..mcmc is sleeping...so port to where?

someone mention bring / use old school phone.

mean those basic phone. No surfing internet / WhatsApp etc. capabilities. confirm no Data Roaming problem

even if data roaming is off, your phone still handshake with the roaming telco.

I tried to use u mobile once at Brunei , cellular data on, roaming off - the iPhone data usage will register "data roaming :few kB)

but u mobile didn't charge me a single sen for it.

I think this is just a confirguration issue on the celcom network. I know for one that you need to disable your voicemail if you travel overseas on celcom.

issues like this make me hesitant to return to celcom

This post has been edited by Chrono-Trigger: Apr 11 2016, 07:20 PM

umobile postpaid now gives 50mb for data roaming, so you are safe for now.

once i was using umobile prepaid abroad, topped up my card online, then turned on my phone to check balance....
and then shocked to find all my credit gone!

This post has been edited by kit2: Apr 11 2016, 07:25 PM

I also kena, last month was overseas to HK when came back my bill kena RM1++.
I lodged a complaint via their customer self service portal too and get the same email reply. As usual when overseas i always switch off data, and before i'm at oversease the TTDI staff where i activated my roaming tell me must use celcom partner smartone which i did but end up kena charge.

Let me know if you want to complain to MCMC i will join.

Suggest TS to lodge complaint with MCMC

good for Umobile to give some quota for data

so that time you managed to get all your credits back?

Also no data roaming on Altel, BuzzMe, Friendi, Merchantrade, Tron and XOX .....

called up 1111 again last night and quarreled with them for over 20 minutes before they created another ticket number for me. If i managed to claim my money back i'll share my report number here so that you can quote and ask for the same refund. Good luck to you and me.

oh mai..gonna pull out my sim before going SG next week............LOL

Rather unfortunate that umobile no longer offers free 50mb data roaming for prepaid nor postpaid .....

*Deleted*

This post has been edited by adam7979: Apr 12 2016, 11:09 AM

some reported here that they managed to claim back the money after approaching MCMC and/or CFM. Looks like it's useless to approach celcom.

shame on you celcom, another example of "double standard"

oh yes...checked website again and it's gone now..
easy money for telco...umobile finally gotten smarter eh?

no, that time i thought it was a bug with my phone...
until i got hit again with another phone and with another telco's prepaid.

This post has been edited by kit2: Apr 12 2016, 11:33 AM

some of them have no roaming at all..
when roaming, most people want voice and sms, but data is definitely not desirable.

posting in potential viral tered. owaii

they just stop that service if its not working properly yet. have another round of testing

contact CFM for faster response.. same case as mine.. got the money waived back..

Fxxxing incredible! i got my money back in a few hours!

nice.. really need to show them colors

Bro you call cfm directly??

This post has been edited by uexpress: Apr 12 2016, 09:51 PM

So many problem but the government still sleeping without doing anything?

Celcom Sucks!

I emailed them.

can you share the email here so others can adapt it for their own use if they encounter similar problem.

Just note that TS has updated the first post.

I for one never had issue with Celcom when in other countries.

No bills as long as DATA is not connected. Calls / SMS work fine.

Did another experiment today. ALL data turned off. Still kena charge after connected to M1. GG celcom

Try off 4G, switch voice to 3G/2G only

To prevent accidental data connection while roaming abroad, follow these 3 easy settings before boarding the plane.
1) Turn off Cellular Data.
2) Turn off Data Roaming.
3) Disable voicemail service. (Must call service provider to disable it)

If you have done these 3 settings but data still leak out and connect to a roaming network, then the only culprit I can think is virus or bad apps.

So far I never had roaming data leakage problem while abroad.

when mobile data is turned off, what G does the phone use?

Even data is off, phone will still on 4G network, so if possible make sure they are set to 3G/2G.

Usually the network will still try to put the phone on the highest G allowed. (But when on Starhub, it forced my Maxis-account phone down to H, whereas on Singtel it tried its best to keep my phone on 4G.)

Hi guys,

After hearing complaints from friends, I decided to call up celcom to check out the reason behind the roaming charges by celcom.

Basically, once you're connected to their telco partners in respective countries, you will automatically be charged RM 38/day for limited data roaming (usually 500 MB / day) regardless if you use the data roaming or not.

To avoid this, you must manually select your phone network to non-celcom partners overseas. You can find out which networks are celcom partners from their website.

https://www.celcom.com.my/personal/plans/in...HQWSBoCfZ7w_wcB

For example, Celcom's partners in Australia are Vodafone and Telstra. Once you're connected to either of these networks, celcom automatically charges RM 38 / Day for 500 MB / day data roaming even if you deactivate your data roaming on your phone. To avoid this we must manually connect other networks.

Apparently Celcom just updated this policy in this month. I have been using Celcom for more than 10 years and this is something really new to me. It's definitely shame for Celcom.

I'm not sure about other Telcos, my maxis user friend also told me recently that he was also charged RM 38 for sending a SMS in Singapore. Can anyone verify? Maybe it's a government policy instead of carrier policy.

So, remember to manually connect non-celcom partners at overseas to avoid unnecessary data roaming charges if you don't plan to use it..

Cheers

Not exactly. As advised by grazy, did another experiment last night, with data option "3G or lower only" and VIOLA! No charge anymore.

This is a crazy bug which they'd have to tackle ASAP

This post has been edited by adam7979: Apr 15 2016, 07:22 AM

I also encounter the same issue, the best part is their reply to me ....


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Before that when i went to TTDI branch for roaming activation, The staff did said must use celcom partner in overseas to avoid high charge. So i did, but the staff never inform that celcom will charge RM38/day. My case is only use my phone for emergency call only without using any data still kena charge.

Submit my complaint to CFM and now waiting for Celcom to reply. And i need to capture this as my case was happen in march 2016.

I have exactly the same issues.
Went to Singapore for 11 days and was charged with RM494 for data roaming which I didn't use.

The officer said "when you use wifi on your phone, it tend to trigger the data roaming and as long as you're using it we'll charge RM38/day."
And other officers said "Maybe you accidentally turned it on" as if we don't know how to turn off.

That's the weirdest claims I heard. I've file complaint to Celcom and they said they investigated and it is valid and close my case.

494 is exactly 38 x 13days.
Maybe the extra 2days are arrival date till 11.59pm charge 1 day then the departure date after 12.00 am another day.

Did you turn off the 3 settings ie 1) mobile data, 2) data roaming and 3) voicemail service before entering Singapore ?

CFM Portal

The portal address for CFM. Do note that they require you to lodge a report with Celcom first and get their reference number which you then enter into their form. I have filed mine as I was also charged RM38 for my trip to Bali last month. I also referenced this thread to CFM so that they take note of others who got scammed by Celcom with this

This post has been edited by spikey2506: Apr 15 2016, 07:47 PM

I have the same problem when traveling oversea last month. I have file a complain to celcom and got the same negative replied. Next, I have file a complain to CFM and wait about 2weeks, celcom sms me and granted me the rebate.

same problem here during my transit from few country in a day... SG > HK > MAINLAND...rm4xx extra charges in 6days

no only celcom, maxis also got this issue but maxis will waive it once they found out the 4g connection made to oversea telcos. I asked them how they know, she said each packet of 50kb continuous for few times...

When CFM is involved, all telcos will work fast. Haha

hahaha good one

next time any problem. report to CFM

They r paid to perform the job

got my refund too. time to port out to umobile with better roaming. rm10/day unlimited data.


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same problem with digi too

http://community.digi.com.my/t5/Postpaid/R...m-p/12516#M2746

Adam, who is CFM please?

Adam, who is CFM and how do I contact them?

I have an issue with YES, they are cheating me big time on quota.

I have been reading that many others are having the same problem, and I would like to lodge a complaint with a regulatory body

Few years back my mom got charged for data roaming with Celcom, she was using a Samsung Galaxy W back then which had no 4G, I checked her phone many times before she left the country and confirmed that data roaming was off, only cellular data was on, yet she got charged for data roam use..

http://www.complaint.cfm.org.my

Totally off everything....

I have seen at least 3 threads complaining about the same problem already. Celcom must do something to prevent force usage of data roaming when customer is not prepared to use it.

Latest update. After 3 complaints filed to Celcom without any good response. I've reported it to CFM and they refunded me within 2 days and they credit the amount to my phone account.

It makes my account with more than -RM400++

And I found a way to go Singpore without the data roaming. That is to select Singtel (who is not the data roaming partner of Celcom). Celcom will keep send you sms ask you to select M1. If you select M1 or Starhub it will surely happen again.

I think they should just ask their partner not to bill for anything less than 100KB.

my mom using celcom too. i bring along her to travel at taiwan
but she didnt have the issue as you. wonder is it randomly or what? lol

What's her phone model? Does her phone connect to 4G network?

cool Down guys.. as my travelling experience so far there is no any roaming fee charges and only one time fee. I want to share my experienced , three months ago when i know need to going Singapore for business trip the next day and i got no time to call Telco M connect my roaming.. Mana tahu, i just use there side's Telco. After i came back, check the bill...Walaoeh, shock me with the XXX amount. Luckily can claim from the company.

Terrible la if the amount XXX charged. i really got no knowledge on roaming this kind of things.
I will be travelling to Japan another 3 months. i trying to check any hotels or tourist places whether got provide WIFI service. But how you said only one time fee? Can you explain it to me ? Many thanks.

Sorry late reply you as i was asleep. There is two types. RM38/day or RM138/week with unlimited data internet. It's auto Subscription when you on your data roaming. Please make sure your roaming is applied before you going to travel. As i know Telco M also provided but only single preferred operator

May i know RM38/day and RM138/week is from which Telco? i more interested on this roaming. Can you explain more on this to me plsss?

Buy a Japan SIM card better. I bought mine for one week internet access at Osaka Kansai airport for around 3000 yen through a vending machine. Their LTE speed is awesome

As refer from my fren's experience info, he did compare with it and found out the Japan Sim have limited data download up to 500MB only.

if for 7 days. He will suggest us to use Celcom as there is a package called Wonderoam 1-week only RM138. This have unlimited calls & sms but Japan sim card didn't provided.
More info:-
https://www.celcom.com.my/personal/plans/in...p=1360826523383

Don't use LTE networks when you don't have internet plan. Even when mobile data is switched off, set to 2G/3G to be safe.

This post has been edited by mengsuan: May 7 2016, 11:56 PM

any sample on what to write when report to cfm?

Orange Telco user here. RM36 per day but if x 7 days. The total amount will be RM252. Walao eh..damn expensive. Now i just realized the Celcom 1 week only RM138.

Now you know which one is worth to sign right? You may go change the telco company if you got no any contract with the orange Telco.

i got the contract with orange Telco but until end of this month. Don't know still got time to change or not as i just got informed by my boss this morning and i might need to travel to HK end of next month...pray pray

hahah..so ngam the timing. we all pray so you got time to change your telco and enjoy the good service by Celcom ya.

Thanks. i will try to convince my boss delay the triip...ehehe

I think celcom charges data roaming because volte is activated. It is voice over LTE service. Maybe we should disable that service?

My colleague, another victim...


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Ask your colleague to get a waiver from Celcom. If they refuse, get CFM to be involved. But for the one on 19th April, I don't think they will waive as the data use is significant

the one on 8 Apr? did he use that much data?

that one sure cannot get waiver

you mean 8th or 19th? 19th is very small amount only.

19 & 20 Apr I guess ccan get some waiver

Ah sorry. The 8th one.

Speak to the CS for clarification

Yeah, I told him the story from head to tail, and the 19MB I guess his hand itchy...

hand itchy see / download what

If still itch, apply mopiko

if got for holiday without data is difficult oh. cannot upload photos on insta

yea. my last trip to thailand, i didnt get any data other than wifi at hostel =(

Those on Celcom hv to be careful
Thier international roaming will auto charge daily when you connected to their partner and data automatically on even your phone did not use thier data..
They charge on daily basic ..
That is why I off my wife international roaming when she sign up...
Hv to read tnc guy when sign up

This post has been edited by stevenlee: May 21 2016, 01:44 PM

yea tnc is important and make sure to also get the person's name so if anything happens u may refer. plus by asking their name, they will not simply promise.

allow me to explain what i understand(not guaranteed correct) but i think if we didnt switch off international roaming and we're in a place where celcom partner is available, it makes sense to connect because celcom has engaged with them as their partner. so the partner will acknowledge our number and thus this connection to the partner is like us reconnecting (eg from flight mode). so the data just automatically restored?

but this's just my rant and purely guessing. perhaps someone knowledgeable can share this with us =)

but recently celcom just launch their wonderoam. maybe they have improved or upgraded? now its rm38 per day or rm 138 per wk. sounds really good

During my last trip to europe in March, I turned off data on my phone, and wasn't charged anything.

this service is auto charge even though you din use their international roaming in other country.
as long as you connected to their partner, you will be charge according to their daily rate.


probably that time yet to hv wonderoam package or you not connected to their partner.
if you not connect to their partner, you still able to receive call but not data.
But once connected to their partner, the daily rate RM38 will be charge automatically.

that's absurb la. no point using the international roaming then, or perhaps shouldn't connect to their partner at all. I just need the line to receive bank tac smses.

Maybe you can try double confirm with Celcom..
But this is what I get to know last month when my wife visit Japan..
Ask the CS then share the result here

useless one. my own line, March complained to CFM for full refund, april kena again so lodge another complaint. They dare to use the same excuse again and refuse to give me full refund. Really hopeless. Gonna wait till May's bill come out then i kena them gau gau....

Escalate d complaint to MCMC

in tht case, i better check with the call centre before my trip oh. but if just rm38 per day for unlimited data i am fine.

so if im interested, what should i do to subscribe? like celcom instantly know i need when om overseas? like line detector or once connect to their partner?

i got to know that u have to call customer service to subscribe.