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Thread ID: 140364	2015-09-30 06:16:00	A rant about Spark	R.M. (561)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1409204	2015-09-30 21:27:00	Nope, that's why you don't data roam unless your life depends on it...just buy a prepay portable hotspot from the country you're visiting if you need mobile data. So it is straight out exploitation of the gullible? :rolleyes: I wonder how they justify $23,000 for 1.5 gig of data when the same amount can be purchased for around $1?	B.M. (505)
1409205	2015-09-30 21:37:00	It's not just Spark though BM - it's every mobile carrier in the world. Some have better roaming rates than others, but all are expensive in comparison to 'local' mobile data. All it takes is a little care, and there would be no problem. I'm not saying the costs are fair or even sensible, but what are you going to do? In fact Spark even have an option where you can setup their app so it won't let you use over x amount of data when roaming. It's not exploiting gullible people - people who get caught unknown by it are simply ignorant and haven't taken the time to check up on what the story is before traveling.	wratterus (105)
1409206	2015-09-30 21:59:00	Spark's website says it charges $5/MB for data in Sri. Lanka, so he went through around 5GB in about 3 weeks.. Which still doesn't add up because they claim: "The Mighty River Power employee, who cannot be named because his wife's name is suppressed, was on a three-week holiday in Sri Lanka when he generated the gigantic phone bill on his company cellphone - most of which was due to roaming data charges. He was charged around $6 for international phone calls and texts, with the rest of the charges came from 1.5GB of roaming data."	B.M. (505)
1409207	2015-09-30 22:17:00	Good question, which is the best.? I have Slingshot, no problems and last time a I looked the cheapest.	Cicero (40)
1409208	2015-09-30 22:46:00	It's not just Spark though BM - it's every mobile carrier in the world. Some have better roaming rates than others, but all are expensive in comparison to 'local' mobile data. All it takes is a little care, and there would be no problem. I'm not saying the costs are fair or even sensible, but what are you going to do? In fact Spark even have an option where you can setup their app so it won't let you use over x amount of data when roaming. It's not exploiting gullible people - people who get caught unknown by it are simply ignorant and haven't taken the time to check up on what the story is before traveling. I agree wratterus, Telco’s throughout the world like to exploit tourists, so I thought I’d check on 1.5 gig of data roaming in Shri Lanka if with Telstra Australia. 6754 $4500 compared to Sparks $23,000, I mean WTF goes on here. I also agree that we shouldn’t get caught by these thieves, and you and I are unlikely to, but I do feel it is a trap for young players and can think of numerous older people who aren’t the least bit IT inclined who would easily be caught.	B.M. (505)
1409209	2015-09-30 23:25:00	Spark's is $5 a MB on pay monthly, so dearer but not crazily so. But yes there is something not right as 1.5GB of data would have cost $7,500, or $12,000 on prepay rates, not $23,000, so either the article has the amount of data wrong, or the bill wasn't correct.	wratterus (105)
1409210	2015-10-01 01:59:00	Spark's is $5 a MB on pay monthly, so dearer but not crazily so. But yes there is something not right as 1.5GB of data would have cost $7,500, or $12,000 on prepay rates, not $23,000, so either the article has the amount of data wrong, or the bill wasn't correct. None of it makes any sense to me either but what we lack in NZ is a Telecommunication Industry Ombudsman. (TIO) like they have in Aus. This outfit has real teeth and is not scared to get right up any Telecommunication Company that gets too sharp for their own good. 6755 I’ve had a set-to with both Telstra and Vodafone over there and got nowhere until I involved the TIO and the situation changed in a heartbeat with both cases being settled for more than I initially asked. :lol: So it seems there is no love lost between the Telecom companies and the TIO and the TIO is on record as saying they are fed up with the number of complaints they have to resolve with errant Telecom Companies or words to that effect.	B.M. (505)
1409211	2015-10-01 02:49:00	All ISPs have issues, and a lot of the time the issues stem back to Chorus. The bigger ISPs have a higher number of issues, but it's really only due to the higher volume of customers. In my experience Spark's actual product offerings perform as some of the best going. It depends what you're after. Different ISPs have different pros and cons, and which is 'best' depends on the person and what they see as the KPIs of the service.	inphinity (7274)
1409212	2015-10-01 03:28:00	Partial solution only at this stage. I have one phone going (with the base under my desk plugged into the 'box) and the hand piece out on the bench). To get the other phone going (at the other end of the house), I apparently need some more wiring done (at a cost only of labour time for the Chorus tech - ?$70 I think). In 5-7 working days, I've been told. A couple of my other problems for the week have been sorted out today, so my grumpiness is less. :)	R.M. (561)
1409213	2015-10-01 03:32:00	Partial solution only at this stage. I made my way back to the Spark Retail shop again this morning and made a nuisance of myself, but I now have one phone going (with the base under my desk plugged into the 'box) and the hand piece out on the bench). To get the other phone going (at the other end of the house), I apparently need some more wiring done (at a cost only of labour time for the Chorus tech - ?$70 I think). In 5-7 working days, I've been told. And I was helped by a tech on the phone who spoke Kiwi as I know it! A couple of my other problems for the week have been sorted out today, so my grumpiness is less. :)	R.M. (561)
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