Smart Phones are legalized Robbery and Theft!

So the other day I purchased a smart phone.
Not that I particularly wanted one, but they're all "smart phones" now.

So I put in R30 airtime (as we call it here - non-stop it meant you could talk for almost 10 minutes).

Next day, my entire R30 is gone!
I needed an emergency lift, and the blood drained from my face in horror.
I didn't make any calls or send SMS texts, and yet all my airtime is gone!

A long story, I phoned the network, and they said, oh I must first switch all the data and apps off.

WTF?
I didn't ask for any data or apps!
But the phone comes like that, sir!
What?

You get a page of instructions, basically how to make a call.
It said nothing on all this disappearing money.

I've restricted a lot of the data and background roaming, but it still takes R1 off every day, and I cannot figure out for what.

I think this is a money-making scheme.
You're happy to be taxed a little for some big company, but I don't want them and don't need them.

I was so happy to get a smart-phone, but now it breaks my heart and robs me every day.

I only wanna make calls, and send text messages now and then (like the old days) and check stuff when my wi-fi is connected.

But I feel it has a conspiracy to charge me and rob me continually.
You push down one app, and another pops up.
R1 might be little in a day, but in a year it adds up, and I'm not a rich man.

And the worst is, nobody warns you when you purchase it.
It's set to rob you to the maximum before you know what's happening!

I feel for you, I really do. But most of the problems you're having are common sense these days, especially for the newer generation. Everything uses data, And if you don't want it too you must shut it off. I think they should have warned you though. A bit slimy that they didn't.

Edit: I don't know what OS your phone is running, but try installing something like play.google.com...

Or another data manager. You will be able to see were your data is going and take appropriate actions to disable it

I bought my phone out right, one off payment, then went with O2 on an unlimited txts/calls to any network 4gb data contact for only £22 a per month, hasn't changed me anything so far except my contact.

Guess it's all network related on how your charged etc, best bet is to get another sim with a txt, data plan and pay no more unless you go over it.

I always turn of WiFi and my internet data when not using, cause data will run out as apps are always updated in background, better using WiFi as it's free most places.

a reply to: DarkvsLight29

I can't afford a contract, I'm pay as you go.
And I've read bad things on contracts too.

At least in SA it can cost you thousands to get out of a contract.

Umm, you may be a little behind the times. If you're putting minutes on a smartphone then you are getting ripped off.

a reply to: halfoldman

Don't sign a contract if you know your might want to change later. Contract's are good if your stable and have no reason to change for 1-2-3 years etc

originally posted by: Toolman18
Umm, you may be a little behind the times. If you're putting minutes on a smartphone then you are getting ripped off.

I think it's a translation error, English doesn't appear to be OP's first language so

a reply to: DarkvsLight29

But my buddy also said, leave your wi-fi on.
I always thought you need to be frugal and switch it off, like electricity.
But for data the opposite is true.
It helped, but there's still disappearing money somewhere.
It slowed the theft down, but hasn't eradicated it.

a reply to: halfoldman

Please install a data manager app and see were its leaking

a reply to: halfoldman
Smart phones can be a bit confusing for those just getting one, and the mistake most people make(IMHO) is getting one of those pay as you go phones. Get a monthly plan, because in the long run, you'll be better off. Are they a rip-off? Sure, but if you're going to have one, you may as well do it right. I'm sure others will agree or disagree, but that's my two shillings.

I have a Motorola phone, and a Verizon plan. I know what my bill is every month, and it hasn't changed in years, except when I have tweaked or upgraded the plan.

a reply to: halfoldman

It's 2016. If you've made it this long without a smart phone then do yourself a huge favor and chuck it off a cliff.
You obviously can survive without one.

Remain off the grid and out of the obsessive compulsive lifestyle that it brings and consider yourself lucky.

originally posted by: halfoldman
a reply to: DarkvsLight29

I can't afford a contract, I'm pay as you go.
And I've read bad things on contracts too.

At least in SA it can cost you thousands to get out of a contract.

Till the last few months i was always pay as you go, but used to much data and paid way more ££ than i needed that's why i went contact sim, least i own my own phone if something goes wrong lol.

Wow thousands to get out of a contract over here in the UK for the best of unlimited it would only be a couple hundred at most,,well that's if your just sim contract and not phone plus sim etc.

a reply to: Tjoran

Is that like paying the mafia to keep the other gangsters off your back?

a reply to: DarkvsLight29

I see, but in exchange rates your hundreds are our thousands, I guess.

a reply to: halfoldman

It's a program that keeps track of your data and shows what applications are using it

a reply to: halfoldman

Consumer cellular, this company charges are reasonable rate and they still have flip phones.

LOL Why did you get that? Hell, My hubby still has a flip phone! While I have a smart phone, only because work pays for it, if he needs to text more than 5 words on his phone, he has me do it. He doesn't have the patients for it



especially for the newer generation.

This above really is the problem the OP is talking about. They get to rip off the older people, that don't know all this crap they pull nowdays with new phones. And it is wrong.

a reply to: halfoldman

Even with pay as you go, the company likely still charges you something to be on their network.

originally posted by: halfoldman
a reply to: DarkvsLight29

I see, but in exchange rates your hundreds are our thousands, I guess.

Probably true.

You can keep WiFi on if you want, I just turn mine off when not using, if anything is to keep power in my battery.

You will have a data app installed on your phone under (settings menu), should be one of the top along side WiFi/Bluetooth etc, have a look and see if it needs changing.

a reply to: DarkvsLight29

Well now wi-fi is on.
Apparently the best way to keep it.
It still siphons though, but less.

a reply to: halfoldman

Well essentially I think they're trying to drive you into a contract.

That is, you thought you're paying for a smart phone, but you're gonna have to pay much more on some kind of data contract, and then you feel lucky and they leave you alone.

But that's highway robbery intimidation!

You can't really choose what to use without taking the whole package.

You're not just buying a phone; you just bought slavery!