Woman Surprised With Long-Distance Charges for Making Calls on Free App

[canada-man]

Like more than two billion people around the world, Ana Maria Perez uses the popular app WhatsApp.

She said she began using it to call Cuba for free without having to sign up for a long-distance phone plan.

“After being here for many years, I rekindled a relationship I had with my best friend when I was little in Cuba," she said. "So, we've been talking, and I started using WhatsApp to talk to her."

But recently, Ana Maria said her cellphone company sent her a text message saying she owed them money for two of the calls she made to Cuba using the app.

“It was a very threatening text message that I had charges for long distance and that my services will be cut off,” she said

Ana Maria’s cellphone bill shows two long-distance charges totaling $96 for the calls she made via WhatsApp. She said that when she contacted the cellphone company, they told her they were charging her because she was connected to T-Mobile’s Wi-Fi, not her home Wi-Fi when she made the WhatsApp calls.

She said they told her that “when there's an issue with connectivity or something, it's picked up by the Wi-Fi of T-Mobile. And that's how I was able to connect.”

Woman Surprised With Long-Distance Charges for Making Calls on Free App – NBC 6 South Florida (nbcmiami.com)

 

[Nathan 88]

The only way to be 100% sure that you won’t be charged by your carrier for any messaging or calls is to take your Sim card out.

 

[curr3n_c1000]

“It was a very threatening text message that I had charges for long distance and that my services will be cut off,” she said

Is this woman serious? Since when is a message reminding your bill needs to be paid threatening?

Pay your damn bill.

 

[escortsxxx]

“It was a very threatening text message that I had charges for long distance and that my services will be cut off,” she said

Is this woman serious? Since when is a message reminding your bill needs to be paid threatening?

Pay your damn bill.

Actually PR and messaging can be quite different. I get reminder calls... Just reminder Verses Oh we noticed your 5 pennies short this week we I'm going to disconnect your service Unless you take immediate action today!

And then of course we're gonna call the FBI and all that crap.

I even had my life threatened once . So Moral of the story I wasn't there.

 

[xix]

The only way to be 100% sure that you won’t be charged by your carrier for any messaging or calls is to take your Sim card out.

Hold on,
1. If Sim is in phone and you use the Home Wi-fi (internet) for messaging that is not Text messaging - I assume The Cell will not connect with Cell provider correct?
2.IS there a way to disconnect the Sim card electronically or through the OS with out removing it physically? Answer - According to the TV report cell must be in Airplane mode to use home wifi. Didn't know this.

 

[drstrangelove]

Hold on,
1. If Sim is in phone and you use the Home Wi-fi (internet) for messaging that is not Text messaging - I assume The Cell will not connect with Cell provider correct?
2.IS there a way to disconnect the Sim card electronically or through the OS with out removing it physically? Answer - According to the TV report cell must be in Airplane mode to use home wifi. Didn't know this.

I don't understand this last point. We use WhatsApp and many other apps through our home wifi and Airplane mode is not turned on. You can turn off data electronically and continue to use wifi to avoid data charges.