Smart Phones are legalized Robbery and Theft!

On most smartphones you can turn off "mobile data" while you aren't using it, that should prevent the charges. It's probably just trying to update things you don't care about like weather forecasts, facebook (if you use it), news apps, check for app updates, sync data... It all adds up.

I don't know where you live, but where I am a lot of prepaid or pay as you go carriers have specific bundles you can buy that include a certain amount of data in addition to your minutes to help with this problem. IMO it's not the best idea to get a smart phone for pay as you go / prepaid, most carriers here still have flip phones and candy bar style phones if you look around for them.

You should just turn everything off you don't use, Bluetooth, WiFi, mobile data, sync etc, that way you save battery and data, that's what i do, never been changed more than i use, well can't get charged more as everything is unlimited except my 4gb 4G data.

You could go back to having an older style phone but up to date tec, camera, processor and expandable memory etc, have all the normal stuff without all the smartphone features,, could be your best bet, unless you want a smartphone? then use it just like an older phone txt and phone calls, with bonus of a camera.

a reply to: halfoldman

Mate, if you only send SMS and make phone calls like i do you DON'T need a smart phone, period...I'm in Indonesia, and use an old nokia that does not have data. Suits me for for what i do, and nobody will "pinch" it because it looks antique crap. I'm sure you will find likewise by looking at second-hand phones, sure to be many in SA......

I was so happy to have a smart phone.

I thought I had R30 airtime I just bought.

Then I phoned for an emergency lift, and it told me "You have insufficient funds to make a call".

I had to beg and borrow.

It was traumatic.
I had to beg and borrow from strangers.

It's a demon thing.
I was so happy to have a Smart Phone.
Boy, was I wrong.

a reply to: halfoldman

Let it run out and always keep a R5 emergency slip airtime on you.
First got to enter it though, but that way they get nothing.
Let their apps run out, and after my conversation they get 50 cents.
Mhahaha - HA HA HA HA.

a reply to: halfoldman

Somebody stole R30 of me, and is getting rich.
They almost murdered me.
I can't believe this is legal!!!

Now if I got a blank phone, and chose what I wanted, that would be fair.
But to get a phone that actually steals and diverts your money through all kinds of tricks already in it - that is unfair.
And those tricks are like a puzzle.

It's like buying a guinea pig in a kilometer-long anaconda.
You got to figure out how to get the fluffy pet out.
If you can ever ...
Then, it's dead; next model.

a reply to: halfoldman

Everybody says buy a flip-phone.
You can't anymore.
Sim cards don't work in that anymore.
Even the cheapest variation of phone you buy will be a smart phone.
It's planned obsolescence.
Just wait and see ...

And this is my ultimate question.
Where did the R30 go?

It's got to go into somebody's pocket.

Where does it go?

Money doesn't disappear, it gets shoveled around.

But who is coining it here on new smart phone users, because somebody is.
Anybody got a picture?

Oh no, it's just data, it just goes missing into a blank hole.
Rubbish.
It's funding something and somebody.

Anonymous, can you please research?
I'm a poor man, but there are even poorer people than me robbed daily this way.
Can you please help us?

Why are phones programmed this way, and where does the money go?
Please, please help us.

I don`t have a cell and never will, I don`t even like people calling me on my land line when i`m at home so i sure don`t want them calling when i`m out doing things, and if i ever have an emergency when i`m out doing things i`l just borrow someones cell phone to call 911, i mean hell, everyone seems to have a cell phone.

a reply to: halfoldman

Look by the time I phoned the Network they knew exactly what I was talking about.
They were relatively helpful.
But I wasn't the first.
That's money that should have put food on the table.
Children will go hungry and starve for weeks because of this.
All those phone and Internet brands are encouraging poverty and human slavery.
All those apps are immoral.

You can't sell a phone that eats your money, and you don't even know why.

Anonymous please help.

It's immoral!
It's third-world exploitation.

a reply to: halfoldman

You buy a phone you buy a phone.
You wanna use wi-fi or data, you do that.

But they got no business billing people for stuff they're never going to use, or have used.

That is exploitation.

Yet, it's built into their products.

I suppose it's to encourage you to buy a data plan. I got a basic one. I use my phone mostly st home so I'm on my own wifi, not exhausting the data. Sending media like videos and pics via text will run the bill up. So don't do that. In settings you need to shut off stuff using cellular. I have safari & mail etc shut off. I set my mail not go download pictures as well. I don't need to be on that stuff when I'm out, occasionally I do and turn it on for a minute. Incoming mail can really run it up.

Well I don't really know, depends what phone you have and who your carrier is. I'm on Telus with iPhone.

Best you google tips on how to keep your data usage down.

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.

As far as data services go, PATG is way far more expensive email than a contract. I bought my phone "unlocked". I needed to use Google Maps to find my way around. With PATG that was soaking up £10/day

A contract is a bit better - around £40/month.

When I was in Norway, mobile service was around £300/month. I'd get two bills one of the account and the other for the network access. Each was around 1500NOK. Electricity bill for a quarter was only 600NOK

a reply to: halfoldman
True. All the other phones will be obsolete, it's all planned out because a smartphone is documenting your whereabouts and personal info.
You start off thinking " well I'm not allowing my location to be enabled" but then I can't get the weather forecast which I want lol and other stuff, but I've gone through not allowing other apps to use it, they keep asking but I say no thanks. Although I'm sure they are anyways.

It's all designed to keep you in the loop, connect with others, who connect with others etc etc. 1984 so to speak

a reply to: halfoldman

Smart phone obviously doesn't mean smart user.
Turn off your mobile data,couldnt be simpler or is that too difficult?
You rant about third world exploitation yet can afford a smart phone,my reply is "cry me a river"

originally posted by: halfoldman
a reply to: halfoldman

You buy a phone you buy a phone.
You wanna use wi-fi or data, you do that.

But they got no business billing people for stuff they're never going to use, or have used.

That is exploitation.

Yet, it's built into their products.

Exploitation?Come on man, typical blame your stupidity on the man.That's a some chip on that shoulder of yours.

You may notice alot of apps require access to your phone microphone and camera.

Guess what they do with those.

originally posted by: halfoldman
a reply to: halfoldman

Everybody says buy a flip-phone.
You can't anymore.
Sim cards don't work in that anymore.
Even the cheapest variation of phone you buy will be a smart phone.
It's planned obsolescence.
Just wait and see ...

Try ebay you will find one there , i just purchased a blackberry less than 3 yeats old and in mint condition for less than 1/20 th of what the new price was .

a reply to: glen200376

While you sure may have a point.
I do hope, I never treat others as badly as you have treated me.

All the best.