Smart with your phone on holiday to Thailand
Are you going on vacation Thailand? Remember that your smartphone also uses the mobile network. As a result, you can be confronted with high costs afterwards.
Mobile internet abroad leads to questions and complaints from consumers. That is why ConsuWijzer is launching a campaign today to inform holidaymakers and tourists. With the special SmartWijzer, ConsuWijzer gives ten tips how consumers abroad can make smart use of their smartphone and tablet.
What's the problem?
Tourists often do not realize that their smartphone is using the mobile network unnoticed when abroad. For example, to check from the Thai beach for new mail, WhatsApp messages or new posts on your Facebook page. Holidaymakers also do not realize how much data they use with their mobile phone abroad. Data guzzlers are, for example, consulting a map (approximately 1 MB per card) or uploading a photo (approximately 2 MB per photo). As a result, data usage and the associated telephone bill can be many times higher than expected.
Good news for holidaymakers!
Fortunately, the tariff for mobile internet within the European Union will be subject to a maximum of 1 euro cents per MB from 70 July. In addition, a data limit of EUR 59,50 per month already applies in these countries. This is the maximum amount you will pay for mobile internet across the border. As of July 1, this data limit applies worldwide, including in Thailand. So that you no longer receive unexpectedly high bills due to data usage across the border. Please note: this limit only applies to mobile internet and not to calling and texting.
SmartWiser
ConsuWijzer launches the SmartWijzer with practical tips for using smartphones and tablets in Thailand or other countries. The campaign will start at the beginning of the summer holidays, so that consumers can use the SmartWijzer before they go on holiday to Thailand.
Report your complaint to ConsuWijzer
Is your telephone bill unjustifiably high due to mobile internet on holiday? Did your provider not warn you when you reached the data limit? Then report this to ConsuWijzer. One of the regulators behind ConsuWijzer, OPTA, can then take action against mobile companies that do not comply with the rules, for example by imposing a fine.
More information:
It is best to immediately purchase a Thai sim on arrival in Thailand (these are often offered free of charge upon arrival in the arrivals hall (including Phuket).
or else for sale at the 7eleven/familymart, for about 100bth.
Put it in your mobile and place your NL sim in an old mobile phone, so you can see if you have been called.
Always turn off your NL voicemail, because these are the cost eaters, you already pay if someone does not leave a message, then you receive a text message notification, you have a voicemail, pay again, and if you listen to your voicemail you pay the main prize on average about 2,50 euros p/m (yes, just per minute).
scammers they are.
For example, with true mobile you pay by entering 00600 for your number only 5 euro cents p/m to a fixed NL line and about 30 euro cents to a NL mobile number.
you can also purchase an MB package for about 500 bths, easy to skype.
But again DO NOT use your NL mobile in Thailand and turn off your voicemail.
Indeed, nice to buy a Thai sim. Top up with 1000 bath, and then call customer service to get unlimited internet (per month) from that 1000 for about 600/700 bath (was 1 to 2 GB I believe). Tired of calling and I was busy surfing the internet all month, using 200MB. All the way around for 25,-.
Nice of ConsuWijzer, to start a campaign 3 weeks before the danger of absurdly high bills has finally passed. 5 years ago ConsuSlimmer and ConsuSneller would have been.
Completely agree with Robert and Dirk's response. It would even be recommended that travel organizations include this advice as standard in their guides. After all, what the telecom providers earn is disgusting and disproportionate.
In addition/clarification: The maximum € 59 means that you will NOT be able to use the internet abroad afterwards. It is not an “all you can internet for € 0. No, it is a maximum usage ceiling and with rates from 59,50 and more, that means the end of your internet on your NL number very quickly.
As others have pointed out, it's best to buy a local Sim. I think many readers of this blog already do. If you also need or want to be reachable on your NL number, a dual-sim device can offer a solution. It takes 2 SIM cards: e.g. 1 NL and 1 TH card. I myself (especially for my foreign trips) purchased a Dual-Sim smartphone (a Samsung Galaxy Y Duos to be precise). This means that I can be reached on my NL number via SMS and calling (I don't have/don't use voicemail) and I can also call locally via my Thai sim (DTAC with 365 days validity with every top-up). Upon arrival in Thailand, I have the internet set up again for 700 baht and can then use the internet practically without limits for a month.
There aren't many dual sim Androids (at least in NL), but next week the AH will have one on offer: an Alcatel for € 90. Aldi has also had them and I understand soon.
I don't know what is meant by each top-up, but you can also extend the validity of your DTAC sim for a small fee, which will be deducted from your credit. Choose one of the codes below to extend the validity of your SIM card by 30, 90, or 180 days respectively.
* 113 * 30 #
* 113 * 90 #
* 113 * 180 #
You can extend the validity of the SIM to a maximum of 365 days.
Now I'm starting to have doubts: only use my iPhone if I can receive WiFi.
I don't think this will be at the expense of my bundle and will therefore not cause me any extra bills. Or am I wrong?
Please send a message from someone who knows something about it (not me)
Thanks in advance
I am very much afraid you are mistaken Cor. Friend of mine was also in Bangkok via WiFi with a friend and received a bill of 419 euros from the KPN friends!!
Data sent/received via WiFi is NOT at the expense of your internet bundle.
But it is of course insufficient if a sign appears on your screen showing that your WiFi CAN receive.
You must keep 'internet connection' unchecked and log in to the Wi-Fi provider.
To be on the safe side, I always practice this again in the Netherlands in advance, using an app that keeps track of both the data traffic via the Internet and via WiFi (Netcounter). And just to be on the safe side, I also check every day via this app whether the Internet counter for the past 24 hours is still neatly at zero.
And then I go to my hotel that has WiFi that can be used in my favorite pub on the corner of the street as well as in my most frequented restaurant a little further away and I enjoy the internet.
All people who call me on a regular basis have already received a message that I am in Thailand and that I prefer to be contacted by email during that time, so that I can continue to use my own telephone and therefore remain optimally accessible in emergencies.
I will continue to follow this procedure even after July 1, because I can also come up with something nicer for EUR 59.50 🙂
I'm also trying to work with WIFI with my Blackberry, but I just can't get it to work... Is that known or do you have to do something special for a Blackberry?
My type can receive WiFi.
Thanks in advance,
Frank F
Frank, I have an iPhone myself, but for you I googled 'turn on wifi blackberry' and you can find a manual there, but also a youtube video on how to do it. good luck
Fred
thank you very much, i'll get to it. If it works you will hear it!
A hassle everyone… sigh.
Frank F
I also have a Blackberry, had a thai sim card in it, Happy/Dtac, for 40 or 41 bath per day unlimited internet…
Yes… a bill of 225 euros… and yes, the internet was constantly on, with a Thai SIM card…
Ra ra.. how is that possible??? I have MTV Mobile (kpn). I have already emailed it, but have not received anything back yet.