SaskTel customers feel burned by cell data fees

An unexpected bill from SaskTel for cell data use in the U.S. has a Regina couple questioning how the phone company informs mobile customers about out-of-province services.

Russ and Barb Hauser were surprised when they were hit with a bill of $96 for charges incurred during a recent trip to Phoenix.

Before they left they made sure to turn off data roaming on their two iPhones.

About one week into their trip they received a text message about data charges. When they contacted SaskTel they learned a second setting on their phones needs to be switched off to avoid another set of fees. That setting is called cell data.

Russ Hauser noted SaskTel did send him a text message reminder about roaming charges when he left Saskatchewan and said he feels burned that there was no similar warning about cell data. He only received a message about charges that had been incurred.

"When I contacted them, they say there's a second setting [and] I said 'Really, people should know about this,'" Hauser said. "I didn't know about it. I'd never been charged before."

Hauser said he thinks SaskTel could provide more information, on devices, for people who travel.

"That's kind of a moving target," he said, when it comes to understanding what is "on"and "off" for a device. "Every time we're travelling or using a different phone we need to do something different."

A SaskTel official told CBC they provide a notification to customers about roaming charges. The official noted there are many different types of mobile devices and the company can't send out detailed setting information for every device.

CBC Producer Peter Mills: Cell phone tips

10 years ago

Duration 0:43

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