Olympics: Pokemon hunting proves costly for Japanese star Uchimura, with a $5000 phone bill
12 replies, posted
[QUOTE]TOKYO: Japanese gymnastics star Kohei Uchimura was left counting the cost of his recent addiction to Pokemon Go at the Rio Olympics.The reigning Olympic and world all-around champion became hooked on the smartphone game after touching down in Brazil to prepare for the defence of his title.
But to Uchimura's horror he was hit with a 500,000 yen (US$5,000) bill after discovering that he did not have a flat rate for overseas data usage.
"500,000 yen..." the defending six-time world champion was quoted by Kyodo news agency as saying.
Team-mate Kenzo Shirai confided that Uchimura was shellshocked by the charges.
"He looked dead at the team meal that day," Shirai said.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/olympics-pokemon-hunting/3010504.html?cid=fbcna[/url]
How the fuck do you burst your data till your bill cost 5k
Don't the carrier company cut off your data after a certain limit
My question is why in 2016 we still fucking allow data caps on mobile, and sometimes even home internet usage plans.
[QUOTE=purvisdavid1;50822499]My question is why in 2016 we still fucking allow data caps on mobile, and sometimes even home internet usage plans.[/QUOTE]
lobbyists.
[quote]Uchimura, though, escaped the hefty bill after contacting his phone company to plead his case, eventually only having to pay 3,000 yen (US$29).[/quote]
I wonder if it was a mistake
This is why if you know you have data caps you set your phone to shut off data at that cap.
I'm really tired of hearing about Carrier/ISP legally robbing people.. I mean I'm sure in a couple of years we'll all be laughing at the fact that we used to pay for [b]data[/b]. (I read that just after paying 350$ because I forgot to stop seeding a torrent)
[QUOTE=Perrine;50822508]I wonder if it was a mistake[/QUOTE]
Doubt it. This is certainly not the first time I've heard of something like this happening, and all the other times the company just let it slide with a minor bill, as long as it's not a repeated offence.
Wondering if his catches comprised mainly of Grimers and Muks inbetween.
[QUOTE=Ignhelper;50822484]
Don't the carrier company cut off your data after a certain limit[/QUOTE]
Mobile carriers seem to be the most scummy companies around. Some (like koodo) are kind enough to give you text message warnings of your data use, while others will rack up $$$$$ and stick you with the bill. Many have the option to terminate your data past your limit, but you have to call in and specifically request that feature be enabled. It should be opt-out, not opt-in.
Regulators need to ask themselves.. does anyone INTENTIONALLY use hundreds of dollars worth of extra data? How about thousands? Obviously they need to cap the data and then say, cut it off or throttle it intensely past the limit. Anyone can see that this is the logical thing to do. You leave YouTube on to play a playlist of music and suddenly you are $100's of dollars in the hole.
It's corporate greed keeping things this way, pure and simple.
[QUOTE=MR-X;50822513]This is why if you know you have data caps you set your phone to shut off data at that cap.[/QUOTE]
Nah. Just use prepaid then if you use your data your using the prepaid.
It's simple you know what your spending.
International roaming charges are basically you volunteering to let yourself get fucked up by both your own carrier and the host carrier.
Unlocked phones and prepaid SIMs is the way to go. However, given how unique Japan's mobile phone situation is, the only thing that surprises me about this is that nobody warned the Japanese Olympic team about international roaming.
[QUOTE=Perrine;50822508]I wonder if it was a mistake[/QUOTE]
Mobile data plans are overpriced as fuck, I wonder if taken to court they'd be able to uphold these costs. I really doubt it.
[editline]3rd August 2016[/editline]
Also mobile data in Brazil is a fucking joke, carriers are lying through their teeth about costs while bribing people to keep pulling this retarded stunt.
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