Cellphones / EZweb

[Ke11iente]

Well, I was all excited to get my new, cheap, student-discounted AU phone with its nifty internetbrowsing, barcodescanning, Flashwallpaperdownloading capabilites--- I was excited until I got the bill for the month, and then I was LIVID.

Yes, I used the internet, but not incessantly-- not nearly as often as every Japanese person I see on the train seems to be using it.

Over the course of a month, I downloaded 4 ringtones and 3 wallpapers, scanned 2 barcodes, and sent 8 emails--- over a WHOLE MONTH. But my packetcharge was somewhere in the neighborhood of about 9,000 yen, which left me with a phone bill totaling about 13,000 yen for one month. That's a lot more than the 3,000Yen plan I signed on for.

To make matters worse, I unknowingly (because I'm an idiot who can only read about 300 kanji) subscribed to some monthly ringtone services that are charging me 300Y a month. The subscription charges total about 1400Y a month, so that's not that bad. But it's a real kick in the nuts because, if I were to actually download those ringtones that I've already paid for, in reality it would cost me about 9,000 yen because of the packet charges. And it's even going to cost me money just to cancel the subscriptions because I will have to do it over ezweb, which means using more packets.

Seriously, whats the point of having all these nifty functions if they are so freaking expensive that you can't use them???

Does anyone have any tips? Maybe if I switch providers I could get a plan that has data functionality built in instead of charged on top of the regular monthly rate????? I can't afford to pay 13,000Y phone bills every month...what the fuck.

[GomiGirl]

I have two words for you. PACKET-HOUDAI.

Seriously it looks more on paper but you get unlimited packet fees. This is the biggest trap that people fall into.. they sign up for the cheapest plan but that is fine if you are only receiving calls.. god forbid you want to send an email or download a wall-paper or two.

It is MUCH more effective to sign up to the packet-houdai plan as you really can send photos by email, receive photos by email (all of this you would be charged for under a standard plan), surf the net, study japanese (TANGOTOWN), download ringtones etc all for the same price.

RUN do not walk to your local EZWeb shop and change your plan to a packet houdai plan.

I know it sounds odd but the cheapest monthly plan is often the most expensive in the long run. When you sign up for a new plan, over-estimate your useage rather than underestimate it as you will find all these cool things on your phone that you want to use and you will use them and if you are free to do so then it is not a rude shock when the bill comes in like you have just discovered.

Trust me, the biggest useage of packets is on a saturday night when people are out drinking with their friends and they show each other the stuff they have and after a few drinks you just say, "Hey cool, I want that too" and then you sign up and think to hell with the cost.

[Ke11iente]

Thanks for the advice. When I asked about the packet houdai plan, an extra $40 a month seemed like a lot to pay, but you're right-- it's more expensive and emotionally taxing to get a [surprise!]13,000y phone bill. There's no point in having this phone if I can't do all the cool shit with it that I want to do. And I don't want to keep fucking myself over every month-- I have no power for self-restraint.

Way to throw the tangotown plug in there.