Using cell and data services overseas can be complicated and expensive as one Spokane financial planner recently discovered.

From the Spokesman Review:

Most of the charges in the 32-page Cingular Wireless invoice stem from Baker’s use of a cellular laptop card for business while traveling. Baker said he struggled to get the card to work and had to download files repeatedly, hindering his business. When he returned, his bill showed he used hundreds of thousands of kilobytes of data transfer service at about 2 cents each while roaming overseas.

Baker, who returned from his trip in January, said he spent hours on the phone with Cingular representatives protesting the bill. Though company employees offered a credit, he said, nothing materialized. His latest bill shows a balance of $7,124.

“Right now, I have 10 hours plus on this deal, and I’m not very happy,” he said.

In response to a query by the reporter, Cingular offered Baker a $6,080 credit for the roaming charges. The mix-up started when Baker told Cingular he was going to Germany and asked which plan they recommended. The recommended plan didn’t work in quite the way he’d expected. —MEGHANN MARCO

Cell phone user gets wrong signal [Spokesman Review]
(Photo:Lithoglyphic)

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.