It all started when I decided to get internet to my studio, and I thought of an easy yet affordable choice, I skipped the ADSL choice, because I knew its a lot of a hassle when you live in a compound in Riyadh, with all the visits and permissions I need to handle first so I just over looked it.
My second option, USB internet connection, and there was two choices on hand, STC or Mobily connect, both refer to two of the mobile operators in KSA, a friend of mine had Mobily and I got a good word about it, and after paying visits to both I’ve decided to go with Mobily’s since its cheaper with relatively the same quality.
At Mobily’s offices, I asked for 1G subscription, that’s SAR100 a month, and entitles you to a 1G of data transfer over one month, if you’ve went beyond the 1G the connection breaks and one needs to recharge, or that what I thought.
I finished my 1G in 20 days, and like a hero, I recharged it with 180 SAR, that’s 100 SAR subscriptions and 80 SAR others so that I would add only 20 SAR only when I recharge the next month, and I waited….. But the connection never got back… I called their customer service and after like two hours of trials I got hold of someone, who told me to pay their offices again and explain the problem.
Next day I went there and explained it, the customer service guy explained that the SIM card that comes with the offer is only for internet use and hence its programmed not to be recharged before the month ends even though the 1G finishes and another 100 SAR is already charged, he added I’ve to wait till the month ends before I can connect again….. I thought that was stupid.
I asked for a solution, you’re asking me to wait 10 days, I might not need it urgently but this is not a service nor a solution, I asked him to convert it to the 5G bundle, It costs SAR 200 a month instead of 100 SAR, but what the heck, @ least I won’t have to wait 10 days to get my connection back,
he said, I need a new SIM Card for this, prepaid cards for mobile connection service don’t allow service alter, a new SIM means a new number, I was stupid enough to go for it, the new number cost 75 SAR and come charged with the same amount, I gave 125 SAR more to make it 200 and give him the ability to subscribe me to the 5G bundle, supposedly he did, and he said 10 minutes sir and you can connect normally.
I went home, not happy about the service much, and the fact I still have SAR 180 SAR stuck in the old SIM card, which can’t be just moved to the new account just like that, I got a limit of SAR 100 daily to pass the credit to another number over 10 Trials each that can’t by pass 20 SAR, again STUPID, but I thought I’ll have time for that later, at least they’re not going anywhere.
I connected normally, felt somehow relaxed I got my connection back, even though it brought some headaches along that I need to look into it some other time, in anyway 24 hrs later, and after using 100M of my new 5000M bundle I got disconnected, and I couldn’t connect back again, what the hell have happened!! Not again! What could it be this time!!
I called the customer care, their system can’t handle calls well, very obvious, lots of people are having problems and no one can get to the service guy to talk to, whenever I press 9 to talk to the customer service guy it transfer me back to the menu options, STUPID, someone picked up at last, after long and multiple trials and I explained the issue.
- Sir, you’ve finished your credits!
- WTF!! NO way I just charged them yesterday, it’s right in front of me now Mr, 100MB only, I still got 4900MB, something is wrong!
- Sir, looks like you didn’t activate the 5G service, in this case, we charge SAR 2/MB
- WTF! This is totally Mobily’s fault, I walked out of YOUR offices thinking all I have to do is just connect the STUPID USB! , I don’t accept this, I want my 200 SAR back!
- It’s not possible Sir, you need to charge again with 200 SAR, and call 1100 to activate the service, don’t plug in the USB before you get a confirming SMS that you’re subscribed to the bundle.
- It’s not my fault, I don’t have to recharge, this is totally your company’s fault, u r ripping me off! You get me back my money!
- Sorry Sir, It’s not possible, is there anything else you need!
- My Money!
- Thank you for calling Mobily, have a nice day.
Just when I thought my problems with Mobily is over I get this, in anyway, I wrote a complaint email about the whole thing and send it, I know it would probably be over looked but at least I didn’t stay still about it.
I gave in to the fact, and I thought to recharge again, Mobily cards are of three segments, SAR 90 and it gives you 120 SAR credit, that’s 30 SAR extra, the other one is SAR 60 and it gives you SAR75, and the final one is SAR 30.
I thought, I’ll buy one 90 and one 60, which gave a total of 120+75 = 195 SAR, and I needed 5 more, so I just thought to transfer the rest from my other SIM card, it still have 180 SAR, I changed SIM and I opened the SAR 180 one, and WTF!! The balance is ZERO, my SAR 180 is gone!!! I’m so furious! It just keeps getting worse in a matter of minutes, where did they go!! I thought they might have activated the account again, so I reconnected using the old SIM but it was the same, no connection!! I really feel like killing someone, I hate Mobily’s guts, this is a total rip off and I’m just watching that!!
I didn’t feel like calling them again, can’t deal with this non sense anymore, I’ll just go buy the damn 5 SAR left, and I’ll deal with them later, I went to the supermarket, had to get SAR 30 since there’s nothing called SAR 5, and I charged it, I dialed *1411# to check the balance, its SAR 224 now, more than enough! Good.
I called 1100 to request the services, as usual, after sometime; I got a response, the guy their said
- You’ve 180 SAR only; you need SAR 20 more to activate it! I was like WTF, not again, my balance is SAR 224, I just checked for god’s sake.
- Sir, it’s SAR 180 on my screen, could you check again!
And after I did:
- Yeah, SAR 224 as I told u, I charged with 90+60+30 where they account for 120+75+30, that’s SAR 224
- Yes, this is for calls only, internet subscription takes the amount as is , 90+60+30 that’s SAR 180, offer doesn’t include internet even though it shows your balance is SAR 224, recharge with SAR 20 more.
- OK FINE, THNX
- Anything else you need sir?
- NO, THANKS
- Thank you for calling Mobily, have a good evening.
I went back and bought another SAR 60 just to make sure it covers the balance, I know SAR 30 would, but I never know anymore what they would come up with.
In simple calculation, on the assumption that this time it’ll work, they would have ripped me off with SAR 380
And by the way, I’m still waiting for their SMS. :(
