Clampdown on prepaid phone expiry | Bangkok Post: news

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Clampdown on prepaid phone expiry

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has given five mobile phone operators until Friday to scrap the expiry date on prepaid mobile credit.

NBTC secretary-general Thakorn Tantasit said on Monday he had informed each mobile operator -- Advanced Info Service (AIS), Total Access Communication (Dtac), True Move, TOT Plc and CAT Telecom -- to remove the expiry period on refills for prepaid numbers or face a 100,000 baht fine per day.

However, the NBTC will later allow each operator to propose an expiry date for its prepaid services, but did not say when that will be introduced. The proposed dates will be considered and then the number of days will be decided with the agreement of all the operators.    

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Your comments

  • Discussion 10 : 15 Jan 2013 at 16.2710

    CMfarang (Discussion 1) has it right there. We might complain about the rates we have here, but the absolute cheapest I can find for the time I spend in Canada is a plan where I must buy $10 worth of airtime (spent at 30 cents per minute for both outgoing and incoming calls) and that must be used within a month, or it's simply wiped out and I'm required to purchase another $10 worth of airtime. Use it or lose it!

    We might complain, and possibly rightly, but at the same time, let's acknowledge that most of the time it works out favourably for us.

  • lek

    ThailandPost : 779

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    Discussion 9 : 15 Jan 2013 at 14.199

    What about farang prepaid customers. Many don't have ID numbers.

  • Discussion 8 : 15 Jan 2013 at 09.208

    D7 rontorre, You may want to check out http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/balance-transfer.html It will explain how to transfer your extra one two call minutes to your wife family and friends. The only problem is 50 baht at a time seems to be the max and 3 baht fee for each time you send 50 Baht...still might be better than the situation you have now. Up to you and hope it makes your day.

  • Discussion 7 : 15 Jan 2013 at 07.447

    My One2call card has 2600 baht balance because I do not use it much, but I still have to keep buying 300 baht refills every month or I lose it all. My wife uses hers more so she has 500 baht built up, these expiry dates are costing people a lot of money.

  • Discussion 6 : 15 Jan 2013 at 06.436

    Am I missing something here? The companies are being given until Friday to 'scrap the expiry date for its prepaid mobile credit', but 'However, the NBTC will later allow each operator to propose an expiry date for its prepaid services'. So they are banning the expiry dates, and then allowing the companies to propose an expiry date. Amazing Thailand. Alice through the looking glass.

  • Discussion 5 : 15 Jan 2013 at 04.465

    D3/4
    Sorry I meant to say 1m01s costs me 4 baht.....

  • Discussion 4 : 15 Jan 2013 at 04.254

    Comet #3
    You are lucky, AIS are robbing me of 2 baht a minute so if I call for 1m01s, I get charged 2 baht
    Time to stop these robbers

  • Discussion 3 : 14 Jan 2013 at 23.053

    AIS still charging me 1.50 baht per minute.

  • Discussion 2 : 14 Jan 2013 at 22.592

    So does that mean my dtac sim that expires should not have an expiration date?

  • Discussion 1 : 14 Jan 2013 at 22.501

    We are forced to buy a product with an arbitrary expiry date. Its only purpose is to gouge more money out customers. How can phone time expire? Per minute rates and expiries for pre-paid are ridiculous in Canada with little competition.Canadian companies really push the monthly rate on 3 year contracts and will give you the phone cheap or free. Why? Because they make a lot of money.

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