Charged for Testing Starlink: Is this Normal? Help

[Fragle]

Ok. So I've received the new refurbished Starlink last week. Thought I'd best check today that it's ok and working.

Well that was a mistake. Just received a notification from bank that £85 has been taken.

As it was only to check it works it seems a bit harsh that you get charged. Or am I wrong?

We are not intending to use at the moment as it's only for the motorhome and didn't want to leave it 3-4 months only to find there's an issue just before we go away.

I've suspended the service so I don't get charged next month but am a little annoyed that it doesn't clearly state just turning it on to check it works you get charged the full month.

Anyone else have the same issue when you first used it?

Also can't see a contact number to call if there is one?

 

[Guigsy]

If you've tested it, then you transferred data. So they've started a month of service. It's pretty standard. You don't get anything free.

 

[Fragle]

If you've tested it, then you transferred data. So they've started a month of service. It's pretty standard. You don't get anything free.

I understand that. But what you supposed to do?

Leave it 4 months until we go away and find an issue then they say you should have checked it when you received it.

Can't really say I've used it other than their update on starting. A check box to test would not be unreasonable rather than a full months service.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

A limited data use for "testing and evaluation" should really be built into the purchase price as a sign of fairness. Using more than that nominal amount would incur a charge which seems reasonable, but they have fallen at the first hurdle. Do they offer a "no quibble" return service if the product is duff?
Mike.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

I understand that. But what you supposed to do?

Leave it 4 months until we go away and find an issue then they say you should have checked it when you received it.

Can't really say I've used it other than their update on starting. A check box to test would not be unreasonable rather than a full months service.

You can type faster.
Mike

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[Fragle]

A limited data use for "testing and evaluation" should really be built into the purchase price as a sign of fairness. Using more than that nominal amount would incur a charge which seems reasonable, but they have fallen at the first hurdle. Do they offer a "no quibble" return service if the product is duff?
Mike.

Could not agree more.
I’ve not found a number but just sent a complaint to the contact e mail asking for a refund as they are able to see the fact I’ve suspended already and only used the update data.
Worth a try. If you don’t ask you don’t get.

 

[Googlebot]

Honestly, where does a test end?

On a 5G data stream test I can use over 1GB of data. That lasts some people weeks.

You connected to the service and have been charged for it, I really can’t see anything wrong with that.

I suppose it’s worth a phone call to see if they will waive it.

I tested a Lebara SIM last week thinking £5 of data was plenty on PAYG. One test used £2.60 worth, I won’t be doing that again. :-(

 

[Realist]

Always read the Ts and Cs and I presume it does not state any free data usage so it may sound like a petty charge but if you’ve used it, pay for it.

Plus now you’ve paused the service why not give the system a good test until it’s turned off, use it you’ve paid for it.

 

[gus-lopez]

As it was only to check it works it seems a bit harsh that you get charged. Or am I wrong?

Yes it does state it in the application. as soon as turned on you get charged. I fitted mine & turned on around 1pm & they took the 49€ at 9pm for the month in advance.

 

[canopus]

I am always intrigued why any item was ‘refurbed’ in the first place.
From my canal boat days Sterling products sold more refurbed stuff than they did new.

Caveat emptor

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[Fragle]

Honestly, where does a test end?

10 minutes 0.2gb. If it was £5 I wouldn’t have a problem

Plus now you’ve paused the service why not give the system a good test until it’s turned off, use it you’ve paid for it.

I will wait for an answer first then fire it back up

 

[TDub49]

£85. A month? No wonder Musk laughs all the way to the bank.

 

[Neil S]

£1020 a year just so you can have guaranteed internet abroad that seems excessive

 

[Gromett]

£85. A month? No wonder Musk laughs all the way to the bank.

Have you seen how many satellites he has had to build and how many rocket launches it has taken so far? I doubt there is any profit in it just yet.

 

[Gromett]

Can't really say I've used it other than their update on starting. A check box to test would not be unreasonable rather than a full months service.

When I bought mine it gave me a period of time to test and configure. Then they haven't charged me since. They will start charging me the 1st time I start using it again.
Your free testing/set up period was when it was delivered.

They also allow 30 days at the start for testing and configuration during which at any point of time you can shut it down and return it for a full refund. To be honest this consumer law anyway due to distance selling regulations.

I think they are being really fair on this though with no wiggle room.

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[TDub49]

Have you seen how many satellites he has had to build and how many rocket launches it has taken so far? I doubt there is any profit in it just yet.

My heart bleeds for him.

 

[Googlebot]

My heart bleeds for him.

I couldn’t agree more.

How anyone can spend £42 Billion on buying something then deliberately raze it to the ground like he has done with Twitter is beyond me.

I hope Starlink is untouched by his arrogance.

 

[Fragle]

When I bought mine it gave me a period of time to test and configure. Then they haven't charged me since. They will start charging me the 1st time I start using it again.
Your free testing/set up period was when it was delivered.

They also allow 30 days at the start for testing and configuration during which at any point of time you can shut it down and return it for a full refund. To be honest this consumer law anyway due to distance selling regulations.

I think they are being really fair on this though with no wiggle room.

Yesterday was within a week of it arriving. Hence the annoyance.

 

[Fragle]

£1020 a year just so you can have guaranteed internet abroad that seems excessive

If you have it for the whole year maybe.

The whole point is that you can stop it or pay for a month at a time.
If you’re going away for 90 days £255 or you can spend time and money searching for different sims that are available and then give no signal.

 

[TDub49]

I couldn’t agree more.

How anyone can spend £42 Billion on buying something then deliberately raze it to the ground like he has done with Twitter is beyond me.

I hope Starlink is untouched by his arrogance.

Unlikely. The poor dear wants to get to his dream world to make his bid for immortality. He may do so on the backs of besotted fans who think he can do no wrong but wouldn't it be good of he devoted even half the energy to sort out the real world problems that will face most of the population? I think the world has a problem with investing too much power in this guy's hands but nothing blinds like a dollar sign so we'll just have to see I guess.

One or two interesting articles on Starlink take the glitter off a little:

SpaceX’s Starlink Revenue Jumps To $1.4 Billion But Falls Short Of Early Targets, Report Says—As Musk-Ukraine Controversy Brews

Starlink brought SpaceX $1.4 billion of revenue in 2022, short of the company’s lofty previous goal of $12 billion.

www.forbes.com

SpaceX's Starlink Has a Price Problem | The Motley Fool

It also has a solution: Charge more for Starlink service.

www.fool.com

Musk's Scandinavian woes deepen as Tesla loses Swedish court case, Finnish union joins port blockade

Tesla's troubles with labor unions in Scandinavia deepened, as it lost a legal suit against Sweden's postal service and Finland joined a solidarity strike.

www.cnbc.com

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[rb62]

Maybe their system hasn't logged it as a refurb and just shows it as a 'restart'

 

[Carpmart]

When I got mine in March (just before the £99 offer ) there was a one month delivery timeline, so I ordered it to coincide with my return from Euroland. It arrived two days later! WTF

Anyway, after two weeks ‘non billed’ period, the billing automatically kicked in.. I hadn’t even unboxed it as I was in Europe, not with Dishy.

At least you can actually suspend yours, which seems a good bit more palatable…

 

[h8ten]

I was seriously thinking about this when my home broadband contract is up, use it at home and once I retired I can take it away with me in the van. I missed the £99 offer and if there is a chance that a refurb does not allow basic set-up and testing I might need to think again for a while.

 

[Fragle]

When I got mine in March (just before the £99 offer ) there was a one month delivery timeline, so I ordered it to coincide with my return from Euroland. It arrived two days later! WTF

Anyway, after two weeks ‘non billed’ period, the billing automatically kicked in.. I hadn’t even unboxed it as I was in Europe, not with Dishy.

At least you can actually suspend yours, which seems a good bit more palatable…

It still runs for the month. All I've done is sop the service after the 30 days cycle.

I was seriously thinking about this when my home broadband contract is up, use it at home and once I retired I can take it away with me in the van. I missed the £99 offer and if there is a chance that a refurb does not allow basic set-up and testing I might need to think again for a while.

I've not had a reply from them yet. But they still have the refurbished offer on as of this morning.

I have no problem with the kit itself it arrived within a week of ordering and it worked ok straight away.

 

[Carpmart]

It still runs for the month. All I've done is sop the service after the 30 days cycle.

I've not had a reply from them yet. But they still have the refurbished offer on as of this morning.

I have no problem with the kit itself it arrived within a week of ordering and it worked ok straight away.

Aside from this issue, you’ve obviously got ‘over the line’ with £85 per month, so want to use the service. It’s very very good, so I’d advise not cutting off one’s nose as one says!

Whilst annoying that you didn’t understand that trailing it would generate usage and consequently trigger billing, it’s kind of reasonable from Starlinks perspective.

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[gus-lopez]

£1020 a year just so you can have guaranteed internet abroad that seems excessive

mine is 600€/year so that I can have stable internet for the wife to watch telly at our house. when you have spent 21 years ****ing about with all sorts of stuff that do not work ,lack of signal, no one interested in updating supply or antennas or anything , it is well worth it.
I missed the 199€ offer in the summer & paid 450€.well worth it when you consider the original wifi internet , that worked well if you did not want to watch the tv as they can throttle it, the install was 180€ then had to buy a router.
Changed to mobile internet sim so another new router 80€ along with an aerila. 88€ cables 26 € more cables. 36 € the list just goes on. That isn't including the scamming scum Telefonica or movistar or whatever the scum are called now.

hey also allow 30 days at the start for testing and configuration during which at any point of time you can shut it down and return it for a full refund.

Whilst true not absolutely correct.They charge as soon as it is turned on. If during the following 30 days you don't want it you can return for a full kit refund PLUS the first month charge which they had already taken.
You do not get 30 days to try it BEFORE paying the first month access charge

Yesterday was within a week of it arriving. Hence the annoyance.

see above-

 

[Fragle]

Aside from this issue, you’ve obviously got ‘over the line’ with £85 per month, so want to use the service. It’s very very good, so I’d advise not cutting off one’s nose as one says!

Whilst annoying that you didn’t understand that trailing it would generate usage and consequently trigger billing, it’s kind of reasonable from Starlinks perspective.

I will not be sending back. I’ve already seen how good it is and invested in a power bank so no need to convert to 12v.
Storage is sorted in van and can’t wait to get on the road now
Do need to sort out a roof mount next. Something to just put the pole in type through the roof window

 

[h8ten]

I had seen others, before I knew what it was, sitting on the ground on the stand next to their van. This was my idea and just need to put it in the van when away. I understand that It is self-aligning so it will just need set up each time it is out of the van, maybe not so convenient if watching late-night telly in bed.

 

[Gromett]

Whilst true not absolutely correct.They charge as soon as it is turned on. If during the following 30 days you don't want it you can return for a full kit refund PLUS the first month charge which they had already taken.
You do not get 30 days to try it BEFORE paying the first month access charge

I didn't say you get 30 days to try it before paying.
There is a short period of time when it arrives you can test it. I can't remember how long it is. Maybe 7 days. I tested mine to run some speed tests etc. It worked fine so I put it back in the box and no charges were triggered.

 

[gus-lopez]

I didn't say you get 30 days to try it before paying.
There is a short period of time when it arrives you can test it. I can't remember how long it is. Maybe 7 days. I tested mine to run some speed tests etc. It worked fine so I put it back in the box and no charges were triggered.

I didn't get anything? As stated in post#9 ,I turned it on at 1pm & was charge the 40€ monthly fee +9€ access charge at 9pm the same night

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