Travel Technology - Mobal International Cell phone

How do you pay Mobal for their SERVICE? You make a one-time payment for the phone on the web with a credit card, and there's no monthly charge - but the service charge per minute is a mystery. If it's a prepaid type of rip-off, how is it done? If it's a card, where do you get 'em? Please don't send me to their website. The answer's not there, and there's no way to get through by phone. :-)

Actually, it is on the website, in the Terms and Conditions:


BILLING & CALL CHARGES:

Equipment and shipping charges are taken from your credit card before shipping. You are liable to pay for all calls made and received according to our current tariff, which is available at www.mobal.com/charges.

Call charges are taken from your credit card as and when we receive the call data from the networks. You can then view all the charge detail online at www.mobal.com/myaccount. Due to delays in receiving call data from networks, calls may be charged several months after they were made.

You must inform us of any changes to your credit card details. If we are unable to take payments we may suspend the service until outstanding charges are taken. Our credit card transactions are processed at our billing centre in the UK; Prior to travel you are advised to notify your credit card company to expect charges from the UK.


Their charges are significantly higher than, say, T-mobile or AT&T for roaming in some countries (western Europe springs to mind), and cheaper than others (Mobal charges $2-3/min in countries that T-mo/AT&T charge $5/min).

Before I got a cell I could use in Europe, I used Mobal. They charged the calls to my credit card. I had no problem with them. At the time I was using them, the charges were about the same as Cingular roaming.

I have used a Mobal SIM for years. My credit card is charged every 15 days or so when I am using the card. Because the rates are high, I use it sparingly, but wouldn't travel out if the country without it. Even when I have a local SIM card (good for high use), I have the Mobal with me for "emergencies". I keep it (and the switched-out card) in an old metal Altoids strip container. Good size and not likely to be stolen if someone goes through my suitcase.

Mobal is supposed to charge your credit card. But I've taken two international trips to three different countries in the past year and the charges have not shown up on my credit card at all.

I keep thinking they'll figure it out and charge me accordingly, but it's been almost 10 months and 4 months respectively, and still nothing.

Uptown Girl, you might want to log on to the Mobal web site and see if your account is set up correctly. The charges must be going somewhere. I would be concerned that I would need the phone and the account was closed because of a billing error. Just my opinion...

Mobal's SIM feels like a contract SIM. It is as reliable as one, but the prices are much than most prepaid roaming SIMs. If you're a Yank, it is also worth noting that it works in places that the US doesn't have diplomatic relations (e.g. Cuba and Iran).

Its roaming list is very extensive and is a good fallback. If you buy it as a backup, I would send a couple of SMSes a year on it just to keep the SIM showing as "active."

According to their web site, the SIM never expires. http://www.mobalrental.com/gsm/sim.asp When you think of how much you can spend on local SIMS that do, it is a good deal for lower use. I did just buy an Israeli SIM as I expect to make several hours of calls on it, but otherwise use my Mobal (or Skype when I have computer access).

I've got one in my dresser drawer and got an email that the number had been disconnected but that they would assign me a new number when I needed it. Technically, it is not disconnected, but it is still a hassle, particularly when you whip the SIM out when your plane sets down for mechanical problems in Tehran.