Call Kurtis: No Data Plan, So How'd We Get Charged for Data?

T-Mobile customers across the country are surprised over new charges on their wireless bills. A Sacramento couple called Kurtis to investigate.

Aimee and K.C. Davidson specifically told T-Mobile they didn't want to pay for data, so they asked to have it blocked on their phones. So why did they find themselves getting charged for data?

The Davidsons are saving money by not having data plans on their smartphones.

"That way we could only be online, surf the net on Wi-Fi hotspots," says Aimee.

But in November a $19.90 data charge popped up on their bill. It turns out T-Mobile switched customers who didn't have data plans to pay-per-use data, causing people like the Davidsons to rack up charges without knowing it.

"No one wants to incur a cost that they felt they shouldn't have incurred in the first place," says K.C.

And they're not the only ones upset. A slew of other customers complained of the same problem on the T-Mobile support page. But whether you like it or not, cellphone companies can get away these types of changes, according to the fine print in most contracts.

"They change their plans. They raise fees all the time. That's something you kind of have to live with when you sign on for a two-year contract," says CNET's Jessica Dolcourt.

But if your carrier makes a significant change, like increasing the base rate of your monthly plan, many carriers will allow you to get out of your contract within a specific timeframe. That doesn't help the Davidsons. T-Mobile tells us, "This doesn't apply in this instance as T-Mobile did not change their monthly rate plan."

"It's ridiculous the fight you have to go through to fix something on your bill. It's not worth it," says Aimee.

After hours on the phone, T-Mobile ended up crediting the $19.90 on their next bill, but they still want to switch companies.

"We still won't stay with them," says Aimee, "We will never go back to them again."

T-Mobile's representatives on the support web page say they are refunding customers surprised by the data charges. Here are the company's statements relating to this case:

T-Mobile began a new program on Sept. 15, 2011 which automatically added Mobile Web Pay Per Use to customer accounts who did not previously have data plans.

Customers were alerted via bill insert, text message or email notification about Mobile Web Pay Per Use, and that they would be charged $1.99/MB to access data. Customers who do not have data plans but try to access data services receive an immediate notice of charges as an alert to their handset prior to their first time using data.

Customers can opt out of Mobile Web Pay Per Use by calling T-Mobile Customer Service. They cannot opt out through their device or their myT-Mobile.com online account. In addition, customers should receive notice of charges immediately before using Mobile Web Pay Per Use for the first time.