Sasktel discovers error in wireless billing

REGINA — An error that crept into SaskTel’s billing system means some wireless customers are getting bills as large as $100,000 — because their Saskatchewan data was incorrectly charged at U.S. data rates.

And that’s why SaskTel want you to check your wireless bill before paying it.

SaskTel issued a news release Tuesday stating about 9,000 of its wireless customers in the Nov. 23 and Nov. 29 billing periods will receive a bill that might incorrectly charge their data at the higher American rate.

As a result, “the charges may range from a few cents to $100,000.”

Spokeswoman Michelle Englot said the corporation has had billing errors in the past, “but not to this extent.”

Englot said the error is complicated, but starts with the fact that Internet protocol (IP) addresses are used to determine the point from which a text message, data or phone call originates.

SaskTel was changing to a new core switch when there was a coding error on the enabling rate for data charges that billed customers “at the U.S. data rate versus the Saskatchewan data rate.”

SaskTel says it’s working on a way to automatically issue credits to those customers whose accounts have incorrect charges.

It will also contact customers by letter, text message or phone call within the next week.

“If a customer does not receive a phone call or letter from SaskTel, they are not impacted by this error and their bill is correct,” the Crown corporation said in the release.

Customers seeking more information should go tosasktel.com/novbill.