Switched to U Mobile Prepaid to save, but they deducted RM50 instantly! Scam?

I have not been updating this blog for a while. In fact, the last ‘proper post’ was way back in August 2024, which makes this U Mobile Prepaid ‘scam’ post an overdue update on this personal blog of mine.

A lot has happened between August 2024 until today, but let’s just begin with my U Mobile ‘scam’ post first.

Background: U Postpaid Borneo Plan

You see, I have an extra number which is riding on the U Mobile’s U Postpaid Borneo Plan.

I pay RM40.28/month for this plan, and its fixed to my second phone which also doubles as my photography phone, and the phone I use to tether for internet when I am on the move or at work.

U Mobile coverage in my office is good, and the unlimited data speeds and allocation provided by the U Postpaid Borneo Plan allows me to surf at work without worry of hitting the data limit.

However, since I switched my main line to Maxis last month (more on this in future post!), I have been looking for ways to cut expenditure to ensure I can somewhat offset that extra RM130 I now pay for my phone line.

One way was to re-evalute all my phone lines and data plans, hence why I decided to look into getting a cheaper plan for my extra phone.

Considering options

To do this, I evaluated several lines out there.

Postpaid services were out of the question because they were not only pricier, but I didn’t like how they had taxes. Prepaid services were more straigh forward, and most prepaid services these days are somewhat like postpaid services, requiring monthly payment to enjoy their services.

I ran through the likes of TuneTalk, U Mobile Prepaid, CelcomDigi Prepaid, Hotlink, XOX, Yes and RedTone, and check out their Facebook pages for complaints, as well as their respective packages.

Here’s my findings based on the cheapest monthly plans for the following telcos:

• TuneTalk Prepaid (Uses CelcomDigi network): Epik50 – RM28/month. 50GB data. Unlimited hotspot.
• U Mobile Prepaid: U Prepaid Borneo 20 – RM20/month. 2000GB 5G + 200GB 4G data, with unlimited 512kbps hotspot and data
• CelcomDigi Prepaid: PREPAID 5G UV 30 Unlimited – RM30/28 days at 18Mbps. 100GB data. Unlimited hotspot.
• Maxis Hotlink: Unlimited Internet 12Mbps – RM25/month. 10GB 5G data from 8AM – 8PM day use, unlimited data at 12Mbps. Unlimited hotspot.
• XOX (Uses CelcomDigi network): 1X18 – RM18/month with unlimited 6Mbps 50GB data, 100GB at 512kbps. 10GB hotspot.
• Yes: FT5G 20 – 50GB 5G + unlimited 4G. RM20/month, unlimited hotspot, data rollover.
• RedOne (Uses Maxis network): Ultra Plus 25 – RM25/month for 100GB. 10GB hotspot.

Based on my findings, XOX proved to be the most tempting. However, I was not too fond of the hotspot cap. That said, my findings cemented that U Mobile’s U Prepaid Borneo 20 was the most value for money with 2000GB 5G data and unlimited hotspot at just RM20/month.

So, I decided to switch my U Mobile Postpaid line to a U Prepaid Borneo 20 line. I called their customer service, and they confirmed it could be done at their main outlet, which was at VivaCity Megamall.

Making the switch

I made the journey to the VivaCity U Mobile outlet and they did it in just a few minutes at no charge. They told me I could subscribe to the U Prepaid Borneo 20 through the MyUMobile app, so I decided to do just that, while hanging around the outlet. – Mana tahu something crops up kan, so I’m nearby to ask for help?

I didn’t even need to take out my SIMcard as it used the same SIM. My MyUMobile app now reflected that I was now a prepaid line and what was left was for me to subscribe/choose my prepaid plan of choice, which in this case was the U Prepaid Borneo 20.

I reloaded RM100 into myUMobile App, and immediately subscribed to the U Prepaid Borneo 20.

There was two pop-ups, both asking if I wanted to get extra 50GB for just RM10. I ignored both by hitting ‘BACK’ on the phone.

After hitting ‘BACK’ and ignoring the promotional SMS, U Mobile sent an SMS confirming my new plan, the U Prepaid Borneo 20. – I was pretty pleased because now I have unlimited data and calls for just RM20/month.

The unexpected deduction

However, within a minute, I got another SMS telling me U Mobile was deducting RM50 from my account, and that my plan had changed to U Prepaid 50. You can see the messages below which shows I’ve reloaded the number, activated the U Prepaid Borneo 20, and within a minute, somehow had U Prepaid 50 activated and RM50 deducted.

Dumbfounded, I approaced the counter and asked.

They asked if I did subscribe to U Prepaid 50, which I denied. I showed them the SMS and told them that isn’t it weird that I just subscribed to a plan, only to subscribe to another plan a minute later? – No sane person would want to sign up for a similar plan with just a minute in between.

The U Mobile customer service officer told me that she could help me lodge a complaint, but it will take time to resolve. A few days to be exact.

I told her I don’t mind the wait because the fact was, within a minute, I just lost RM50. It was not right. I felt scammed.

And so, she did the report and said U Mobile headquarters will be in touch.

What now?

So yeah… I do feel like I was scammed because instead of paying RM20, I had RM70 deducted from me (or my account).

I’m not sure how U Mobile will handle this issue, but as I said, I’ve already raised a report and complaint to U Mobile.

I will update this post to let you know what happened, but for now, I’ve this feeling I may not even get my RM50 back.

That said, if this remains unresolved, I may report to MCMC.. Maybe…