Telstra International Roaming Pass - not a question but a warning.

Telstra International Roaming Pass - not a question but a warning. Please be aware that Telstra's billing systems are not in sync so that the time of activation of your roaming pass is seen by the system as AEST but your calls are recognised in the local time of the place at which they were made. I was in Dallas and I have been charged for calls I made in the first 17 hours I was there even though I activated the travel pass while on the plane after landing. I have spoken to Telstra and they have admitted the problem and they have credited me for the calls. However, please check your own bills to make sure that you are not incorrectly charged. Obviously, the bigger the difference in timezone the bigger the potential is for incorrect charges to appear on your bill.

PK, activation is never instantaneous. I always activate overseas data plans before departing Australia, a good 12 to 24 hours before arrival. I could never assume Telstra to be that efficient. I would also apply for data/call packages over the phone and ensure the agent makes notes in my account so that Telstra maintains records in the event of any recourse.

TRB, activation of the international roaming pass is instantaneous. In fact, because it comes in 3, 7 and 14 day packages only, Telstra advise that you do not activate it until you land because you will waste time on the package otherwise, as the review of the pass on this very site confirms.  The issue is the specific one I have advised as above. 

Thanks for the heads up, PK. 

PK I was referring to the international connect pack, which I  always activate 12 to 24 hours prior to departure. I'm unfamiliar with the 3, 7 and 14 day packages you refer to and therefore  unable to attest to the timeliness  of their activation. But knowing Telstra I'd rather be prepared than to put up with a whole load of drama after the fact.

Mate, this is a product that has been extensively reviewed, including on this site.  No offence meant, but why do you choose to comment when you say you don't know anything about the specific product I was referring to and then imply that I was unprepared?  Your version of being "prepared" in relation to this product, as Chris's review on this site confirms, amounts to throwing two day's fee down the drain activating the pass before you leave and then exposing yourself to having to extend the pass and wasting more money. If you had read both my comments you would have seen that the problem arose precisely because activation is instantaneous, but that a different timezone is used by activation and billing. No doubt if I had been in New Zealand, the pass would have expired three hours before it was meant to.  

PK no offence taken. Irrespective of the timeliness of activation promised by the service provider, I feel the need to get everything sorted a good day before I set off. Perhaps I am being ignorant. Though I've not used the product you talked about (the Telstra package I used is based on data usage not length of connection), I have used other services based on the length of connection (for example SIM Corner). To me a "wasted" day of calls/data makes up for the assurance and peace of mind. I'm sorry you do not feel that way. However thank you for the heads up. I'm sure it is beneficial to people who like to cut it fine.