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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to resist paying this?

147 replies

Itstoocoldforme · 28/01/2017 20:48

Dd got hold of my phone and watched minecraft tutorials for 3 hours in total over 2 days at Christmas. Trouble was it was not on wifi. Cue £265 bill.

An acquaintance overheard my plight when I was whingeing to a friend, and said that the same thing happened when her dh was watching the golf at work. He thought he was on wifi and ran up an £800 bill. the phone co waived it and told him to be more careful in future.

So I try it with my provider, who I've been with for about 15 years. They're not budging and say it's legitimate usage. I know that it's legitimate usage, I'm appealing to their goodwill. They are not having it and have of course cut me off.

AIBU to hope for a bit of leeway here? They sent me a message at the end of the first day saying they have noticed high data usage. I didn't even read it because they send so many junk texts anyway and I have never gone near my limit before. In fact I didn't even know what it was 😳

They didn't stop the usage until I'd run up this huge bill.

AIBU to hold out payment and see if I can get some joy? Or should I just suck it up?

OP posts:
Original poster
Itstoocoldforme · 28/01/2017 21:52

Thanks everyone. I'll pay up. On reflection though I don't think I'm BU, because only Vodafone do this, all other providers give concessions for shock bills. Which they must think is reasonable. So Vodafone is clearly unreasonable, which in turn makes be not unreasonable. That's my perspective and I'm sticking to it. Twats.

OP posts:
lovelyupnorth · 28/01/2017 21:53

My phone and my kids won't let us go over the contracted data. Pay it and put a cap on it.

bookwormnerd · 28/01/2017 21:55

Ouch that must have been a horrible surprise. I know they have not let you off but to prevent happening again I know my network have a thing where you decide safety buffer of what can go over usual monthly price which can only change by going physically on account. Dont know if vodafone do. I found vodafone a rubbish network

childmaintenanceserviceinquiry · 28/01/2017 22:03

stoneage - thank you. I have just switched to an iphone and getting used to contracts.

DesolateWaist · 28/01/2017 22:03

I didn't even read it because they send so many junk texts anyway and I have never gone near my limit before.

So they warned you and your decided to ignore it. Tough, I'm afraid.

Oh and the suggestion that you should take an interest in current affairs is not 'hilarious'.

chocorabbit · 28/01/2017 22:05

I agree with Soubriquet. My husband had to wait for a year in order to leave them for O2. He was getting no service, they would ask a million useless questions, infuriatingly ad unashamedly they would try to offer more "services" and never cancel the "service". We were trying to buy a house and he didn't want his credit rating messed up so he had to put up with it.

Celaena · 28/01/2017 22:08

sadly, you have to pay it, and you should have been aware of it as it does come up regularly in the news (Hmm & Biscuit for not reading papers/news!)

but! it is VERY wrong of mobile companies to do this, and it shouldnt be allowed by law - they should be forced to cut off at say £50 as its so out of the ordinary for most normal usage, its easily recognised as an error

WyfOfBathe · 28/01/2017 22:14

YABU.

Vodafone is not being unreasonable to make you pay for data you used Confused - especially since they sent you a reminder text.

VeryBitchyRestingFace · 28/01/2017 22:16

That's hilarious hedgehog.

What's hilarious - your predicament?

38cody · 28/01/2017 22:23

Yep - been there £400 on in-app batman purchases!
I would pt it in writing to the phone company and acknowledge that it was legit usage but explain it was dd and how long you have been with them and ask directly fro a goodwill reduction of the bill.
If they refuse then definitely change providers and let them know why.
I got mine back but it was slightly different as in-app purchase.

ToastOfLondon · 28/01/2017 22:25

I'd carry on trying to get the bill waived as a goodwill gesture. Of course it was silly of you not to take more care but I still think it's worth persisting with the company.

There have been many MN threads where OPs DCs have run up huge bills on phones. It doesn't help but you are the only one caught out like this.

Lynnm63 · 28/01/2017 22:29

Definitely threaten to move providers. They may waive some of it.

Isadora2007 · 28/01/2017 22:30

Thanks for that tip stoneagemum 👍🏻

notsurehowtodothis · 28/01/2017 22:33

Doing my research it's only my phone company that behaves like this

Soooo, charging you for legitimate usage then. Hmm

Procrastination4 · 28/01/2017 22:39

Stoneagemum, thanks for the tip re. turning off wifi assist.

PussInCoutts · 28/01/2017 22:42

A few well-indoctrinated little capitalists here, OP. Big company scams little people - totally cool and YABU to complain Hmm

On reflection though I don't think I'm BU, because only Vodafone do this, all other providers give concessions for shock bills. Which they must think is reasonable. So Vodafone is clearly unreasonable, which in turn makes be not unreasonable. That's my perspective and I'm sticking to it.

I agree. And I also avoid the news, it undoes the efficiency of my Citalopram dosage.

icelollycraving · 28/01/2017 23:02

Yabu. They warned you, the data was used, you'll have to suck it up. I don't understand why they wouldn't charge you? You can threaten to move providers, you can move to a more friendly provider but the upshot is you'll still have to pay it. Keep a closer eye on your phone.

Wishforsnow · 28/01/2017 23:05

Go with 3 or EE they have unlimited data and then you wouldn't have the issue.

MsJamieFraser · 28/01/2017 23:09

Unfortunately YABU on this occasion, (however disagree with the astronomical data charges)!

You need to control you data usage, I have my Mobil data switched off until I say otherwise, that way I am in control of my date usage.

confuugled1 · 29/01/2017 00:43

The other thing to be glad is that that is all it was - imagine if your dd had used the phone for a similar time every day of the holiday and not just on 2 days... Could have been really high...

But yes, I think they should have spotted such a significant spike and stopped your service. It's in their interest not to tell you because they make so much money from you. Bad conflict of interest.

Might be worth looking on the money saving expert website to see if there's any advice on which key phrases to say when complaining to get some even if not all the money back or to see if that site with the clever legal letter thing would work.

But I'd pay the bill and hope to get something refunded rather than dispute and not pay so your credit score isn't damaged.

faithinthesound · 29/01/2017 00:56

If this was a hidden cost that they now expected you to pay, then no, you would not be BU to expect them to waive it, and I'd be the first in line waving the Small Claims Court flag in your honor.

But it wasn't.

It was a legitimate cost for a service that you used. They even warned you about it, but you chose to ignore the warning. You chose to give your DD free rein over your phone without taking steps to restrict the internet. Your choices, in short, are what got you here.

As to the matter of the company not waiving the bill when others do, I would say, that's none of your business. You're not with them, you're with the company you're with. Despite the fact that some companies CHOOSE to do consumers the FAVOR of waiving bills like this, they certainly don't HAVE to. Why should the company pay for your stuff up, when it legitimately is YOUR stuff up?

I don't think you were BU to ask it be waived. I think you are BVU to not accept them saying no.

sycamore54321 · 29/01/2017 01:01

There's a lot of work at EU level to prevent companies creaming obscene profits off customers like this. Expect it to get even worse after Brexit.

FWIW there is no harm in asking but you did use it and they did warn you so you really can't be surprised if they say no again.

PurpleMinionMummy · 29/01/2017 01:06

Yabu. It happens I agree, but they sent you a warning text, you ignored it. You need to brush up on your tech knowledge if you didn't understand it. For your kids sake as much as your bank balance.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 29/01/2017 01:27

Vodafone usually send several warning texts. So if you don't read them, you can't kick off! Perhaps turn the data off unless you are actually using it.

flossisboss · 29/01/2017 01:30

Sorry, but YABU. Keep your data turned off. It's not difficult.