To think I shouldn't have to shell out for Vodafone when i can't help working from home?

[Maria53]

I have been working from home for a month now using my 4G router and for the first time have gone over my allowance. Clearly this is due to the fact I am working 9-5 and zoom calls are sucking up a lot of data.

Vodafone added on more data for me, which cost £12 and still I was cut off again before the end of working day at 4.40pm.

I called them 2 days ago, was on the phone for an hour and they told me I cant change my plan because I am locked in for a year. They also said I would have to start paying £50/£60 per month - I currently pay £25!

I informed my boss what was happening but she didnt say much. Who is responsible here? How can I be the one having to shell out for this when the situation is outside my control?

My and my husbands work have always expected us to just have good internet access. I do like the comparison to commuting costs. Unless you want lakes to work every day, it is probably cheaper to pay for internet than transit.

My work got me a Vodafone dongle for WFH. I think it's £30/month, unlimited data

If you go on to the Vodafone app there giving 30 days free unlimited data....

I had an issue accessing my soft phone. My boss said ‘use your mobile and gives us the bill we’ll pay it’ you shouldn’t be out of pocket for this. Ask if you can claim it back, I was lucky that I could change my package as I’m on a rolling monthly package so chose unlimited calls.

You can claim certain expenses as tax deductible from HMRC - have a look into how that works.

You need to go on the app on to very me awards and then under every day essentials you literally click and they messaged me the next day and it had been added. Not a long term solution but it buys you 30 days to find one :)

Night owl- when did you do this? I had a look and couldn't see that offer. I'll have another look tomorrow.

2 days ago and I’ve just checked it’s still there for you. Go on to the app and then on to the very next rewards section then select everyday essentials and make sure you select it so you see all the offers. The near the bottom it’s there :)

Select see all once you can see the everyday essentials part :)

I never had Wi-Fi at home - just had extra data on my phone. Now that I am working from home my boss provided me with a donga. Not sure how much it costs them, just that it doesn't cost me. I would cut myself off in the middle of something important and tell them you need one or this is not going to work. And keep doing it.

If you didn't actually have wifi before starting to work from home due to coronavirus, you can get tax relief for broadband.

I’d pay the extra because of the money saved on petrol or bus/train fares. Surely it balances out?

I started working from home full-time last year. I had to upgrade my internet package to one that is $160 a month. But now my car does about three weeks to the gallon and I’m saving on wear and tear, etc so I don’t mind. I also consider it a privilege to be able to work from home. The extra leisure time I have by not sitting in traffic for hours each week is priceless,

Have you casually mentioned it to your boss or have you asked the direct question about whether they can cover it?

How much money did you previously spend on getting to work every month ? Was it more than £25 ? If so then you will be saving money overall.

Would those of you that say get over it and pay, mind contributing financially for new office furniture at work? I mean you’d need a desk and chair and at least you’ve got a job - so if everyone chips in £100 then it’ll help

You can get broadband that you pay monthly with no contract. Get it and claim on expenses. I think these days it's very unusual for a home not to have broadband. We have about 20 devices connected to ours!

How much are you saving on commuting? Surely that's relevant. I'm saving a lot this month and at £100's more than usual.

@Grobagsforever, it's not reasonable at all.

Among low-income groups, mobile phones are the main device used for internet access.

This is one of the reasons for the delays in implementing Universal Credit was lack of internet access. They had blithely assumed that everyone has broadband, and were quite a long way into development when they found that they were wrong. They had to make shedloads of changes so that the system could be accessed via a mobile.

Vodfone sound like they're taking the mick.

Virgin have given me 10gb extra data this month for free due to CV. I've always found them very competitive. Worth switching your phone perhaps?

Apologies for that hideously garble sentence. It's a bit early for lucidity!

Lots of good advice above. On a practical level, can you also reduce your useage? Video calls use a lot - could you use voice only for some or all calls? My workplace have set this as the standard now, with video only to be used where necessary.

@LakieLady Funny you should say that about universal credit claimants. I am a teacher in a deprived area and it just seems assumed that children will have broadband and devices to work on- very much not the case. The Local Authority’s idea of support? “Fill in this online form to let us know about your circumstances if you have no internet access or devices”... yep, an online form 🤦🏼‍♀️

How can people not grasp that working from home for a few months does not write off the ENTIRE CONTRACT COST of the broadband?

Agree short term, how much of this is offset by your typical travel costs? It is an assumption that you have unlimited wifi, ask work if you can recoup the overspend on expenses. If you have any tv packages could you add bb on longer term?

Although as I've said, my company sees broadband as a utility nowadays, they did things like encouraging people who need them to order and put in expenses claims for proper office chairs.

The situation is out of everyone's control. I guess in the OPs shoes I'd ask if I could claim expenses or be provided with a dongle, but be aware if the company was in a dire financial position itself or not.