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Original poster

Help! DSS mobile phone bill £4500!

172 replies

mumtomoley · 22/08/2012 23:36

Just got DSS's phone bill and it's just over £4500 Shock

He's been to Turkey for 2 weeks with his mum and left data roaming on/been on the internet as it's all data charges. We really do not have the means to pay this at all. I've spoken to his mobile phone company, Orange, and they are going to call me back tomorrow. They have said that they may be able to put a credit on the account but 'to manage my expectations it won't be a significant amount'.

Any advice gratefully received?

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TheDoctrineOfEnnis · 23/08/2012 10:23

mum, it will be a complicated agreement between the two operators, orange will almost certainly allow them some bundles that are more profitable than others too so really don't worry about it.

mummmsy · 23/08/2012 10:28

this happened to my friend with orange - for about £800. she kicked up such a fuss, she only dealt with managers of managers, whilst tweeting furiously, and in about 4 days they retrospectively applied data bundles...

BobbiFleckman · 23/08/2012 10:30

his mum can't have failed to notice that he spent a good portion of his holiday glued to a mobile phone which someone would have to pay for. She needs to chip in. And at least you aren't going to be tidying his room / cleaning the car / paying for babysitters for younger siblings for a very, very long time! (he'd better have aced his GCSEs...)

Original poster
mumtomoley · 23/08/2012 10:30

Oh that is so good to hear mummmsy. At least it's good to know it's theoretically possible and possibly dependant on the level of fuss I kick up. Roughly how long ago did it happen to your friend? I was thinking they must have quite a few of these calls now as so many more people have smartphones.

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Original poster
mumtomoley · 23/08/2012 10:39

I think everyone involved, to varying degrees, is somewhat to blame. DSS must have had text messages. His mum may or may not have said something and could have paid more attention, DP should have put a cap on it. But there you go. The once person who really should be paying it has naff all money unfortunately! (Don't even mention the GCSE's :()

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fergoose · 23/08/2012 10:42

If I were you I would cancel the Direct Debit at the bank now so they can't take, or attempt to take, the money from the bank. This could obviously incur more charges.

WildWorld2004 · 23/08/2012 10:48

Its not oranges fault. Yes ok maybe they should have notified you/your DSS but these kind of stories have been in the news a lot lately. If you knew he was going abroad maybe you should have had a word with him & his mum about leaving the phone at home.

He didnt need to even be using the phone for the data roaming to be used. If he has his phone set to auto updates & notifications they use data.

Maybe everyone should think twice about taking their mobile on holiday & also with getting a contract phone.

I think you should pay up & shut up.

tara0202 · 23/08/2012 10:50

Mumtomoley: I really feel for you. What a shock. I agree with you, what's done is done now. Main thing is to try and sort it.

Retrospective bundle package is a great idea. I know its not quite the same but my friend did not declare a driving conviction and then had an accident. Insurance didn't want to pay put but then offered her to pay the extra premium and then they paid out. I know its not the same but surely shows these companies can and do.do things like this.

Hope you sort it ( and now I know only to give my kids pay as you go!)

SoupDragon · 23/08/2012 10:53

The point is, WildWorld, that providers can and do cap data usage when abroad before you get in to the realms of stupid bills. Why don't Orange?

fergoose · 23/08/2012 10:59

I think Orange were very irresponsible to allow the bill to get so high - they could easily have contacted and applied the correct data bundle. I think you should go to the CEO and to Twitter and shout from the rooftops.

WildWorld2004 · 23/08/2012 11:05

The reason Orange probably dont cap bills is because it makes them money through people not paying attention to news articles & advice.

There is no law so orange dont need to put in caps.

HappyMummyOfOne · 23/08/2012 11:07

Are you sure they definately haven't warned him by text? I've been away recently and had a text every day re data charges and then a further text when i turned data on.

Its not oranges fault though, not sure why so many blaming the company not the person using the phone or contract holder. Knowing it can be expensive to take a phone abroad you should have taken it from him and given im a cheap payg phone if you wanted to stay in touch.

Original poster
mumtomoley · 23/08/2012 11:09

I don't know HappyMummy What contract are you with? Do the texts every day give you an idea of the amount?

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SoupDragon · 23/08/2012 11:10

That is precisely why Orange don't put caps in place. That doesn't make it right.

O2 do put caps in place - I didn't ask them to, it would appear to be their standard practice. It's called good customer service.

HappyOrchid · 23/08/2012 11:10

Well now DSS knows what he's NOT getting for Xmas, next birthday, following Xmas etc. until the money you would have spent on gifts is matched by the bill that he probably knowingly ran up.

Original poster
mumtomoley · 23/08/2012 11:14

Soupdragon - have you got experience of cap being applied when outside of the EU at all?

I think EU legislation has it that there is a cap applied for all networks, so not sure if this is specific to Orange or because of the fact they were outside of the EU.

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nocake · 23/08/2012 11:15

I was about to say what HappyOrchid said... you pay the bill and DSS pays if off in instalments.

Viviennemary · 23/08/2012 11:16

This is really dreadful. When I first read it I thought it was £450. But £4,000. That is dreadful. Don't pay it if he is under age. I'd send the bill to his mother as she was the one responsible for him when on holiday.

TheDoctrineOfEnnis · 23/08/2012 11:16

WildWorld, it's not against the law to not have a cap (though I think it is now for travel within the EU) but Ofcom are cracking down on roaming charges in general so I think it may well be a law in a year or two.

Original poster
mumtomoley · 23/08/2012 11:18

nocake For nearly £6,000? I don't think DSS will be able to pay that off anytime soon!

£450 we would have just paid of course. But with the unbilled usage to come it's nearly £6k. Even if we sold the car we don't have that money!

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StealthPolarBear · 23/08/2012 11:19

Dh had a 300 bill from orange a few months ago. He'd left data type stuff on. Upshot was that all contracts should have a capped daily rate and they should be applying it. If they javent, as in Dhs case, they sort it out. They did it quickly and with no fuss. His actual bill was a tenner. Hope ou get it sorted too but they were very helpful for us.

Original poster
mumtomoley · 23/08/2012 11:19

Viviennemary he's 16 but the contract is in DP's name so I don't think Orange would be interested in that.

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nocake · 23/08/2012 11:20

He doesn't have to pay it off soon. It's a good opportunity for him to learn that actions have consequences. When he's still paying in 5 years time he'll remember the lesson.

StealthPolarBear · 23/08/2012 11:21

Dh didn't have the cap as he's on such an old contract no one knew about it ! But still wasn't a problem

Original poster
mumtomoley · 23/08/2012 11:21

stealth were the charges racked up outside of the EU though?

There's no automatic cap outside of the EU. Orange haven't done anything wrong (unfortunately) Except for the fact I think they should have blocked the phone earlier, in the same way that your bank will stop your card for unusual activity.

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