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Original poster

£28000 mobile phone bill

120 replies

saveforthat · 08/03/2015 16:51

Ds 19 had his contract phone cut off. When he went into o2 shop to investigate, turns out he opted out of roaming cap when on holiday in tunisia. Also forgot to change his address so they couldnt contact him. Found out yesterday and and I was in shock. Now feel sick, how is this actually possible, we were only there for a week. Going to try to see citizens advice tomorrow but does anyone have any expeeience of this?

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 08/03/2015 16:54

No advice really but I'm sure CAB will. I've read similar stories where phone company have reduced the bill but still a couple of £thousand maybe.

I guess worst case scenario, assuming he has no assets, he can declare himself bankrupt. But he needs advice over implications for future credit, mortgages, etc.

Original poster
saveforthat · 08/03/2015 16:58

He certainly has no assets but my god. I know he was stupid to resond to text but £28K. I cant believe it

OP posts:
InfinitySeven · 08/03/2015 17:01

Do you mean £2800? If it's actually £28,000, you'll almost definitely be able to argue that it's unfair.

queenofthepirates · 08/03/2015 17:01

That sounds extortionate. There was a Guardian Money article maybe a month ago on the same topic-you should be able to google it

InfinitySeven · 08/03/2015 17:01

Ah hang on. Is it roaming charges or usage charges?

VivaLeBeaver · 08/03/2015 17:03

If you google there's stories off one one with a 9k Bill being reduced to £500 and someones with a 20k bill being reduced to £875. So sounds like they'd likely offer to settle for 1.5k. Both of those reductions were after national newspaper involvement so you might need to practice your sad face!

But with his age and no assets he's in a good position to haggle. He offers them say £500 and says if they don't accept that offer he will have to go bankrupt and as he has no assets they won't get a penny.

That's my gut feeling but see what cab say.

SwedishEdith · 08/03/2015 17:07

I'd ask on moneysavingexpert as well as they have a whole forum on mobiles. I'd think that 28k is totally disproportionate.

chickydoo · 08/03/2015 17:12

How much!
I was horrified at an £11.00 bill after 2 weeks in India!

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 08/03/2015 17:12

It just strikes me as immoral that they could make these charges.

It doesn't reflect the actual cost.

And roaming charge caps shouldn't be optional, it should just be part of the deal.

YouPooPooBumBum · 08/03/2015 17:12

Do you mean two thousand, eight hundred pounds or twenty eight thousand pounds?

LIZS · 08/03/2015 17:14

Either is ridiculous surely? Was it really only one text?

FenellaFellorick · 08/03/2015 17:15

twenty eight THOUSAND pounds?

Holy crap.

I really think that could be challenged.

PeppermintCrayon · 08/03/2015 17:18

Is it really 28k? What is it actually for exactly?

And why do you think he should have changed his address? Hmm

SwedishEdith · 08/03/2015 17:19

What were o2 trying to contact him about? The charges, presumably? And then they cut off the phone. So, they must have realised something was wrong/alarming. Then, why didn't they cut off the phone earlier? I'd say they have been incredibly irresponsible to let a bill get so high before doing anything about it. Get in touch with your MP as well - always adds some weight to complaints and appeals.

Original poster
saveforthat · 08/03/2015 17:20

Yes it really is twenty eight thousand pounds. The man in the 02 shop has never heard of such a large bill. Its data usage apparently. Hes absolutely gobsmacked. Maybe bankruptcy is a good idea. Hes absolutely useless with money but this takes the biscuit

OP posts:
LIZS · 08/03/2015 17:22

Had they been trying to send a bill to the previous address and not had a response? Did he have any messages from them before it was cut off asking to get in touch ?

Original poster
saveforthat · 08/03/2015 17:22

What I meant was he moved house and forgot to tell o2 he changed his address so now he looks like a crook but he isnt dishonest just stupid

OP posts:
emotionsecho · 08/03/2015 17:24

Was he using the internet on his phone whilst in Tunisia?

oneowlgirl · 08/03/2015 17:28

I wouldn't have even thought a bill of that size was possible - definitely see what CAB say but I agree with the others in that he disputes the charges & either offers a much smaller sum or declares himself bankrupt & they get nothing. Good luck!

Original poster
saveforthat · 08/03/2015 17:28

Yes Internet downloading movies. Our hotel had WFI but it only worked 50% of the time. The debt has been passedvto a debt collection agency apparently

OP posts:
LIZS · 08/03/2015 17:37

Well that was a bit daft, but did he leave it on afterwards too? There was a case a few years ago of something like 16k from downloading tv in France which got largely waivered. Presumably Tunisia is outside the area where charges are more controlled.

SwedishEdith · 08/03/2015 17:44

According to the o2 site, it's £6.00 to downloand 1MB of data and a film is about 570MBs. So, that's about 9 films - which sounds feasible (in terms of having the time to do that). See what the CAB say and good luck.

specialsubject · 08/03/2015 17:47

of course there is no way that this costs the company £28k, or even 28p. But he needs to take action. Start with CAB and go up from there. He's got a lot of work to do but he needs to do it.

and please, everyone, make it clear that you do NOT download movies when abroad! (or even in the UK on phones as it seems they often switch away from wi-fi)

emotionsecho · 08/03/2015 17:53

Hell's bells - he downloaded movies????

LIZS I think the EU passed a law restricting mobile phone charges in member states after holidaymakers received huge bills.

If it has been passed to a Debt Collection Agency you may be able to reach a one off payment settlement with them, beware though some of these Agencies can be incredibly aggressive and threaten all sorts and they will probably only speak to the person named on the contract.

emotionsecho · 08/03/2015 18:04

What it costs the company is irrelevant specialsubject, they provided a service which he agreed to by signing a contract and he was given the option of restricting/eliminating those charges which he chose not to do. It's a very harsh and expensive lesson, but I am surprised that he was so unaware of the possibility of high charges for downloading data.