£27,000 Mobile Phone Bill For UK Factory Worker January 03, 2008
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Ian Simpson, a factory worker from Darlington, was no doubt revelling in just how good surfing the Net via his mobile phone was until he got his latest bill from Vodafone. The £27,000 heart-stopper was laughed at, at first, but now the poor sod's facing bankruptcy.
Simpson had his mobile connected to his laptop as a modem and downloaded over 20 TV shows and some albums before the bill pointed out that his £41.50 per month contract did not include unlimited Net downloads. Oops.
In fact, it only covered a measly 120Mb of downloads a month. That said, after he exceeded the amount, Vodafone started charging him at an extortionate rate, sometimes up to £18 per minute. As far as I’m concerned, that’s criminal and I hope they never see a penny of it.
Simpson and Vodafone are now in talks to reduce the amount to a more manageable sum. A spokesperson for the operator told the Northern Echo:
“Few customers exceed the fair usage. But it seems clear Ian has run up these charges legitimately. The rules are clearly stated. Mobile web pages use fewer megabytes. That package is not designed for large-scale downloading or computer-speed web use.”
Now there’s an understatement. Last month, one unlucky phone user in Canada faced a similar scenario with Bell Mobility, which wanted £41,000.-Martin Lynch
Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
Contributor | Tamlin Magee
Comments
*It's his own fault really, he didn't read the small print is his contract.
Hmm... perhaps charge him a couple of hundred, but 27k does seem a little steep!
"Simpson and Vodafone are now in talks to reduce the amount to a more manageable sum"
Hmmm... Until recently, I worked for a large international conglomorate (I'll not say who) and someone managed to do something very similar to a value of £12,000 or so. What's the betting that poor old Mr Simpson, being a private customer, doesn't get the same lenient treatment we got.
Knowing we'd kick up a stink, Vodafone immediately decided to commute the £12,000 bill down to £25! Anyone would thing we were spending nearly £500,000 per month with them. ;)
Take your mobile phones and break them...
You will be better off..
As for using internet on your phones, don't even bother. eh eh.....
If you're gonna use the net on your phone, make sure it's a pay as you go phone. At least then, you won't go into debt.
...or, get the Pocket Surfer 2 (Search on Firebox.com) and use that to surf.
deserves it in my opinion. I think he should remember this 'if it's too good to be true, then it is' did he not check up on his bill while he was doing all of this downloading? I mean, I check my statements every few days to see if everything is going to plan. Well I hop for his sake that they can both come to some sort of agreement. oh and by the way, perfect name SIMPSON, definitely thinking of Homer Simpson brother there.
i am on a £55/m contract with vodafone,i was told that my allowance is 3 gb/month..and that if i did exceed the limit,vodafone would call me and alert me..
Nobody called..
My Bill for last month came £2200...
I dont know abt mr.simpson but i did not do all that downloading,i have a 24meg connection at home..why would i..
i will not pay no matter what..
Shouldn't there have been a little alarm bell ringing at Vodafone HQ when this customers charges went through the roof. In a way it's his own fault but vodafone have been more than a little lax here.Give him a break Vodafone, this one act of madness could destroy his life.
If he did read the small print his contract, then it's his own fault.
That was ment to say "If he didn't read the small print his contract, then it's his own fault.
That was ment to say "If he didn't read the small print his contract, then it's his own fault.
Wow what a great way to go Bankrupt without having to declare yourself bankrupt. Just run up a wopping phone bill and get all your debts written off thanks to the phone company. (just make sure you move your assets from your name before hand ;) )