Chippenham
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Chippenham man receives £9,000 phone bill
CONFUSED Sanbu Sandu was left stumped after he received a two-month mobile phone bill for more than £9,000.
Mr Sandu, 40, from Ladyfield Road, Chippenham, was even more puzzled when he realised the £9,639.87 charge was for free, unlimited Internet access.
He had taken out the Vodafone pay monthly contract so that his son Marian could contact his friends in Romania where the family originate.
The problem arose when Mr Sandu received a welcome letter to his new contract that stated he was entitled to unlimited free text messages and Internet access.
However, in the small print of his contract, it states he can only use 120mgs of data.
After taking the bill to the Chippenham Citizens Advice Bureau, Mr Sandu has since had the fee waived by the mobile phone giant.
He said: "I made doubly sure the Internet access was free because that is the only reason I wanted a phone.
"My son used it to contact his friends back home and we didn't use it apart from that.
"When the bill arrived I was completely shocked and thought there must have been a mistake.
"After contacting the shop I brought the phone in, I was told although the Internet access is unlimited you cannot exceed a certain amount of data usage.
"This was never made clear to me and I was furious that this was allowed to happen.
"I don't think it is fair that they can advertise as having free unlimited Internet access when it is clearly not unlimited.
"I am glad they have stepped down as they were in the wrong."
In a letter to Mr Sandu, Vodafone has said it will waive the fee as a gesture of goodwill but does make clear in the small print of the contract about the maximum data usage.
A spokesperson from Vodafone said: "In view of the potentially misleading information regarding data usage, we have erased the credit of the account.
"We have cleared the balance as a gesture of goodwill."
Sandi Sorell at the citizens advice bureau said: "This was a clear case of misleading data and one I am glad we were able to help with.
" This kind of thing is very distressing to a person but I would advice them to always seek advice if they are in doubt about a payment.
" We can offer all types of advice and people should be aware of all their rights as consumers.
"This case highlights the positive outcome when people question what they believe to be an unfair decision."
Mr Sandu has since vowed to never have a phone again and son Marian will now have to use Internet cafes.
11:55am Monday 21st January 2008
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CommentPosted by: Anon emouse, Around and about on 2:30pm Mon 21 Jan 08
Wouldn't a phone company normally put a credit limit on an account for its own protection. Seems a logical thing to do to protect both itself and the end user.
Wouldn't a phone company normally put a credit limit on an account for its own protection. Seems a logical thing to do to protect both itself and the end user.
Posted by: Trace, Corsham on 2:46pm Mon 21 Jan 08
I dont suppose this phone shop was JAG communications in Chippenham was it???? Another of there scams!
I dont suppose this phone shop was JAG communications in Chippenham was it???? Another of there scams!
Posted by: Grunion, wb on 4:03pm Mon 21 Jan 08
Whenever you see unlimited it always has a ' fair usage policy ' attached to it , for instance unlimited free phone calls via Orange Broadband , they clearly state that there is a fair usage policy and to read THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT !!
No -one ever does this , any halfwit unwilling to read the T and Cs deserves whats coming to them !! Imo .
Whenever you see unlimited it always has a ' fair usage policy ' attached to it , for instance unlimited free phone calls via Orange Broadband , they clearly state that there is a fair usage policy and to read THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT !!
No -one ever does this , any halfwit unwilling to read the T and Cs deserves whats coming to them !! Imo .
Posted by: Pieman, pieship on 4:43pm Mon 21 Jan 08
[quote]"My son used it to contact his friends back home and we didn't use it apart from that.
[/quote]
If the bill was for internet access then clearly he did use it for more than just chatting to friends. £160 a day?! thats a whole lot of....stuff.
"My son used it to contact his friends back home and we didn't use it apart from that.
If the bill was for internet access then clearly he did use it for more than just chatting to friends. £160 a day?! thats a whole lot of....stuff.
Posted by: Des, Wiltshire on 5:19pm Mon 21 Jan 08
In a letter to Mr Sandu, Vodafone has said it will waive the fee as a gesture of goodwill but does make clear in the small print of the contract about the maximum data usage.
A spokesperson from Vodafone said: "In view of the potentially misleading information regarding data usage, we have erased the credit of the account.
"We have cleared the balance as a gesture of goodwill
Whoopee doo, the cheating b******s have backtracked.
In a letter to Mr Sandu, Vodafone has said it will waive the fee as a gesture of goodwill but does make clear in the small print of the contract about the maximum data usage.
A spokesperson from Vodafone said: "In view of the potentially misleading information regarding data usage, we have erased the credit of the account.
"We have cleared the balance as a gesture of goodwill
Whoopee doo, the cheating b******s have backtracked.
Posted by: Al, Trowbridge on 12:39am Tue 22 Jan 08
I am always suprised when people think 'unlimited' means there are no restrictions at all. Why should the 'unlimited' part refer to the data download part? Equally it could refer to the fact that you can spend an unlimited amount of time online, but there is a data download limit.
My local pizza hut serves unlimited free refills when I buy a soft drink. They kicked me out when I started filling up empty plastic bottles I had tucked in my coat. Clearly they were misleading me when they suggested the refills were free and unlimited.
I am always suprised when people think 'unlimited' means there are no restrictions at all. Why should the 'unlimited' part refer to the data download part? Equally it could refer to the fact that you can spend an unlimited amount of time online, but there is a data download limit.
My local pizza hut serves unlimited free refills when I buy a soft drink. They kicked me out when I started filling up empty plastic bottles I had tucked in my coat. Clearly they were misleading me when they suggested the refills were free and unlimited.
Posted by: mjhudston, Chippenham, Wiltshire on 9:39pm Tue 22 Jan 08
The going rate for using a "mobile phone" for internet access is £3 per megabyte, and they dont clearly advertise the fact.
Ive had a similar argument with o2, although my bill had two less zeros.
Ive recently purchsed a USB Datacard with alternative provider who offers 3 Gig of data for £15 a month, and 10p per meg after, much much cheeper.
The going rate for using a "mobile phone" for internet access is £3 per megabyte, and they dont clearly advertise the fact.
Ive had a similar argument with o2, although my bill had two less zeros.
Ive recently purchsed a USB Datacard with alternative provider who offers 3 Gig of data for £15 a month, and 10p per meg after, much much cheeper.
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