£1,600 bill for two days’ use of mobile net
Friday 26th February 2010, 2:58PM GMT.
John Harrison with his mobile phone and the bill Picture: MATTHEW HOTTON (00899853)
A BUSINESSMAN is urging Islanders to beware when surfing the internet on mobile phones abroad after he received a £1,600 bill for just two days’ usage.
John Harrison, managing director of the Airport Car Centre, was stunned when an Airtel-Vodafone adviser contacted him during his holiday to warn that he had racked up huge roaming charges for accessing the web.
The 44-year-old is refusing to pay and is urging other Islanders to come forward if they have received similar bills.
Mr Harrison claims he was hit with the charges after using his mobile to receive banking updates via the internet during two days while on holiday in Austria last December. He claims that he was never told of the potentially high roaming charges for downloading internet data in parts of Europe when he took out the contract with Airtel-Vodafone.
But the phone company claims that all new customers are told of the roaming charges they may face when using the internet while abroad. Airtel-Vodafone said that as well as advising new customers about the charges, they also provide clear guidelines on their website.
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Good job it wasn’t with JT then.
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He might never have been told, but did he read the contract? If it’s in there then tough! Learn a lesson!
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This is ridiculous, how is it possible to run up such an enormous bill without warning,as an absolute minimum the network should alert you long before this happens.
Stick to your guns Mr Harrison and don’t pay it.
Airtel vodafone stand to lose much more than £1600 if they don’t write this off, who would use their services I certainly would not.
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‘Caveat emptor’: Let the buyer beware.
Mr John Harrison, for all his(perceived) business acumen, clearly was not.
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What a non story this is!
Why should this guy be given a break for not paying attention to the small print? A car dealer! Would he accept a car being taken away and used free of charge because the person uning it didn’t realise it was a gas guzzer?
I have traveled all over the world and I carry both an iPhone (notourious for their huge data usage) and a Blackberry and have never had any sort of surprise when I get home from my bill being above what I expected and I even use mine to update GPS devices and traffic maps when in europe!
Both my devices are with different companies and both have different tariffs and I don’t believe ignorance is any excuse for bill dodging!
Just out of interest how many Airtel-Vodafone customers manage to complete this simple task while travelling without running up £1k+ bills?!
It is not just a matter of knowing your tariff and roaming costs but also a matter of understanding how your device works and ensuring that settings are appropriate for your tariff and roaming situation.
It seems this gentleman is operating out of his technoligical depths and perhaps should consider getting himself a simpler phone and a contact number for his bank!
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2. Willie Eckerslike
It is not Airtel-Vodafone that are demanding these charges, they are being used as a proxy by the phone operator in Austria who do not have a roaming agreement with Airtel-Vodafone and thus charge any of their customers through the nose for using their services.
You can find out all the roaming partners of Airtel-Vodafone before you travel and not doing so is your own fault.
It’s like ordering off a wine menu without asking the price, your either going to get stung or you don’t care what the costs are!
Read the contract and if in doubt speak to Airtel-Vodafone, they don’t want this sort of thing happening either, they are only collecting debts on another companies behalf and getting the flak for it also!
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We recently returned from America. We used our WAP for a total of about 15/20 mintues whilst away and we got a lovely bill through for £370 – £300 higher than normal.
However, it is not necessarily the local (Jersey) provider’s fees that are so high. The host provider – in our case it was AT&T – whopped on a huge surcharge and there’s nothing C&W can do about it.
However, as previously warned in the JEP, iPhone users beware – your data download settings need to be carefully configured and switched off – you may think that they are, but they may not be – we’ve been stung twice.
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As we are not considered part of the EU and are classed as INTL. why would he think he wouldn’t pay roaming charges – beggars belief!!!
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My hope is he does not pay these extortionate prices…..this is getting into your wallet by stealth…
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READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Man receives a telephone bill!
How did this make the news!?
If anyone is interested my gas bill was a bit higher than I expected over Chrismas… Hmm, think I’ll turn the thermostat down… or write to the JEP one of the two!
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Lots of sympathy here – not, who the hell reads the samll print on a contract. If the phone is capable of surfing the net it is certainly capable of notifying when running up such a huge bill.
As I’ve come to expect on this forum, no sympathy for anyone over anything – until it happens to you.
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Got to laugh, eh?
Looks like more are deriving pleasure from this story than are offering sympathy.
Surely a businessman can take this on the chin and pass the cost on. Isn’t that how business works?
If the service providers didn’t know that business users can usually cover their expenses they wouldn’t charge so much.
It’s not a lot different from travelling by executive jet and staying in top hotels. It’s a sign that someone has money to burn. Usually not their own.
However, it was very public spirited of Mr Harrison to warn others of the pitfalls of gadget dependance.
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I bought a 2nd hand car,I was informed that it was like new. [ the engine ].it looked good,and drove well.i took it onto the ferry,to England,and it broke down after a week.as a member of the AA,i called them out,i was informed that this was going to cost more than i had paid for the car to have it repaired.the Saleman/owner from this well known garage DID NOT WANT TO KNOW,So tough i say to this car dealer,,,its not nice being ripped off,,,
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Banking updates?
At £3 per MB – the usual rate – that equates to around 553MB. That’s a lot for two days of “banking updates”.
I travel a lot and get a text from my provider when entering a country warning of the charges.
The amount of coverage these issues have had in the media in the past year you’d would need to have been living in a box to not know.
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OAP comment 12 – ” bought a 2nd hand car,I was informed that it was like new. [ the engine ].it looked good,and drove well.i took it onto the ferry,to England,and it broke down after a week.as a member of the AA,i called them out,i was informed that this was going to cost more than i had paid for the car to have it repaired.the Saleman/owner from this well known garage DID NOT WANT TO KNOW,So tough i say to this car dealer,,,its not nice being ripped off,,,”
Assuming we are talking about the same person you imply that he was aware of the fault. I would suggest that as the car ran well enough for a week he may well not have been. As for not wanting to know, I assume that it was not covered by warranty either because the failure fell outside of the terms of the warranty or because the car was so cheap it did not come with a warranty.
As someone else earlier on this thread points out ” buyer beware ” get the car checked pre purchase if at all concerned, car dealers do not scrutinise every car in detail, they don’t have the time or resources.
PS I agree with C Le Verdic – good of Mr Harrison to let people know.
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I don’t care that its in the small print in whatever contract I may or may not sign up to what I would like is for all these unregulated telecommunication businesses to adhere to a duty of care when selling me the product and showing me examples of what can incur these charges plain english please..
another fine example of just how up there with the international market we certainly are not.. the states do it again .. well done morons
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To add how many of these networks rent lines off jersey telecom and rent out to other networks? I smell a big fat loophole that our government has managed to cock up yet again thanks am proud to be Jersey lmao
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Willie Eckerslike – please tell us which local ‘phone company you would use whilst abroad as they ALL charge roaming charges as we are not part of the EU!!!
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Simple really don’t use your phone take your laptop use skype for all calls, 3 months in USA total cost calling Jersey most days £33 pounds don’t let our local companies rip you off, also an added advantage I can use the video link where appropriate then I can see friends as we talk brilliant!! and very very cheap when compared with a phone
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18 Mogit Willie Eckerslike – please tell us which local ‘phone company you would use whilst abroad as they ALL charge roaming charges as we are not part of the EU!!!
Simple I don’t use a local mobile when abroad, I use the UK mobile I bought for £4.99 ( available locally for £50 )thereby not incurring excessing non EU charges.
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I think a lot of people are totally missing the point here.. ip and digital.. and the concept of email ( which is free) sat navs are free to use the gps works via satellite as do networks.. radios.. oh yes ..there is no justification for these charges.. worldsmart homegrown and to add all these competitors rent their forget all these competitors rent their access from telecoms (states owned) their is no regulatory process allowed to operate properly over here technological bs its a rip off end of
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Good news, maybe, anyone know if the linked article below applies to our various mobile providers though?
http://www.itpro.co.uk/620932/mobile-networks-rejig-roaming-ahead-of-eu-cap
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For those travelling I suggest one of these cards to save ££££££££££.
http://www.uk2abroad.com/default.aspx
Unfortunately for me as a visitor to Jersey I found that Channel Isles one of few areas where the service can’t provide a cheaper option.
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@ truthseeker #9
“My hope is he does not pay these extortionate prices…..this is getting into your wallet by stealth…”
The prices are not extortionate, and there is no stealth element.
@ Willie Eckerslike #11
“…who the hell reads the samll print on a contract…”
Those that want to know what they taking responsibility for?
“…If the phone is capable of surfing the net it is certainly capable of notifying when running up such a huge bill…”
I believe the Nokia the person in the picture above is holding is capable of doing exactly this, but the user would need to turn this feature on; and if he’s not the sort of person to read a contract, or a tariff plan, or even be vaguely aware of these sort of charges from the many, many media reports over the years, then he probably didn’t turn this feature on, or bother to check it. To Airtel-Vodafone’s credit they did make the point of contacting him to warn him in under 48hrs, which is pretty good service isn’t it?
@ Vicki #16
“I don’t care…”
Well that’s only your fault Vicki.
“…unregulated telecommunication businesses…”
These businesses are regulated.
“…showing me examples of what can incur these charges plain english please…”
I’ve bought phones several times over the past few years, and never once have I not been made aware of these sorts of charges. Vicki, are you saying that you were unaware using your phone internationally would incur charges?
#17
What on earth are you talking about?
#21
“I think a lot of people are totally missing the point here.. ip and digital.. and the concept of email ( which is free) sat navs are free to use the gps works via satellite as do networks.. radios.. oh yes ..there is no justification for these charges.. worldsmart homegrown and to add all these competitors rent their forget all these competitors rent their access from telecoms (states owned) their is no regulatory process allowed to operate properly over here technological bs its a rip off end of”
Vicki it is you that is missing the point I fear, and muddying the waters with somewhat misleading information.
Email is not free using a data connection.
The vast majority of what you refer to as sat nav services used in mobile phones are not free, you don’t appear to understand how the technology works.
I’m not 100% sure, but I don’t think Airtel-Vodafone take their access through JT’s infrastructure, I think they use the NewTel service.
And there is a regulatory process.
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Vicki, where do you get your facts? You are making sweeping statements but obviously have zero idea of the subject you are talking about.
The mobile operators in Jersey, JT C&W and Airtel all have their own network. There is no sharing or renting of lines between them. The only company that uses another one’s network is Me:Mo, who use Airtel’s.
You are somehow trying to make a story about a guy who runs up a big phonebill (with a company that is not affiliated with the States of Jersey in any way) into a government conspiracy. Are you serious?
This is a non event of a news story. People get hit with bills they don’t expect day in day out. And for someone to claim they didn’t expect to pay charges for roaming is a mixture of ignorance and stupidity. It is common knowledge that when you go away you pay more for your phone than when you are at home.
I hope Airtel force the customer to pay his bill. This has the potential to open a can of worms where everyone is trying to get out of paying their bills.
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Whether or not it interesting enough to be “real news” anyone reading this page won’t be making the same mistake! Easy to say he should have known better but I do feel for the chap a little bit, ouch!!
RB
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24. lots of laughs
25. Really big laughs where do you get yours? You cant glorify common sense or grasping a concept obviously some people do…do you work at telecoms? then tch u should know your facts then..
back to the point anyways.. rip off yes tittle tattle no thanks something done then hell yes why not improve something to stop people getting ripped?
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You heard of this in the news all the time.
I think Mr Harrison was getting more than just Banking updates, most likely watching Eastenders or something else.
A friend of mine did the same and since they were watching tv on there Iphone, they accepted the cost. They wouldn’t do it again.
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Everyone with any experience of travelling and using a mobile knows that roaming charges are very high.
Phoning home to wish a friend happy birthday can cost a few quid so an hours data charges are going to be sky high.
Some telecom services eg broadband in the UK are cheap and even in Jersey the charges are quite reasonable but they are making the money back on things like mobile roaming.
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@ Vicki #27
You’re making even less sense now than your previous posts!
Seriously Vicki I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I really don’t think you do either; and if you believe some of the things you’ve said(or if anybody else does) then you might find yourself with a huge bill at some point, and with nobody to blame but yourself for your own ignorance.
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Read the contract!
If you can’t manage that, then you really shouldn’t be allowed out on your own.
It’s common sense that roaming incurs higher charges, i wonder if he needs to be reminded to eat/breathe/go to sleep when the big bright thing in the sky disappears each night.
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Airtel Vodafone charge £9 per MB in Austria, JT charge £12 per MB.
Unfortunately Mr. Harrison didn’t do his research before going abroad. Airtel Vodafone do not charge the customer for the roaming, the network which they roamed onto charge them through the roaming agreements, Airtel are acting more of a debt collector.
I would find it strange if there were no Wi-fi hotspots anywhere for Mr. Harrison to check his “banking”, which im sure doesn’t add up to that many MB/GB…
Not paying this bill could have been a big mistake sir. I’m sure Airtel Vodafone will enjoy sending him to cashback where he will pay more charges as he doesnt have a single leg to stand on.
Everything is advertised as i can see and when i set up my contract with them i DID read the full terms and conditions and certainly know to turn my data roaming off before going abroad.
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Lay aside what he should have done according to some of the telecom contract professors…..£800-00 a day…..how can that remotely be value or fair…..if he’d been on the flippin phone all day….that type of service is not even vaguely worth those exhorbitant and manifestly excessive amounts….it is not emblazoned across the telecom providers windows in the main street…yet all sorts of other “Come ons ” are. It is real easy to fall foul of small print…why small? ‘Cos they are not keen for you to read it and fall in the trap…entrapment…gaining by stealth… and Mr Tooter Scooter….why don’t you confine yourself to the subjects at hand instead of taking pot shots at other posters all the time….it’s not funny, it’s not clever and quite frankly tedious..as I’m sure others will agree….
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i agree with David that we should all do our research or at least read the manual that comes with your handset but having been in the “business ” many people just take ‘em out the box charge ‘em up put the sim card in and never even look at the manual , even worse with the iphone as it does not come with a manual you have to go online to read what it does , Good luck though John with your bill, this little story may make all the mobile providers make their terms and conditions a bit more “plain english “
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I got charged £40 to check the rugby results last summer from St Malo. I went to Google which then took me to a Sky Sports page and that’s it. That was with JT.
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@ truthseeker #33
“…why don’t you confine yourself to the subjects at hand instead of taking pot shots at other posters all the time…”
Show me where I’ve taken a pot shot at a poster truthseeker, or are you talking about where I’ve corrected or question something that I believe to be false information in what they’re saying?
You claim extortion and stealth, that’s simply not true.
Vicki has made claims that both email and GPS being free, neither of these claims are true when talking about the vast majority of mobile phones, and certainly not true of the model pictured.
To point out these falsehoods is not to take a pot-shot.
If Vicki wants to respond and explain how I could use the SatNav function for free on my phone I’ll listen, if she wants to explain how Jersey’s mobile companies charges are lacking compared to other international operators, or how these charges are the fault of the regulatory body I’ll listen, but she won’t, she can’t, so instead she just takes ‘pot-shots’ as in #27, that don’t even make much sense!?
That’s the trouble with this forum, all to often people make wild inacurate statements, then refuse to back them up; I find that tedious, and you ARE guilty of it truthseeker, show me where I’m guilty of taken a ‘pot-shot’?
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When i’m in the uk i use a 3 mobile sim card .put £15 on it and i get 90 days free mobile internet and a good rate for calls,if i go futher abroad i turn of roaming and wait till im in one of the many wifi hotspots
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Its good to have competition in the teleco market isn’t it?
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“to receive banking updates via the internet”
Even with roaming charges that seems a lot of money for ‘banking updates’. Why not go to an internet cafe to access his accounts or better still – a bank?
I am not with that provider but someone might be able to say how much per hour they charge?
Of course it is entirely up to him what he does on his holidays but I try to relax.
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Willie Eckerslike – You don’t read contracts. Probably tick on the terms and conditions without looking and then moan when something goes wrong. I have a nigerian man who keeps emailing me perhaps I can forward him your details…
This is a non-item as others have said Mr. Harrison a car deal (no comment) didn’t read the contract. I wonder if his sales contracts or policies contain small print….
Get a grip. If you use a phone for two days overseas it is going to cost. Yes he has to pay a lot but I am sure it won’t happen again.
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40 Jersey Bob – “Willie Eckerslike – You don’t read contracts. Probably tick on the terms and conditions without looking and then moan when something goes wrong. I have a nigerian man who keeps emailing me perhaps I can forward him your details…”
Mate only accountants and lawyers read contracts and small print, the rest of us have a life. By all means send your Nigerian friend my details, e mail Willie @ nearlyasthickasalocal.com
“Get a grip. If you use a phone for two days overseas it is going to cost.”
I don’t think anyone disputes that but £1600, that’s taking the proverbial. The real question is what was the cost to the provider and how much is profit.
It seems to me that the main issue here is one of resentment that a businessman and car dealer is trying to make others aware of something that happened to him. I don’t doubt he can afford to pay the bill but it’s the inherantly dishonest principle he objects to.
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36. better things to do than waste my time explaining concepts luvvie.. and no was not talking about mobile phone apps..technology in general.. if you didnt’ get the gist in the first place I am not wasting my time (yawn)
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@ Vicki #42
“…better things to do than waste my time explaining…”
How was I supposed to get the point of your post when it was posted in a thread about a specific issue, and yet you were trying, really badly and almost incoherently, to make a general, and yet still erroneous point.
I don’t doubt you have better things to do with your time than post on a forum such as this, I for one hope that you use your time more wisely as you time spent here is being wasted, as you don’t know what you’re talking about, and or can’t get your point across to others, which is kind of the point of communication. It’s not just your time that your posts waste.
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CLearly this guys shoudl have read his contract. My last trip to Indonesia resulted in leaving the phoen switched off due to the costs of roaming rates there.
Result: No huge bill, because I was not daft and read what I signed up for.
I hope Airtel cancel his mobile phone, and register a credit watch on him for non-payment of bills, therefore affecting his credit rating.
He should not be let off for his own ineptitude.
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Only this week U.K. Govt have warned Telco operators and ring tone providers,as kids sign up for what looks like cheap ringtones only to find…ah small print…that they have a monthly charge and receive text messages which they then have to pay for,,,so it is entrapment.luring kids into getting in debt,yes they are silly to buy them ,but the point is Companies without good governance are exploiting people and are happy to allow them to get into all sorts of trouble,,,it is opportunist and greedy plain and simple,the ads are designed to focus attention on the goodies and ignore the baddies.
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@ truthseeker #45
“…luring kids…”
Did those kids enter into and contract though truthseeker? I think you’ll find that to get any sort of credit account, including a pay monthly mobile phone account they’ll need to be more than 18years old, which is why parents take out the contracts for their kids. Therefore it’s the adults responsibility to read the small print.
It’s really very simple, if you’re going to either use a service, or leave an irresponsible child to use a service know what that service is going to cost you; don’t bleat later that you didn’t think, and want somebody else to pay now.
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Phew. Thank god for governments, eh, truthseeker! Because I like to go through my life safe on the knowledge that no matter what I do or sign there is always going to be someone to help me get out of it! Small print is just the same as big print but… Smaller. Any company that has any hope of being successful is going to advertise the good things only.
Understand that we live in a capitalist state where companies want your money. Would you take a pay cut on moral grounds? What am I saying, most people who comment on here will post yes to that because they are safe in the knowledge it doesn’t have to come back on them. The guy ran up a bog bill. There is no ifs and buts. The same usage would generate the same bill for him, me or the queen. Just pay it and stop trying to use a nanny state to worm your way out of your debts!
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Don’t give kids who don’t understand the value of money a phone that can run up a big bill. That will solve the ringtone problem. Or is it that parents don’t have the ability to say no to a child any more?
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