Massive orange phone bill - X factor votes!!

Essex-girl_2

Hi

Dont normally post on this board but after some specific advice. Received my orange phone bill yesterday which was 4 times the normal amount :eek: after going though it there were pages for my DD's phone (on same a.c) to a prem rate number - literally hundreds. I went though the roof and obivously spoke to her - basically 3 weekends ago she voted on the X factor voting line - & she has done each saturday since - she knew it was cost about 50p and would pay me back, she denies ringing more than those times. I telephoned orange who advised that the calls were made using redial as they were only made when the voting lines were open (I really dont know dont watch it)

Now after going through it there are definate times over the last few weekends when she definately couldnt have made the calls - eg we were at specific events. I have checked online and hundreds of calls went though this weekend too. Orange have not put a premium number block on this phone but I have another large bill to look forward to next month.

I know some teenagers can run up large bills but my DD has had this contract phone for over 2 years and has never been out of order before.

Ofcom have suggested I write to Orange to ask them to look into this further which I am about to do but just wondered if anyone had experienced the same thing or if there is any general advice out there?

redux

I've never dialled any of these things, so I'm speculating

I don't know if there is normally an announcement that says your call has been counted, but if things get too busy the call might be rejected, then maybe the network somehow charges that call anyway, and the caller thinks the call failed so tries again.

It is a feature of some call forwarding systems that they answer almost instantly, and are already forwarding and metering the call while you listen to a slightly different ringing tone, same as in a call centre system where you pay from the start of the call, not when you reach the extension you want.

But your daughter will know if it sounded like that and she re-tried. And does the phone have a call log you can check for say 5 second calls?

Are all the calls on the bill the same length, or are most only long enough they could represent listening to an apparently unanswered ringing tone and giving up?

It wouldn't be beyond some of these number operators to have some malpractice or glitches, but you'd have thought that with problems in the last couple of years things would have been tightened up a lot, so I'd be surprised, but if it is something like that I hope Orange would look at it favourably. And if it is, I think we'd soon hear about it in the news ...

I'm not being that helpful, am I, just waffling a bit

redux

p.s it can't just be accidentally redialling the last number, the phone in a pocket with the key lock off?

Essex-girl_2

No Redux - I am the queen of waffle lol thanks for your reply.

All the calls are for the same amount of time literally just seconds apart. Have been looking online to see if anyone has had the same problem but nothing at the moment. The only time it wasnt ringing the number was when she had her phone turned off in the cinema. Apart from that its pretty constant including times when she has been with us without the phone iykwim.

Aaahh just another thing sent to test me - if it comes in 3's ive got 1 more shock to come lol.

Thanks again.

Essex-girl_2

redux wrote: »

p.s it can't just be accidentally redialling the last number, the phone in a pocket with the key lock off?

That is the only other explanation though it doesnt happen any other time just when the X factor voting lines are apparantly open. Also it has happened each weekend this month

Edited to add - actually it starts at 7am in the mornings (each weekend) so it is on before the voting though your vote wont be counted etc etc

miamoo

I had a problem with o2 a few years ago, came home from mexico to a massive phone bill, I rang them and asked for an itemised bill which they sent and apparently I had made hundreds of phone calls when I was in Mexico! only problem was I didnt take my phone, it was at home locked in the house! after months of arguing they agreed to forget the bill, but it took months and was really stressful.
They do make mistakes sometimes, but they hate to admit it!

Essex-girl_2

Thanks Miamoo

Will send off letter to orange today - probably will take ages for a reply but ofcom have given me another number to phone if orange dont help.