£1500 Phonebill.... HELP :(

tinkerbell120506

My mother is on this forum and she goes on and on about it so I thought I'd give it a go...

I lost a contract phone (Orange) and stupidly kept forgetting to cancel the contract. had infact been calling every day and it appeared to be barred. Anyway, the outcome was it had been picked up by somebody, incoming calls barred, and used... calls to Algeria etc, data messages the lot. Racking up a pretty hefty £1500! I called Orange and they had cancelled it 10 days after the date I claimed to have lost it, stating they believed calls being made were suspicious...

Why did it take them so long to cancel seeing as the first call to Algeria for approx 3 hours was made only a few hours after I'd lost it? Because thet wanted my money thats why...

Metropolitan Police were informed and I have a crime reference number but they say there's nothing they can do due to lack of evidence (hard to understand as there are landline numbers so friends/family/etc of the thief could be traced) Orange are now demanding that I pay this amount. I'm already in debt with the CCCS, this is only going to worsen my financial situation.

Would appreciate any tips/hints on complaint letters or anyway at all of getting out of paying. My fault for not cancelling I know but sympathy please...

Thanks.

cybergibbons

tinkerbell120506 wrote: »

Why did it take them so long to cancel seeing as the first call to Algeria for approx 3 hours was made only a few hours after I'd lost it? Because thet wanted my money thats why...

I'd be annoyed if they cut off my phone the first time I tried calling another country.

I'd have to say the opposite of what I've quoted above makes more sense - why did it take you so long to cancel it? You knew it was missing, and it's normally only a quick phone call...

I think you're just going to need to try your hardest to convince them that you didn't make the calls and the phone was stolen.

gjchester

tinkerbell120506 wrote: »

My mother is on this forum and she goes on and on about it so I thought I'd give it a go...

I lost a contract phone (Orange) and stupidly kept forgetting to cancel the contract. had infact been calling every day and it appeared to be barred.

You are liable for the cost of calls until the phone is reported stolen so to some extent you are the one at fault.

I'm guessing the phone was not locked with a passcode / pin.

Look at it from Oranges point of view, how do they know you didn't make the calls as the phone was not reported stolen. It could be you trying to avoid paying for calls you have made. If it had been you making the calls, (say a family emergency in Algeria) you'd NOT want that phone barred, you''d make the calls and work out the issues later.

Guys_Dad

tinkerbell120506 wrote: »

.

I lost a contract phone (Orange) and stupidly kept forgetting to cancel the contract. .

That's the key to your current dilemma and you do acknowledge this. The law is clear - you are liable for all calls made until the network are informed or their internal fraud department pick up the misuse and bar it.

So you need to work from this point. No use complaining about the network to them or anyone else. You should have acted sooner and didn't.

OK - lecture over. So what you need to do is throw yourself on the network's mercy and accept that the huge bill is due to your own tardiness after the phone was stolen. If you are polite and make a good case presenting them with the facts, they do have reputations for some goodwill, but remember that some of the charges will have come from the Algerian/overseas network to Orange and Orange can't be expected to bear a loss on this.

If you get a 50% goodwill reduction you will be doing well.

maxtweenie

The problem is that it's in the T&C's of your contract with Orange to report the loss as soon as possible or you will be liable for any subsequent calls that were made. How were Orange to know that it wasn't you making the calls unless you told them? I think you're going to have to put everything in writing to them, including the crime reference details, and appeal to their better nature. Don't mention anything about 'getting out of paying' though, as that sounds like you simply don't want to pay.

vigilaire

For a bit of 'remote control justice' ring all the Algerian numbers your phone called repeatedly at anti social hours. Don't make a regular pattern so they can't 'expect you' at the other end. Won't get your £1500 back but should give some satisfaction.

mrcamp

Ouch! Like others said, try talking to the carrier and see if they work out a payment plan with you, an if they can cut the bill a little.

timberflake

Very little sympathy for you on this I'm afraid. You kept "forgetting" to cancel it. How could you forget to cancel it knowing full well it could be in someone elses possesion racking up a bill in your name!!?

You are liable for any charges on the phone until such time as you report it lost/stolen to your mobile operator. There is no room to wriggle out of it, you should have contacted them the moment you realised it was lost.

KimYeovil

Start saving your pennies. You have a large bill to pay.

zartub

KimYeovil wrote: »

Start saving your pennies. You have a large bill to pay.

YET AGAIN MORE HELPFUL & GOOD COMMENTS FROM GOOD OLD KIM FROM YEOVIL ( NOT )

Jon_01

tinkerbell120506 wrote: »

Why did it take them so long to cancel seeing as the first call to Algeria for approx 3 hours was made only a few hours after I'd lost it? Because they wanted my money that's why...

Thanks.

Do you really think the network have people sitting there watching the activity on your acc ?

Orange have something like 14,000,000 live acc's, they (or any other network) have never offered to police your acc for you. The phone's yours, all you have to do is keep track of it or call them as soon as you lose it. It's not that hard. . .