£9500 phone bill! Can anyone help?

eranou

The SIM you were originaly provided with would have had a unique number known as the IMSI number.

Every phone also has a unique serial number known as an IMEI

When you make a call the network records the IMSI number that the call came from and the IMEI number of the phone. they also record which cell site the call came from.

I would write/email back asking them to prove the calls originated from your SIM by providing the above records.

It may also be worth your while making a data subject access where you can obtain all the information that they hold about you this would also detail all the notes held on your account but bear in mind they can charge up to £10 for this.

pinkshoes

Have you actually contacted the police to report the fraud??

Have you been to speak to someone at CAB for advice?

By giving in to Orange, you need to be careful as otherwise it will look as guilt and admission!

All mobile phones can be tracked to the nearest available cell at the time of making the call, so it's quite easy to locate a rough area/street a call was made from.

You should be fighting this rather than rolling over!

(although I have to say, I think you're a muppet taking on a second contract just to get a new phone, and I see why you ended up in so much debt originally!)

marcuswarren71

Thanks for the compliment pink shoes. I actually got into so much debt originally due to a messy divorce, and my insistance on paying the mortgage and bills on the former marital home so as to provide a safe, stable environment for my son.In the last 5 years I have cut my debt in half without any new credit.
What gave you the impression I was going to give in? I have no intention of paying, hence trying to get watchdog and CISAS involved.

pinkshoes

marcuswarren71 wrote: »

What gave you the impression I was going to give in?

Well, it was probably the following two statements, which made it sound like you were telling them your financial position as you wish to pay the debt (but can't).

marcuswarren71 wrote: »

I have replied again stating my financial position and the fact that I am on a DMP with the CCCS, all of my surplus income goes to them.

marcuswarren71 wrote: »

I don't like the threat of debt collectors though, it's a cheap shot, how much will they sell that debt for?

You need to be careful how you phrase things when it comes to debt, as they may have also read it as acceptance of the debt.

I'm a blunt person, but regardless how you got into debt, I still think it was crazy to take out a second phone contract just to get a mobile phone!!

Did you report the fraud to the police?

marcuswarren71

I haven't reported it to the police, mainly because, naively, I really didn't think Orange would chase it, when it was obvious that I wasn't responsible for the calls. i've struggled to find any hard and fast information on what will happen, going through ofcom and cicas, it appears that even if I had a credit limit on the account, I would still be liable for the full amount. My best hope appears to be pressure from an external source getting them to right it off or reduce the amount as a goodwill gesture. At the end of the day, if it goes to court, I can't pay it, what's the judge going to do? Jail me?

wealdroam

OP, four times in this thread you have been advised to report this issue to the police.

At last you have responded by saying you "didn't think Orange would chase it".

From your original post it should've been clear that Orange were serious.

Please, report this to the police as soon as you can.
It will add credibility to your cause.

Otherwise, it could just be possible for someone, maybe Orange, to come to the conclusion that there is something you are trying to hide.

Apples2

marcuswarren71 wrote: »

You would think that they would never have given me a second contract, given that I was on the DMP when I applied for it, and if they did, they would have put a credit limit on it?

After reading all through this post, this is the point where you totally lost my sympathy... so it's all someone elses fault for being stupid and giving you what you asked for??