Massive Orange bill £800

Techhead_2

grumbler wrote: »

Why on earth would they block the incoming calls if they get paid for this by the other side? It's like PAYG with zero balance. You can keep receiving the calls forever.

See d123's reply. Plus, there are minimum usage requirements for PAYG. You can't keep receiving calls forever.
Remember that there are costs incurred even if you don't make (or are blocked from making) any outgoing usage.

grumbler

I guess incoming calls do count as usage because the provider gets their share from other networks.
Anyway, my PAYG remains alive for more than a year with zero balance and very few incoming calls.

d123

grumbler wrote: »

I guess incoming calls do count as usage because the provider gets their share from other networks.
Anyway, my PAYG remains alive for more than a year with zero balance and very few incoming calls.

Are you possibly on Virgin?

Of the big 5 they are the most flexible. Some will cut a line after 6 months on non-chargeable action (outgoing call or SMS, data use or top up). Incoming don't count towards chargeable actions (obviously).

And in the OP's case, as long as incoming calls are still allowed, line rental will be charged by the Network.

moneymeltdown

thankyou everyone for taking the time to read and reply to my post!

I called Orange back last week and spoke to a really really understanding person there - the total opposite of the first person who I spoke to - he took into account all of the many years of monthly payments I had made (always on time) and the fact that this unusually high bill was a result of a one-off situation.

Admittedly,I had to make a large payment towards the outstanding bill this month which is going to make March a bit of a struggle but at least the phone won't be barred good news for a change!

TwistedPsycho

Maybe it is worth writing a very polite letter to Orange, pointing out the "exceptional politeness" of the second call agent (mentioning but not lingering on the fact that this was the second time you have called in relation to this specific issue) and saying that he took great care considering that this high bill has a lot to do with a very close berevement, etc, etc.

Then asking if they will accept a payment plan that you suggest based on what you can afford, pointing out just how rarely you do have this issue.

It might be worth a shot.

moneymeltdown

TwistedPsycho wrote: »

Maybe it is worth writing a very polite letter to Orange, pointing out the "exceptional politeness" of the second call agent (mentioning but not lingering on the fact that this was the second time you have called in relation to this specific issue) and saying that he took great care considering that this high bill has a lot to do with a very close berevement, etc, etc.

Then asking if they will accept a payment plan that you suggest based on what you can afford, pointing out just how rarely you do have this issue.

It might be worth a shot.

Thankyou for the suggestion - great idea! I will try this as paying off a large chunk of it this month is already causing problems with managing my other bills!