Orange Roaming Charge

FantasticMrFox

So I went away a few weeks ago, rang Orange to allow them to activate my phone for overseas usage. Anyway I check my bank account today, overdrawn due to orange taking a direct debit for just under 340.00 (my usual bill is 26).

I ring Orange, and they tell me because I've left roaming on its charged me 240.00. I don't even know what roaming is! I explain this but get informed that because they can see I have a smart phone then roaming is automatically on and it is my fault. Again I state the fact I still don't know what roaming is and surely if they can see what phone i've got then they should of advised me of the potential cost. I get 40.00 refunded but only as credit on my phone account, so I'm still 200.00 (taking off the 100.00 I've spent on calls and texts).

Has anyone been in a similar situation, or advise me on the next step.

Thanks

Jon_01

You asked them to 'to activate my phone for overseas usage' that's what roaming is.

You phone's been using data since you want away with it on a local network where you where, that's why you've now got a bill for 240.00.

You asked for the service to be enabled, for that there's a charge when your phone's used.

grumbler

FantasticMrFox wrote: »

So I went away a few weeks ago, rang Orange to allow them to activate my phone for overseas usage.... I still don't know what roaming

overseas usage = roaming

Roaming - Wikipedia

Vodafone warning - just one of dozens similar threads here.

FantasticMrFox

they said that wasn't the charge - they said roaming was like internet usage. So say I had facebook on my phone, I was getting charged for having that "running" even though I wasnt actually using it.

The 100.00 i got charged for calls and texts I fully accept and have no issue paying just this 240.00 that i didnt even get informed i was being charged

Jon_01

Roaming means using you're phone outside the UK. You will be roaming on a none UK network. It applies to calling, texts and data.

If you've a smartphone it's on the internet all the time whether you tell it to or not. To stop it you need to go into the setting and switch some of its features off.

mrcamp

Your facebook and whatever other apps you have were updating in the background while you were out of the country. You should have disabled data usage if you did not want to use it.

FantasticMrFox

mrcamp wrote: »

Your facebook and whatever other apps you have were updating in the background while you were out of the country. You should have disabled data usage if you did not want to use it.

I understand that now. I rang Orange prior to going asking to activate my phone, I asked "will i get charged for anything other than calls and texts?" the advisor told me said "no". Surely since they can see that I have a blackberry he should of told me i could incur these additional fees.

I even specifically asked him would I get charged if either I used or someone sent me a message on blackberry messenger and he said no. Now i find out that even if someone changed their BBM status then i got charged as data download! Thats why i feel i've been conned because everything i asked the first advisor has turned out to be untrue.

So not only have I been overcharged by Orange, its taken by bank account overdrawn - obviously more charges!

grumbler

If you are sure that this was exactly what you asked and what the adviser replied, then complain and demand a refund.
However, it is hard to believe that a BB user actively using BB messenger expected not to be charged for being connected to the internet abroad.

Jon_01

I'm forced to say that I don't think you were over changed.

You asked for a service, they gave it to you, and now you've been charged for it.

FantasticMrFox

Jon_01 wrote: »

I'm forced to say that I don't think you were over changed.

You asked for a service, they gave it to you, and now you've been charged for it.

I asked will I be able to call and text - yes and i did do this

I never asked to use the internet or use any facilities and I never used them while I was there. If i had used them then I would have no issue in paying but I didn't use them and got told specifically that it wouldn't charge me.