HELP! Received huge bill for going over data allowance - TALK TALK

thebogbrush

Hello,

I have a tablet with TALKTALK which was purchased online through Carphone Warehouse over a year ago.

A few weeks ago, I was disconnected from using the internet on the tablet. After phoning up they said that we had gone over our data allowance and had a bill for around £250. They then said that it was a mistake and cleared the balance. And then everything was fine.

Now today, I received a paper bill through my door saying that I must now pay this bill, after phoning up TALKTALK they have said that I must pay this bill as we did go over our data allowance and that everything was explained in the small print when the contract was signed.

Is there anything I can do to avoid paying this bill. I cannot afford to pay it that's for sure.

Hope someone can give me some good advice :mad:

Thanks,
Danny

Aldridge_Andy

How did you go over a 40GB limit with just a tablet?

Were you streaming video day in day out? If you have not done a load of video streaming then I'd question your usage.

Can you check your data usage on your tablet to see how it compares to your usage on TalkTalks website?

thebogbrush

I think I had just 2 or 3gb of data allowance

I am not sure how this has happened as the tablet should by default connect to our wifi, so not sure what has happened...

The kids watch Netflix on there but like I said, it should have been using data from our wifi and not the tablet.

I will have to check that, we have a Motorola Xoom and I think you can check the data usage on that.

bod1467

There should be a setting to default to wifi if an approved (known) network is available. You've probably had it set to always use 3G data.

thebogbrush

ah damn! its never happened before as well...

so there's not much i can do...

i will try and speak to someone more senior and see what they can do. i used to be a mobile phone salesman for t-mobile and we had similar stuff go on where i worked and sometimes there were alternative solutions

thebogbrush

i have given them another call and they charge 10p per mb you go over...so i went over 2.3gb and received a bill for £230

that is outrageous...i can't believe they can justify that amount of money, it's a rip off

we have always connected via wifi and for some reason during that period, the tablet was connecting to 3g rather than wifi, hence the data usage. they can see that no data has ever been used prior to this incident but said the only thing we can do is to send it to carphone warehouse for repair and get it checked out. But I have since done a software update since then, and it seems fine. So am a bit worried that it will come back fine.

Is there any organisation I can go to? Ofcom? Watchdog etc? I will happily pay for the data I have used but not at a cost they charge

macman

It may well be an outrageous fee, but you agreed the T&C's when you contracted for the service, and failed to monitor how it was used by your kids.
What possible interest would the regulator have?

Enterprise_1701C

I would also suggest you check your router - our tabs and phones weren't connecting to wifi a short while ago, we reset the router and they started defaulting to it again.

Unfortunately you are unlike to get out of paying the bill as it is quite legitimate, but it might be a good idea to remove your sim when you are at home from now on.

CraigMarwick

Hi I had a similar problem with Vodafone recently where they charged me £975 (by direct debit) for exceeding my data allowance (2GB) on my Samsung Galaxy tab. My daughter was using it occasionally on 3G, but I have been fighting with Vodafone since to say this is unfair and they wont budge.
My argument is how can they justify charging me for an extra 80GB of data when after I checked the tab there were only about 8 texts to warn me I had exceeded my allowance and I would be charged for an extra GB, which is about £12. So I would expect to pay £100 for the extra 8GB.
I feel extremely ripped off as a customer, am I screwed or is there anything I can do?

Vodafone

Hi CraigMarwick,

I can appreciate how shocking it can be to receive a bill like that.

I'm afraid if the charges are correct due to the usage from the device, there wouldn't be a great deal we could do. You are able to monitor and manage the usage online through My Account, via the mobile My Vodafone app and by dialling 44555.

If you believe that we have charged incorrectly, get in touch with me via the details here with WRT135 FAO Heidi in the subject and include a link to your post and a contact number. I will then get in touch to discuss it further.

Many thanks,

Heidi
Web Relations Team
Vodafone UK

visidigi

CraigMarwick wrote: »

Hi I had a similar problem with Vodafone recently where they charged me £975 (by direct debit) for exceeding my data allowance (2GB) on my Samsung Galaxy tab. My daughter was using it occasionally on 3G, but I have been fighting with Vodafone since to say this is unfair and they wont budge.
My argument is how can they justify charging me for an extra 80GB of data when after I checked the tab there were only about 8 texts to warn me I had exceeded my allowance and I would be charged for an extra GB, which is about £12. So I would expect to pay £100 for the extra 8GB.
I feel extremely ripped off as a customer, am I screwed or is there anything I can do?

They justify it by warning you, 8 times. Sorry but I can't see how you can dispute they are entitled to charge you inline with the contract you agreed to.