Unlimited Texts - False Advertisement?

Shiplee15

I have a Vodafone contract on iPhone 4 which include unlimited texts.

I received my bill a couple of months ago and found it was in excess of 3 times my bill cost. After many phone calls, many explanations, i was told i'd "gone over my text limit" of 3000 texts.

I checked the paperwork i got with the contract and all that said was it was to do with fair usage policy. When i searched this on google it said nothing. It took me having to search "Vodafone, 3000 texts fair usage" to actually find the page where it explained it.

On said page it stated that i would get a text when i was nearing the limit which i never received. This was palmed off by the staff by saying "Well you have the app to check".. But i don't have time to check my app all the time, and it never said that on the page but it stated that "you WILL receive a text..."

Is selling it as "Unlimited" false advertisement?

Thanks

DUTR

Shiplee15 wrote: »

I have a Vodafone contract on iPhone 4 which include unlimited texts.

I received my bill a couple of months ago and found it was in excess of 3 times my bill cost. After many phone calls, many explanations, i was told i'd "gone over my text limit" of 3000 texts.

I checked the paperwork i got with the contract and all that said was it was to do with fair usage policy. When i searched this on google it said nothing. It took me having to search "Vodafone, 3000 texts fair usage" to actually find the page where it explained it.

On said page it stated that i would get a text when i was nearing the limit which i never received. This was palmed off by the staff by saying "Well you have the app to check".. But i don't have time to check my app all the time, and it never said that on the page but it stated that "you WILL receive a text..."

Is selling it as "Unlimited" false advertisement?

Thanks

You sound a little like my youngest brother, it takes no time to check the balance via an app, as far as I know all the networks operate via a fair use policy.
I appreciate everybody's usage is different but 3000 texts is going some.
If you deem it unfair or false advertising, you perhaps could levy a case against the network provider?

grumbler

Unfortunately, mobile companies have their own understanding of perfectly unambiguous word "unlimited".

Even more unfortunate is that the regulator, ASA, either failed their English exams too or are far too spineless to teach a lesson of correct English to the companies.

Some similar threads:
Vodafone, when unlimited texts arent actually unlimited and charging me £157 !

Network providers definition of "Unlimited" or "All You Can Eat" Data???

balletshoes

I know this is a very flippant comment , but you don't have time to check an app for usage, yet you have time to send over 100 texts a day?

custardy

I never understand why they dont just say 3000 texts
for most its more than enough

if we take a 31 day month
say 8 hours for sleeping
that leaves 16 hours a day.
29760 minutes
so an average of a text every 10 minutes of the month
now as for not having time to check the app. well the phone must be in your hand a hell of a lot of the month to clock up 3K+ tests
I use facebook messenger for my texts. so you dont need to sms those on your FB

Shiplee15

Yea ok, i didn't reread before i posted! Rookie error that one! The app says can things take upto 72 hours to go on.. I can't count every text....

DUTR

Shiplee15 wrote: »

Yea ok, i didn't reread before i posted! Rookie error that one! The app says can things take upto 72 hours to go on.. I can't count every text....

It can take up to 72 hrs, but more often than not, it is real time updates, and even so, checking 1st thing in the morning will give you a good idea of how much balance you have left.

balletshoes

Shiplee15 wrote: »

Yea ok, i didn't reread before i posted! Rookie error that one! The app says can things take upto 72 hours to go on.. I can't count every text....

okay, so now you know you're not supposed to go over 3000 texts on your existing tariff. How many texts did you actually send to get a bill 3 times what you were expecting?

So, practicalities now. Can you use whatsapp or another free messaging service to contact the people you are texting the most from now on? If you have free data included in your tariff, as custardy suggests maybe use fb messenger instead for your contacts who are on fb.

Although your mobile provider may say it can take up to 72 hours to update all your usage, I check usage on 3 mobile phones regularly, one T-mobile, one Orange, and one Talkmobile, and they all update daily with no problems usually.

Shiplee15

Ok, thanks all

Still think it's false advertisement but some good ideas so ta

simax

If you move to a new Vodafone plan, the texts will be truly unlimited with no fair use policy. You have an old plan there.

MillicentBystander

Whilst i agree that sending over 3000 texts in a calendar month is, to me, crazy (but maybe some of the things I choose to do others would think crazy lol), the real point here is there really is no excuse for describing something as unlimited when there is indeed A LIMIT on it. I really don't know how the mobile companies get away with it.