Exceeding monthly call allowances

ZhugeEX

!!!!!!.

Some people are just so dumb it's unreal.

Yes OP i'm referring to you.

oldharryrocks

steeve26 wrote: »

This resulted in extra penalty charges of £77 being charged to my account. While I am happy with the principle of paying a penalty fee I feel that the penalty charges levied were excessive.

I dont where you have plucked the idea from that your incurring a penalty. All they are doing is charging you for calls that you have made outside your inclusive minutes. This normally happens.

Buzby

I always check my inclusive amounts weekly (or when getting close, daily) to ensure when I get to paying more than I should, there are no surprises. I do this to prevent the situation you complain of.

Since 80% of users get nowhere near using up their allowance - they lose out too, but of the money they paid out but did not use. You at lease got full benefit of it!

Suggest you keep an eye on the allowances like many folk do - its the only way to prevent bill shock.

redux

In future, if you foresee you're likely to exceed your inclusive minutes, take measures to make those extra calls by other means

For instance a separate SIM with lower tariffs, or callback or VoIP calls from separate provider(s)

simax

I agree.

Ignorance is NOT an excuse.

eschaton

steeve26 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I have a montly mobile phone contract with a 'top' mobile phone provider.

Last month I exceeded my monthly call allowance for the first time ever and incurred an extra cost of 35p a minute. This resulted in extra penalty charges of £77 being charged to my account. While I am happy with the principle of paying a penalty fee I feel that the penalty charges levied were excessive.

I have had no help with the mobile phone provider's call centre and have been told that I should know what's in the 'small print'.

I have been told to read the 'small print' which merely states that "exceeding monthly call allowances on 'standard UK landlines' for '01, 02,03 numbers' will incur and additional charge of 35p a minute".

Many of the numbers I phoned, for which I incurred the excess charge,have mostly started with '01,02 or 03.'

I feel that the 'Terms and Conditions' are not specific enough and should detail EXACTLY the FULL dialling codes for which I should be charged a penalty fee. Is it enough for the mobile phone company to get away with T's and C's that lack any detail?

All I'm trying to say is that i do not feel that the penalty of five times greater than my monthly direct debit is not proportionate.

Could I take this matter to a small claims court or am I wasting my time?

Definitely take it to the small claims court - these charges are disgraceful.

Don't just claim for the £77 less a more realistic £1.50 penalty charge leaving £75.50 to claim for - add on at least £200 compo for all the distress and worry this has caused you.

Also ask for a full page apology notice in EVERY daily newspaper. Maybe also consider a slot on BBC News as well.

Don't let them get away with it and make a stand.

Good luck!!!!!

Stuart_W

Run-on rates after inclusive minutes have been used are reasonably easy to find if you look for them. Some networks - such as Virgin for example - charge MORE than the 35p/min you're being charged (Virgin charge 40p/min), Vodafone, Orange, T-mobile, o2 and Virgin all charge around the 30p-40p region now for out-of-bundle charges.

You may get a "good will" discount (although unlikely) but that's about it.

If your usage is likely to be variable in the future, you may prefer either a larger bundle (unlimited minutes texts and data for £20 a month for example) or if the principle of "fairness" in charging is important to you, you may prefer to move to 3's PAYG tariff which simply charges 3p per minute 2p per text and 1p per MB.

silverwhistle

Thanks for reminding me to check my figures for this month - I'm perilously close to the limit so will have to use my newly installed landline...

want_to_save

if it is a smartphone there are plenty of free apps that you can get that can monitor your data/call useage or use the app from the contract provider...

Cycrow

eschaton wrote: »

Definitely take it to the small claims court - these charges are disgraceful.

Don't just claim for the £77 less a more realistic £1.50 penalty charge leaving £75.50 to claim for - add on at least £200 compo for all the distress and worry this has caused you.

Also ask for a full page apology notice in EVERY daily newspaper. Maybe also consider a slot on BBC News as well.

Don't let them get away with it and make a stand.

Good luck!!!!!

how is £1.50 more realistic ?
I Think you might be misunderstanding the "penalty" charges.

It was just standard usage charges.

Or shouldn't phone companies be allowed to charge based on usage now?