Vodafone dispute -Debt and mental health

scaredmum

Hi I am new to this site and just wondered if anyone can help me. My son has been in dispute with Vodafone for the last 3 months and after numerous phone calls each time talking to someone different and several letters we are getting nowhere. My son suffers from mental health. He had a contract with Vodafone averaging £50 a month. Then in March he got a bill for £1600 mainly due to gambling and purchasing sites. On mentioning this to his care worker she said it sounded like mania. On further investigation both by myself and his psychiatrist we found that a side affect of medication he had recently been put on is that it reduces peoples ability to control their impulses and causes excessive gambling and shopping. My sons psychiatrist wrote a letter to Vodafone and included documentation to prove this. She also said it is affecting my sons mental health but they don't want to know and insist my son pays this and also the rest of his contract which amounts to £2000. My argument is that yes my son ran up this bill, he also offered to pay them back £30 a week but they insisted on £80 a week which is not feasible. Also why, if this was unusual activity on my sons account, did Vodafone not put a cap on it. Also we have proof that this is down to medication then why will Vodafone take no notice of it. I have written to the financial ombudsman but not received a reply yet. I asked Vodafone to put a hold on the account until we get a reply but they have now referred it to a debt collection agency.My son is self harming due to this and I am so scared that all this worry will cause him to harm himself even more. Please can someone help me.

sourcrates

scaredmum wrote: »

Hi I am new to this site and just wondered if anyone can help me. My son has been in dispute with Vodafone for the last 3 months and after numerous phone calls each time talking to someone different and several letters we are getting nowhere. My son suffers from mental health. He had a contract with Vodafone averaging £50 a month. Then in March he got a bill for £1600 mainly due to gambling and purchasing sites. On mentioning this to his care worker she said it sounded like mania. On further investigation both by myself and his psychiatrist we found that a side affect of medication he had recently been put on is that it reduces peoples ability to control their impulses and causes excessive gambling and shopping. My sons psychiatrist wrote a letter to Vodafone and included documentation to prove this. She also said it is affecting my sons mental health but they don't want to know and insist my son pays this and also the rest of his contract which amounts to £2000. My argument is that yes my son ran up this bill, he also offered to pay them back £30 a week but they insisted on £80 a week which is not feasible. Also why, if this was unusual activity on my sons account, did Vodafone not put a cap on it. Also we have proof that this is down to medication then why will Vodafone take no notice of it. I have written to the financial ombudsman but not received a reply yet. I asked Vodafone to put a hold on the account until we get a reply but they have now referred it to a debt collection agency.My son is self harming due to this and I am so scared that all this worry will cause him to harm himself even more. Please can someone help me.

Hi,


Unsure if the financial ombudsman remit covers mobile phone disputes, I believe they have there own regulator, there's some helpful info here for you :


http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/action/how-to-complain-to-the-ombudsman-about-a-mobile-phone-provider

scaredmum

Thanks for your reply. I made a mistake. It was the ombudsman that covers mobile phone companies and not the financial ombudsman I wrote to. Have spoken to the debt collection agency today and they have agreed to put a hold on the account until we get a reply.

sourcrates

scaredmum wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. I made a mistake. It was the ombudsman that covers mobile phone companies and not the financial ombudsman I wrote to. Have spoken to the debt collection agency today and they have agreed to put a hold on the account until we get a reply.

Ah right, I see, hopefully you will have a positive outcome.:)

scaredmum

Thank you.