EE Overseas Answer Machine Charges

sailwan

I was a customer of Orange for about 12 years and when I recently upgraded my phone was told I had to change on to an EE contract but there where no differences simply a name change.

I work overseas a lot but am very careful how I use my phone when I am there; turn off the data, never answer calls as they are generally PPI etc and if its important they will leave a message which I retrieve over my Skype and call back.

So having been away for nearly 3 months I was astounded to find I have been charged over £100 in additional charges (one more bill to arrive). On the bill there were charges of £3.00 (2 x £1.50) at various times. On calling EE and enquiring I have been told these are for answer machine messages and that every time someone calls me and it clicks into my answer machine even for .02 secs I am charged £3.00.

I am disgusted as all of these calls were PPI and similar companies, which meant I was paying for the privilege of them calling me and have no control over it.

To the credit of EE they have on this occasion reaccredited me the charges however this does not help me on my next trip in a couple of weeks time as the only resolution they can offer is to turn my answer machine off whilst away or buy an overseas package to make the privilege of PPI calling me cheaper, and I am know stuck in a 2 year contract with them!!!

I know Orange never charged like this do other companies? Does anyone know of any other way around these charges other than turning of my answer machine off when overseas, which is not an acceptable solution when you are self employed or need to be contacted in emergencies