My Vodafone

AndrewDufresne

Being someone who is not brilliant with phones tariffs etc, I have learnt the hard way how much of an innocent abroad I am.

Or lamb to the slaughter.

I buy my phones outright from Apple as I worked out that this would be much cheaper than buying any device from Vodafone .managed to work that out a few years back.

Anyway ,for a few years ,I have had a SIM only arrangement with Vodafone ,and decided that the £12 ,yes £12 tariff would be more than enough for me.After a few weeks I also added Safari web browsing for £5 pound a month.
So I thought it was safe to assume my monthly bill would be around £25 max.

Stupidly ,and assuming this,I very rarely checked my online bills .
But someone more observant than me has pointed out that Vodafone are actually helping themselves to an average of £70 per month.

I couldn't believe it.
Novembers bill was £ 90.
£33 of that was for ONE phone call to 118118. (SCANDALOUS).but that's another matter.

When ,after 10 minutes ,I got through to an operator , I was informed that the rest of the monthly charges were "data usage."
If I actually used the Internet ,apps,downloads etc.this would perhaps be understandable.but I don't.I send the occasional email.(maybe 1 a week)
The Safari browser never works .probly due to the poor network coverage where I live.ditto with Apps.they just don't begin to download.

Very not impressed.Feel totally and utterly shafted.

To get anything like a decent contract with Vodafone,or other providers ,it seems you have to be totally street savvy ,and play hardball.
The two guys I worked with yesterday ,pay 15 a month and get UNLIMITED everything.
Me.say no more.
Thank you for listening

Atasas

Not consoling, just have browse around
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5286730
You could be paying £6.00 pm...

mobilejunkie

If you checked your phone you should be able to see how much data you're using. Smartphones do clock up a lot of use in the background - you may not check or be aware of it, but any network will be and charge accordingly. First things when using a new phone/contract; set up security pins on both the sim and phone, set up and monitor data/minutes use. Otherwise, stand back and wait for the bill...

diamonds

iphones, the major data background usage of all the mobile OS

DCFC79

Id look at moving to a network that will cap your contract so no surprises so Tesco Mobile maybe.

grumbler

AndrewDufresne wrote: »

I buy my phones outright from Apple

So, it's not your first smartphone, but you still don't know that they use mobile data without asking you and need correct setting to stop/minimise this?

After a few weeks I also added Safari web browsing for £5 pound a month.

What is this? I am just curious as I've never heard of a browser-specific add-on.

DCFC79 wrote: »

Id look at moving to a network that will cap your contract so no surprises so Tesco Mobile maybe.

I'd look at changing the settings in the first place. What's the point in having a capped contract if every month at some point you get unable to make calls, send texts and use data?

WellKnownSid

AndrewDufresne wrote: »

Anyway ,for a few years ,I have had a SIM only arrangement with Vodafone ,and decided that the £12 ,yes £12 tariff would be more than enough for me.After a few weeks I also added Safari web browsing for £5 pound a month.
So I thought it was safe to assume my monthly bill would be around £25 max.

Why would you assume that? What tariff are you on, exactly? How much data is included?

AndrewDufresne wrote: »

Novembers bill was £ 90.
£33 of that was for ONE phone call to 118118. (SCANDALOUS).but that's another matter.

Erm... Come on now, nobody uses 118118 to call a number, SURELY?

AndrewDufresne wrote: »

If I actually used the Internet ,apps,downloads etc.

AndrewDufresne wrote: »

Apps.they just don't begin to download.

So... you are trying to download apps?

AndrewDufresne wrote: »

Very not impressed.Feel totally and utterly shafted.

To get anything like a decent contract with Vodafone,or other providers ,it seems you have to be totally street savvy ,and play hardball.
The two guys I worked with yesterday ,pay 15 a month and get UNLIMITED everything.

Firstly they won't get unlimited everything - I can guarantee it.

There is no such thing as unlimited calls. There is no such thing as unlimited texts. There is no such thing as unlimited data.

Why don't you move to a different provider? If you've had the SIM only arrangement for a few years then surely you just need to cancel and move on? Part of your problem could be that you're on a tariff which was really good value... when you chose it a few years back. Things change...

But as I say - don't expect to change to an 'unlimited everything' and expect it to mean 'everything is free'. Or you'll end up with a £200 bill the next time you call 118 118.

grumbler

WellKnownSid wrote: »

So... you are trying to download apps?

Absolutely. Downloading over mobile data connection is a recipe for a huge bill.
Combined with poor signal it's a recipe for disaster.