Work Phone bill - £2400!!!

CakeCrusader

It is what it is, it also appears to have been an appropriate plan until the OP messed up with their SIM card.

Blatchford

Ignoring the plainly ridiculous stuff - and I hope the poster is rational enough to understand which that is - it seems to me that the poster can look at this as two options.

Option one ... Oops, I've been really stupid and run up a horrendous data bill on my employers account which I owe back, and I need too come to some sort of arrangement, or

Option two... I have committed theft because I ran up a huge bill on my employers account without permission, and I intend to permanently deprive them of that money.

I think I know which I'd be going for, especially since (a) it is easy to prove you ran up a huge bill that you have no intention of paying and (b) you don't have a job yet and I assume you'd like a reference and a clean criminal record?

Discussing how reasonable data charges are or aren't is irrelevant - the employer did not authorise this personal use and it's up to them what they pay for business use. And discussing how they "can't" get the money back is also irrelevant, because not only can they get it back, they could easily do a lot worse.

buglawton

The negligence here is that the employer didn't set a monthly spending limit and also indulged in a tardy billing system. Companies that have multiple contracts are seen as gold dust by mobile networks and such business customers do indeed have strong negotiating power. Have they even tried using it in this case? Negotiating has a good possibility of success especially if there was no de facto loss to the mobile carrier. I'd be telling my employer in writing that I want a full record of its attempts to negotiate down the loss and if not happy I'd formally say to them 'see you in court'. To keep costs down I'd do my own defense. Regarding seeking future employment, keep a log and all docs and be ready to show them to next employer. The job market is good. Only if there are material facts that OP hasn't mentioned would I alter this advice.

CakeCrusader

buglawton wrote: »

The negligence here is that the employer didn't set a monthly spending limit and also indulged in a tardy billing system. Companies that have multiple contracts are seen as gold dust by mobile networks and such business customers do indeed have strong negotiating power. Have they even tried using it in this case? Negotiating has a good possibility of success especially if there was no de facto loss to the mobile carrier. I'd be telling my employer in writing that I want a full record of its attempts to negotiate down the loss and if not happy I'd formally say to them 'see you in court'. To keep costs down I'd do my own defense. Regarding seeking future employment, keep a log and all docs and be ready to show them to next employer. The job market is good. Only if there are material facts that OP hasn't mentioned would I alter this advice.

What are you on about? You're throwing a lot of 'legal' words in here that are pretty idiotic. If you re-read the OP's first post they've said that they have had used the phone like this for a year without issue, there's certainly no 'negligence', their employer has trusted them not to screw up. The only 'negligence' is you telling the OP to 'see their boss in court' and to do their own defence!! Seriously, OP, following this advice will do you no favours at all.

cauldron

CakeCrusader wrote: »

It's highly unlikely that the OP has a contract with the mobile phone network, hence the bill from their employer. Chance of negotiating with the phone company - 0 as they are a third party. It's the equivalent of your mum calling o2 on your behalf and asking if you can have a discount.



Phones usually have a set data allowance, go over that and they will charge you a lot. It's not the same as a pay as you go allowance or a normal contract that cuts out once you use your data. The OP needs to check their employment contract as it probably doesn't allow the use of company property (mobile phone) for personal use, it's the OP's fault here for using their own SIM card in what's technically company property. The employer is fully entitled to get the cash back.

Oh well, I was just thinking how he could possibly reduce his bill. Unless the company could query the bill? Very expensive mistake to make.

At the company I work for, you aren’t allowed to put business sims in your personal phone, it’s a big no no.

buglawton

Yeah sorry about the legal jargon like 'see you in court'.

[Deleted User]

I think the OP is fortunate to be just presented with a huge bill to pay.

In many firms, such a misuse of company property would lead to disciplinary action and even dismissal.

Potbellypig

Exodi wrote: »

And this is exactly what misinformation causes.

So, in both of your opinions; should the employer, who offered a business handset with a business SIM for business use to his employee be made to pay this bill for personal use?

Welcome to the internet, Exodi. What happens on the internet is that you'll see a variety of opinions, most of which will be different to yours.

To answer your question, no I don't think OP's employers should pay. I think that £2400 for 80gb of data is extortionate and I think if it went as far as court then OP could have a good case in getting that bill down.

Now before you go off on a tangent and get all upset, this is an opinion from a stranger on the internet. I'm not a lawyer either. I get your point about data being more expensive when you're not on a certain plan but data is the same whether you're paying £50 or £2400 a month for 80gb, and in this case I could see how the bill could be dramatically reduced by going to court (if it were to even get that far).

Undervalued

Potbellypig wrote: »

Welcome to the internet, Exodi. What happens on the internet is that you'll see a variety of opinions, most of which will be different to yours.

To answer your question, no I don't think OP's employers should pay. I think that £2400 for 80gb of data is extortionate and I think if it went as far as court then OP could have a good case in getting that bill down.

Now before you go off on a tangent and get all upset, this is an opinion from a stranger on the internet. I'm not a lawyer either. I get your point about data being more expensive when you're not on a certain plan but data is the same whether you're paying £50 or £2400 a month for 80gb, and in this case I could see how the bill could be dramatically reduced by going to court (if it were to even get that far).

Even if you were right (and I am firmly convinced you are not) can you imagine the relationship this would cause with the employer?

The OP says he intends to leave shortly. I hope if he follows your advice he doesn't need a reference!

Ultimately, had the OP stuck to the rules none of this would have happened and any debate about whether the employer is obtaining good value with their mobile contracts would be irrelevant.

As another poster has mentioned, there is certainly the potential here for the employer to take disciplinary action in addition to seeking repayment of their losses.

Exodi

Potbellypig wrote: »

Welcome to the internet, Exodi. What happens on the internet is that you'll see a variety of opinions, most of which will be different to yours.

To answer your question, no I don't think OP's employers should pay. I think that £2400 for 80gb of data is extortionate and I think if it went as far as court then OP could have a good case in getting that bill down.

Now before you go off on a tangent and get all upset, this is an opinion from a stranger on the internet. I'm not a lawyer either. I get your point about data being more expensive when you're not on a certain plan but data is the same whether you're paying £50 or £2400 a month for 80gb, and in this case I could see how the bill could be dramatically reduced by going to court (if it were to even get that far).

Thanks for the warm welcome to the internet. I think your stance is somewhat confused though as I think most posters would prefer if forum advice was information-led and not emotion-led, but I appreciate we're in a time of 'f*** experts'. As I said before, if the crux of your argument is that the cost of data is unreasonable compared to the market, and that the employer should have taken steps to ensure they had a good deal, the off-contract rates are about normal.

And as I warned before about misinformation (generally breeding more misinformation), you now are stating that the OP's employer shouldn't pay but that the matter should go to court.... who do you think will be taking the OP to court as you're implying the OP, in lack of better terms, should shaft the employer with the bill?! 'I think the OP could has a good case in getting that bill down', frankly laughable to suggest doing this in court and I hope the OP doesn't humour the idea of following this through; it would be a proverbial slaughter being that they have no defence whatsoever.

The best the OP could hope for would be pleading with the employer to negotiate the bill with the agent - this is less of an option if the OP shafts them with the bill and requires being taken to court for it...