Plan.com and unreasonably high out of allowance data charges - Advice needed

saajan_12

I don't really see a complaint here. A goodwill gesture perhaps if she's been there for a long time. Goodwill is best garnered by remaining polite and not threatening to leave immediately, even if that's the plan in your head. 

The company isn't entirely to blame for this, that's how they make money and the fact that they offer cheaper bundles may be loss leaders to attract business which might not bother moving frequently. Mum could have 
1. Ensured Wifi was working 
2. Placed limits on her mobile device to get a warning from the phone when say 90% of the allowance was used and cut off mobile data when 99% was used (to allow for any difference in measuring). 
3. Manually checked usage and/or switched mobile data on and off
4. Picked a more competitive package to start with, which would have left less out of allowance. 

M25

I don't see any problem here either.

If people can't use an Android or OS device properly you can buy phones that don't use data ie they don't have data applications.

Or get a decent contract SIM, learn to read notifications, learn to use the phone or get a good PAYG SIM. 

There's no end of good deals https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheap-mobile-finder/sim-only/

Don't blame companies for not operating your device correctly, not reading notifications or not reading the contract.

This isn't the Windrush, building cladding or Post Office scandal.

daveisws

6100253 said:

Hey all, not sure the right approach here. My mum has a SIM with Plan.com with a 2GB allowance for £26.99 per month (aware this is shockingly poor value to begin with).

I found out today that she had a recent bill that she had to pay to protect her credit and retain her services of over £1000 (£1027). The reason for the charge turned out to be due to excess data charges outside of the plan allowances totalling 15GB of excess data use. 

Looking through the terms it appears within their pricing pages they charge a flat rate of 6.25p per MB of usage above allowance, and seemingly have nothing in place to prevent spiralling costs against a very uncompetitive and archaic rate.

I am looking to formalise a complaint in to Plan.com on the basis the charges are extortionate and in relation to the costs actually faced for the usage by Plan.com they are disproportionate to those they have passed onto my mum, with the intention of taking it to Ombudsmen if necessary.

I just wanted to see whether anyone had a view on the best approach to do this or had experience in similar situations?

Was this ever resolved, or did you just pay the full amount? I had something similar with my son.

flaneurs_lobster

Perhaps you should be asking "why am I paying £28 for 30GB of data a month".

I've got 100GB of full-fat Vodafone for £8/mth, I have no doubt that if I exceeded this limit it would cost me an absolute fortune - but it won't happen. 

Android phones have configurable mobile data usage warnings and cutoffs. Do iPhones not have similar?

M25

Vodafone has account settings so you can never go over limits or have premium charges etc (there's at least 7 things you can restrict). No need to mess with your phone.

I think there's some rule now where all suppliers have to provide tick box options for customers to restrict/limit data and charges.