Asda mobile

JazF

Recently sent a bulk text to some volunteers within my church group. Not long after I received a message to say I had exceeded the number of daily text messages. Fair enough, didn’t realise that was a thing. 

However I have received a text telling me my number will be disconnected due to breaching Asda mobile T&C’s. And to ring 07769287214. When ring the number it is a recorded message from Vodafone fraud team. Despite repeated attempts I couldn’t talk to anyone so called Asda mobile who acknowledged the going over the daily text message limit but said don’t worry you won’t be cut off. However today my 4g has disappeared. I’m at a loss how to rectify this. 

HampshireH

Have you logged into your app. What does it show your current contract to be?

When you spoke to them did they say they felt you were using the sim for business purposes?

If your app says you're still connected then reboot your data settings on your device

JazF

Thank you for those suggestions @HampshireH My bundle with Asda still showing as active but resetting my data settings worked for 30 seconds then has gone again. 

To be honest it was very difficult to understand the customer service rep as the line wasn’t good and it appeared to be an Indian call centre. She said it was highlighted as possible fraud because of the bulk text but to be reassured it was now sorted. I emphasised how important it was that I not lose my number but she insisted it was all sorted. 

I’m 99% certain I will try and port out in case they do try to disconnect my number. I would have thought a period of grace would be granted, especially as the first text (I have had 6) I received wasn’t received until 7pm Friday evening. So much of people’s lives are connected to their mobile number nowadays. 

HampshireH

I would phone again to be honest.. Are you still able to make calls etc ?

If the sim is off it will show no bars etc

flaneurs_lobster

Hi @JazF It might be useful to others to know how many texts did you send that caused Asda's limit to be broken?

JazF

flaneurs_lobster said:

Hi @JazF It might be useful to others to know how many texts did you send that caused Asda's limit to be broken?

Hi @flaneurs_lobster I was approx 45. I know some were on iMessage so couldn’t say for definite without going through each number. I didn’t even know I had a daily limit of sending text messages?? You just presume that unlimited texts means unlimited texts. 

JazF

HampshireH said:

I would phone again to be honest.. Are you still able to make calls etc ?

If the sim is off it will show no bars etc

I still have full bars @HampshireH and can make calls. 

However,  I’ve decided to cut my losses and ported out to an eSIM with a different provider. I just hope the port goes through. 

flaneurs_lobster

JazF said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Hi @JazF It might be useful to others to know how many texts did you send that caused Asda's limit to be broken?

Hi @flaneurs_lobster I was approx 45. I know some were on iMessage so couldn’t say for definite without going through each number. I didn’t even know I had a daily limit of sending text messages?? You just presume that unlimited texts means unlimited texts. 

That's a surprisingly low limit, if you'd said 500 I might have just shrugged. Seem to remember when the young would do that number in morning break (before they shifted to messaging).

Asda mobile's T&Cs refer to Vodafone's Acceptable Use Policy, excerpt here

c. You must not make calls or send texts (including SMS and MMS) in relation to the marketing, promotion or administration of a business, group or organisation, or for any non-private/non-personal purpose. For example, sending bulk texts to a Customer base, or a non-private/non-personal group distribution list. 

....

e. You must not use our Services or SIM cards to generate artificially inflated traffic, or to send automated or unsolicited text messages. 

f. You must not send abnormally high volumes of texts, send texts to an unusually large number of recipients, send large volumes of texts in a short space of time or send SPAM texts. 

Since none of those limits are actually quantified it's hard to argue that "fair use" is anything other than that which  Asda/Vodafone decide it is. Personally I think you've been harshly treated and I don't blame you for shifting your business elsewhere.