£700 phone bill in 2 weeks?

Soldato
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Ok, got a real head scratcher and was hoping for some advice.

We chipped in (family) for a new phone for my sister, got her a Galaxy S2, sim free. She's a school teacher at a primary school of 15 years, and she gets a school paid for contract, so many minutes and txts a month. So just swapped sim over to new phone.

Since getting the new phone she has managed to rack up a £700 bill in two weeks, from strictly data use. She hasnt gone above her allowed minutes and txts so appears it strictly £700 for data usage.

The kids have been using the phone and shes also been using whatsapp etc and just one instant of whatsapp cost £100. I dont think she was aware using whatsapp cost money or the data it uses costs money, so the kids have been on it quite a lot during the holidays.

Now the school sat her down today and are obviously asking for the money.

Is there anything she could do because quite frankly £700 is an absolutely absurd amount of money to ask for, for exactly 2 weeks of use?

Edit: Just to add the school sim didnt have any data allowence on them and nor did she ask for it.

Edit: Wow check this out, looks like i was blaming my sister and kids for no reason or very little reason.

£650 charge in one day and at once, surely theres a limit.

She was given the phone about 7pm friday and went home at about 10pm-11pm, so a £650 charge for 3-4hours. The only thing being done at that time was me nephew was upgrading the phones software and firmware, nothing else.

T- Mobile

 
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her fault for not understanding her data allowance and then any further costs involved over and above, why would the school demand anything other than full payment from her....


oh and she s a teacher yet cant grasp data allowances and costs?
 
That's pretty shocking. I think over here the network is supposed to try and get in contact with you if you use a large amount of data to stop precisely this scenario from happening.

First off I would try negotiating with the network if at all possible, were they meant to do anything to prevent this and if so what.
 
Find out the actual usage and compare that to off plan data charges for the network being used.
 
You can transfer videos and pictures with whatsapp and once your outside your data allowance, it can be quite pricey.

But £700 is a lot for 2 weeks until your kids have been streaming video (TVcatchup, YouTube etc).


No idea yet, will have to check the bill but it was all data.

Data is a lot more expensive than call or text.
 
That's pretty shocking. I think over here the network is supposed to try and get in contact with you if you use a large amount of data to stop precisely this scenario from happening.

First off I would try negotiating with the network if at all possible, were they meant to do anything to prevent this and if so what.

I thought their was a ceiling in place for data costs or is that just when you take your phone abroad?
 
That's pretty shocking. I think over here the network is supposed to try and get in contact with you if you use a large amount of data to stop precisely this scenario from happening.

First off I would try negotiating with the network if at all possible, were they meant to do anything to prevent this and if so what.

Well i was just reading online, the network providers are supposed to warn you

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17220736

Also, turn off the data connectivity now!

Well weve swapped sim over to old phone now
 
You can transfer videos and pictures with whatsapp and once your outside your data allowance, it can be quite pricey.

But £700 is a lot for 2 weeks until your kids have been streaming video (TVcatchup, YouTube etc).




Data is a lot more expensive than call or text.

She didnt have any data allowance setup, she moved sim over from an old non smartphone, non internet phone.
 
You need to get the bill, until, then no one can say much.

Couriers like o2 have a maximum price per day.
So need to check it against advertised costs and see what's going on.
 
Sounds like she is bang into her Porn, Trust me her number for ***** sake.
 
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