OneTel Mobile WAP Charges

[rss1979]

We have been OneTel customers for more than two years, using them for Broadband, landline and 2 mobiles. Our monthly bill is never more than £175.00 for all services.

A couple of weeks ago I attempted to make a phone call and was diverted to OneTel's call centre. When I was eventually connected with an adviser I was told that I had exceeded my credit limit and my service would not be reconnected until I made payment. I asked how I could have exceeded my credit limit by half way through the month and was told it was a result of mobile calls.

I spoke to the mobile department and was advised that my unbilled calls (calls made prior to bill being created) were in the region of £900.00. I checked this out online and it appears that I have been charged for a massive amount of WAP calls (over £850) dating back to June '06.

I avoided jumping the gun and waited until I received an actual invoice detailing these charges. That has now arrived and I really don't know what to do. I seldom use WAP and couldn't possibly have spent that much in 5 months. Also, if OneTel insist that these charges are correct, is it right that they can bill me for 6 months usage in one go?

I really need advice on how to proceed.

Thank you!

PS: I have now moved all of my services back to BT and O2.

[buzby]

WAP can be expensive - especially if you roam overseas, but they will have more details that simply the date/time and data volume - they also know which sites were contacted. It IS possible you have some applications on your mobile that are automatically using the bandwidtrh, so accounts should be able to tell you who these sites are, and you can turn them off. Alternatively, if your phone didn't make the calls - tell them you dispute their claims, especially as your data bill should only be for the previoun month's usage.

[rss1979]

Originally Posted by okonski

WAP can be expensive - especially if you roam overseas

I rarely use it and never overseas

Originally Posted by okonski

but they will have more details that simply the date/time and data volume - they also know which sites were contacted.

I will request this information.

Originally Posted by okonski

It IS possible you have some applications on your mobile that are automatically using the bandwidtrh, so accounts should be able to tell you who these sites are, and you can turn them off.

This is a worry, I have not added any applications or games so the phone only has its factory default software on. What kind of application can connect without my knowledge?

Originally Posted by okonski

Alternatively, if your phone didn't make the calls - tell them you dispute their claims, especially as your data bill should only be for the previous month's usage.

Am I correct in thinking that, regardless of circumstances, OneTel should only bill me one month at a time? Surely if this bill is correct then they cant store up 6 months worth of charges and insist that I pay them all in one go??

[rss1979]

Anyone else offer advice please??

[buzby]

Even default software - if activated, providing a so-called 'service' can run up charges - for example, SMS news or sports flashes that will continue to swallow up credit/usage until stopped. If you've never knowingly activated a service (or someone doing so using your phone) then you should be able to reject these charges.

Since roaming isn't an issue, networks have a responsibility to bill for services timeously, your agreement will probably allow them leeway, but I think hitting your with 6 months in one go is excessively lax, preventing you from recalling whatever services they say are chargeable - and switching them off (if appropriate). They can call on you to pay all charges on your account, but only if they are fair and reasonable, and if your usage is going back 6 months isn't fair, and demanding full payment in one go isn't reasonable. You probably will not make much headway speaking on the phone, so call them to say the mobile bill is disputed, and you'll be taking this up in writing with the administration office. Once they get back to you with the details, add to this thread and we can advise the next steps to take.

[rss1979]

Update,

I requested further information from One.Tel on 28th October and as of today’s date I have not received anything. Anything except a letter from our friends at Robinson Way & Co Ltd (Yawn).

Called them and said that the invoice is in dispute and I do not acknowledge them. Apparently they have other methods of collecting the money!! So I invited them to proceed to court advising them that I would defend any action.

Think my next step is a letter to Charles Dunstone (CEO of Carphone Warehouse) regarding his latest acquisition........he must be used to complaints by now.....what do you all think?

[buzby]

Cheeky sods... you could always ask them if their 'other methods' are equally illegal? As for contacting CharlieD - it might have theraputic value, but not much more, especially after is sanguine appearance on Watchdog

[rss1979]

I will go to the papers with this one if I have to...........

I hope Mr Dunstone realises how serious I am........I might even hand insert...I mean "deliver" the letter myself!!

[HydraUK]

I saw an article on telly some months ago about a scam that uses a suitably programmed PDA that a miscreant takes to a busy place.

The PDA uses it's bluetooth to trawl the bluetooth devices of passers-by looking for ones that are't locked, when they find one they were then able to access it.....be it a phone, lappy or w/e.

How they continue to use the link after the victim has passed beyond bluetooth range was not disclosed.

TBH I didn't pay but cursory attention to the article as I don't own a bluetooth device so it might be worth looking for more info.

[buzby]

Try and look at the BBC Watchdog - their offices were full of folk 'wanting a word' and were told Charlie wasn't in - he was! Frankly, one more complaint about CW isn't going to set the world on fire, but a court case might....