Phone bill of 197 pounds!!!

[hulang]

:dead:
I have a vodaphone 1000 min evening and weekend contract, i called customer services last month to ask if the number 0774420**** was free using my minutes, I spoke to an adviser called Kasim (or sounds like), he advised that within my minutes and off peak period this would be free.
After this conversation, I then called this number a few times over the next week.
To my horror, i recieved a text to say my bill was 128 pounds and rising!!! another adviser told me this was because i had made several calls to a premium number. I would never have called this number if i had been advised appropriately initially and feel it is unfair of Vodaphone to expect me to pay this charge. I am totally stuck because i clearly cannot afford to pay this but i feel like i am being bullied by a big organisation.

Someone please advise on what i can do about this:(

[DaveC]

07444 Numbers are NOT a true mobile numbers. The one in question was allocated to Inquam Telecom (Holdings) Limited and is used to dial international numbers out of inclusive minutes.

The truth is most of the networks have got wise and these are no longer included despite what the websites of these companies say.

You were misinformed by the adviser so you need to take that up with their management or Ofcom

[csr's_are_human]

07444 Numbers are NOT a true mobile numbers. The one in question was allocated to Inquam Telecom (Holdings) Limited and is used to dial international numbers out of inclusive minutes.

The truth is most of the networks have got wise and these are no longer included despite what the websites of these companies say.

You were misinformed by the adviser so you need to take that up with their management or Ofcom

Partly correct! Yes the 07744 numbers are a means of making international calls using this 'predial' number so the call is taken from inclusive minutes. I am not 100% sure (but 99.9%!) that ALL the networks do still include the 07744 prefix numbers as standard x-net mobile numbers. 110% sure that Orange do!

BUT, if a customer does not check the instructions of using these numbers they will incur charges. You dial the 07744........ number and press 'dial' or 'call' key, you will hear that you are connected and be asked to put in international number you wish to connect to and just wait for the call to connect, DO NOT press dial or call again. This is what alot of people do and this is what generates the charges, it is as if the first dial to 07744....never occured.
In this case think you may find that there was not any misinformation given by the advisor as it is not up to the networks to educate customers on how these numbers work as they are a 3rd party service and they have these instructions on their websites.
Offcom would only get involved after exhausting complaints route of the network, and then if it is proved by having evidence via a website the service is suported by the particular network and the itemisation of the bill shows the 07744...number and not the international number was actually charged for.
k

[faza20]

:dead:
I have a vodaphone 1000 min evening and weekend contract, i called customer services last month to ask if the number 0774420**** was free using my minutes, I spoke to an adviser called Kasim (or sounds like), he advised that within my minutes and off peak period this would be free.
After this conversation, I then called this number a few times over the next week.
To my horror, i recieved a text to say my bill was 128 pounds and rising!!! another adviser told me this was because i had made several calls to a premium number. I would never have called this number if i had been advised appropriately initially and feel it is unfair of Vodaphone to expect me to pay this charge. I am totally stuck because i clearly cannot afford to pay this but i feel like i am being bullied by a big organisation.

Someone please advise on what i can do about this:(

Hi Hulang

Sorry to read about the problem your having. I work for Vodafone will be happy to advise.

In order to resolve this for you, will will need to look at your account so we can see what's been happening.

If you go to www.vodafone.co.uk, then contact us, you will be able to send us an email. If you include FIT135 in the body of the text, it will be routed to a team who monitor the public forums, and will be able to help.

[hulang]

I have a pretty basic nokia and it can only dial one number at a time, i am pretty certain i only dialed that number. I have not used the line for many months.
They have now restricted me to incomming calls only even though they only sent me a bill 1.5weeks ago.

I have written to vodafone customer care team about this and have asked for a response within reasonable timelines. i'm hoping they get back to me in under 2 weeks. i am sure they must have calls recorded, can't they just listen to the recording, confirm i am telling the truth and sort it out?

What a drama!:confused:

I have also gone to the website and done as suggested faza20 thanks.