Mobile bill shock – Vodafone ripping off loyal customers
Three of the top mobile companies in UK, Vodafone, EE and Three have been found guilty of overcharging loyal customers on extended fix-term contracts. The scam was detected by not-for-profit Citizen’s Advice, an independent organisation that provides free, confidential and impartial advice to UK citizens on their rights and responsibilities. While advising people on the problems they face, Citizen’s Advice discovered this shocking scam that is mainly affecting citizens over the age of 65.
The scam – overcharging customers with confusing bills
When customers purchase high-end mobile phone devices like the iPhone 7, the Galaxy S8 or Xperia XZ Premium on contract from mobile companies, they are locked in on a fixed price monthly contract for two years. At the end of two years, customers have the option of switching providers, purchasing a new phone with existing provider or continuing on the same plan. When customers choose to continue, they pay the same monthly price, even though the device purchased has been fully paid off! Customers end up paying £22 – £38 extra every month, with the additional charges being calculated at a whopping £46 a month for the iPhone8 256GB model.
Customers over the age of 65 were most likely to be overcharged, with 23% of long-term customers being in this age group. But the under 65s were not spared either and 13% within this age group still continued with the same plan. Overall, a whopping 36% of customers of Vodafone, EE and Three were being scammed with 19% staying on the same contract for more than six months afterward. Considering that the customer base of these mobile operators runs into millions we can estimate that hundreds of thousands of people are being swindled out of their hard-earned wealth by telco operators who refuse to be transparent about their bills.
Telcos respond with excuses
Telephone operators have, as always responded with ready excuses. A Three spokeswoman said contract end-dates were made clear to new customers, who were encouraged to get in touch if they wanted to change their plan.
A Vodafone spokeswoman said workers contacted customers near the ends of their contracts “wherever possible”.
EE said separating phone and tariff sometimes left customers worse off, adding that most choose upgrades or a SIM-only plan when their contracts expire.
Clearly, phone operators are catering to the majority and fining the minority for not bothering to change their plans manually.
Overcharging over device contracts by Telstra
Not reducing prices even after a device has been paid off might seem unusual, but overcharging on device contracts is routine practice in the Telco industry. Down under, we have Telstra ripping customers off on their lease and upgrade mobile plans. In the name of providing service+device combined discounts, these plans overcharge customers 200% to 300% more than purchasing the device outright.
- Telstra has a $75 per month for 24 months plan for a Samsung Galaxy S8 with the option to upgrade to the next model for an additional $100 after 12 months.
- If you don’t upgrade after two years, you end up paying $75 for a further six months.
- If you do upgrade, you have to return the old phone back to Telstra. You paid $1800 to a company, and you did not even get to own a $750 worth device at the end.
- While returning the device, if your phone is found to be damaged, you pay an additional $250-$500 to Telstra to ‘compensate for damages.’ Very few devices will remain pristine at the end of two years, meaning that most of us will end up forking over $2000 for a device that you do not even get to keep!
- If you still think that this covers the service charges for calls, data and text too, consider this – a $750 S8 and a Kogan Mobile Prepaid plan at $30 per month (maximum data) would still cost you only about $1500 over the two-year period. At the end of which, you could sell off the phone for $300-$400, leaving you $900 better off than if going with Telstra!
Overcharging over device contracts by Optus
It’s not just Telstra, Optus and Vodafone Australia also routinely charge additional phone damage fees at the end of the contract. If you purchase a phone from Optus on a 2-year contract, and if you want to retain the device, they will charge you the same amount for a further six months. For example,
- You can purchase a Galaxy S8 from Optus for $62/month for a 24 month period.
- At the end of this period, if you want to retain the phone and switch to another plan, you have to buy the device from Optus at fair market value. This is clearly unfair, considering that you have already paid 62*24=$1488 to the company for a $750 device. The additional amount you are expected to pay them is not mentioned.
- If you continue on the contract, you have to pay the company $62 per month for an additional six months before you can claim the device as yours. Thus you end up paying 62*30=$1860 for a $750 phone. Again you would be better off by $700- $900 just purchasing the device outright.
More transparency needed
Citizen’s Advice has lodged a complaint with UK regulator Ofcom, seeking intervention and urging mobile phone providers to be transparent about their charges and reduce bills automatically at the end of term. Mobile phone providers have been requested to clarify which portion of the bill pays for the device and which portion pays for other services right from the outset.
Similar regulations are urgently needed within Australia too. Telcos need to transparently present the complete picture to customers at the outset, before locking them into unpleasant contracts with hidden fees and charges they can’t get out of.