Imagine that you have a deal with the local courier who will deliver three packages a month for £28 but, due to an unusual request from a customer, you had to send seven packages in one month. The courier takes the packages and delivers them, then he bill's you for £720 (including VAT) for delivering the four extra packages.
To make matters worse, he puts your account on hold because you have gone over your three-package limit. The account will be re-instated when you pay the bill (which is not yet due) at the end of the month, including the £720 surcharge.
On making an enquiry about getting a different contract for more packages the courier tells you that he can give you a package that gives you up to 9 packages delivered every month for £34.50 an increase in contract of £6.50 a month.
Now:
Why didn't the courier tell me that I was at my limit before accepting the delivery of four extra packages?
Why didn't the courier suggest that I change my tariff before he took the extra four packages?
How does the courier justify a charge of £720 for four extra packages in a single month when they can deliver six extra every month for an increase of £6.50?
Do you think there is an element of extortion here?
Now to reality...I use O2 Mobile Broadband when I'm out of the office and my contract allows me 3Gb of bandwidth usage per month. Realistically, I haven't a clue what that means. Last month I had to send a file while I was in London and I did this from my hotel room using the O2 Mobile Broadband connection, now I have a bill for £750 (including VAT).
On enquiry I have discovered that I went over my allowable usage by 4.5Gb and O2 charge £150 per Gb you go over your tariff. Now this will be noted somewhere in the small print therefore I don't have a leg to stand on...just take the punishment and pay the bill.
However, I wanted to sound a note of caution to anyone using O2 Mobile Broadband because I'm sure, like me, you have no idea what 4.5Gb of overage actually is. For the record, the file I transferred was 51Mb but that transfers somehow to over 4.5Gb of bandwidth.
I would like you all to note: if O2 can put my account on hold mid month because I have gone over my tariff the must be able to monitor my usage so, why don't they notify you when you are close to or, about to go over, your tariff?
Why don't they offer you a more appropriate tariff to match your usage?
Why give you the extra then put your account on hold before the bill is even due?
How do they justify a bill of £720 for 4.5Gb overage when the can give you 6Gb extra for £6.50 a month?
Do you think there is an element of extortion here?
Finally, is the extortion more or less acceptable because O2 is a large organisation? An interesting question!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
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