Rip off data charge.

[darrenp63]

3 days before my monthly data refresh I get a text saying I've reached my limit (attached screenshot)

Upon reading the text I reply back to increase my data.

I assumed the £6 for the extra month would be for a month, not for the 3 days until my refresh, do Vodafone not pro-rate???

If that's not bad enough they also charge me £6.50 (screenshot attached) for data use.

I texted back within an hour of getting told I reached limit, and definitely didn't use any data!

Tried discussing it via online chat, that's like pulling teeth.

I'm disgusted, it may not seem a lot of money but it's the principle.

Glad my contract is up in a couple of months, will be looking elsewhere after nearly 10 years with Vodafone.

[AnnS]

Hi @darrenp63

Although you replied back quickly, most likely you would have already been over the limit and would automatically have been charged £6.50 for an extra 250mb data.

If you use live chat, for account access, they will be able to help with the charges.

There is further information on the link below including the data cap which you can be added to your acccount if you took out your contract after 28 September 2016. This will stop you going over the limit again and incurring extra out of bundle charges.

Data Costs

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi @darrenp63

I understand why you would be unimpressed with what's happened. Nowadays lots of people use the data part of their allowances to access things and most smartphones use data in the background so it can be hard sometimes to always effectively monitor this. 

The two myvodafone options being online and the app are good tools to use. 

Also some phones allow a person to set data limits and have inbuilt monitors too. 

I agree that if a Payment is made for add on data then that should be exhausted before the normal tariff data allowances kick in. Some have in the past been caught out thinking the added on data allowance is for one month only but instead it's a reacurring charge which needs cancelling by the account holder. 

"A data cap is one of the tools available in Vodafone Data Manager, and is included in all Pay monthly phone and SIM only bundles bought after 5 May 2016, and Mobile Broadband. It gives you control over your data usage and spending." What-are-the-data-caps.

I note you've already spoken with Live Chat so perhaps try again using Customer service on 191.

[darrenp63]

Thanks for the replies.

The bottom line is I don't mind paying for something, just not twice in my opinion.

If I'd been informed I'd actually gone over my data and not just reached my limit I would of just used the 250mb £6.50 option, it was only 2 days to my refresh after all.

But now I'm ending up paying £12 over that.

I'll just have to swallow it, such is life.

[Makelo]

You are correct it kicks you both ways with a £6.50 charge for going over then if you add more data it charges you again.  Bear in mind if you have added data it is on a rolling basis and will be added again next month unless you cancel it so make sure you cancel it a few days before your next bill is due.

Also to stop it happening again you can now cap your UK data usage with the Vodafone App. It's not very well published but it is possible. Read this thread for details;

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Pay-monthly-products-services/Data-cap-via-My-Vodafone-App/m-p/254088...

[Annie_N]

@darrenp63 If your minimum period is up in the next couple of months, it's unlikely that you have the data cap available to you at present. It’s only available on Pay monthly and SIM only bundles bought after 5 May 2016, or Mobile Broadband and tablet bundles bought after 28 September 2016.

[Makelo]

I did forget that part Annie.

Thanks for clearing that up

[Amanda]

Hi @darrenp63

I can appreciate that this is frustrating. 

The £6.50 charge for the additional 250MB is automatically added once you use all of your data allowance. 

The £6 charge for 1GB is then added at your request. 

You should still have had use of the full 250MB before the allowance from the 1GB pack was used. 

If you'd like us to look into this, please follow the instructions we've sent you in a private message.

You can see more information online about our data costs. 

Thanks, 

[darrenp63]

Replied to your private message.

Thanks.

[Becca_P]

@darrenp63

If you've replied via private message, we're unable to look into your account this way.

You'll need to follow the instructions on the private message to email us directly. Once you've done this, you'll receive a reference number via email in an automated response.