Mobile Charges - A Word To The Wise

[Fonefixer]

If you are a Vodafone customer ( or more importantly if your kids are) read on!

Many of you will no doubt have heard of the "0800 Reverse" service where people can contact you and reverse the charges. Vodafone mobiles now have a similar service integrated into their "service numbers" (sim contacts) that people may use to get in contact with you. My advice? If you have kids with vodafone mobiles get the service barred unless you want a very hefty home phone bill. Here's why....
I have had a customer asking for my help today, by telephone, claiming that a handset his daughter owns must be dialling premium-rate numbers without the owners knowledge. On investigation, it appears that his daughter used the above service to contact him on two occasions. Each time his home telephone bill was charged £7.70 ( no this isnt a typo, i diddnt mean 77p!) for a call that lasted less than a minute.....
His home phone is with Sky, I suggested he contact them and query it as I dont deal with billing issues. He contacted me back after a heated argument (apparently a full-blown row) with Sky, in which he was told "thats what we charge - deal with it!"
I have no problem with my siblings contacting me in an emergency ( so long as its genuine and not just a "call me back" request) but I do feel that £7.70 for the priviledge is over-priced! The customer also thought this way..his daughter is only 12 years old, and has now been told to use a phone box in future, or to call her parents and hang up, so they can call her back.
Just thought i'd make you all aware......