Shock at $85k mobile phone bill

Many new mobile phones can connect to the internet
A Canadian man has been shocked to receive a mobile phone bill for nearly $85,000 (£41,000).
Piotr Staniaszek thought he could use his new phone as a modem for his computer under his $10 unlimited mobile browser plan from Bell Mobility.

He downloaded high-definition movies and other large files unaware that this incurred massive extra charges.

Bell Mobility has since lowered the bill to $3,243, but Mr Staniaszek says he intends to fight the charges anyway.

'Nobody told me'

The 22-year-old oil-field worker from Calgary said he thought a first bill for $65,000 in November was a mistake.

When he spoke to Bell Mobility he was informed the bill had climbed to nearly $85,000 after more downloading.

I'm going to try and fight it, because I didn't know about the extra charges

Piotr Staniaszek

He said he normally paid about $150 a month for his phone and used to be notified of high charges.

"The thing is, they've cut my phone off for being like $100 over," he told CBC News.

"Here, I'm $85,000 over and nobody bothered to give me a call and tell me what was going on."

Bell Mobility said they would lower the bill to $3,243 in a "goodwill gesture" to match the best data plan available for using mobile phones as a modem, the Globe and Mail reported

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I think I would have had a heart attack if I got a bill like that!

Now see, if he had had a "pay-as-you-go" phone he would have noticed

I hate the phone. £50 does me for six months.

This is a sample of my phone conversations:

me: "hello?"

mum: "hello, how are you?"

me: "fine, you?"

mum: "yes, I'm good"

me: "okay then, see you later"

We both hang up. Mum doesn't mind, she hates the phone too

i had once... not with internet.. just regular phone, calling my gf in other city
then
i had to pay it myself i hate long distance relationship!

85k! omG! I might die at the instance the I've heard the I own $85,000!!

This kid is a moron, he was using his cell phone as a modem. Bell is being way to nice to him. From 85K to $ 3.500 gee what does this kid want? free everything. If he fights the $ 3.500 (me being Bell) I would take it to court and sue him for the full amount. Just because you don't read the contract is no excuse plus what did this idiot think. How much band with does it take to download a movie. The idiot new he was breaking the rules and now caught he whines about it. I live in Calgary and those guys working in the oil patch are paid $ 40 bucks an hour plus, pay the $3.500 and STFU. Hell in Fort Mac they pay 18 bucks an hour to work at Macdonalds.

< Euryale Says:


This kid's a freaking moron.


My cell phone has access to the Web & I don't even use it. I don't even text message.

Hubby and I have one cell phone for us. We use it for long distance calls and to store numbers. We have a comp for internets.

Well said!Why didn't he just buy a modem.He must have been downloading a hell of a lot stuff to get a bill like that.Why now is acting ignorant when he obviously new what he was doing and how much it would cost!

That's why they have contracts...You read them, go over them, and know what your getting.........He probably scanned the papers, then thought wow, great contract, look at all the freebees........Good thing he didn't pass this great deal to his friends, he'd be in a body cast now...

LOL

Well, obvioulsy he is a moron...he admitted to downloading movies and songs... Are we to believe that he did those through legal channels?

Holy Crap thats a huge bill. But anybody with common sense will know that mobile phones incure outrageous fees and charges. As Lotus Flower mentioned...''Pay-As-You-Go'' is the best method, in my opinion.

I don't really feel sorry for him sounds like brought it all on himself. I hate cell phones myself my home phone is good enough for me. The last thing I want is somone bothering me while i'm at the mall. If I get a kid and they want a cell phone I'll tell them no they're evil contraptions

Now cell phones are good for some things. There were many a time I wished I had a cell phone when I had my first car.

yea, I agree, not knowing the terms of the contract isn't an excuse... I don't know what the laws are there in Canada, but in the US if this guy loses the case (and he will, because he signed the contract and is supposed to understand the limitations), he'd have to pay whatever the judgement is, AND pay the legal fee's of the phone company too...

I'm with the guy, he was taken advantage of, the company should have alteast notified him.