Lyr Req: Song Challenge: The 30k Phone bill

Subject: Lyr Req: Song Challenge: The 30k Phone bill
From: Flash Company
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 10:02 AM

Seems that a 29 year old Yorkshire man,Ian Simpson aided and abetted by his local geek, worked out a way to connect up his Mobile phone to his laptop and use it to download movies via his Vodaphone internet link.
What he didn't realise was that his contract didn't offer unlimited internet access.
He says' OK, so I probably downloaded 20 or 30 TV shows and a few music albums, but then Vodaphone cut me off. When I rang to query it they said you owe us nearly 30,000 quid. I thought they were joking, but they weren't'
The total bill was £27,322.
The good news is (for him) that Vodaphone have said 'Don't do it again!' and cancelled the bill. What that will do to every one else's Vodaphone bills, I don't know.

I got my mobile telephone and dialed Ian Siimpson's number,
And it went Brrr, brrr,brrr,brrr busy line,
I thought 'He's downloading films again, he'll get himself in lumber,
With all that brrr, brrr, brrr,brrr busy line

There must be more where that came from, but I'm suffering from writers block.


FC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Challenge: The 30k Phone bill
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 10:07 AM

Gawd ! Thats worse than the Americans who try to get on the 'Tacky Lights' list with Christmas decorations and have a bill for December that is as big as the rest of the year !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Challenge: The 30k Phone bill
From: GUEST,Mehhh, Humbug.
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 10:17 AM

Yeah, on the one hand we get all sorts of dire warnings about wasting resources and warming up the planet, and on the other there's the encouragement to make arses of ourselves by pouring electricity into junk lights.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Challenge: The 30k Phone bill
From: Newport Boy
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 10:33 AM

FC - I shouldn't worry about what it will do to other Vodaphone bills. The costs of traffic are very low, and charges are based on what the market will bear, rather than costs.

Phil

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Challenge: The 30k Phone bill
From: Flash Company
Date: 31 Dec 07 - 10:51 AM

Wow, They told Ian Simpson they were charging him £80 a minute!

FC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Challenge: The 30k Phone bill
From: Tootler
Date: 31 Dec 07 - 11:05 AM

My Vodaphone contract seems to offer internet access. There is a minimal initial "free connection" then a somewhat large per minute charge - I can't remember what it is but it seemed like a lot so I avoid it like the plague.

I did have a quick look early on and what was readily available seemed pretty crap and the screen is far to small for browsing adequately anyway.