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Story: Orange customer fights £800 roaming bill

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I, too, have fallen victim to exorbitant data chares whilst roaming...and in my humble opinion, despite raging profusely at the time, the only person I can blame is myself.

Granted, I work in the mobile industry and therefore have less excuse than most to be surprised by a lack of "ethical" business practice from mobile operators. However, my reaction on opening that bill (coincidentally also from Orange!) sums up my response to Mr Steare:

1. At first, I was shocked and surprised at the actual rate charged. This lasted long enough for me to call Orange and rant at the rep about the blatant rip-off that I felt I was being subjected to.

2. Even before I put down the phone, it dawned on me that whilst I, like Mr Steare, ASSUMED that the charges would be "reasonable", since I hadn't actually checked, I didn't have a leg to stand on.

That's really all there is to it. I will never make the same mistake again, and I doubt Mr Steare will either.

I would say bite the bullet, drop the principle, and pay the bill. Your case is doomed to failure, if not for the implications it would have on the law of contract were you to succeed. Apart from anything else, you must realise that Orange might have ripped you off (in fact they certainly have!) but it is simply naive to be so heavily reliant on the principle of trust where corporate ethics are concerned.

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