Vodafone Australia's iPhone bill shock
August 20th, 2008 by Renai LeMayupdate Vodafone Australia is fielding a number of complaints from Australian customers who received unexpectedly large bills a month after they bought an Apple iPhone from the mobile carrier.
In one bill seen by ZDNet.com.au, Vodafone had charged a customer on a $99 per month 'capped' plan over $800, including several hundred dollars relating to just 25MB of data downloads.
The customer said he had previously been a Vodafone customer before buying an iPhone when Apple's handset launched locally in Australia last month. It appeared that Vodafone had not correctly migrated him across to the new iPhone plan, he said, which included a sizable data download limit.
A Vodafone spokesman said the problem had occurred because Vodafone customers were normally transitioned to a new plan at the end of their monthly billing cycle.
The carrier has now changed that policy as a result of the iPhone issues. "From July 23, all existing Vodafone customers that have chosen an iPhone 3G cap can immediately begin using the voice and data allowance within their cap," the spokesman said.
The spokesman said customers who had bought an iPhone prior to July 23 could continue to use their pre-existing plan, with the carrier currently reviewing the data charges for these customers.
"Vodafone will waive any data charges that would not have been incurred if the customer had been able to use their iPhone 3G cap, with its voice and data allowance, from the outset," the spokesman said.
Who is writing these reviews. I thought this was an Australian site. Yes, googles voice search is cool and works pretty well.....if you have an American accent. How about a review written by an Australian next time... 
Andy
August 21st, 2008 at 11:07am
I had a similar problem to that above but my bill was nearly $1800!! When I called Vodafone they said my name was on a list and I would be contacted to rectify the charges. After calling several times to see why I hadn't yet been contacted I was told that noone knew anything about a "the list" and I would have to pay the charges. When I asked for an investigation they had the hide to call me back and offer me an expensive 1GB data plan to tackle my "high usage" even though I'd used less than 50MB of my 250MB allowance. Also included in my bill was a $155 early termination fee for my pre-iphone Vodafone plan which I had never been warned about. All charges have now been reversed by Vodafone but not without considerable time on the phone arguing my case. My advice is beware!
Andrew
August 29th, 2008 at 9:45pm
The nightmare with Vodafone continues! I ordered an iPhone the day after they were released from the Vodafone shop - Moved my Optus account to Vodafone and waited to upgrade to the iPhone plan (as advised to me by the Vodafone shop assistant) - 3 days later was hit with a $550.00 internet usage charge on a phone I was using that doesn't have internet access - was still waiting for my iPhone to arrive. Gave up with Vodafone - too many excuses blaming Apple for everything. they even said the phone wasn't going to be locked but they are - these people are lying to everyone and then trying to lock you into a 2yr contract - Beware!! Even if you want to get out of the contract for poor service etc... Vodafone wont care - you have to pay the full contract exit fee's. If you complain they just hang up on you - Vodafone Custoemr Care = Customer Dont Give a F#@K