Sell my mobile: Smartphone uptake blamed on bill complaints

08/08/2012

The rapid uptake in smartphones throughout Australia has been blamed for a significant rise in bill shock.

A rising number of mobile phone users contacted the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman throughout the last 12 months after receiving large bills they cannot afford.

Indeed, the number of consumers contacting the regulator doubled in early 2012 when compared with the same time last year.

Australian Communications Consumer Action Network's spokeswoman Elise Davidson blamed the huge growth in smartphone users spending more than their allocated data each month.

Recent figures suggested that more people in Australia now own a mobile phone than they do a landline.

Ms Davidson said there has been a sharp increase in the number of people that have access to the internet on their mobile phones.

"Unfortunately, a lot of people are getting caught out by using more than their "included value'' within the plan, which means they are stung with excess data charges, which are really expensive," she continued.

Posted by Simon Thomas

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