GoPhone cut off Sarah’s mobile after agreeing a payment plan

The issue

Sarah*’s income decreased unexpectedly, and she could no longer afford her mobile service bills with GoPhone*.

She called GoPhone to explain her financial situation and change her plan so she could afford to pay the bills. She asked if she could pay $20 each fortnight until her situation improved. GoPhone agreed to this. Sarah’s mobile service stopped working. She called GoPhone and was told her mobile phone was disconnected because she owed money. A debt collection agency began contacting her for payment.

The investigation

In early 2019 Sarah authorised a financial counsellor to complain to us on her behalf.

The financial counsellor said the debt collection agency was asking Sarah to pay $1,200 of which around $400 was late payment fees. The counsellor said Sarah wanted the late payment fees removed given she had made an agreement with GoPhone to pay her bill.

The financial counsellor said once GoPhone confirmed if Sarah should make payments to GoPhone or the debt collection agency, she would start paying $20 a fortnight.

GoPhone proposed Sarah pay $122 each month because at $20 a fortnight, it would take more than three years to pay the charges. GoPhone said the late payment fees were correct, but it would consider waiving them if Sarah applied for help with financial hardship.

The outcome

The financial counsellor gave GoPhone information about Sarah’s income, along with its view that Sarah should pay $800 and could afford to make payments of $20 each fortnight until this was paid off. GoPhone accepted the financial counsellor’s view and reduced the charges.

With the help of a financial counsellor and our dispute resolution officer, Sarah was able to pay the charges she could afford.

*Names of individuals, organisations and companies have been changed.