A Manchester business owner was recently hit with a staggering £42,000 roaming bill after his daughter used TikTok while on holiday in Morocco. The incident has brought to light the potential risks of uncapped data usage outside of Europe, and serves as a cautionary tale for all travelers.
The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, runs a successful family business in Manchester. His daughter, a keen user of the popular social media app TikTok, was on a family holiday in Morocco when she decided to upload videos to her account. Little did she know that this seemingly harmless act would result in a bill that nearly bankrupted her family’s business.
The family was shocked when they received the bill from their mobile network provider, O2. The bill was a whopping £42,000, which was significantly higher than their usual monthly bill of around £100. Upon investigation, they discovered that the majority of the charges were for data usage while their daughter was using TikTok in Morocco.
The family immediately contacted O2, who explained that the charges were due to the high cost of data roaming outside of Europe. The family was unaware of this and had assumed that their daughter’s data usage would be covered by their existing plan. Unfortunately, this was not the case, and they were left with a hefty bill that they could not afford to pay.
The incident has highlighted the potential risks of uncapped data usage outside of Europe. Many travelers are unaware of the high costs associated with data roaming in countries outside of the European Union. This is especially true for popular social media apps like TikTok, which require a significant amount of data to function properly.
In response to the incident, O2 has stated that they have measures in place to prevent such incidents from occurring. They offer a range of data roaming packages for customers traveling outside of Europe, which can help to avoid unexpected charges. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of the customer to be aware of the potential costs and to take necessary precautions.
The Manchester business owner has since settled the bill with O2, but the incident has left a significant impact on his family and their business. They have learned a valuable lesson and are now more cautious when it comes to data usage while traveling abroad.
This incident serves as a reminder to all travelers to be aware of the potential risks and costs associated with data usage outside of Europe. It is essential to research and understand the data roaming charges of your mobile network provider before traveling. It is also advisable to purchase a data roaming package to avoid any unexpected charges.
In today’s digital age, it is easy to get carried away with social media and other online activities, especially while on holiday. However, it is crucial to be mindful of the potential costs and to take necessary precautions to avoid any financial burden.
The Manchester business owner hopes that by sharing his story, he can prevent others from falling into the same trap. He urges all travelers to be aware of the potential risks and to take necessary precautions to avoid any unexpected charges. With proper planning and awareness, we can all enjoy our travels without any financial worries.
