A routine phone upgrade turned into a financial nightmare for a dad from Weston-super-Mare after a simple typo by his nine-year-old son landed him with a heart-stopping bill of nearly £1,500.
Lee Beaumont intended to use his upgrade to get a new handset for his son on the EE network. The process seemed straightforward: find the desired phone and complete the online order. The trouble began when his son, trying to be helpful, entered the number ‘9’ into the data allowance field.
What happened next was a lesson in instant regret. Instead of a standard data plan, the system interpreted the single digit as a request for a massive 9 Terabytes (TB) of data—an utterly colossal amount that no typical user could ever need.
"I nearly had a heart attack," Lee confessed. "I was just about to confirm the order when I spotted it. The price had shot up to £1,494. I couldn't believe my eyes."
A Close Call and a Warning to Others
Thankfully, Lee spotted the astronomical figure just in time and aborted the transaction. The incident, however, served as a stark warning about how easily a innocent mistake can lead to financial disaster in the digital age.
This near-miss highlights several concerns for consumers:
- Website Design Flaws: The form’s lack of a clear data cap or a confirmation warning for unusually high values.
- The Illusion of Control: How a single keystroke by a child can potentially commit an adult to a significant financial contract.
- Digital Literacy: The importance of double-checking every detail before finalising an online purchase.
An EE spokesperson addressed the issue, stating the company is committed to providing clear options and that they would be reviewing this specific case. They emphasised that customers are always shown a clear summary of their plan and cost before confirming any order.
For Lee and his family, it was a terrifyingly expensive lesson learned the hard way. His story is a powerful reminder for all parents to maintain close supervision during online transactions and to always, always review the final checkout page.
