An Orange customer has experienced firsthand what many are unaware of. Calling a 900 number from outside Spain can result in an unexpectedly high bill.
His case has not gone unnoticed on social media and has forced the company to provide public explanations. Especially after the affected individual shared his complaint about being charged more than 250 euros for several calls made from Portugal.
The user explains that on April 13, he made a call lasting just 2 minutes and 43 seconds to Apple's customer service number from Lisbon. The amount charged for that call was 23.60 euros. The next day, April 14, he called the same number again for a little over 15 minutes.
This time, the bill amounted to 129.11 euros. In total, the cost of both calls raised his monthly bill to 257 euros. This is a much higher amount than the 68.50 euros he usually pays for his line with Orange.
Asks Orange for explanations
Indignant, the customer contacted Orange's customer service on the same day, April 14. Since then, he has been trying to get a clear answer about why these charges are so high, without success.
He states that no one informed him at any time that calling a 900 number from abroad would have such exorbitant costs. Additionally, he complains about feeling abandoned as a customer. He warns that if he doesn't receive a solution, he will file a complaint with the competent authorities.
Orange decided to respond publicly. The company clarified that 900 numbers are only free within Spanish territory. "From other countries, they will have a cost that depends on the operator you connect to in each case," the company explained.
See lack of clarity from Orange
The problem lies in the lack of clear information from operators like Orange about the costs associated with making international calls. Even when it comes to numbers that are free within Spain.
The case once again highlights the need to improve transparency in roaming rates and the use of services from abroad. Many are unaware that, even if they are calling numbers like 900, these do not keep the same free condition from outside.
This public complaint against Orange has served to show how easy it is to receive an excessive bill due to lack of knowledge. If you are going to travel outside Spain, it is advisable to inform yourself beforehand about your operator's conditions and avoid unpleasant surprises.