DATA DODGING AUSSIES FINDING WAYS TO AVOID MOBILE BILL SHOCK

New Optus My Plan report reveals Aussies spend five weeks each year using the internet at work for personal reasons

Aussies are going to great lengths to avoid bill shock including accessing free Wi-Fi, using a friend’s phone or relying on work to subsidise their personal data addiction.

New research from Optus My Plan shows that 60% of Australians that use their mobile phone to access the internet worry about their mobile data allowance, with one in three (33%) concerned about getting an unexpected bill for going over their limit.

In fact Aussies are so concerned about bill shock that we’re taking desperate steps to avoid it. Over half (55%) access free Wi-Fi on their mobile phone wherever they can, with one in five admitting to switching their phone to their employer’s Wi-Fi when at work.

Workers are so used to relying on their employers to save their mobile data allowance, the average employee spends five weeks every year (an average of four hours each week) using workplace internet for personal use.

Technology expert and commentator, Trevor Long said, “We’ve all heard stories about people who have received a huge bill for exceeding their data allowance. As this research shows, there is such an engrained fear about suffering bill shock, people are regularly taking measures to avoid it. The first thing people are looking for in a café is not what coffee they have, but if they offer free Wi-Fi.”

Kevin Russell, CEO, Optus, said, “Optus understands why people fear bill shock, even though many people don’t know what their data allowance is or don’t use it in full each month. That’s why Optus has changed the way we charge. We want to eradicate bill shock and encourage customers to use their mobile phones with confidence.”

“It used to be the case that if you went over your data allowance your telco provider would charge you an obscene amount of money and send you a big and often unexpected bill. However, with Optus My Plan we simply move you up into the next $5 or $10 price bracket if you do go over your data or call allowance.”

Those who admit to using workplace data to avoid personal bill shock spend their time checking Facebook (69%), downloading files for personal use (37%) and printing out maps so they don’t need to navigate using their mobile phone (33%). Indeed, three in five (59%) full time workers believe that employers should let staff use the internet at work for personal use and 46% think that using workplace data is nowhere near as bad as taking stationery from the cupboard for personal use.

For those lucky enough to have a work mobile phone, 45% admit to using their device for personal use and 31% use their device as a data hot spot. In contrast to the fear people have about their personal data allowance, 30% of those with a work phone use its data for personal use as they’re not worried about having to pay the bill.

For customers wanting to check out how Optus My Plan can help them save money and avoid bill shock, head to: www.optus.com.au/shop/mobilephones/my-plan.

Contact Details:
Fuel Communications: 02 8217 6500
Optus@fuelcommunications.com.au

Notes to editors:
This study was conducted online among a representative sample of Australians aged 18-64 years. The sample was 1,260 respondents, distributed throughout Australia including both capital city and non-capital city areas between 26th and 28th August, 2013.