OPTUS CEO WARNS OF SOARING DATA USAGE AS NEW SMARTPHONES HIT AUSTRALIA

Aussie kids passing the buck and the bill shock to their parents

Owning a smartphone is like owning a key to the internet – but for parents who pay their children’s mobile bill, it can often be a key to their wallet! New research released from Optus today[i] found one in three Aussie parents (32%) have been hit by bill shock from their kids’ mobile bill with a third of these (33%) having received a bill of $300 or more.

With so many new 4G enabled smartphones hitting stores across Australia, Optus CEO, Kevin Russell encourages consumers to get their hands on the latest technology but be warned that if not prepared, Australians could become the latest victim of bill shock.

“Optus data shows when consumers switch from 3G to 4G handsets, activities like streaming music and videos often doubles as users take advantage of faster download speeds. Without simple precautions, younger smartphone users, often unfamiliar with how much data their new 4G mobile is using, are more likely to exceed their limits, leaving mums and dads footing the bill.”

Kids across the country are getting carried away by data consumption and going over their post-paid limits, with the majority of Aussie parents picking up the brunt of the cost (66%) and also the stress with 73% suffering from bill shock never thinking it would happen to them.

The cause for the excess usage? As consumers fall in love with the super-fast speeds of 4G, they are opened up to a world of possibilities as to what they can do on their smartphones – they are streaming content and surfing the net like never before!

“At Optus we’re putting control back in the hands of our customers because we want them to use their phone without fear of penal charges if they exceed their monthly data allowance! Optus My Plan, gives parents the reassurance that their children can experience the latest smartphones to their hearts’ content, without the worry of being stung by bill shock,” said Mr Russell.

Here’s what else the research found:

• 57% of parents say they would not be financially able to pay a high bill received due to their child’s overuse
• One in three parents would need to make a sacrifice to cover the cost
• 75% of Aussie parents admit to being concerned about their child’s mobile use and 65% do not trust them to stay within their data limits
• 76% of mums and dads don’t have pre-agreed rules in place with their children to prevent bill shock
• 48% say they educate their child about responsible smartphone usage following a larger than expected bill

Optus My Plan gives consumers the freedom to use their phone without the fear of bill shock. Users who go over their plan limits for the month are moved up to the next level, avoiding large excess charges – there really is no more excuse for bill shock. Consumers can find out more about Optus My Plan here:https://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobilephones/my-plan

Contact Details:

Fuel Communications: 02 8217 6500

Optus@fuelcommunications.com.au

[i]Survey was conducted with a sample of 1,252 parents of one child or more, aged between 8–21, distributed throughout Australia including both capital city and non-capital city locations between 2nd and 6th September, 2013.