£432 phone bill for surfing web

MOBILE phone users are being stung with shock bills of hundreds of pounds for browsing the internet after their wi-fi connection cuts out without them realising.

One customer was charged £432 in one month, including £358 on a single day.

Wireless wi-fi links allow people to browse the web for free. But it seems users can be switched unknowingly to expensive 3G networks if the wi-fi fails. They quickly use up the 3G allowance included in their phone deal – and the subsequent charges can be huge.

Most mobile networks notify users when they are close to their 3G data limit, but Vodafone does not. An Ofcom spokesman said it would raise this with the company.