Beware of using your phone in other countries, a French tourist is forced to pay a bill of 37,000 euros
The vacation of a French tourist turned into a financial nightmare after he returned home to find a mobile phone bill exceeding 37,000 euros.
The traveler, 63-year-old Dominique Lofiever, spent three weeks in North Africa, using his smartphone without realizing that his plan did not include an international data package. Believing he was covered, he streamed movies, shared videos with his friends, and made regular calls via messaging apps. The result was shocking: one night of watching a TV series cost him over 10,000 euros.
Dominique Lofiever said in an interview with local media: "At first, I thought it was a mistake. I checked the bill several times, then I realized it was real. That's when the nightmare began."
When he contacted the mobile service provider after his return, the company initially refused to provide any assistance. A statement from the company confirmed that the charges were calculated according to his contract. For weeks, the situation seemed hopeless, leaving him facing the risk of bankruptcy.
But the breakthrough came after Dominique Lofiever hired a lawyer and made his story public. Under increasing pressure, the company finally backed down and reduced the bill to just 500 euros. For him, this experience became a warning for all travelers: never assume that your phone plan covers international use.