The teenager's phone was stolen at the Rhythm and Vines festival in Gisborne on New Year's Eve.
The next day she rang it and spoke to a woman who said her brother would return it to Lauren in Devonport the following week.
When the phone hadn't turned up a week later, Cornish called the woman again but got no answer.
"I thought this was a bit dodgy. I went to Vodafone and found $2300 had been spent on my account."
Vodafone has since taken 25 per cent off the bill and given Cornish six months to pay in weekly instalments of $93.
Vodafone spokesman Paul Brislen said Cornish was liable for the debt because she didn't report the phone stolen and her account wasn't cancelled.
I don't often agree with things Voda does, but in this case I am right behind them.
this girl didn't bother reporting her phone stolen for over a week, and is now expecting voda to foot the bill for her stupidity. she should think herself lucky voda waived 25% of the bill.
a $2300 bill implies lots of international calling - something which has a real cost to vodafone. I don't see why they should be forced to shell out for her because she was too dumb to cancel it.
Good on you Voda.
No doubt she will try and use the press to generate publicity (as she has already done) in the hope of getting Voda to give in. I say stick to your guns Voda.
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