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Mobile phones being used as a vehicle to steal and defraud
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It would seem that with the current technology surrounding mobile phones that they are being thought of as a new way to not have to carry money.
There seems to be a problem with this though in that the legislation deciding who is responsible for resolving any issues of misbilling just isn't there.
Take my personal example of my phone number being used to bill for premium rate SMS messages. I have never used my mobile phone to subscribe to any of these sort of things, yet I find myself battling with faceless companies on premium rate numbers purely because tmobile (all the others are the same apparently so this isn't a specific dig at tmobile) are content to take money out of my bank account under the ddr I have for my contract, and pay this faceless company, yet they feel they have no obligation to intercept.
Presumbably if your mobile phone is used to pay for other services you will have absolutely no comback on anyone if the company initiating the charges you simply decided not to repay you.
I am sure if criminals are able to abuse our credit cards that have comparatively sophisticated security then mobile phones will be as easy as taking a toy from a baby.
I have started a petition to the government to do something about this issue, please if you would, sign the petition, and highlight this to anyone you know with a mobile phone, as tomorrow it might be you trying to get back your money.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Paymentbymobile/
Martin Lewis, perhaps you could also add your weight to this important issue, and help bring this issue to the forefront of our media as ulitmately this will affect all with a phone.
There seems to be a problem with this though in that the legislation deciding who is responsible for resolving any issues of misbilling just isn't there.
Take my personal example of my phone number being used to bill for premium rate SMS messages. I have never used my mobile phone to subscribe to any of these sort of things, yet I find myself battling with faceless companies on premium rate numbers purely because tmobile (all the others are the same apparently so this isn't a specific dig at tmobile) are content to take money out of my bank account under the ddr I have for my contract, and pay this faceless company, yet they feel they have no obligation to intercept.
Presumbably if your mobile phone is used to pay for other services you will have absolutely no comback on anyone if the company initiating the charges you simply decided not to repay you.
I am sure if criminals are able to abuse our credit cards that have comparatively sophisticated security then mobile phones will be as easy as taking a toy from a baby.
I have started a petition to the government to do something about this issue, please if you would, sign the petition, and highlight this to anyone you know with a mobile phone, as tomorrow it might be you trying to get back your money.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Paymentbymobile/
Martin Lewis, perhaps you could also add your weight to this important issue, and help bring this issue to the forefront of our media as ulitmately this will affect all with a phone.
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Oh Merlin,
I understand your sentiments, but really it isn’t about imagining that the government have it covered. It is simple, they don’t have it covered. Currently mobile phone networks are perpetuating these scams and allowing premium rate message companies to steal from us. They don’t even have to supply any proof of authority for them to take your money. They do it without your knowledge and get away with it, they simply ask the networks for the money quoting a mobile phone number, and if they get lucky, you don’t notice. The networks then dip their hands into your bank account, and then deny any responsibility.
With the rise in the use of mobiles to make payments we all need to be aware that there is no legal comeback. Each time it is dealt with case by case. How many people with “pay as you go contracts” never see an itemised bill? They probably think that their mobile it simply very expensive to use, after all we are all told that they are, why check for yourself? How many people don’t bother downloading their statement now that the operators charge extra for paper billing (yes I support the green issue too, but unless a bill comes in the post I am sure many bills simply don’t get looked at)
We can’t just sit there, head in hands and say I imagine they thought about it and we just have to accept. This is still a democratic country (I know it doesn’t feel like it – but apathy doesn’t mean it isn’t) so we have to do what we can with the creaking unfair democracy we have.
Motivate your friends and family to do something about what they feel is unjust. If there are sufficient people campaigning for a change in the way of things, our politicians have to take notice. It is our responsibility to ensure we are not led into accepting, or told to accept. Stand up for yourselves!
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Me, accept things for how they aren't?but apathy doesn’t mean it isn’t
Already do. Encourage others to do the same. To put it another, much simpler way ... but ... well, I can be influential when it matters.Stand up for yourselves!
Any help, opinions, views I may hold those are my own. Respect them as you would expect the same in return. Offered freely, is gleaned from a lifetime of experiences, knowledge gaining. Passed on to benefit others. I may be direct, ask you questions but those are to help you. Up to you if you choose to take it. I won't judge you either way.
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@Uksal,
People do not understand what is happening out there with the premium rate bandits and how easy it is for them to steal from our accounts. When I was scammed I also had no idea that it could happen. If people want to ignore the threat then so be it.
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wantmemoney;20415783
or you can believe thousands of people are signing up when they are merry :rolleyes:
Yeah, right. :rotfl:
Well, I won't be complacent, nor ignore the scamming being perpetrated by these thieving companies.
I've written to my MP for what it's worth and signed uksal's petition.
When I rang and emailed T Mobile about the scammed charges on my PAYG, I must have stamped my feet/banged my fist, so to speak, very loudly and I was refunded the charges within the hour.
I've also received two more emails and two phone calls since from T Mobile, saying they were sorry for 'my trouble' and that blocks have been put on premium rate texts being received by my phone.
Oh, and was there anything else they could do to help.
I make a point of checking my account online every day now. So I'll be on them like a ton of bricks (as the saying goes) if anything else untoward were to happen.
So my advice to anyone else being scammed...SCREAM & SHOUT VERY LOUDLY at the mobile operator. Don't take 'It's up to you to get your money back' claptrap from the so called customer service call centre.
Can you tell I'm still angry? 0
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