Unknown dialup dialler has cost me

DonkeyKong77 · 16 April 2005 at 9:33AM

Hi
Not sure where this post is meant to be posted - internet access/home phone/techie board?

The thing is just got my BT bill - expected it to be really low, been usig 18866, have net mobile mins etc - but some sort of dialler which uses a 0871 number has cost me upwards of £20, without which the bill would have made much happier reading!

I have no idea how ths dialler got on, but its soething called "derbiz" and as soon as i noticed it was off, used "hijack this" and got rid of the problem - downloaded zonealarm, adawareaway and endless popupbockers but i still get pop ups!for sms, ringtones and downloading some sort of prog etc

The derbiz dialler seemed to have taken over the main dial up connector (one tel) so everytime we used the net it went via derbiz!

I'm extremely peeved at this moment, at the end of the day i should have noticed earlier, but is there any way i can qeuery the bill with BT and get some sort of refund? Not sure One Tel will do anything about it? I might have to system restore to about a month or more back and see what happens (sorry thinking/typing aloud)

I've increased the security setting on the pc - via internet options - but as soon as the pc is switched on the nternet connection (via OneTel) is automatic - is there anything i can do to stop this?

Sorry for the length of this post - but feel a bit better for having asked.

Thanks

criminal_smile · 16 April 2005 at 9:54AM

You are one of a very long line of people in this situation, and with a bill of only £20 extra, have got away very lightly. In the first instance, you will need to make a formal complaint to ICSTIS.
The line from the phone companies is that they are not responsible for what you download to your comp, but this attitude is being challenged by a hard line from OFCOM. See this article for more info.

As for ending the automatic connections, in your tools --> internet options --> connections, there is a checkbox to always dial default connection automatically. There is also another below 'never dial a connection' that allows you to see on screen a box with connection details every time you try to connect to the net. You can then ensure that you ARE connecting to your chosen provider.

HTH

Rex_Mundi · 16 April 2005 at 10:00AM

In Internet Explorer, try Tools>Internet options>connections (tab at the top)
Make sure that it is ticked never dial a connection, click apply then OK.

shrek101 · 16 April 2005 at 11:27AM

I found some infor here on that dialler

http://forums.whatpc.co.uk/thread.jsp?forum=11&thread=56642&message=360416

and here

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Swamped_by_spyware_Elite_Toolbar_and_more-t15374.html

Whitefiver · 16 April 2005 at 11:53AM

Also worth running Spybot, Adaware, and maybe even the MS Antispyware tool on a regular basis. All are free (or at least have free versions).

Regards,

White

andy88_2 · 16 April 2005 at 3:55PM

SpywareBlaster or Spybot will block the installation of many of these (don't know if that one included)

I'm not quite sure about the advice about ticking 'Never dial a connection'. It's not wrong, but mine is still on 'Always dial my default connection', so I don't normally have to choose which of three.

Then, on the Connections page, as described, press Settings >

make sure the automatic settings at the top are off

Then > Properties > Options tab;
Display progress while connecting
Prompt for name and password, certificate, etc
Prompt for phone number

These are probably default settings anyway, but it's worth checking

spankymonkey_2 · 16 April 2005 at 6:19PM

take note of the number it is dialing, and also contact B.T too. i got stung for nearly £50 last year im on ntl and i never got anything back. most of these dialer companies are abroad . N.T.L blocked 090 numbers, which i had to pay for,it seems unusual that it was an 0870 number, most times its an 090 number which is premium rate?

Backbiter · 16 April 2005 at 9:23PM

IMO these rogue dialler firms are like burglars who are stealing from innocent householders. To me it is an outrage that BT can collect money on their behalf and somehow forward it to these ****ards. if OFCOM can't do anything then the law should be changed so it can.

shrek101 · 16 April 2005 at 9:28PM

I agree Backbiter some of these companies are no more than thiefs that appear to get away with it, or at most a slap on the wrist.

Browntoa · 16 April 2005 at 9:32PM

BT did block all this number range for a while to stop these diallers but after complaints by Ofcom they were told they were NOT allowed to block !!

Bt are trialling a bit of software in northern Ireland that gives you a Safe list of internet numbers, stops them being changed, due for release here next month

samsyerman · 18 April 2005 at 4:02PM

Criminal Smile

You posted on the 16 April 2005 about your experience of this scam and how OFCOM were doing something about it. I am from Northern ireland also and I was stung like this last year for over £180 over one weekend. I complained to BT who said the only thing they could do was bar my telephone from dialling these numbers but that I would have to pay the bill.

I was told that I could make a complaint against these charges when my next quarterly bill arrived but the money had already left my account by the time my statement had arrived as I pay by direct debit each month. Then BT told me to contact ICTSIS and they informed me through their website that the numbers which showed up on my bill were currently being investigated and advised me to write to them asking for a refund. I did but the phrase "pigs might fly" springs to mind.

Have you any further advice, and do you think that OFCOM's report may become legislation.

Unknown dialup dialler has cost me

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