Unsolicited Text Messages

[POSSETTE]

could try replying with "STOP" that may work..

[MRS TO BE]

Its seems nothing is going to stop these premium rate texts. Now I am having problems and I know I haven't signed up....to think I thought my other half was lying before!

Vodafone are not interested at all. Its been mentioned on here by several people about Martin taking this up as this is a huge consumer problem. Any ideas how we let him know?

[MRS TO BE]

Sorry Just Need To Vent!!! Vodafone Aid And Albeit Criminals In These Phone Scams.

[wantmemoney]

hi MRS TO BE,
Four years ago my family were 'scammed' and because of the total lack of help from Icstis and BT I investigated the fraud myself.
I gave my findings to the local police and later discovered they had 'binned' it.
I then gave it to my local MP who requested Margaret Hodge (DTI) to instigate a criminal investigation.
She refused and forwarded my findings to Icstis.
They then proceeded to remove all references from their web that related to my case.
I also sent what I had found to a BBC producer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4397308.stm

As you can see our politicians and regulators are as much a part of this 'industry' fraud as the scammers

and yes it would be nice to have someone like Martin to take up this problem.

ps they have the same problem in the US
http://classactionconnect.com/cell_phone_issues/
http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com...e-content.html

[wantmemoney]

Originally Posted by MRS TO BE

partners just had a shocking phonebill £160 with unsolicited texts. tried emailing them from info on Phonepayplus website and email address out of date.

out of interest
Did the bill contain any contact info of the company or short codes

[MRS TO BE]

No we have had to phone up for them. Blue Stream, 2ergo, mobtopia, planet mob.

Just had a quick look at your story. Think I remember it. Shocking isn't it what they can get away with!

Currently on vodafones eforum ranting. Making me feel a bit better!

[MRS TO BE]

I have been ranting on the vodafone E forum and this is the reply I have received.

Vodafone are certainly working on this type of bar as we speak and we're waiting for some definitive answer as to when it's going to be rolled out. I will certainly be using it myself when it arrives!


Please bear with us and we will post here when we know more.


Thanks


Mike

eForum Team


As far as i'm concerned Vodafone should be held liable for all charges until this bar is put in place. T mobile have the bar so why don't the others.

I would urge all mobile phone users to email their provider and ask exactly what they are doing about it. This can happen to anybody and basically you could have a bill for £100s next month and they won't do a thing to stop it

Heres vodafones email if anyone wants it customer.care@vodafone.co.uk

[MRS TO BE]

And this is the reply from T Mobile..looks like I will be changing to them the second my contract is up.

Thanks for your email Tania, asking me to confirm if T-Mobile have the facility to bar shortcode and premium rate messages as you're currently looking to leave Vodafone after receiving unsolicited text messages.
I'd like to tell you that we can make sure that you don't receive any unsolicited messages by adding a bar to your account. This will stop any services being sent to your phone, including downloads, such as ringtones, games, pictures and videos. It will also stop alert services such as football alerts, alerts from your bank and horoscopes.
Thanks again for taking the time to email me Tania, and I'm sure the information I've provided you today helps.
If you have any further queries, please feel free to reply to this email or visit our help and advice section by clicking here.
Kind regards

Y**** L*****
Customer Services Email Team
T-Mobile

[RichardsonBubblehat]

Has anyone who had money stolen off them by Innov8 actually received a refund yet?

It's been about 3 weeks since I was told I would get a refund. I emailed last week to ask where it was, and was told that it had been sent recorded delivery and I should have received it. I hadn't, so I asked them to tell me when it had been sent, and I haven't received a reply since, even though I've emailed them twice. Fortunately for me, they say it was sent recorded delivery, so there will be proof that I never received it.

If they are trying to demonstrate that they aren't a crooked company, then they are doing a bad job at it.

[RichardsonBubblehat]

I love the name "Lawful Guarding Services" - it's like the "Legitimate Businessmen's club" in the Simpsons.

I had a look at what the police can do:
http://www.met.police.uk/reporting_crime/index.htm#Frau
They suggest you go to PhonepayPlus, and failing that Ofcom. I imagine they don't have the facilities or manpower to investigate minor phone problems, but if there was enough evidence to indicate a larger fraud I expect they would have to get involved. It's probably worth popping down your local police station anyway with as much information as you can get, or maybe getting in touch with West Midlands police in whose region the crime was committed.

Ofcom can't help with individual problems, but you can leave information in their Consumer Monitoring Form, which may have an effect on legislation some years down the line:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/mob...?itemid=285865

If Dialogue.co.uk actually sends the SMS's on behalf of Innov8 then it may be good to complain to them about Innov8, and try to get them to cease dealing with them, and all the known people who work for them. As Dialogue are a more reputable company, I doubt they want to be associated with dodgy dealings:
http://www.dialogue.co.uk

Orange won't do anything, but if you find the whole thing annoying and stressful then ring the Orange helpline and have a conversation with someone in India who you can't understand, and doesn't understand you. You will forget all your troubles and be amused for hours afterwards.

[wantmemoney]

Originally Posted by RichardsonBubblehat

If Dialogue.co.uk actually sends the SMS's on behalf of Innov8 then it may be good to complain to them about Innov8, and try to get them to cease dealing with them, and all the known people who work for them. As Dialogue are a more reputable company, I doubt they want to be associated with dodgy dealings:

http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/business/adjudications/search.asp?AD=28%2F05%2F2008&SP=Dialogue+Communica tions+Ltd&ST=&SpLookup=Search&Keywords=&cmd=2

22 May 2008
http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/busin...eywords=&cmd=2

[RichardsonBubblehat]

Wow - Dialogue have been busy. It's good to see that the fines and formal reprimands are really making them get their act together...

[diamonds]

we can help stop spam


Forward any spam messages to 7726 free of charge from your Orange phone.

[Soubrette]

Originally Posted by RichardsonBubblehat

Wow - Dialogue have been busy. It's good to see that the fines and formal reprimands are really making them get their act together...

I haven't received any refund. My MP has asked for more details and I've been hanging on for my phone bill and hopeful refund so I can tell him exactly how much money I've spent (on the premium rate number) and whether or not I receive the refund. I've emailed and will wait until Weds and then I'll send him the details anyway.

Sou

[wantmemoney]

just a suggestion
it may be an idea for you guys who posted problems on this thread to post the details of the scams on grumbletext
it's probably best to keep the post short but include all the important details
http://www.grumbletext.co.uk/

[onacrusade]

Hi all I also had one of these unsolicited texts from 83373 on 30th may which was for Astrojune horoscope. At no time would I ever subscribe to such a service. I rang orange who gave me the details and said going back to November 07 they could never see me having texted this number to subscribe.they gave me the tel number for Phone pay plus 0800 500212. I rang them and logged a complaint. I maged to get tel number for Innov8 which as others have said is just a recorded message. I emailed them on sales@innov8messaging.co.uk. mentioning this thread and due to the numbers of people involved i did not believe it to be an error, was more likely mass fraud/theft and that if I did not get a response I would be contacting the police.
I received a reply within 30 mins stating that they had fully investigated (unlikely) it was a data inputting error and lots of numbers were input incorrectly. If I gave them my address they would arrange a cheque by way of refund.
Having never wanted to deal with this company in the first place I rwas unwilling and refused to give my address and told them to issue a cheque made payable to me and send to Phonepayplus for the attn of Nathan and to quote my case number. As they are the regulator I would be willing to give them my address and they could forward the cheque to me. I received a reply from Innov8 yesterday agreeing to do this.
So I am slightly hopeful that this might have been resolved. will let you know if and when I receive a cheque.

On a secondary point my next crusade is with Orange, they have told me there was is no way they can stop these chargeable text messages being put through to my phone. Basically I went mad and have accused them of being in coersion with these companies, and that if they can not protect me as a customer from this kind of fraud then I will be looking for a company that can and there is absolutely NO way they are holding me to my contract.
I rang and spoke to a lovely guy at T-mobile, who advised me that their customers can request that chargeable text messages are blocked from their phones.

He said that they have had this service in place for 18 months and they bought it in because of this activity as it was affecting not only their customers but also their staff.

I am now going to take this matter further with Orange, and will certainly be moving to T-mobile.

I would be interested to know if Orange take a percentage of the cost of these chargeable text messages,

does anyone know?

becky

[onacrusade]

Hi I have had same problem from 83373 Orange told me there is nothing they can do to block them,
Rang T-mobile who I saw on another thread, lovely guy there said that they have had a service in place for the last 18 months where you can request that a block is put on these types of chargeable messages. It was put in place as so many of their customers AND STAFF were being scammed by these companies. If they can do it so should all the other mobile phone providers. The only way they will learn is if we all move to a company that will protect it's customers.
Will definately be moving myself, my next move is to find out what percentage Orange is making from these messages.
Anyone know?

[MRS TO BE]

I have had similar dealing with vodafone and wrote on their E forum. After several communications by email they confirmed they receive a small percentage of revenue from these text messages. this was after their agent said they didn't. I too am leaving to go to Tmobile but going to post about in another thread as need advise about breaking out of contract.

I would suggest you and everyone else email vodafone orange 02 virgin etc and complain. Ask about revenue and what are they doing about it.

Vodafone claim they are hoping to have a bar in place by end of summer but for me its too little to late.

[onacrusade]

I have just spoken to phonepayplus who have told me due to the numbers of people that have complained about 83373 they are starting an investigation into this, that will take 12 weeks and they will contact me at the end of that time,


Have also just spoke to Orange who firstly told me that they dont take any money from these chargeable text messages then went away and checked and came back saying they take 10-20% from each message.

and in their words
"we dont at the moment have any way where we can block these messages, we might do in the future! were not allowing these companies to do it we just can't stop them"

In my view It's not a case of they CANT stop it, they DONT want to stop it, why stop a nice little earner when you have one!!!!!!

[MRS TO BE]

Email them to complain. They take no notice of a phone call.

by the way phone pay plus are useless see prev posts!