Possible compensation for dial-up fraud

MSE_Martin

I've received countless e-mails about the premium rate scandal, where people have been charged £100 after their dial up internet connections have been virus tricked into calling premium rate lines.

Unfortunately it seems there's little help available. BT refuses to compensate and the regulators don't seem to be forcing them.

A solicitor has set up a fighting fund that you may be interested in, though you'll need to make your own decision on whether you think it's worth it.

http://www.premiumratescam.co.uk/

To discuss or comment click reply.

Martin

gt94sss2

I would advise people to avoid this company.

There are several reasons but briefly:

1. It seems to have been set up by a firm of solicitors who do not seem fully aware of the issues like how one gets infected (my impression of their FAQ page anyway) and they seem to be "wagon jumping"

2. The chances of them actually winning any court case againt BT is (very) slim. on this issue (just trust me on this)

3. They appear to want £60 from everyone (minimum 2,500 people) interested to fund their court action/costs.

Now even though quite a few people have been impacted in the past by a premium rate scams, the "average loss" is well under £60 and who is going to spend more than they have lost anyway.

Also if you read the FAQ carefully, they say even where we win and you don't have to pay for the calls you may not get all or any of the £60 back!

Regards
Sunil

fragster

i have suffered this before, with a bill of over £2000

http://www.apqs69.dsl.pipex.com/bill5.jpg

http://www.apqs69.dsl.pipex.com/bill6.jpg

we just refused to pay it and had to give our computer to police analysers for a while, never paid the bill though there was a lot of hassle

Steve_xx

The website seems to want to concentrate its effots on BT customers only. Premium rate scams are equally prevalent amongst non BT customers.

I think the right organisation for premium rate type complaints is ICSTIS and/or Otelo (Office of Telecommunications Ombudsman) Here is a link to the site: http://www.otelo.org.uk/content.php?menuID=25&pageID=10

Nadine

Sounds like a great idea to me - surely a reputable firm of solicitors woudn't be getting involved in this if they didn't think there was a fair chance of success?

Steve_xx

See my post above. There is no need to appoint firms of solicitors to act. The UK regulatory regime already has appropriate bodies in place to deal with these scamsters on a direct and immediate basis.

Nadine

Although ICSTIS has introduced a tighter regulatory regime recently, it is not generally insisting that BT refunds customers who have suffered from this scam. In fact many customers are being threatened with cut off if they don't pay up. ICSTIS needs stronger teeth!

Steve_xx

Nadine - yes agreed, ICSTIS do need to get even tougher. Though they have got better recently.

Otelo seems to have power to act in an arbitrary way, thereby enabling it to force member companies to pay out.

ohit

Not seen this web site, but advice should be given to everyone to simply barr premium rate numbers from being allowed to be called.

In fact, say the telecoms companies do this as standard, and require opt-in type access to such numbers, then this scam would never have even worked in the first place.

Even if people out there are taught how to protect computers in the first place would cause such scams to not work.

Ignorance is terrible

JonWard

Barring the premium rate calls is excellent advice.

I followed Martins telecom gudiance and switched from BT to Toucan. Toucan have recently barred premium rate calls by popular demand.

As I also use the 18866 and the 1899 call service you can still call premium rate numbers but you have to do it by adding the "18866" or "1899" number before the 090 number. You are therefore in control. Any virus you may get on your computer will not be aware of the need to add these numbers and therefore will fail to connect to the premium rate number.

P.S. Would just like to say Martin is performing a fantastic service. Ive saved so much money since reading his advice and guidance it is unbelievable. Well done and keep up the good work.

[Deleted User]

Why is this only limited to dial up and not Broadband?

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