MASSIVE BT Bill

gregg1

redux wrote:

You'd do well yourself not to slag off others quite as much, as there is more to it that you don't know about either.

BT did block premium rate numbers a while back, but had to cease doing so after legal action from some of the provider companies - presumably about restraint of trade.

Like it or not, there are people who want to use these premium rate numbers for whatever use, and BT are hardly able to decide who they might be. As far as I'm aware, the dialler installs by consent or at least a positive action, even if the user did not appreciate the terms.

However, despite being forced to re-allow such access, they do make available advice about the subject.

So your allegations that BT are actively promoting these schemes, and possibly involved in money-laundering, may be found by BT to be defamatory. And you haven't stated some of these facts, despite claiming to be aware of everything

maybe my tone was a tad aggressive but please try and understand the facts. If you read what I said again, you will see that I have have merely agreed that SOMEONE ELSE's comments may be correct and that SOME MAY SAY that BT could be accused of certain things. I did not say that BT were promoting these schemes -but that they failed to help people who had been hit by this scam.

Its really not an issue whether you think I have been unfair to BT - I am sure the person who first posted this thread feels the same way. its very easy for people to criticise when you have not been a victim. Also, BT are actually still operating a premium rate ban free of charge. Our dialler DID NOT install either by consent or a positive action (BT acknowledged this). Why on earth do people not understand that when folk have been ripped off like this, of course they are angry, of course they are not going to say good things about BT - would you! The simple facts are that BT made an already bad situation a thousand times worse by their atrocious attitude and complete lack of customer service.

Please try and understand how we feel and why we are so angry.

gregg1

spankymonkey wrote:

i agree in some cases what gregg1 said ictis do know about some of these scams way before alot of us do and they do tell the telephone companies. one of the agreements of these dialers is that they should have a cut off limit. which is £20. and i know alot of them do not disconnect at this limit as it happened to me and tried to dial again 3 times in the space of 1 hour...but these scammers move away before they get summonsed and set up again reaping in their rewards, and we all lose out because bt and ictis (and any other provider) is letting them. the people who scammed me had moved away and changed name by the time they had been fined so didnt get the summons and i didnt get my money back, even though they were in the wrong!

spankymonkey - thanks for that - its nice to know that someone understands (and speaks some sense at last). Sorry you were ripped off - our scammer was in Panama. Their number was on the ICSTIS scammer list BEFORE we were hit, which makes it harder to understand why they allowed them to carry on. Anyway, we were told to write to the Company in Panama and ask for our money back!! Yeah, right! Provide them with further details about us - not likely.

gregg1

thanks - appreciate your comments. We also had Spybot on our system which is an added puzzle as to how the dialler got in. Spose we were very unlucky - it cost us though!

Thanks again.

bikeman

Browntoa wrote:

Bt's problem is that they only hold about 10 pence of the £1.50 a minute ( or whatever )

Negotiate, with ICTIS involved, to meet BTs cost* and withhold the outpayment to the company that owns the prem rate number. Chances are BT is aware that others have been scammed by this comapny and BT wont be paying out to them anyway.

*the outpayment that BT passes on is given in their tariff list.

gregg1

The_Bride wrote:

Hey everyone,
Hope this is the right forum for this. Basically my parent's in law have a problem with their BT bill. Their dial-up was hijacked by a rogue company which charged them huge amounts every time they were online.
You can see where this is going?
Of course they now have a massive BT bill, around £900, which they can not pay. BT are refusing to negotiate on this and have cut their service.
I know this was in the news a little while ago but can not find any information on how to deal with this problem.
Do they have any options here aside from paying the bill?
Any and all advice welcome!
The Bride

:xmassign:

can I also suggest if your parents pay by direct debit then they cancel it while the dispute is going on - just pay your normal bill by cheque for the time being - a bit more inconvenient I know but gives you more control and they cant just help themselves to the whole amount. I did this when I was a victim of this scam and am glad I did. Hope this helps.

Browntoa

there is a guide about removing this sort of stuff effectively on the forum

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=133269

and a bit of free software from Bt themselves(sort of proves they are trying to help!! )

http://www.btmodemprotection.com/

Whilst there are some 4,000 diallers registered with ICSTIS, the UK premium rate industry regulator, working perfectly legitimately, some websites will dupe you into producing high call charges through downloading a supposedly 'harmless' program, application, or service that will include an unregistered dialler. The dialler software is often invisible to users, running discretely in the background so that you do not notice any disruptions. Unexpectedly high call charges associated with unregistered diallers are often only discovered when you receive your phone bill.

Our Response

In response to the growing problems internet users are experiencing regarding unregistered diallers BT have developed a software application that will help combat the issue and minimise the probability of an end user being tricked by unregistered diallers into making these calls.

By monitoring dial-up connections our software will alert you anytime your computer attempts to dial a premium rate, international or non-approved number. The software is for information purposes only, it will alert you to the fact you are dialling a premium rate number, it will not stop the call, it is your responsibility to cease the call if necessary by disconnecting. If in any doubt you should unplug your modem and check your settings before attempting to redial.

Once downloaded, the software automatically launches everytime you start your computer. It monitors internet dial-up connections and alerts you when unauthorised users attempt to dial restricted numbers. When suspicious activity is noticed a display window will warn "You are attempting to dial a premium rate, international or non-approved number. If you do not want to proceed with this call hang up. If in any doubt you should unplug your modem and check your settings before attempting to redial".

If you are alerted by this window you should unplug your modem and run your anti-virus software to check for problems.

gregg1

iainkirk wrote:

The best cure for this problem is of course.....BROADBAND!

(or stop surfing !!!!!!!!)

thanks for that iainkirk ("font of all knowledge") - try this for size - WE CAN'T HAVE BROADBAND - RURAL LOCATION - DUUURRR (and, this might be hard for you to get your little head round but believe it or not, not everyone surfs !!!!!!!!!).

j-baby-scotland

I've been hit with a trojan dialler once even though I have broadband.
I also had Spybot & Ad-aware.

Fortunately the call costs came to under £1.00 for several calls, not premium rate.

I opted to buy Xoftspy software ($39.95)... no further problems.

http://www.xoftspy.net/

gregg1

j-baby-scotland wrote:

I've been hit with a trojan dialler once even though I have broadband.
I also had Spybot & Ad-aware.

Fortunately the call costs came to under £1.00 for several calls, not premium rate.

I opted to buy Xoftspy software ($39.95)... no further problems.

http://www.xoftspy.net/

Glad to hear you did not get stung for too much. Thanks for the tip - we do now have broadband so are more secure and have the software you suggest. Feel sorry for the lady's parents at the beginning of the thread though - its not right these things are allowed to go on unchecked.

mrJ_5

if you have broadband - you dont need to leave the dialup modem plugged into the phone line