Orange - Multimedia Sub £3.40?

lollymitch

I've just discovered this charge on my Orange bill and have contacted Traffic TV to cancel it. They said:

'Orange pre-install it on many of their phones. When the user opens the app for the first time and it makes an active connection to Orange, then Orange send us the mobile number and ask us to start a subscription, beginning with a 30 day trial period. The user is informed via a T&C's screen that they have 30 days free, after which it is charged at £4 per month by Orange via the Orange Billing department, unless the user cancels it.'

I don't remember opening it or agreeing to T&Cs! I don't even think my phone at the time had internet access on it. It turns out I've been charged £4 per month since Dec-07 - my fault for not noticing this on my bill sooner (though I don't get paper itemised bills), but that's over £172 for something I've never used.

I've emailed Orange today with all the details and I hope they will give me a refund or credit on my account.

ifthingsdontaddup

@lollymitch Did they refund you?

I just spoke to an extremely rude lady at Orange who blamed me for clicking on it.

Just discovered I "subscribed" after 9 months of charges on my Desire HD. Wouldn't refund, not even credit. Tesco Mobile, here I come (and my family and parents)

That's six phone contracts.

Dumyat

I've just been caught in this scam too, fortunately I have noticed the first payment going out of my account.
Can't believe this is legal, I am fastidious about checking small print and I know I have never opted into this.

AdamOC84

I have just arrived at the end of my 24 month contract. I happened to notice I was charged for Traffic TV on my last bill, I then went to check in detail my other bills and found that since joining Orange I had been paying £4 a month for this Traffic TV thing, something I never asked for, wanted or needed.

After contacting Orange they informed me I set up the subscription by activating a pre loaded app on my smartphone the day after receiving my phone. After complaining and speaking to 4 different people over a course of 3 days they said it was my own fault for not checking my bills in detail and contacting them sooner to cancel the service, and only offered me £30 good will gesture. I made it very clear I was not happy and proceeded to take my complaint further and further up the chain of command.

I have just finished a phone conversation where the outcome was a full refund of the 24 months payment totalling £96. Stick at your guns people, accept nothing more than a full refund!

This is a very sly way for a company to take more money from unsuspecting customers.

:money: viva la revolution :money:

GettinBetter

kevkev960 wrote: »

........ becuase im really not in the mood to phone up oranage and have some rubbish spoken to me. just need a simpe yes or no answer please

Yep, thats just how I feel...wasting my life listening and talking to rubbish software, and stupid people. Its all just scamming now days...they all seem to rely on a large quantity of people not bothering, or losing the will to live after having a go at sorting it.

Might be a good idea to remove all preloaded apps just to be on the safe side..least if you've got an app on there it'll be because you need it.

focaldepth

My fiance's bill has started showing up the 3.33 TrafficTV charge.
As per above she has no app installed (she does not use the apps).

Will ring tomorrow and see how we get on with a refund.

Even if this is in the T&C and even if someone opens an app, how is this legal?

runforlife

I know this is an old thread so even more concerning that this is still ongoing!

On Monday Mrs RFL rang Orange to inform them that she had been subscribing to Traffic TV for years. Without argument or objection of any sort Orange immediately agreed to refund this contracts charges - 2 months - and made sure it was cancelled. A request to refund the whole of the last contract was met with a positive response. Said that as the contract was now concluded it would be sent to the relevant department and once calculated a credit to her bank account will be made. Will of course keep an eye out for that.

The fact that Orange did this without any argument suggests to me they know they are on thin ice.

We were prepared to argue that as the bill payer had not authorised the continuing payments - can only assume that one of the kids started the app as Mrs RFL has never used it - then that would be grounds for refund. It's ok putting the app on the phone but there has to be more robust choices to opt out of it.

Earthworm

You should still be checking your bills on a monthly basis. Not noticing a £3.40 charge on your bill every month for years leaves you open to charges and there would have been absolutely no way of proving you didn't sign up to the service.

By paying the bill without question you are accepting the charges on it whether you looked at the bill or not. You are very lucky to get that money back.

runforlife

I agree. It would have been better to check the bills closely however the cost is buried in the list of itemised billing. However my argument still stands that Orange agreed to refund so readily and there have been plenty of other customers who have had this issue.

runforlife

Update - well a refund of sorts with the first bill since the call. However they have totally failed to do as they said they would. No surprise unfortunately.

Despite repeatedly asking on the phone "Have you cancelled the Traffic TV App?" it appears yet again on this months bill….(sigh)

This also despite going through the Traffic TV automated cancellation process.

And no contact from the department who are supposed to be considering the refund of previous years.

Will give them a call on Monday.