T Mobile Harassment

sporedude

It does not block 3rd party SMS from coming through, It blocks them being subscribed to, If they are already subscribed to, They will continue to come through to your handset.

Intasun32

sporedude wrote: »

It does not block 3rd party SMS from coming through, It blocks them being subscribed to, If they are already subscribed to, They will continue to come through to your handset.

I am given to understand by T-Mobile that the 'Charge To Account Bar' is a 'total' block on both incoming and outgoing shortcodes once it is added to your account. Hence my advice as the handset usage. The fact that there is a subscription cannot enter into the bar, it is total.

Lawbunny can you help on the position here?

sporedude

I used to work in T-mobile Customer Service, The charge to account bar prevented charges such as 3rd party SMS being added to the bill. No way for T-mobile to totally stop them unless they are un-subscribed from the company.

Intasun32

sporedude wrote: »

I used to work in T-mobile Customer Service, The charge to account bar prevented charges such as 3rd party SMS being added to the bill. No way for T-mobile to totally stop them unless they are un-subscribed from the company.

@ Sporedude,

For peace of mind I called TM Tech to double check the info that they had given was correct and the system had not been changed. They have confirmed that the 'Charge to account bar' blocks all incoming and outgoing shortcodes, both premium rate and standard. I was informed that this is the reason that they inform customers that if the bar is added they would not be able the receive 'alerts' and other entertainment sms. Any incoming shortcode sms would be bounced back.

uksal

Intasun32, I have today had exactly the same problem with tmobile allowing unsolicited charges being applied to my account. According to them they can't remove exisiting charges. The only can block new ones. However more concerning is that they understand the problem, but are unwilling/unable to do anything about it.
I am in the position of having lost £15 to a company that I am unable to find out who they are. How can this be allowed - the mobile phone company who takes money from my bank account has to be accountable for it there is no other link.

princessjessica08

T-mobile operate a no refund policy on 3rd party sms, and if you want a refund you'd have to contact the other company. T-mobile CS should be able to give you details about the company (name and contact details) to get a refund. We only have limited info on these companies, so you might only get a name and number. Apply the charge to account bar on your contract to stop things like this happening again. I did this so it would stop me entering silly competitions that i'd never win lol

Call them again and ask for the contact details and i'm guessing they gave you the short code to text stop too?

Jess

omen666

bigsheep wrote: »

Don't you think I tried that? Did all that. But the idiots kept sending them to me.

Well you didn't mention that you done it did you?

Intasun32

uksal wrote: »

Intasun32, I have today had exactly the same problem with tmobile allowing unsolicited charges being applied to my account. According to them they can't remove exisiting charges. The only can block new ones. However more concerning is that they understand the problem, but are unwilling:mad: /unable to do anything about it.
I am in the position of having lost £15 to a company that I am unable to find out who they are. How can this be allowed - the mobile phone company who takes money from my bank account has to be accountable for it there is no other link.

Hi Uksal,

Do you have the shortcode (A five figure number begining with 8xxxx) of the text that was sent to you? Post it and I will get details of the company that has scammed you and you can chase them for a refund. T-Mobile also should be able to give you full info, but all the networks are the same and refuse to help in any way. Why? Because they earn up to 50% of the money that you have had stolen from your account.

For some info on scams such as this read this link: http://www.the-scream.co.uk/forums/t21290.html?

princessjessica08

Intasun32 wrote: »

Hi Uksal,

Do you have the shortcode (A five figure number begining with 8xxxx) of the text that was sent to you? Post it and I will get details of the company that has scammed you and you can chase them for a refund. T-Mobile also should be able to give you full info, but all the networks are the same and refuse to help in any way. Why? Because they earn up to 50% of the money that you have had stolen from your account.

For some info on scams such as this read this link: http://www.the-scream.co.uk/forums/t21290.html?

Excuse me, I work for T-mobile and I do not refuse to help customers with problems like this, I've been in a position getting unsolicited sms when I didn't start it (reason I know, is it was a new number from orange and as soon as I switched it on I got messages through). We can give limited info on who these ppl are and possibly info on what the sms contain (because we only have limited info) but I give info on how to stop and advise the charge bar on the account to avoid future problems. We can't give refunds as these have to be given by the 3rd party company. But I/WE should try to help out as much as possible in these circumstances

Jess

uksal

I appreciate that under current legislation any network provider is not compelled by law to refund the money, however they are party to the scam in that they then turn the deduction on the phone account into a deduction of cash from my bank account. I intend to follow this up with the bank under the ddr indemnity clause that states sums not agreed are not to be deducted. This will have to wait until tomorrow. It is clear to everyone that this is a scam, but the network operators don't want to spend money fixing it presumably because they either don't want to spend the money doing this, or they are getting financial incentive to process these costs. Somewhere along the line t mobile are passing the theft of my money to the scammers, surely everyone can see it is for the mobile phone operators to distance themselves. With respect the call centre staff are only doing the job they are paid to do, and are not really in a position to speak on behalf of their company. The fact that they can't give refunds is company policy, not impossible to do, there is a distinction between the two.
Currently I do not know who has my money and am completely unable to go to that company and take legal action myself. Anyone know of a solicitor or barrister who would like to take on a class action? I for one would be willing to participate in such an action. This legalised theft really does need to be stopped.
Intasun, yes I do now have a 8.. number to stop future charges, T-mobile (in my opinion) were at fault for not giving me that in the 1st instance, but now I do have it and received a stop confirmation by a different number - for safety I then sent stop to the new number. (They were 87448 & 88066) What I actually want is the company name, registration number and physical address to send my county court claim to. Unfortunately whatever I do will not stop other unfortunate people falling into the same scam. If I am unable to get my money refunded within 28 days my mobile contract will be cancelled with the £15 deduction unpaid, together with a suitable sum to cover my time. I really don't need the hassle.