Expensive Spam texts - I have some help

kaaloo

A lot of MSE members (including mysefl) have been affected by expensive spam text messages costing £1.50+ per text.

I came across this site which seems to be really helpful.

Hope it helps as this problem is truly annoying

http://www.grumbletext.co.uk/index.php

K ;D

barjam_2

thanks for this kaaloo my son has been having probs with texts i will be looking on this site

Jonni2bad

Thankfully I have not received one of these myself - YET.
But I am really concerned that this will affect so many more of us in the near future, unless we all act now. I have recently asked each phone provider to confirm their policy regarding unsolicited texts and I am starting to receive their replies now.

As you can imagine, their responses are typically 'cut and paste' efforts from standard response 'manuals'. Alarmingly, Virgin, who I am with, stated:

"While we can stop sending you unwanted messages, we're unable to stop other companies sending them to you."

and later....

"You'll be pleased top hear that there are a number of steps you can take to limit the amount of unwanted messages you get.
1) If they're unwanted 'junk' messages, you can register with the Telephone Preference Service to limit the amount you receive."

Well, that's ok then! We can't stop it, but you might be able to reduce the number of them! I take this to mean they are not bothered about the risk to their customers, i.e. me!

T_Mobile's response seemed more clear cut;

"As previously advised most 3rd party text messages are activated via your phone, their website or through advertisement. It is not possible for someone to receive a 3rd party text message, without activating the service by either of the above ways."

But I guess a number of you reading this would disagree strongly. Once I have received all the replies, I am going to contact my local MP and ask for his opinion on the subject. It's not hard to involve your MP, by the way, you can even use the website below to send them a letter for free -

http://www.writetothem.com/

I will post again when I get more replies....

kaaloo

wow Jonni2bad! - Im impressed with your actions.

I am also dissapointed with the "we dont care" attittude of mobile phone companies.

A lot of spam texts seem to be generated by people going on websites and using services such as free text messaging. And of course no one sends themselves a text - it is others.

Therefore it is clear that ANYONE could go on line and send me a text message via these services and I would have no say in the matter - and this is what has happened to me on  a few occasions.

Good luck with the efforts and please do keep us posted.

K  ;D

Edinburghlass_2

I have lost some £10 credit on a PAYG phone on Orange through texts coming one after another and being unable to stop them. Fortunately I have 5 free texts a day and a couple of days later was able to text back STOP.

Orange were next to useless, all they would say was that I MUST have signed up for them. Someone suggested that perhaps I had texted a vote to something like BB but funnily enough the only thing I could think of that I had texted was Orange themselves for the 2for1 cinema tickets ???

kaaloo

I terminated my contract with Orange after years of paying them a large monthly fee by direct debit purely due to their inaction on this subject - they simply did not want to know so I protested by leaving them.

If they really wanted to help, they could make the system only work if users "opted in" to receive such trash.

This daylight robbery and its legal - if I was as unethical as these companies, I would set up my own spam texting service and give up my day job. I would only have to get up in the morning to turn my pc on.

Makes me sick.

Sofa_Sogood

I don't know if I'm missing the point here, but are people being charged for incoming texts?

Edinburghlass_2

I don't know if I'm missing the point here, but are people being charged for incoming texts?

In short, yes!!

Sofa_Sogood

In short, yes!!

How bad is that? To have to pay for something that you don't want and haven't asked for!

Makes me wonder how I got two text msgs from a www site for ringtones when only my husband and brother have the number. Husband wouldn't send it and bro wouldn't know a www site from a zzz site.

I'm glad I've let the credits run out now.

Good luck with the campaign though.

DonnyDave

Simple answer: Ban reverse charged premium rate SMS messages

TREVORCOLMAN

Whenever you apply for ANYTHING NEVER add your mobile number. Ok it may not stop this sort of thing totally but may cut down on the odds!


;D