Virgin Media call mobile phone barring rip off

Stuart_W

Bettyboop,

You can bar numbers beginning 07 and 118 by using a plug-in piece of equipment, called a phone guard, phone lock or something similar. These are not as widely available now but here is one on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/COMMTEL-PHONE-GUARD-CONTROL-YOUR-HOME-OFFICE-PHONE-BILL_W0QQitemZ270477270457QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MobilePhones_HomePhones_HomePhones_JN?hash=item3ef9b39db9#ht_1732wt_939

I presume this would work with a cable line but have no personal experience. I don't use virgin media, but I do know that with my phone company (The Phone Co-op) you can set automatic email alerts when a particular type of number is called. I receive an email whenever a number beginning 09 is called, so no one gets away with calling premium vote lines on the quiet in this house!!

Hope this helps.

bettybop

Parents who use call barring to stop children running up huge bills to mobile phones could be hit by even higher charges as devious youngsters exploit a loophole in directory enquiry services.
Computeractive has found that users of the 118 118 service can call the operator, and simply ask to be put through via its premium-rate connection service to specific mobile numbers. This works even if direct calls to mobile numbers have been blocked on a landline.
The loophole was exposed after a Computeractive reader discovered his daughter was calling mobile numbers he had barred, to avoid running up an expensive home phone bill.

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His daughter circumvented the block by calling 118 118 and giving the operator the number she wished to be connected to. The reader said 118 118 then connected her immediately, with no questions asked.
The loophole was widely known among his daughter's peers, and other parents may also end up with enormous bills. In his case, he was hit with a £567 BT bill, which he has since had to pay.
Our tests confirmed his claims - we were able to connect to a mobile phone number with no questions asked by 118 118.
ICSTIS, the premium rate watchdog, also tested -and confirmed - the loophole, after we alterted them.
"This is the first time we have heard about this," a representative said. " However, we called 118 118 ourselves and were put straight through to a mobile number with no questions asked.
"We have asked Ofcom for clarification to see if this is in breach of what a directory service should be doing," the representative added.
It is difficult to judge if any breach of terms and conditions has taken place, as 118 directory services can offer what are known as ancillary services.
These include connecting people directly to a number, although this is usually restricted to when a search for a number has been made.

OldGreyFox

Yawn going over same old ground.

MyRubyRed

bettybop wrote: »

Parents who use call barring to stop children running up huge bills to mobile phones could be hit by even higher charges as devious youngsters exploit a loophole in directory enquiry services.

Computeractive has found that users of the 118 118 service can call the operator, and simply ask to be put through via its premium-rate connection service to specific mobile numbers. This works even if direct calls to mobile numbers have been blocked on a landline.
The loophole was exposed after a Computeractive reader discovered his daughter was calling mobile numbers he had barred, to avoid running up an expensive home phone bill.

Advertisement

His daughter circumvented the block by calling 118 118 and giving the operator the number she wished to be connected to. The reader said 118 118 then connected her immediately, with no questions asked.
The loophole was widely known among his daughter's peers, and other parents may also end up with enormous bills. In his case, he was hit with a £567 BT bill, which he has since had to pay.
Our tests confirmed his claims - we were able to connect to a mobile phone number with no questions asked by 118 118.
ICSTIS, the premium rate watchdog, also tested -and confirmed - the loophole, after we alterted them.
"This is the first time we have heard about this," a representative said. " However, we called 118 118 ourselves and were put straight through to a mobile number with no questions asked.
"We have asked Ofcom for clarification to see if this is in breach of what a directory service should be doing," the representative added.
It is difficult to judge if any breach of terms and conditions has taken place, as 118 directory services can offer what are known as ancillary services.
These include connecting people directly to a number, although this is usually restricted to when a search for a number has been made.

The problem lies within your post "devious youngsters":cool: