08000mumdad. Don't get caught

flicks

My girlfriend's mobile phone began to ring at just before 11pm a few nights ago. We woke up and she answered it. She received a recorded message to tell her there was a reverse charge phone call waiting for her. As our daughter was out and staying with a friend she panicked and accepted it. There was some drunken fool just saying hello over and over again and then hung up. The call lasted around 10 seconds. She was then billed £4.50 for the privelige. I looked this company up on their web site and e.mailed them to complain. Several e.mails later they have decided that it's tough luck as when somebody calls their service they have to leave a name which is played back ti the receiver in the recorded message in order that they can decide whether to take it or not. Well as I'm sure any parent will know, if you get woken up by a recorded message about an urgent phone call at that time of night and realise your daughter is out you don't listehn for information, you just take the call. Our daughter has a contract mobile phone but obviously the fear is that it has been lost or stolen. Looking at the way the service works on their website, should you decide to reject the call the service will still continue to call you back over and over again and after the tenth time, (I believe), they will then offer you another service which is something to do with pranking whatever that is. They have now barred my girlfriend's phone number from being used again which is one good thing but surely companies like this need cracking down on. Hopefully this post will stop a few people from getting caught out like we did. If there is anybody out there who knows of an official body I can complain to about thois could they kindly let me know please? Many thanks.

fluffnutter

Was your girlfriend given an opportunity to listen to the charges before accepting?

flicks

fluffnutter wrote: »

Was your girlfriend given an opportunity to listen to the charges before accepting?

Yes she was but after getting woken at night with a scare like that the tendancy is to accept it automatically. The company have agreed to my viewpoint now and agreed to refund the charges as a goodwill gesture which is something. I do appreciate that they do have all the bases covered legally but it is a shame that this type of system is left wide open to such abuse.

fluffnutter

flicks wrote: »

Yes she was but after getting woken at night with a scare like that the tendancy is to accept it automatically. The company have agreed to my viewpoint now and agreed to refund the charges as a goodwill gesture which is something. I do appreciate that they do have all the bases covered legally but it is a shame that this type of system is left wide open to such abuse.

That's really good to know. I checked out the website and it's a legitimate service and I completely agree with why you'd automatically accept charges particularly if your child is out and about. But the charges are extortionate! 0800reverse seems a bit cheaper. But then I seem to recall that collect calls have always been expensive.

BlueAngelCV

It's really not their fault. It doesn't seem like they hide their charges, your gf was told them & who was calling (?) before she accepted the call.
The problem is the drunked idiot who presumably had the wrong number.

flicks

BlueAngelCV wrote: »

It's really not their fault. It doesn't seem like they hide their charges, your gf was told them & who was calling (?) before she accepted the call.
The problem is the drunked idiot who presumably had the wrong number.

I do kind of agree but I also kind of disagree. It's true that the drunken idiot was at fault but should a company have a system which is so easily open to abuse? As I didn't hear the call personally I can't comment on if a name was left or not. Certainly it says on their website that a name needs to be left but again it's all a question of whether you'd be with it or not after being woken by such a call and knowimng your daughter wasn't in the house.

bananagirl85

I dont know how a company would 'police' this unfortunately it is just some idiots who abuse it and think its funny and not the companies fault at all! If this servce was used properly you would be grateful for it (ie if your daughter had lost her phone and there was an emergancy) and i dont think you would mind the £4.50 charge (although it is expensive) so it isnt 0800mumdad its the individuals who think its funny to wake people up in the middle of the night then charge them the privlidge of doing so

Enfieldian

Easiest way not to get "caught"?

Don't accept the call.

If it is a member of the family that is out for the night then you can call them back on their mobile to check.

fluffnutter

Enfieldian wrote: »

Easiest way not to get "caught"?

Don't accept the call.

If it is a member of the family that is out for the night then you can call them back on their mobile to check.

...unless the reason they're phoning you collect call in the first place is because they've lost their mobile. Or been mugged.

Enfieldian

Well on those rare occasions they are screwed.

They will have to find a normal phone to use.

A bit like 25 years ago when people didn't have mobiles.

fluffnutter

Enfieldian wrote: »

Well on those rare occasions they are screwed.

They will have to find a normal phone to use.

A bit like 25 years ago when people didn't have mobiles.

And a normal phone takes what? 20p? 50p? Perhaps the muggers took all your money. I agree that the likelihood of that is rare, but I think the point is, if your son or daughter is phoning collect call, it's because they don't have a phone or money!