expensive texts messages - help!

pamelavhill

A few months ago I arranged a contract mobile phone for my disabled daughter. This was arranged through Orange and as she is not working, this became a joint account with my existing mobile account. Payment each month is deducted from my bank account. January over £220 was taken in DD. I called them today to find out why and was informed that another £500 or £600 is to be taken this month! I do not have this amount and am so worried about it. Apparently my daughter has called or texted nos 78810 and 84767. One of them is charging £10 a text and keeps sending her texts (also charable) while the other is charging £3 I think. Does anyone know of a way to claim these charges back as I feel they have taken advantage of someone with a disability.
:eek:

fibee37

Hi I work for a mobile operator, we get these types of calls all of the time
Firstly she needs to text STOP to the numbers and they will unsubscribe her to the service she has signed up to

you can also contact phonepayplus just google it and they may be able to retrieve some of the money that you have had to pay out

hope you get some if not all of your money back

peterbaker

When this happened a couple of years ago (although not such a large amount) on a mobile I am billed for (it was also Orange I think) I really stuck it hard to the network in a couple of calls to their customer services. I accused them of aiding and abetting the scam by allowing fraudulent use of their network.

They escalated the call pretty rapidly because of the accusatory language I was using. The manager I spoke to was wise enough to understand quickly that I would not back down - in fact I think I told him I would be writing about it here on MSE unless he refunded the money - and lo and behold they fixed it and credited the amount they said we owed.

The sad fact is that most of the mobile network's customers would not be sufficiently confident about right and wrong in this world to go in as hard as I did and to keep hitting them hard even after they started saying "That's a very serious accusation you are making against us."

Essentially these scams would not be possible if the networks prevented them. Evidently it does not suit the network to do so and therefore they must expect overt criticism.

I wish you the best of luck.

Until Orange fix it then I say they are as bad as the scammers. Full stop.

pamelavhill

Thank you so much for your helpful replies. What would I do without MSE forum users for advice. Panic is subsiding a bit now and have sent letter to Orange and will put STOP to calls on to my daughter's phone and contact phonepayplus as reccomended. Many thanks.:T

OldGreyFox

See www.grumbletext.co.uk for helpful info on this subject.

wantmemoney

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/78810

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/84767

their are to many people making the same complaints about this company
Echovox Ltd

The Networks are the ones debiting the accounts and are keeping 50% (on average) before passing to rest to Echovox.

when is the Government going to stop this ongoing corporate theft from customers accounts?

evenasus

You might find some useful information on this thread too. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/20409493#Comment_20409493

I was also scammed some time ago but my money was refunded by T Mobile and I received a cheque from the scammers too!
See https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/21483659#Comment_21483659