Unwanted text messages

[Deleted User]

Over the last few days i've started getting text messages from various companies, the sort where they say reply texting "*****" or to stop text "STOP".

Now I know to text stop back to unwanted text costs about £1.50 each time, i've had 3 of these texts in the last few days and so that would cost me £4.50, my monthly bill is £10.40, so you can see my problem.

Do you know if its costs me anything to receive these nuisance texts, therefore ignoring and deleting them, i've a vague memory that if you open them, you get charged for receiving. But i have to open each text to see what it is as my phone (Nokia 6200) doesnt allow a preview.

Hope that all makes sense.

king100

Deleted_User wrote: »

Over the last few days i've started getting text messages from various companies, the sort where they say reply texting "*****" or to stop text "STOP".

Now I know to text stop back to unwanted text costs about £1.50 each time, i've had 3 of these texts in the last few days and so that would cost me £4.50, my monthly bill is £10.40, so you can see my problem.

Do you know if its costs me anything to receive these nuisance texts, therefore ignoring and deleting them, i've a vague memory that if you open them, you get charged for receiving. But i have to open each text to see what it is as my phone (Nokia 6200) doesnt allow a preview.

Hope that all makes sense.

Have you googled the number that yhe text is from and sse if anyone else has them. Opening a text you will not get charged for doing that.

I have one thats says

Free msg: Text GET to 8**** to claim your reward of 200 sms/month, etc etc

text stop to ***** to stop

didnt text stop and havent had anymore.

~Have you recently signed up to this service or is it a fishing trip?

[Deleted User]

I havent signed up to anything, today's one was about an personal injury claim, how they got hold of my details i don't know. I just had an inkling that if you opened these unwanted text you were charged for receiving.

Thanks for replying.

king100

Deleted_User wrote: »

I havent signed up to anything, today's one was about an personal injury claim, how they got hold of my details i don't know. I just had an inkling that if you opened these unwanted text you were charged for receiving.

Thanks for replying.

If that was the case then I could be a millionaire.

I would send out 2 million text msgs, probably get a deal like .5pptm, that would cost me 10k, if 5% opened as you suggested then I would make £100k if it was charged at £1 per text msg.

More likely that 95% would open up, and I would make 1.9 million.

I would be sure that OFT and OFCOM would be on my case if that could happen.

The only was you get charged is if you sign upto a service.

They can get your mobile from numerous places. Maybe you went to a website that asked for your mobile number, maybe you called up someone and they then sold your data on. There are hundreds especially if your mobile is an old number.

Aslo dont forget they recycle the numbers so if its a new number it could be from the last person that had it.

[Deleted User]

Its not a new number i've had it for over 11 years, i've not signed up to anything new that i'm aware of, but i may be wrong. My DH who works as an IT manager said he thought my theory sounded familiar but without research neither of us is entirely sure.

King100 thanks for your input, maybe you could be rephrase it nicer next time.

lostinrates

bailey I have had this in the last three days as ell, and wondered where on earth it had come from.

realised

I get these texts every so often and always text back "STOP"

As far as I know i Don't think i've ever got charged for them (apart from the normal rate). Correct me if I'm wrong but I think it's when they start sending you more than 1 text that you get charged.

Craftyscholar

Deleted_User wrote: »

I havent signed up to anything, today's one was about an personal injury claim, how they got hold of my details i don't know. I just had an inkling that if you opened these unwanted text you were charged for receiving.

Thanks for replying.

You have just reminded me - I had a text about a personal injury claim - just deleted it - but I have no idea how they could have got my number. Only about three or four friends have it and I never give it to companies.

Glad

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Intasun32

king100 wrote: »

'The only was you get charged is if you sign upto a service.'

@King100,

Sorry but this is not true!

Have you ever heard of the scam called 'unsolicited reverse bill texts'? All the Networks, Ofcom, PhonePayPlus, Trading Standards, City Of London Police, DTI and many MP's have but they will do nothing about it.

What you have posted above is the excuse given by the networks, it was given to me when I was scammed some years ago. There are many threads on this and other forums by victims of this scam, yet no one cares. Why? Because the Networks can earn up to 50% of the money stolen from you, the cowboys take a cut and of course the Goverment take 20% VAT.

Why would anone want to stop this scam?

@Bailey,

All the facts I have posted can be easily confirmed by searching 'Unsolicited Reverse Bill Texts' or check it out on MSE.

If you still have the texts post the short code, the 5 figure number starting with an 8xxxx and I will find the company that has sent the texts to you and you can follow it up.

:beer: