Friday Ad - BEWARE

Azari

burfy1 wrote: »

Thanks for that info, that's interesting. But as a seller, I would still like to think that the buyer knows that they are ringing a premium rate number.
I presume the the majority of sellers would opt for this (so their number is not published), which is what Friday Ad want....sorry I'm being synical.

You are quite right to assert that something underhand is going on.

The information about the cost of the call should be printed with the number.

Hiding it behind a link is relying on your confidence that the site is above board to trick you into spending money you would not otherwise have spent.

It is a trick based on you confidence. A confidence trick. A scam.

(OK, as scams go it's hardly the most egregious but it's a scam, nontheless.)

System

Isn't the Nanny state doing enough for you? Fancy expecting somebody to check telephone rates themselves.

The inability to follow a link or be aware that an 070 number is a premium rate still does not make it a scam. However it says more about the people complaining

Azari

!!!!!! wrote: »

Isn't the Nanny state doing enough for you? Fancy expecting somebody to check telephone rates themselves.

The inability to follow a link or be aware that an 070 number is a premium rate still does not make it a scam. However it says more about the people complaining

There is a law that says that premium rate numbers must be specified as such where they are printed. (Not referred to as 'privacy' which does not imply a premium rate.)

Thus people have confidence that if there are no details about pricing then the call will be at a standard rate.

These people are tricking people because they are relying on the confidence engendered by that known rule.

That is why it is a confidence trick or scam.

There are many, many, things that we assume, because there are rules there to protect everyone. Calling that the 'nanny state' is just plain stupid.

System

But 070 numbers are classed as Personal Numbers. Not all numbers charging above the normal rates are officially premium rate numbers. Consumers now assume that any phone call that charges above the normal rates is a premium number - it is not.

Azari

!!!!!! wrote: »

But 070 numbers are classed as Personal Numbers. Not all numbers charging above the normal rates are officially premium rate numbers. Consumers now assume that any phone call that charges above the normal rates is a premium number - it is not.

This old chestnut again.

If I have to pay a premium rate to call a number then it's a premium rate number.

We do not have anything like the Academie française that has the authority to dictate how language can be used.

Just because some QUANGO is daft enough to believe that a number that requires you to pay a premium rate is not a premium rate number is no reason for the rest of the population to go along with their idiocy.

System

A Quango doesn't, an Act of Parliament does.

Azari

!!!!!! wrote: »

A Quango doesn't, an Act of Parliament does.

I believe that you are wrong.

The definition is made by PhonePlayPlus (formerly ICSTIS ) which is neither set up, authorised or limited by act of parliament.

If you have any evidence that that assertion is incorrect please provide it. Otherwise I stand by my assertion that there is no definition of 'Premium Rate' that is backed by statute.

And only an idiot would argue that a phone call for which you have to pay a premium rate is not a premium rate number.

burfy1

Thank you for your support Azari, I've asked a couple of people today, and they also never realised that they are paying premium rates when they have used Friday Ad in the past. I'll just make sure I'm quick in the future.

burfy1

burfy1 wrote: »

Thank you for your support Azari, I've asked a couple of people today, and they also never realised that they are paying premium rates when they have used Friday Ad in the past. I'll just make sure I'm quick in the future.

Has anyone else noticed these phone charges or is the general opinion that it is acceptable?

gesseg

I find this practice completely underhanded and not at all what I would expect from what I thought was a trustworthy company.

I, like many people presumed all 07 numbers were mobiles so called about an ad from my contract mobile, this month I had a particularly high bill so went through the itemization and found that ringing this ad for 12 minutes cost me £7.60!

I also find it unacceptable that the rate of the number isnt made clear under the number like all other premium rate numbers.

Grrrr!