Tesco home phone - premium numbers tesco not interested what to do?

heather8

I have just changed providers from Tesco having been with them for over 5 years and switched to o2. Whilst looking at my last bill, I noticed that there were two 098 numbers on the bill, both calls were made in the early hours of the morning when everyone in our household is asleep. Well the call charges amounted to over £15 for both calls. So I phoned Tesco to dispute the calls.

Tesco's are not interested. Cable and wireless have tested the calls and they were made from my phone line. So I said either a burgler had entered our house whilst we were all asleep to make the two calls, or someone had hacked into my phone line. He disputed this. Not interested. he wouldn't give me his full name, wouldn't give me the name of the complaints manager or nothing other than the customer service department. So I intend to write a letter to Richard Broadbent. Any other suggestions?

I asked to speak to a supervisor or manager, was told no-one was available, put on hold for three minutes, still no one-available. Clearly there was, as someone was telling him what to say.

So now I have to pay for two calls that I, nor my DH or DS (11) made and put up and shut up. They have no team who can investigate the fraud on my line nor nothing. Would I be receiving this shoddy service had I stayed with them, probably not.

I have now been in touch with o2, when I asked them what would happen, the number would be passed to their fraud team to investigate etc etc. I have given o2 the number and they have made a note on my account. Is there anything else I can do to stop someone making calls from my line without our knowledge. I know for sure that no one here made those calls.

wantmemoney

date Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 2:35 PM
subject RE: Identity and contact details of 'company that provided the service'
hide details 9/1/10
Dear ******

Many thanks for your e-mail and the information contained within it. I have now had the opportunity to speak to both Call Republic and BT’s fraud department in relation to this matter.

BT have confirmed they have been investigating this for some time and have now passed their report to the police to review. They are aware that this problem has affected a number of their customers and believe that a form of ‘hacking’ into personal lines has taken place. BT are aware of all their consumers that have been affected by this problem and are refunding upon request. They have also been in recent contact with the PhonepayPlus Investigations team to obtain further information about the companies contracted on the numbers generating any charges.

PhonepayPlus will assist both BT and the police in providing any information that may assist their enquiries as requested but will not open a formal investigation as no breach of the Code of Practice has taken place – this appears to be fraud and this is therefore a matter for the police to investigate. Any link between Call Republic and similar problems that may have previously occurred (such as in 1995) will hopefully be discovered as part of the police investigation. We will not be in a position to provide any further information, such as any company that may have sub-contracted with Call Republic to anyone other than BT or the police as part of their investigation.

I can assure you that I have discussed this matter in detail with Paul Whiteing, Chief Executive of PhonepayPlus who is in full agreement with this course of action. Mr Whiteing has regular meetings with Sir Alistair Graham and an update will be added to the next agenda.

If you do have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Michael Pemberton
Head of Consumer Support

DDI: 020 7940 7407
Fax: 020 7940 7456
mpemberton@phonepayplus.org.uk

this is an email I received from PhonepayPlus concerning the subject

and here is some research that was done
http://www.the-scream.co.uk/forums/t30060.html?&highlight=phonepayplus+2005

it has a very interesting video at the end that you should load a listen to.

so roadside boxes are routinely hacked into to place revenue generating/revenue earning premium calls for fraudsters and the Networks will lie about it.

ps what was the number?

hippey

The don't lie and Openreach will investigate the billing issues but there is a charge for specialist investigations to the CP so you tend to find they will not get involved until really pushed!

Very unusual though for these calls to be overnight.

heather8

Hi

I don't really understand that link, as its to do with London and Virgin Media. I live in the North of England and the calls were on a BT line, but my call package was with Tesco. Everything is now with 02. I changed supplier just after the calls were made, although I didn't know about the calls until 2 weeks ago.

Should I push BT about the matter?

The number is 09829305555. Anyone regonise this?

WestonDave

Appears to be "babestation" - a TV channel/chatline. - see here - http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/09829305555