Micro Billing System scam

Browntoa

found this update

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jun/26/digitalvideo.consumeraffairs

nothings changed

Though some consumers complain of being caught out by the popup bills from getfilmsnow.com, we found the installation process unmistakable: signing up involves a download, clicking through screens, and entering a four-digit number. But forget to cancel the trial, and a £29.99 bill for 30 days' subscription soon pops up. The software is difficult to remove, too. But where are the films? The Platte International website claims to have "licenses in place with all of the major film studios and music labels". But Twentieth Century Fox - which owns X-Men: The Last Stand and The Simpsons - says it "has not licensed any of our products to Platte Media and our legal team is investigating the matter

Licensed to bill
WarnerBros., which owns The Matrix and The Assassination of Jesse James says: "The content on the GetFilmsNow website is not licensed or otherwise approved," and hinted at "ongoing legal issues".
The Guardian also learned that Platte Media was sent a "cease and desist" letter regarding the images on its front page. The original images were then removed and replaced with Planet Terror, Pillow Talk, Casablanca and others, although the X-Men picture remained.
"It's ironic that they talk about the illegality of people removing their software, yet are misleading the public, using copyrighted materials for which they have no right to do so," says mbsvictims.org.uk, a support organisation which grew out of people outraged or angered by MBS's - now Platte's - billing methods.
So why use yet more pictures of films that are not available? Surely this is misrepresentation? "No. It's not our intention to misrepresent at all," says Bateup. "The reason that I don't think we're misrepresenting is that we don't advertise that page [getfilmsnow.com] at all." But it is linked to from Platte International websites, indexed by search engines, and is visible to the world.

But Platte Media could have more significant matters to deal with. Des Fitzpatrick, a case manager in the OFT's Scambuster team says: "The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) prohibit misleading actions and misleading omissions in commercial practices. It is possible that placing images of films that the trader cannot (legally) supply on the website may constitute a breach of the CPRs." Some of Platte's users may be complaining - but the OFT has the power, in extremis, to put it out of business. And the legal threats from film studios could also be a problem. In trying to capture a bigger market, Platte may have made too big a grab for fame.

MothballsWallet

superscaper wrote: »

http://www.microbillsys.com/

Only email addresses, if you'd read all the links you'd have seen that they no longer use the phone or give out their physical address for protection of their staff.

Isn't that now illegal? I thought all business websites had to provide full contact details for the company since 1st Jan 2007?

superscaper

MothballsWallet wrote: »

Isn't that now illegal? I thought all business websites had to provide full contact details for the company since 1st Jan 2007?

Well considering my post is well over a year old and that the specific website in my post refers to a company name now dissolved, probably a moot point is it not? And considering the actual actions of the company it's a bit like pointing out that a car thief isn't adhering to the highway code when driving.

Browntoa

they have resurfaced as "Platte Media" and a web site called Getfilmsnow , same method of operation , I've posted a warning elsewhere on here about this

install software that nags you to pay them if you do not cancel after the 3 day trial , but not everyone who gets the warning claims they knowingly downloaded it and agreed to the terms and cooditions when warned what may happen . Both these actions break the undertakings they gave to the OFT as they are meant to warn you that something is being installed AND what will happen after the 3 day trial. They also agreed to limit the number of pop ups and the duration

the OFT article is here

http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2008/40-08