KKO Mobile - What to do about these scamming, fraudulent conmen.

Vodafone

Hi Louise11,

I’m sorry to see this hasn’t been sorted following Dave referring this to the right team.

If you can reply to Dave’s email from yesterday but change the code in the subject to ‘WRT135 FAO Lee’, either myself or Lee can look into this further.

Thanks,

Jenny
Web Relations team
Vodafone UK

EarDoctor

Upset and angry today after getting off the phone to Vodafone customer relations. I was surprised to see an "extra usage" charge of 18 GBP on my latest bill and phoned 191 to query it at about 2 pm on 26/7/13. I spoke to a Vodafone representative called "Robin" who informed me that this charge referred to a payment Vodafone had made to "KKO mobile services". When I told her I had no knowledge of this she immediately informed me that a google search would indicate that this was an internet scam. When I asked whether Vodafone would reimburse me I was rudely told that I had no chance of recompense from Vodafone. Unimpressed by this unprofessional and unhelpful attitude I requested to speak to a senior; only after making this request repeatedly was I eventually put through to “Mike” who then proceeded to be utterly unhelpful, more intent of absolving Vodafone of any responsibility and when I requested to make a formal complaint about him and his staff told that I would have to complain through him, an entirely logical process if it is to be believed. My points of complaint rest upon:

1. If as the Vodafone employee Robin readily stated that Vodafone are aware that “KKO mobile services” were a scam why did they keep on allowing payments of 4.50 GBP per week to be made?

2. Why was I given no indication at all that these payments were being made and only found out when I queried my bill?

3. How can Vodafone absolve itself of responsibility in this case when according to its employee “Robin” it was and still are well aware that this company KKO mobile services is a scam?

4. The unprofessional and rude attitude from staff members “Robin” and “Mike”, even though it is clear from this forum that this is not a new problem from Vodafone and they are well aware of it!

5. After my own internet research I contacted PhonePayPlus the independent Premium line regulator and they advised me that they had received numerous complaints about KKO mobile services and that they were under investigation.

I am presently 31.50 GBP out of pocket and very upset at the appalling level of service that I have had to endure from Vodafone after being scammed through no fault of my own.

Would be very interested on the Vodafone representatives in the forums' comments on this, and any constructive responses as to how this may be resolved.

Vodafone

Hi EarDoctor,

Thanks for making me aware of your concerns.

As you'll appreciate, it wouldn't appropriate for me to comment on another company.

However, it is concerning to read about your dissatisfaction with the level of service you've received from us.

If you'd like me to look into things further could you email me with your details via the link in our profile here?

All you need to do is copy and paste the link into your web browser and it'll take you to the Contact us form on our website. To make sure it reaches me could you also quote the code WRT135 - MSE in the subject line?

Once sent you'll receive an automated reply with a reference number. Could you update the thread with this and I'll get back to you as soon as possible?

Kind regards,

Lee

Web Relations

Vodafone UK

Intasun32

Vodafone_company_representative wrote: »

Hi Rory the Filmmaker,

'I've come across a few of our customers who have raised similar concerns on MSE.'


Kind regards,

Lee

Web Relations

Vodafone UK

Maybe a quote from an old post but I had to add to this thread.

To his credit @Lee has helped quite a few VF customers but the quote from his post must have been made when he had his fingers crossed!

This and many other forums are full of victims of the scam known as 'unsolicited reverse bill texts' and in March 2007 as a VF customer I was also a victim. I was told by VF that I was at fault, that I must have subscribed even though like many victims of this scam I never knew it could happen. That is, to be charged for receiving a text. Unlike VF and the other networks who knew only too well!

KKO Mobile, who must be well known to all the networks, have been found guilty many times of breaching rules and regulation by scamming, you can find this info on the PhonePayPlus (The premium rate industry Regulator:rotfl:) web site. There are many other companies that are scamming but nothing is being done about it.

Why? Well to start, the networks can take up to 50% of what you are charged for the scammed text. That is, to put it correctly, money that has been stolen from you. The Revenue and Customs takes 20% in VAT and the remainder is shared between the content provider and the company that despatches the texts.

This is a quote from a meeting in 2006 between the City of London Police and representatives of the networks;

• If a Network takes money (and keeps it or passes it on) that has been made as a result of criminality (that they knew or suspected was criminal), the Network may also be committing an offence.

Some years ago there was a thread on the VF forum to try to make VF introduce a system to block these scam texts and protect it's customers, much like the choice that T-Mobile was giving and still does. After over 5,000 posts in less than a month VF removed the thread and three months later introduced the option to protect an account from scams such as this. Try to find any mention of it on the web site, it is not there. Or ask VF customer service they will have no idea what you are talking about.

A few VF customers have raised concerns, really Lee?

:eek:

Intasun32

Bump :beer:

Vodafone

Hi Intasun32,

I don't feel the extract you've quoted criticises KKO Mobile but merely states that I'd read some concerns from our customers who were disputing charges billed via their services.

Indeed KKO Mobile asked MSE to post this response in April offering their own assistance.

To date only a handful of people have got in touch with me personally with their individual concerns.

Kind regards,

Lee

Web Relations

Vodafone UK

Intasun32

@Lee,

Thank you for responding to my post.

My post was not meant to criticize KKO, a company I have come across before as you will see below, but it was how light you (and all the networks) make of the scam / theft known as 'Unsolicited Reverse Bill Texts'.

This was the reason that @'RoryThe Filmaker' started this thread, a VF customer who could not understand how he was being charged a lot of money for texts he had not asked for or subscribed.

I find it hard to believe when you say that you have had only a handful of complaints, yet on this forum you can find:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3388114

On your own in house forum you will also find;

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Pay-monthly-services/KKO-Mobile-Payforit-charges-Stolen-from-my-account/td-p/1338376


:beer:

Vodafone

Hi Intasun32,

Thanks for coming back to me.

I aware that a number of people have posted about their individual concerns both here and on our eForum. However, to date I personally have only handled a handful of queries which have been emailed to me.

As you'll understand I'm not here to side one way or the other by am happy to help any customer who wishes to query charges on their bill. If these relates to premium rate services I'd of course seek support from the relevant provider to see what their records show (this is something which the customer can do too) and then handle things accordingly from there.

Kind regards,

Lee

Web Relations

Vodafone UK

Louise11

Vodafone_company_representative wrote: »

Hi Louise11,

I’m sorry to see this hasn’t been sorted following Dave referring this to the right team.

If you can reply to Dave’s email from yesterday but change the code in the subject to ‘WRT135 FAO Lee’, either myself or Lee can look into this further.

Thanks,

Jenny
Web Relations team
Vodafone UK

Thanks Jenny, I have just replied to the email & quoted the ref.

Vodafone

Hi Louise11,

Thanks for coming back to us.

I've got your email and will get back to you as quickly as I can.

Kind regards,

Lee

Web Relations

Vodafone UK