bit of a panic..advice please

crazy-cat-lady_2

Hi everyone, i'm having a bit of a panic.
I've always been a bit wary of putting my phone number into competitions, but chrome often auto fills, so i don't always spot it and stop it. I was in the middle of doing a load of competitions, and..you know the ones where after hitting enter you have to go through a page with a list of offers and hit "no" on everything and then enter again? I noticed for the first time ever, one of the small prints was something about a text subscription service.
I'm suddenly VERY worried that one of these things may now somehow have my number and i may be charged a fortune. Has anyone ever had this happen, or am i likely to be safe?
Googling now to see if there's any way out of them quickly and without it costing a fortune, or if my phone provider will help me. I may well be ok, but very worried now. So many of these comps use those type of page, i have never really spotted it or paid attention before!

mansey

I get quite a few text on my "comping phone" but there has been no money on it for several years, I just read them and delete them

Simples

crazy-cat-lady_2

I never thought of a comping phone. I only have the one number and phone. That's why i'm so wary.
I hope i don't end up getting any. Haven't in the month or so i've been comping, but now i've noticed it i'm scared i will.

mjm3346

I thought you had to confirm it otherwise anyone could be putting mobile numbers in just to charge other people but apparently not.

If you are on the internet, be aware that entering your mobile number online can enter you into a premium rate service

http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/News-And-Events/News/2014/5/New-consumer-advice-to-coincide-with-phone-scams-awareness-week.aspx

crazy-cat-lady_2

Oh that's scary. I guess i have to hope like crazy i don't get text by them. Also, get a cheapy PAYG phone and use that for comping. Argh!
Usually there's a "no" answer. This one didn't have one, you had to answer and it said that by answering you were subscribing. I closed the page and didn't answer, so maybe i'm safe. But i did put my number on the previous page when i entered the actual competition form. I just don't know.

rugmaker

If you get a strange text, texting straight back STOP usually works. Most spam texts also have a link to a website which will explain how to stop them. I very much doubt you will incur any charges, maybe 1 text at worst and you could contest that. My son got charged for a service a while back and was adamant he had not signed up to it. Eventually both the service provider and the network offered refunds.

crazy-cat-lady_2

Thanks. I haven't heard anything yet (touch wood). So it might all be ok. I've dug out an old PAYG phone and topped up a fiver. I now have a comping phone! I don't really mind what happens with this one now, as long as my main phone is safe. It never crossed my mind to do this before.