Charged for unsolicited text message and Vodafone won't help

beefturnmail

HI, I was sent an unsolicited text message last month for which Vodafone have charged me £1.50. I've tried to ring customer services on numerous occasions and they've been of no help whatsoever. First they wouldn't even tell me who it was from (I deleted it straight away at the time and couldn't remember). After some argument, they finally told me it was from a company called Mobizar (now changed to Tanla Mobile). I've definitely never signed up for anything or had anything to do with this company. However Vodafone are insisting that it's nothing to do with them and I'm liabile to pay the £1.50, and so won't take it off the bill - I think this is BS. They gave me a number for Mobizar to ring but it's an 0870 number. I've tried e-mailing Mobizar Customer Services but no response.

I think Vodafone should be sorting it out (Surely my contract is with them and they are collecting the money. Also don't they make some money out of these premium rate services?). I know it's not much but it's the principle that I don't like the fact that this company can effectively steal money from me - I'm quite surprised that Vodafone are not refunding the £1.50 out of goodwill.

Has anyone else had any expereince of getting these unsolicited messages and any sucess in getting a refund? If Vodafone continue to be difficult, I'm considering cancelling my contract (when it expires) and deducting £1.50 from the final bill - will i be in breach of contract if I do this?

Thanks

bakerlad1983

unfortunately vodafone are right to not refund you. if this is not a mistake by them they do not have to refund anything and the only people liable to refund you is tanla mobile. i worked for vodafone for years and had lots of people complaining about money getting added onto the bill of taken off pre pay credit. all we could do was listen and advise to normally send a text to the number you recieved it from saying stop. also be sure you havent entered any competitions on the tv or radio as alot of these are £1 or more to enter aswell.

sorry could not give the news you hoped for.

beefturnmail

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I fail to see how Vodafone can completely absolve any responsibility for this though, especially since they are making a profit from it. Vodafone are colluding in fraud if they refuse to properly investigate it IMHO. I have never entered any TV or radio competitions through my telephone and Vodafone can check this through their records surely.

Intasun32

Hi Beefturnmail
I have sent you a PM re your problem.

hm71_2

I had this issue with vodafone last month kept getting quiz questions charging me £1.50 every 3 days I called vodafone and they gave me a number for the company that the txt number was listed to. called them and got it cancelled. unfortunately I was not able to get a credit for the txts, because I couldn't prove I had not subscribed.

Intasun32

HM71,

I was also a victim of this scam, as with you Vodafone did not want to know.

When you phoned these bandits it would have cost you 12p plus (BT line) as they all use 0871 numbers, so the bandits scammed you again! E-mail them, Vodafone should have these details or if you still have the name of the Company or shortcode Icstis can supply you with full details. Then dispute the fact that you have subscribed to any of their 'services', ask for date and time when you had subscribed. They should supply the info if not or you find that it is not true then go to the Icstis web site and make an online complaint.

What was the name of the company that sent you the texts?

I hope that helps.

beefturnmail

Thanks all for posts.

Unfortunately, I deleted the SMS when it arrived.

Vodafone told me it was from the number 78181, from a company called Mobizar (though they were reluctant to reveal this and only did so when I kicked up a fuss).

I looked them up on ICSTIS and they are now called Tanla Mobile Ltd. I have e-mailed their customer sevices twice but with no response. As you say their phone number is 0871 so I am reluctant to ring this to reclaim £1.50...

Kalfus1986

Okay, let me clear up the reason why Vodafone won't credit the money back. Premium numbers, texts etc are monitored by a company call ICSTIS, they are responsible for insuring that consumers are treated fairly by these Premium companys.

Vodafone have an agreement with ICSTIS that they cannot block or interfear in the process of the text messages, if their is a dispute then its between the consumer and the premium text company.

The reason why vodafone wont credit the charge back is simple..

Say the charge is £1.50, vodafone will get around 10% while the company will get the rest REGARDLESS of whether Vodafone credits the customer back. So if vodafone credited EVERY customer who had these texts then they would make a huge loss as they cant claim the company..

Hope you understand this now.

Intasun32

beefturnmail, hope you received the e-mail.

Look at this forum, http://www.giagia.co.uk/?p=118 it's one of many with victims of this scam and how we are ignored..

Kalfus1986: You forgot to add that Icstis are an industry self regulatory body that is made up from, and financed by the same Premium Rate companies that scam us. Is it no wonder that nothing has been done about these scams for years?

Regarding blocking shortcodes or premium rate texts, only T-Mobile will block on request, the rest of the network refuse due to 'contractual obligations', although if asked they will deny this is the reason.

Vodafone and all networks bill the victim and pay the scammer, they are in a position to with hold payment when there is a dispute but refuse to act in favour of the victim/customer.

Much to my surprise I found that the Ombudsman office, Otelo, is made up with representatives from the networks.

beefturnmail

So Vodafone should surely at least refund the 10%?! Doesn't sound like ICSTIS are doing a very good job at ensuring the consumer is treated fairly.

Maybe if the liability was on the mobile phone providers, they would find a way to do something about it, rather than leaving it to the consumer who has little power to do anything about it.

If money was stolen from my bank account by fraud, then my bank would refund it. I don't see how this is any different

Intasun32

Beefturnmail

As you will see when you read my e-mail it's like hitting your head against a brick wall, no one wants to know.

There is big money at stake, in 2005 the legit side of the premium rate industry turned over £1.6b. Gordon Brown takes 17.5% out of that in vat alone.

Everyone is earning and us mugs are paying for it.