Charged for unsolicited text message and Vodafone won't help

katiekittykat

Sorry but you must have signed up for something in the past - the company will have to have got your number from somewhere.

This has also happened to me so i feel for you too - i rang the company who it was (from my works phone) and kicked off at them, they refunded me the money via cheque.

Hope this helps.

wantmemoney

beefturnmail wrote:

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

there is no difference.
The problem is the police nationally have been instructed by goverment to refer all complaints from the public of premium rate fraud to Icstis.
The police have been instructed to investigate alleged premium rate fraud only if requested to by Icstis.
Icstis is the premium rate industry regulator and is directly sponsored by the industry.

http://www.icstis.org.uk/pdfs_news/COLPNetwork06.pdf
City of London Police meet with Network Operators
Background
The City of London Police Economic Crime Department (COLP ECD) met with
various Network Operators at the ICSTIS Offices on 1 February 2006. The team of over 100 detectives and support staff at the COLP ECD is accustomed to working closely with a variety of regulatory bodies and in 2005 it was asked to scope the Premium Rate Industry as a whole and focus on criminal elements.
The COLP ECD agreed to meet at ICSTIS on the request of Network Operators and because of the current media pressure on the Premium Rate Industry. Their objective was to educate and advise Network Operators about criminal activity so attendees were not only aware of problems but able to recognise and reduce them.
Offences
The COLP ECD advised Networks of the importance of due diligence and the dangers of doing business with people that they suspected were involved in criminality. It was stressed that Network Operators may be committing offences if they continue to do business with people after such suspicion arises.
Due Diligence
In a closing Question & Answer session between the various Network Operator representatives and the COLP ECD speaker, a series of safety guidelines were recommended to help reduce exposure to criminality. This is a simple guide and it is advisable for Network Operators to seek legal advice should they need further help in understanding this complex issue in depth.
It was advised that the industry should:
• Look at the FSA Guidelines available on the FSA website https://www.fsa.gov.uk.
Although Networks are not regulated by the FSA, these guidelines illustrate
good practice that can be adopted across the board.
• If a Network becomes aware of criminal activity but chooses to turns a blind eye, the Network may fall into the criminal arena by committing an offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
• 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.
• If a Network receives information that businesses further down the value chain are acting suspiciously, they should question it, tell other people they are working with and inform the regulators of their suspicions.

Intasun32

katiekittykat wrote: »

Sorry but you must have signed up for something in the past - the company will have to have got your number from somewhere.

Sorry katiekittykat but that is what we are all told when we query the charges on our bills. It doesn't always work out that way. In my case the companies invoved, Dialogue Communications/Moby Magic/PNC Telecoms purchased my details from another company on a customer list. Moby Magic swore blind that I had subscribed to their service but once given the dates and times of the sms it was easy to prove. They admitted that they had obtained details by way of purchasing customer lists and both Moby Magic and Dialogue were fined by Icstis. Seeing that tens of thousands of sms were sent out, even with a fine they still profited. Only 42 people made complaints to Icstis, that's why it continues

katiekittykat

Intasun32 wrote: »

Sorry katiekittykat but that is what we are all told when we query the charges on our bills. It doesn't always work out that way. In my case the companies invoved, Dialogue Communications/Moby Magic/PNC Telecoms purchased my details from another company on a customer list. Moby Magic swore blind that I had subscribed to their service but once given the dates and times of the sms it was easy to prove. They admitted that they had obtained details by way of purchasing customer lists and both Moby Magic and Dialogue were fined by Icstis. Seeing that tens of thousands of sms were sent out, even with a fine they still profited. Only 42 people made complaints to Icstis, that's why it continues

Ok fair enough.

But claim agaisnt the company, not vodafone.

Intasun32

Intasun32 wrote: »

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.

Do you not think that VF or any network should have some, not all, responsibilities in any scam? Should they not act in the manner as quoted when a customer states that have been a victim of fraud. The networks have a duty to the customer to investigate the allegations, something they do not do, why? The only thing the networks do is deny any responsibility, this is wrong.

beefturnmail

Sucess!

I sent an e-mail to the CEO of Vodafone, complaining about this and 1 day later received a phone call from the CEO's office and they refunded my money without argument. I would suggest anyone else who is a victim of these scams to do the same.

Although it is not the mobile phone providers direct fault that consumers are scammed, if enough people do this they will sit up and start to take action, and they are the ones who have the influence to act against the scammers, not the individual coonsumer.

I obtained the CEO of Vodafone's address from the following website. It has details for all the other major providers

http://www.connectotel.com/marcus/ceoemail.html

protectora

I was with Vodafone in Spain. I took out a contract last April. After a few months I started to wonder why my bills were starting to increase. I scrutinised every one and they had sent me over 700 txt messages unsolicited despite the fact that I had sent messages to stop. I immediately cancelled the contract and told them why. THEY DO NOT WANT TO KNOW. I am now being sued for the last unpaid bill and the closing one. The matter is now in the hands of my solicitor. It is totally outrageous and more information should be in the public domain about this.
Sometimes, someone just has to stand up to those companies.

Guys_Dad

protectora wrote: »

I was with Vodafone in Spain. I took out a contract last April. After a few months I started to wonder why my bills were starting to increase. I scrutinised every one and they had sent me over 700 txt messages unsolicited despite the fact that I had sent messages to stop. I immediately cancelled the contract and told them why. THEY DO NOT WANT TO KNOW. I am now being sued for the last unpaid bill and the closing one. The matter is now in the hands of my solicitor. It is totally outrageous and more information should be in the public domain about this.
Sometimes, someone just has to stand up to those companies.

Who were "THEY"??

colinicky

I had a charge on my last Tmobile bill for an unsoliceted text (only 10p) when I rang to ask it turned out to be from Nokia for "Ovi" maps. T-mobile could not have been more helpfull & have put a block on my phone from recieving unsolicited texts so I do not see why other network providers cann't do the same ? I was told that if I want to subscribe to something then I will need to ring Tmobile CS first to get the bar removed .

stunno

At 4pm on the 25th of each month I get a text message inviting me to enter a free quiz and I'm charged £1.50 to receive it. I have never subscribed to anything, never oven dialled an 08** number!

Every month when I get my bill I ring VF and complain and they refund me the £1.50 and put me on hold while they stop any further messages. And then I get another one at 4pm on the next 25th

And so it has gone on for 9 months so far!

How can anyone get away with being able to send unsolicited texts and charging £1.50? Plus if it is not illegal how do I do it?