118118 Call completion scam

normanmark

So thats the operating procedure of 118 118, not VM. You're saying their premium rate barring service isnt working & it quite clearly is blocking the premium rate numbers.

Your problem is that theres rogue advisors at 118 118 then who shouldnt be connecting customers who ask to be connected to mobile numbers.

normanmark

Also on an unrelated note, if the girl says 'Yes' when 118 118 challenge them on the question of 'Do you have the bill payers permission' what more can they do for it?

Heinz

Craig_Lee wrote: »

118118 is NOT the operator it is a directory enquiry service and should therefore NOT assume that the bill payers permission has been granted. This would then put them in line with the other 118 services (referenced above) who behave in a responsible manner!

Spot on. Hence 118118 was at fault, not VM.

Sue them.

Craig_Lee

Yes Heinz, thanks for clarifying it all.
The long and the short of it is that i will more than likely end up paying my bill. My daughter knows she has to reimburse me when she gets paid.
I will do without a landline though as we all have mobile phones that fulfil our communication needs.

I agree that it is the fault of 118118 for offering services which it shouldn't be offering, which results in crippling phone bills of this type. If they offer that service, then as far as i'm concerned they are just a wolf in sheep's clothing and even worse than the premium rate services as you end up paying them to connect you, a rate for the call that they cream off, PLUS the rate for the number connected to! Extortion!!!

VM are not directly responsible but are morally obliged to monitor situations such as this. Of course, financially, this is not in their interest so they will let the situation develop. After all, when i contacted them and challenged them on this subject they immediately agreed to bar calls to 118 numbers from my landline. Why couldn't they do this before the big bill was racked up? After the 118 loophole, what next? I haven't got the time to monitor loopholes that allow someone, whoever they maybe, to access services in my name. If the service provider does not offer this guarantee i will not take the service.

GreyPilgrim

Might be wrong, but is it technically possible for VM to actually stop this even if they wanted to?

BritBrat

Yes

I've just been there, done that.

..... and just wish some of this technology had been available then!

Me too.

normanmark

Craig_Lee wrote: »

VM are not directly responsible but are morally obliged to monitor situations such as this. Of course, financially, this is not in their interest so they will let the situation develop. After all, when i contacted them and challenged them on this subject they immediately agreed to bar calls to 118 numbers from my landline. Why couldn't they do this before the big bill was racked up? After the 118 loophole, what next? I haven't got the time to monitor loopholes that allow someone, whoever they maybe, to access services in my name. If the service provider does not offer this guarantee i will not take the service.

Monitor situations? By what? All directory enquiry services offer to connect you at an inflated charge. Doesnt necessarily mean that its all bad, some people might want that service. I dont think its Virgins responsibility to monitor this 24/7. They've done as you've requested in barring premium numbers and barred 118 118 from the line. I think you have a big unrealistic expectation of Virgin and what you want them to do.

I think you're going a bit OTT now with the paranoia of someone accessing services in your name. The logical thing you need to do is set a pin number up on the phone & regulate the usage to your daughter. That will address the problem.

Craig_Lee

Norman (VM employee?), at the risk of repeating myself ONLY 118118 allow call completion. None of the other 118 services allow it.

And i already have restricted access on my phone and have done for 3 years!
Thats what the whole debate is about.

normanmark

I'm not a VM employee at all, why is it that if someone disagree's with an opinion they're automatically assumed they're an employee - crazy!

I'm a VM customer, i'm just talking straight & honest with you, clearly not what you wanted to hear as most people when they post want the whole world on their side.

The whole debate is about restricted access. Virgin have done that for 3 years. Your problem is with 118 118 for allowing to connect to mobile phones at a premium rate. Not Virgins problem as they block the premium rate numbers dialled from a phone.

At the risk of repeating myself (yet again). Address the issue with 118 118 & your daughter. No other parties need get involved in this.

GreyPilgrim

I know you think that this will colour my argument and lose me a bit of credibility, but I'm a VM employee. Don't really have any 'loyalty' as such (insofar as I wouldn't defend them if they were in the wrong). Fact is your argument does lie with 118118, and with your daughters behaviour.