Unsolicited Text Messages

Soubrette

mutley74 wrote: »

Hi

I received a text message earlier on my Three mobile advertising me to text

"kathy" back to 81313 a "bored housewife" who charges £1.50 a text!

it says "SP VSMS.STOP2stop.01616603316"

Not sure what the SP VSMS, tried calling this 0161 number but no one picks up.

No idea where they got my mobile no. from but how do i complain against this type of marketing?:mad:

First Phonepayplus recommend that you text STOP ALL to the number to prevent you getting any more of these texts.

Phone Phonepayplus and complain. http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/ I believe they have an 0800 number or you can use their website.

There is a complicated system of your service provider (in this instance Three) who are usually not interested at all in doing anything. The person/company sending the text has bought 81313 from an intermediary such as MBlox.

When it happened to me I phoned phonepayplus and told them I could not get through the customer services number provided by the texter and I was given the number to contact the intermediary. They have an interest in stopping unsolicited texts as they will share any blame if the texter is doing something dodgy.

I was given an 0891 number and so I looked on saynoto0890 website but couldn't find an alternative number so I asked for a geographical number and was given an email to use instead - which of course was free. The intermediary (in my case Dialogue Communications) was able to look up where I had signed up to the service - surprise surprise, no evidence that I had and took my case on with the texter. The responses to him were immediate whereas my emails to them before their involvement were ignored.

I then emailed with my details and after a few weeks of chasing received a £5.00 postal order in recompense.

I also complained to my MP.

So in short.
1. Text STOP ALL to the short number.
2. Phone Payplus and put in a complaint, ask for the intermediary's number.
3. Check for non geographical numbers or if none ask the intermediary for one when you phone them, if one is not forthcoming ask for a contact email.
4. Chase for a refund.

Good luck and keep us posted

Sou

mutley74

Soubrette wrote: »

First Phonepayplus recommend that you text STOP ALL to the number to prevent you getting any more of these texts.

Phone Phonepayplus and complain. http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/ I believe they have an 0800 number or you can use their website.

There is a complicated system of your service provider (in this instance Three) who are usually not interested at all in doing anything. The person/company sending the text has bought 81313 from an intermediary such as MBlox.

When it happened to me I phoned phonepayplus and told them I could not get through the customer services number provided by the texter and I was given the number to contact the intermediary. They have an interest in stopping unsolicited texts as they will share any blame if the texter is doing something dodgy.

I was given an 0891 number and so I looked on saynoto0890 website but couldn't find an alternative number so I asked for a geographical number and was given an email to use instead - which of course was free. The intermediary (in my case Dialogue Communications) was able to look up where I had signed up to the service - surprise surprise, no evidence that I had and took my case on with the texter. The responses to him were immediate whereas my emails to them before their involvement were ignored.

I then emailed with my details and after a few weeks of chasing received a £5.00 postal order in recompense.

I also complained to my MP.

So in short.
1. Text STOP ALL to the short number.
2. Phone Payplus and put in a complaint, ask for the intermediary's number.
3. Check for non geographical numbers or if none ask the intermediary for one when you phone them, if one is not forthcoming ask for a contact email.
4. Chase for a refund.

Good luck and keep us posted

Sou

Will i not get charged the £1.50 for replying back with STOP ALL??

Soubrette

mutley74 wrote: »

Will i not get charged the £1.50 for replying back with STOP ALL??

As far as I know you will be charged whatever it costs to send a text from your network.

I know it's outrageous if you've never subscribed to this service but the other option is you may be sent further texts costing you a further £1.50 (you are charged on receipt of the text - not on opening it, I'm afraid)

Sou

wantmemoney

81313 visionsms.com

asea wrote:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=455078

I got a text on my mobile from 61610 saying:

"Hi babe its Jordan, how r u? I am just back from my travels, I am bored and would love to chat xxx"

SP visionsms.com
Text stop to stop
Cost 150p 0871 240 0603

The regulators (Ofcom/PhonePayPlus) can't/won't stop this mass marketed billing fraud. Why?
Every body in the revenue share gravy train takes a share.
Ofcom allocate the short codes to the Network Operators.
http://www.short-codes.com/pages/codes_browse.php?SMS=1&Voice=1&MMS=1&Video=1&code=81313&imageField.x=111&imageField.y=8
In this case O2 allocate the short code (81313) to mblox.
This is a revenue share agreement where the Network Operator may take up to 50%.

Mblox allocate it to visionsms
how does the 'scammer' get payed?

http://www.visionsms.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=8&Itemid=31
How are Out Payments received?
Once we receive payment from the Networks, we pay your outpayment on a monthly basis to your Bank account. You can easily keep track of your revenue using the Customer Login area.

What Networks does VisionSMS support?
We support the major UK Networks; Orange, Vodafone, 3, O2, T-Mobile and Virgin.

What Support will I receive as a VisionSMS Client?
During the setup of your campaign, we will discuss your exact requirements. Once the campaign has been tested and setup, our dedicated Support Team will be available to answer questions and give excellent advice on getting the most from our services.

How are my customers billed?
Depending on the campaign, a broadcast message to either your opt in database or ours. The amount you receive depends on how much traffic you generate, and the network involved

What costs are involved?
The main cost involved is the sending of broadcast messages. The only other cost involved are operator costs. A real time operator may increase cost but increase the yield from a customer. These can be discussed with your Account Manager to meet your specific requirements.

Who is the real "scammer"?
Why are they protected from criminal investigation?
How much are the Network Operators and Premium Rate Industry making from this 'scam' that the Regulators cannot protect us from?

Soubrette

There might be some hope of someone doing something about these scammers. (Don't be holding your breath though:rolleyes: )

Walesonline Article

What really annoys me is that most people have no idea on how, who or where to complain and when a company is caught out with dodgy practices - they are only ever told to refund those who made a complaint. They should have to find and refund every single dodgy text they have sent :mad:

Sou

dontgetcrossgeteven

Apologies if this is repeat from earlier threads but I could not find anyone here that had been troubled by these people (using the term in its widest context)

They have sent 4 unsolicited texts to my young Grandsons phone, I recently put him on a small contract with O2 as he is sensible and has not abused it but he is the victim of this abhorrent crime of sending these texts which you pay for to receive, yes, just landing them on your phone costs you £1.50 a go, so far they have sent 4, I have been in touch with phonepayplus, the governing body, and reported them, the company is called transactgroup, they have a website. I think I have stopped them with a STOP ALL message, but yes, thats right, it will have cost another £1.50 I am sure.

So far they have ingnored me but I am not going to go away, these were no ordinary texts, they were potentially pornographic, my Grandson was frightened , confused and ashamed, he had done nothing wrong and they had no right to make this fine young man feel like this.

REMEMBER THE NAME - TRANSACT GROUP
EMAIL [EMAIL="info@transactgroup.net"]info@transactgroup.net[/EMAIL]

COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN , COMPLAIN,
THEY HAVE JUST BEEN FINED ANOTHER £5000 ON 17 JULY
LETS GET THEM FINED OUT OF BUSINESS AND INTO THE GUTTER WHERE THEY BELONG.

thanks for letting me rave, I am livid, angry and worried to death what predators like these are getting away with.

martinuk777

Had same problem on my girlfriend's phone. Pretty sure it's from www.lookitsme.co.uk website where you can text a premium rate number to get your profile to appear on the front page. I can't be bothered checking, but I'm sure this service is something that you probably agree to when you click the "I Agree" box on the T&C page.

I did text "stop" (all lower case, no quotations marks) back to the number and received a kosher (I hope) reply from them confirming she has been removed from the promotion.

Hope this helps.

miller123_2

Hi
i need some advice please recieved my phone bill and o it is some odd amounts for texts to info services. I have called the mobile phone provider and they say it is text I recieve. I started to get some werid sexy related text about 4 weeks ago and stuff like if you want these texts to stop text STOP to this phone number. Being dum I believed if I text that I would be charged loads of money and it was a scam so i just ignored them. The phone provider says it is that company I have subscribed to which is doing that and will continue to charge me for each text I recieve. I haven't subscribed to anything nor have I text anyone other than family or friends what can I do please ??

Dee x

iwanttosave_2

Have you downloaded any ringtones or games from the net to your phone? Sometimes in the small print it says that you are signing up to a service. You need to text back STOP (in upper case) to the number. Did the customer service advisor not tell you to do this?

ramkirhs

Mr_Kennedy wrote: »

Just got a text message from 81313 saying:

Free msg: Kathy 44 looking 4 nostrings fun etc etc
.

Had this exact same text today, and was also a bit concerned as I've not had one of these premium rate messages before in over 9 years of owning a mobile phone with the same number!

I'm not sure if it was pure coincidence but I'd just switched networks from T-mobile to Three about a week ago. Hope this isn't a sign of things to come with Three.

Called Three customer services who said it was nothing to do with them, but they advised to text STOP to the number. I did that and got a confirmation text to say I'd been "removed from the service". Fingers crossed that will be the last of it. Although something tells me it won't be!