Unsolicited Text Messages

johan_nagel

Hi,
I'm with O2 and last month I noticed a charge of £1.50 for a text message I received from 81303. I had no record of this text at the specified time but had received other texts from a similar number recently. I have never requested any ringtone, etc., for my phone. I called O2 and they provided me with a number for Tanla Mobile Ltd. (08719180999) after I gave them the 81303 number [Text STOP to the number immediately]. Tanla, apparently, do not send these texts but are responsible for other organisations. The operator at Tanla took my name and number and details of my problem. The company responsible for the unsolicited text, Inc Media, contacted me within 24 hours and arranged a refund by text message shortly thereafter. Everybody I spoke with was sympathetic, professional, and very courteous. The matter was resolved with a minimum of hassle.
Regards,
Johan

chuckles1066

johan_nagel wrote: »

Hi,
I'm with O2 and last month I noticed a charge of £1.50 for a text message I received from 81303. I had no record of this text at the specified time but had received other texts from a similar number recently. I have never requested any ringtone, etc., for my phone. I called O2 and they provided me with a number for Tanla Mobile Ltd. (08719180999) after I gave them the 81303 number [Text STOP to the number immediately]. Tanla, apparently, do not send these texts but are responsible for other organisations. The operator at Tanla took my name and number and details of my problem. The company responsible for the unsolicited text, Inc Media, contacted me within 24 hours and arranged a refund by text message shortly thereafter. Everybody I spoke with was sympathetic, professional, and very courteous. The matter was resolved with a minimum of hassle.
Regards,
Johan

I'm not surprised; PhonePayPlus have fined Tanla on multiple occasions and they're well known to the network operators; but because they take a cut of the money being scammed by the likes of Tanla, they're not too keen to bar them from their networks.

It's called Rip-Off Britain.

Dizzyspells

My 11 year old son unwittingly fell victim to these scam texts, and was charged £9 in as many days. Orange wouldn't help really and said I need to go to the police, but they told me the originators name - Netsize UK Ltd - I have looked them up and its two french guys based in a flat in London! Their landline is 020 8600 0620. Customer service 0870 750 2929 (this might be premium rate too so beware!)
You have to text "STOP ALL" to the number, which will cost one text. If you have lost a lot of money, I would then suggest a visit to www.moneyclaim.co.uk and take Small Claims action. You can claim back your fee. They already have one CCJ so someone has got their own back.
Tell your kids about these numbers
I am sure it can't be legal to not first find out how old the recipient of the texts is, and I will certainly take it further

shafty_bobs

contact http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/ or 0800 500 212 and report this to them - don't give-up.
I am having the same situation. My son did a quiz on the internet and we got a shock when we got the O2 bill last week. I complained to NetSize and they wrote back rejecting my claim for refund and I have now proved them to be lying by using my O2 Bill copies, i.e. no evidence of sending a text to them to subscribe. This outfit was fined £50k this year and PhonePayPlus are on their case - I have given them my evidence and I am expecting my refund 2day/2moro
They must have conned thousands of other people and they and their like must be stopped
good luck

alex99

Great news for mobile users and (especially) parents of kids with mobiles: Vodafone have finally capitulated and agreed to let their customers block all premium rate - including incoming unsolicited reverse charge text messages.

Vodafone join T-mobile in providing this essential "service".

If you are still with Virgin, Three, or O2 and you are sick of the fact that premium rate crooks can held themselves to you phone credit simply by knowing (or guessing) your phone number, it's time to start putting pressure on them to follow suit - or changing your network next time your contract ends!

alex99

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/index.php?act=announce&f=4&id=15

read the comments :rolleyes:

Cavey

alex99 wrote: »

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/index.php?act=announce&f=4&id=15

read the comments :rolleyes:

Which comments?

Thread here -

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=6615

by someone who can't apply it? Or are they just hidden cause I am not a member?

And as an aside, I have had premium calls and messages barred on O2 since early June. However, this does not include "incoming unsolicited reverse charge text messages", but given I cannot sign up for them I am expecting there to not be a problem should I ever receive something.

wantmemoney

Cavey,
anybody who knew or guessed your mobile number could sign you up by entering it into a scammer's web site.

parasmic

Always report unsolicited texts to your phone provider (get the short code from them) and also to www.phonepayplus.org.uk (Tel: 0800 500212) who will investigate.

I too recently received two unsolicited text messages (within minutes of each other) advertising a news subscription service. I notice that I have been charged £1.50 for each of these text. Phoned my provider and wrote to my provider (Virgin mobile) who said that I would still have to pay even though they could clearly see from my bills that I have never subscribed to this service or any service. They gave me the short code (69912) and if you go to this website www.phonepayplus.org.uk/ you can find out who sent the text. In this case it was Mobile Interactive Group in London (www.migcan.com). I sent them several emails but no reply. I have also phoned there customer service number (it's an 0870 number so they make money from your call) but no one answered. I left a voicemail message but I not expecting anyone to call me back :mad:

MRS_TO_BE_2

try looking at www.saynoto0870.com for an alternative number for mobile interactive. There are some listings on there