Unsolicited Text Messages

Soubrette

druster wrote: »

Just had the same message 83373 AstroJune rubbish!

Phoned Orange, my provider, and told there was little they could do. Unlike the user who suggest T-Mobile can block charge to account message. Orange seem to not be able to do this.

Have had to text STOP as advised by the Orange Staff, and just signed up with the TPS too.

Think we should all complain through http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/ until some other way appears.

Very p***ed off

I have emailed phonepayplus and my MP

I have also emailed t-mobile asking if they can indeed block these calls as their website seems to imply not. If they can then I intend to change all our mobiles which are currently on orange to t-mobile or another network provider who is willing to block these calls.

Sou

Soubrette

I phoned phonepayplus today on their freephone number as I've been trying for two days to get through to the customer service number given by innov8 which was 01728 726977. This goes through to a recorded message which cleverly claims to be a free service (which is technically true but you are paying for the phonecall). You have to leave details and someone will phone back within an hour. This is obviously not true (I only left nice messages )

I phoned phonepayplus as I wanted to add to my original complaint as obviously there is a requirement to put a non premium rate number in the body of the text but of course if that number is useless then although the guideline is being technically followed, it is not being followed in the spirit of the guideline.

They gave a further number for me to contact which was 0870 0790 400. This belongs to Dialogue Communications Ltd - who appear very frequently on the phonepayplus website under adjudications. There was no alternative number on saynoto0870 so I grit my teeth and gave them a call. I asked for an alternative contact number rather than 0870 and was told to email in future.

There is no record on their system as to how innov8 got my number so they have emailed innov8 and copied me in asking them to provide this information and to refund or deal with my complaint.

The email address for Dialogue is [EMAIL="support@dialogue.co.uk"]support@dialogue.co.uk[/EMAIL]

The email address for innov8 is [EMAIL="sales@innov8messaging.co.uk"]sales@innov8messaging.co.uk[/EMAIL]

I can't imagine I would get a response but someone somewhere is going to cough up my £1.50:rotfl:

Sou

Soubrette

Sorry for the ongoing saga all but I have just received this email from innov8

Dear Sir/MadamWe have been made aware that you received an sms to your mobile handset which you didnt subscribe to, we apologise for that. Incidently a customer who subscribed to our service didnt receive a "welcome message" which is sent straight after opting into the service. We then double checked their mobile number with them and they had actually inputted an ***** instead on *****.We apologise again for this error.Please accept a £5 postal order as an apology and for inconvenience caused to you.If you could provide and address, where you would like the refund sent toThank you for your understandingInnov8 messaging

I will let you know if I get my refund, btw the number accidentally input was very different to my number plus I received no welcome text, just the unsolicited text.

Sou

PS I've cut and pasted the email - it wasn't quite as amateurish as it appears on here

mary43

I got a text message on my T-Mobile this morning............'Male 40 looking for fun' from a mobile number unknown to me.
How can this sort of thing happen ?
Needless to say I haven't replied but if I report it to T-Mobile will or can they do anything about it ?

Cavey

More importantly, is there a method of opting out of being able to use reverse billed* messages? ie if a reverse charged message is sent to my number it just gets binned and I don't get charged?

I know networks support barring of calls to premium rate numbers, but do any of the networks support barring premium rate SMS services? Or even just imposing a parental control to stop access to the "adult" SMS services?

* Note I specify "reverse billed" and not all short codes - certain things, like Facebook mobile, are quite cool and don't always cost the Earth (messages to fbook come from my O2 allowance and messages to my phone are free, so it's "free" to use), but I don't ever intend to text to flirt, get ring tones or use any of the other naff "services" people provide and would like to stop it before it becomes a problem.

wantmemoney

Dear Sir/MadamWe have been made aware that you received an sms to your mobile handset which you didnt subscribe to, we apologise for that. Incidently a customer who subscribed to our service didnt receive a "welcome message" which is sent straight after opting into the service. We then double checked their mobile number with them and they had actually inputted an ***** instead on *****.

@Soubrette
if the original person input your number by 'mistake' how did they (innov8) contact them to discover this?
also are you saying innov8 have sent you this 'customers' mobile phone number in way of 'proof'? :eek:

Soubrette

wantmemoney wrote: »

@Soubrette
if the original person input your number by 'mistake' how did they (innov8) contact them to discover this?

Indeed - it all seems very fishy

wantmemoney wrote: »

also are you saying innov8 have sent you this 'customers' mobile phone number in way of 'proof'? :eek:

Only a string of 5 figures - although I suppose if I could be bothered I could look up where the string of my numbers is and replace it with the other string of 5 numbers. Hmm perhaps I should text them and say that I will send them astrology texts for a mere £1 That's if the number even exists of course:eek:

Sou

joshua2004

Hi all,

just to introduce you to who I am: I manage the SMS helpline mentioned for Innov8 Messaging and have just received a phone call from a customer who mentioned they had seen some info regarding an SMS service run by Innov8 from 83373.

I did a quick search through Google and came here

Just to allay everybody's fears we have recognised an issue occuring with our clients opt-in data and a resultant batch of mobile numbers receiving messages for which they've not opted.

As a regulated UK telecommunications company we are working through the small number of queries to resolve this situation and reimburse recipients £5. This covers the original cost of the message (50p) and also any further inconvenience. Those who have been charged more than 50p should note that the shortcode 83373 is priced at 50p only so in the unlikely event they've been charged more they should get in touch with their mobile network or us.

We are a seperate company who only deals with inbound queries for our SMS clients. In order to effectively police and monitor misuse we work closely with other network operators and PPP (formerly ICSTIS) and are able to escalate matters to industry contacts if required.

I would invite recipients of messages from 83373 to get in touch with us in the first instance so we can:

Ensure you receive no further messages from shortcodes for which we handle queries

Reimburse for wrongly received messages

Once again, the helpline number is 01728 726977.

Regards,

Joshua

forcandle

Joshua,

Whilst I appreciate you taking the time to inform forum users of this information, it would be preferable if you provided a phone number that actually generated a response. Despite numerous attempts, I have so far failed to get past your computer messaging system. It's very well making promises on this forum, but until you deliver on those promises, it is not really helping your cause.

FC

joshua2004 wrote: »

Hi all,

just to introduce you to who I am: I manage the SMS helpline mentioned for Innov8 Messaging and have just received a phone call from a customer who mentioned they had seen some info regarding an SMS service run by Innov8 from 83373.

I did a quick search through Google and came here

Just to allay everybody's fears we have recognised an issue occuring with our clients opt-in data and a resultant batch of mobile numbers receiving messages for which they've not opted.

As a regulated UK telecommunications company we are working through the small number of queries to resolve this situation and reimburse recipients £5. This covers the original cost of the message (50p) and also any further inconvenience. Those who have been charged more than 50p should note that the shortcode 83373 is priced at 50p only so in the unlikely event they've been charged more they should get in touch with their mobile network or us.

We are a seperate company who only deals with inbound queries for our SMS clients. In order to effectively police and monitor misuse we work closely with other network operators and PPP (formerly ICSTIS) and are able to escalate matters to industry contacts if required.

I would invite recipients of messages from 83373 to get in touch with us in the first instance so we can:

Ensure you receive no further messages from shortcodes for which we handle queries

Reimburse for wrongly received messages

Once again, the helpline number is 01728 726977.

Regards,

Joshua

joshua2004

Hi forcandle - apologies for the issues you are facing.

Feel free to email in directly to sales@innov8messaging.co.uk or alternatively as a last resort I'll post my mobile number