Unsolicited Text Messages

MRS_TO_BE_2

Its seems nothing is going to stop these premium rate texts. Now I am having problems and I know I haven't signed up....to think I thought my other half was lying before!

Vodafone are not interested at all. Its been mentioned on here by several people about Martin taking this up as this is a huge consumer problem. Any ideas how we let him know?

MRS_TO_BE_2

Sorry Just Need To Vent!!! Vodafone Aid And Albeit Criminals In These Phone Scams.

wantmemoney

hi MRS TO BE,
Four years ago my family were 'scammed' and because of the total lack of help from Icstis and BT I investigated the fraud myself.
I gave my findings to the local police and later discovered they had 'binned' it.
I then gave it to my local MP who requested Margaret Hodge (DTI) to instigate a criminal investigation.
She refused and forwarded my findings to Icstis.
They then proceeded to remove all references from their web that related to my case.
I also sent what I had found to a BBC producer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4397308.stm

As you can see our politicians and regulators are as much a part of this 'industry' fraud as the scammers

and yes it would be nice to have someone like Martin to take up this problem.

ps they have the same problem in the US
http://classactionconnect.com/cell_phone_issues/
http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/10774/unauthorized-mobile-content.html

wantmemoney

MRS_TO_BE wrote:

partners just had a shocking phonebill £160 with unsolicited texts. tried emailing them from info on Phonepayplus website and email address out of date.

out of interest
Did the bill contain any contact info of the company or short codes

MRS_TO_BE_2

No we have had to phone up for them. Blue Stream, 2ergo, mobtopia, planet mob.

Just had a quick look at your story. Think I remember it. Shocking isn't it what they can get away with!

Currently on vodafones eforum ranting. Making me feel a bit better!

MRS_TO_BE_2

I have been ranting on the vodafone E forum and this is the reply I have received.

Vodafone are certainly working on this type of bar as we speak and we're waiting for some definitive answer as to when it's going to be rolled out. I will certainly be using it myself when it arrives!


Please bear with us and we will post here when we know more.


Thanks


Mike

eForum Team


As far as i'm concerned Vodafone should be held liable for all charges until this bar is put in place. T mobile have the bar so why don't the others.

I would urge all mobile phone users to email their provider and ask exactly what they are doing about it. This can happen to anybody and basically you could have a bill for £100s next month and they won't do a thing to stop it

Heres vodafones email if anyone wants it customer.care@vodafone.co.uk

MRS_TO_BE_2

And this is the reply from T Mobile..looks like I will be changing to them the second my contract is up.

Thanks for your email Tania, asking me to confirm if T-Mobile have the facility to bar shortcode and premium rate messages as you're currently looking to leave Vodafone after receiving unsolicited text messages.
I'd like to tell you that we can make sure that you don't receive any unsolicited messages by adding a bar to your account. This will stop any services being sent to your phone, including downloads, such as ringtones, games, pictures and videos. It will also stop alert services such as football alerts, alerts from your bank and horoscopes.
Thanks again for taking the time to email me Tania, and I'm sure the information I've provided you today helps.
If you have any further queries, please feel free to reply to this email or visit our help and advice section by clicking here.
Kind regards

Y**** L*****
Customer Services Email Team
T-Mobile

RichardsonBubblehat

Has anyone who had money stolen off them by Innov8 actually received a refund yet?

It's been about 3 weeks since I was told I would get a refund. I emailed last week to ask where it was, and was told that it had been sent recorded delivery and I should have received it. I hadn't, so I asked them to tell me when it had been sent, and I haven't received a reply since, even though I've emailed them twice. Fortunately for me, they say it was sent recorded delivery, so there will be proof that I never received it.

If they are trying to demonstrate that they aren't a crooked company, then they are doing a bad job at it.

RichardsonBubblehat

I love the name "Lawful Guarding Services" - it's like the "Legitimate Businessmen's club" in the Simpsons.

I had a look at what the police can do:
http://www.met.police.uk/reporting_crime/index.htm#Frau
They suggest you go to PhonepayPlus, and failing that Ofcom. I imagine they don't have the facilities or manpower to investigate minor phone problems, but if there was enough evidence to indicate a larger fraud I expect they would have to get involved. It's probably worth popping down your local police station anyway with as much information as you can get, or maybe getting in touch with West Midlands police in whose region the crime was committed.

Ofcom can't help with individual problems, but you can leave information in their Consumer Monitoring Form, which may have an effect on legislation some years down the line:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/mobile/subscriptions/?itemid=285865

If Dialogue.co.uk actually sends the SMS's on behalf of Innov8 then it may be good to complain to them about Innov8, and try to get them to cease dealing with them, and all the known people who work for them. As Dialogue are a more reputable company, I doubt they want to be associated with dodgy dealings:
http://www.dialogue.co.uk

Orange won't do anything, but if you find the whole thing annoying and stressful then ring the Orange helpline and have a conversation with someone in India who you can't understand, and doesn't understand you. You will forget all your troubles and be amused for hours afterwards.

wantmemoney

RichardsonBubblehat wrote:

If Dialogue.co.uk actually sends the SMS's on behalf of Innov8 then it may be good to complain to them about Innov8, and try to get them to cease dealing with them, and all the known people who work for them. As Dialogue are a more reputable company, I doubt they want to be associated with dodgy dealings:

http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/business/adjudications/search.asp?AD=28%2F05%2F2008&SP=Dialogue+Communications+Ltd&ST=&SpLookup=Search&Keywords=&cmd=2

22 May 2008
http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/business/adjudications/search.asp?AD=28%2F05%2F2008&SP=Dialogue+Communications+Limited&ST=&SpLookup=Search&Keywords=&cmd=2