SMS rip off from Netsize

nebula

After following links about free competition enty and a required field that I enteredmy mobile number into I started getting SMS at £1 to receive just advertising competition entries. Also £1 to reply. Had to get my phone company to block the SIM! -
They said "The company that's sending these messages to you is called Netsize.
They can be contact by email at [EMAIL="helpdesk.uk@netsize.com"]helpdesk.uk@netsize.com[/EMAIL], or by telephone on 0870 750 2929."
SMS reply to stop it didn't work. Email to Netsize went unanswered. Beeware :mad:

nebula

To all who have been "had" by Netsize (UK) Ltd. :mad:

PhonepayPlus, the organisation that regulates products or services - such as competitions,TV voting, helplines, adult entertainment, downloads, new alerts or interactive games - that are charged to users' phone bills or pre-pay accounts, has just judged against Netsize, following my complaint to them.
:beer:

You should be able to see the full text of the adjudication on www.phonepayplus.org.uk within a few days. They have been fined £50000 and advised to refund money to complainants - so get your claim in to Netsize NOW.
Though not legally bound to make the refund, not doing so could again breach their code of conduct.

Safe surfing! Regards, Nebula:D

wantmemoney

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/ukpga_20030021_en_11#pt2-ch1-pb16-l1g97
97 Amount of penalty under s. 96
(1) The amount of a penalty imposed under section 96 is to be such amount not exceeding ten per cent. of the turnover of the notified provider’s relevant business for the relevant period as OFCOM determine to be—

PhonePayPlus(aka Icstis) is the Industry funded regulator who issues the 'fines' on behalf of Ofcom.

These fines are not punitive they are in fact a 'tax' that goes back into the Premium Rate Industry to go towards the cost of regulation.

The levy that PhonePayPlus collects from the Industry is adjusted each year depending on the "income" they collect in the form of fines.

nebula

Interesting background information. My letter from them, states,

"In summary, several breaches of the Code were found, namely the offence of sending unsolicited texts, the misuse of the word free within the promotional material, the prominence of the pricing information, the omission of the key terms and conditions regulating the competition, prominence of informing users that the service was subscription based and information on how users could terminate the subscription. The Panel imposed a fine on Netsize (UK) Ltd of £50,000 and a bar on the service until compliant with PhonepayPlus Compliance Department. To claim your refund, please contact Netsize at

Netsize (UK) Ltd
The Triangle
5 Hammersmith Grove
London
W8 0LG"

Kalvinl

nebula wrote: »

Interesting background information. My letter from them, states,

"In summary, several breaches of the Code were found, namely the offence of sending unsolicited texts, the misuse of the word free within the promotional material, the prominence of the pricing information, the omission of the key terms and conditions regulating the competition, prominence of informing users that the service was subscription based and information on how users could terminate the subscription. The Panel imposed a fine on Netsize (UK) Ltd of £50,000 and a bar on the service until compliant with PhonepayPlus Compliance Department. To claim your refund, please contact Netsize at

Netsize (UK) Ltd
The Triangle
5 Hammersmith Grove
London
W8 0LG"

Hi,

I was looking at some other websire where I noticed a shortcut to win £450 worth gift card for clothes. I wanted to see what it was all about. I just made a few clicks and then a 'free' text was sent with a pin no. I entered the pin no and clicked again. Suddenly I recieved a series (10) texts. Only then I noticed with the help of a magnifying glass, in much smaller fonts 'Join Glomobi for £15, £1.50 x 10, etc. It did not say though, that to win the £450 gift card you have to first pay £15 and only then be eligible. Basically, there was no honest effort made to inform me that I would have to part with £15 to try and win £450. Because then I would not be interested. I am not a gambler. The attractive offer, £450 to shop till I drop, was put prominently in large fonts. The £15, £1.50 x 10, etc, was put in small size fonts at the bottom. There was 't&c' to I noticed later in small print but strangely in 'light green' to make it hardly visible.

paulofessex

Is it safe to say that due to the size of the font in your post above you have a phobia about small print

CHR15

Kalvinl wrote: »

I was looking at some other websire where I noticed a shortcut to win £450 worth gift card for clothes.

That's the problem.... you believe any old bollox and think you are actually in with a chance of getting something for nothing.

This is your own fault for entering a silly "competition" you saw. You NEVER had any chance of getting anything other than ripped off.

Posting in font of that size does nothing to help either (and the thread is over 2yrs old)