Con Messages from Diva Downloads aka Expanding Vision and Mobtopia

MRS_TO_BE_2

You can view my ramblings on the mobile phone board including a thread here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=825597

But what i would like to know has anyone had much success with obtaining a refund and if so from what company and was there any extra for phone calls incured to sort out etc.


Also has anyone reported this to the police as theft? Don't laugh I am honestly considering it if only to show Vodafone I mean business.

I have also been posting on the vodafone help e forum . If anyone wants a laugh at their pathetic responses take a look soon before they delete the posts. (which they have a habit of doing...Something to hide I wonder?

Also another poster said T mobile bar is blocking all these messages. Can anyone explain further as that is who Im planning to use as soon as I can leave vodafone.

Thanks

Tania

Bernie_Holland

Night_Watchwoman wrote: »

Help!!
I have just recieved my latest mobile statement and have noticed,following my conversation with a guy from Mobtopia(or whatever name they have changed to now) who promised to stop the text messages,I am still recieving messages and being charged!!
I am at aloss what to do,should I pay the £100 or so to cancel my contract with T-Mobile,as my contract dos'nt offically finish till October?
If anyone has some advice or know of someone I could contact,please let me know.

I got my first text from them today the shortcode was 86880 and using the Phone Pay Plus website I checked them out as Expanding Vision. Like many of you I have tried to phone them but there is no answer - so I have left a message on their answerphone informing them that I am going to sue them for damages. I suggest you all do the same - so go to the webpage for the Information Commissioner's Office and download "Complaint Form - Electronic Marketing Messages". Then print up a copy of the blank document (six pages) and fill it in giving as much information as you can regarding how you have tried to contact the company, how they keep changing their name, how they won't allow you to 'stop' their messaging and, most important of all, explain exactly how much annoyance, inconvenience, distress and financial loss you have suffered. The maximum fine for these 'people' is £250,000 and they can also be sued for damages in individual cases. It's no good just complaining to others about these criminals, you really have to take personal responsibility and that means making the effort and taking action - even if it does mean filling in loads of boring forms and keeping accurate records of exactly what has been going on, and exactly when it happened. So get cracking folks and let us know how you get on....................

wantmemoney

i'm guessing 'expandingvision' may or may not exist as a real company

http://www.whois-search.com/whois/expandingvision.co.uk

Domain name:
expandingvision.co.uk

Registrant:
Noel Vernon

Registrant type:
Other UK Entity (e.g. clubs, associations, many universities)

Registrant's address:
City Labs
4-6 Dalton Square
Lancaster
LA1 1PP
GB

http://www.webtext.tv/contactUs.jsp

but
PhonepayPlus has the following information about the number 86880
Web Text
Tel: 0844 848 3023
[EMAIL="customerservices@expandingvision.co.uk"]customerservices@expandingvision.co.uk[/EMAIL]

http://www.webtext.tv/contactUs.jsp

Registrant:
St Marys Chambers
Rawtenstall
Lancashire bb4 6qx
GB

Domain Name: WEBTEXT.TV

Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
St Marys Chambers
Rawtenstall
Lancashire bb4 6qx
GB
+44.1706221777 fax: +44.1706221777

Record expires on 17-Jul-2010.
Record created on 17-Jul-2008.
Database last updated on 26-Jul-2008 17:48:45 EDT.

Domain servers in listed order:

NS0.LAMMTARA.NET
NS1.LAMMTARA.NET

Bernie_Holland

Bernie_Holland wrote: »

I got my first text from them today the shortcode was 86880 and using the Phone Pay Plus website I checked them out as Expanding Vision. Like many of you I have tried to phone them but there is no answer - so I have left a message on their answerphone informing them that I am going to sue them for damages. I suggest you all do the same - so go to the webpage for the Information Commissioner's Office and download "Complaint Form - Electronic Marketing Messages". Then print up a copy of the blank document (six pages) and fill it in giving as much information as you can regarding how you have tried to contact the company, how they keep changing their name, how they won't allow you to 'stop' their messaging and, most important of all, explain exactly how much annoyance, inconvenience, distress and financial loss you have suffered. The maximum fine for these 'people' is £250,000 and they can also be sued for damages in individual cases. It's no good just complaining to others about these criminals, you really have to take personal responsibility and that means making the effort and taking action - even if it does mean filling in loads of boring forms and keeping accurate records of exactly what has been going on, and exactly when it happened. So get cracking folks and let us know how you get on....................

I contacted O2 (my service provider) and they explained that people should remain vigilant . They explained that any transgression of personal privacy by unsolicited text messages is due to the fact that your mobile number has probably been sold on to a Premium Mailing List by any of a number of Marketing Agencies. For example, if you enter an online competition then one of the conditions of your entry is that you agree to your personal details being passed on to third parties - some of which indulge in highly unscrupulous activities, as is evident from all the messages you have been sending in. I realise it may be too late for some of you who have now been lumbered with bills, but even so my advice to you now is to have your mobile phone number removed from these Premium Mailing Lists. Customer services at O2 (my service provider) advised me that I could have my number removed from these Premium Mailing Lists by calling 0871 2222 834. Furthermore, they advised me that if in the future, I noticed a shortcode appear in the form of a 5 digit number, then I should write down the number on a piece of notepaper for further reference and then delete the message immediately. Tell as many of your family and friends about what is going on and encourage them to make complaints as I have done. On my own I can only be as effective as my complaint, but there would be a greater power in numbers - the more people that complain about these frauds, then the more the authorities will move to have regulatory powers strenthened so that these crooks will get fined (up to £250,000) and more people will be able to get compensation. Hopefully these people can be put out of business eventually when the industry gets its act together regarding the regulation and control of a multi-million pound business which still offers seemingly limitless opportunities for con-men and fraudsters.:money:

Allejo

yes I've just been conned out of £3 and decided to report my phone as stolen. So I have a blocked phone and my mobile company is issuing me with a new number. I know this is not ideal with some people but it serves a purpose in order to have the phone companies take notice. COME ON EVERYBODY GET IT DONE OR NOTHING WILL BE DONE.:T I have also got the complaints "Privacy and Electronic Communication" form downloaded. The company oi Mobtopia and it is a 86880 number

indiegirlfox

Yes, 2x£3 payments taken from my phone in 3 days. Didn't even reply "yes" to message!! Deleted message then got a text welcoming me to the service. Before I could sort it out money was taken.

Sent email to them via website..that bounced back after 4 days. Called them last Monday to be told that a refund would be made in 48 hours!! No call so tried to call them again this morning but line dead...so, called PayPlus who put me on to a number 0800 500 212 who are investigating this company and many others and the girl I spoke to actually got through to Webtext on another no ( 0844 244 3528 ) who denied all knowledge of my emails and calls!!but she is trying to sort out this problem after they claimed it would take 10 days to refund ( obviously hoping that I would forget or gives them time to flee the country!!! ) I wonder whether its worth calling the Police as it seems so many reg bodies know of this company and are investigating this company. It appears they have been fined numerous times so how come these guys are still in business and why are the code number suppliers not accountable too??

This is the first time this has happened to me and its been an education this morning as to what is going on in the mobile phone scams!!

Help is also on Grumbletext.

MRS_TO_BE_2

Dont forget that from tomorrow Vodafone are meant to be offering a bar on these text messages if you ring up. I somehow think the go live date will be put back and even if it isn't I doubt customer service staff will know how to add the bar.

Remember T Mobile already can do a bar like this

MRS_TO_BE_2

Update Vodafone are now not offering this bar. See my other posts for more info

satehen

This company has conned me too. A few quid here and there every month. God knows how much they've taken out without my permission. I can't even access their crappy "free" content because I haven't set up WAP on my phone. I've got a new SIM card with a new number and hope and pray they won't steal from me again!

BTW don't get mad, get even.. Report these fraudsters to BBC watchdog, the more people who do, the more likely they are to do something about it! I have! http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/gotastory/?thanks

uksal

I have been conned too, until legislation catches up with this sort of underhandedness the "companies" whether that be the network operator, the infastructure provider, or the individual here today gone tomorrow outfits that actually send the messages (and then remain hidden behind a smoke screen) will simply carry on.

I couldn't beleive when it happened to me that this has been going on for so long and how many people "out there" have had similar experiences.

I have got my money back from the network, and frankly it is my belief that the network HAVE to be made to be responsbile for refunding money as they (and only they) know who you are, and who they are paying your money to.

I have started a petition on Number 10 for the government review the lack of legislation surrounding this sort of activity. Please if you have been conned in a similar way, sign it, and ask anyone you know to sign too, and while you are at it, tell your network provider that you want all premium rate messages blocked. It would seem some do and some don's T-mobile and Vodaphone definately have the capability to stop all premium rate messages, so if you are with another network and they claim not to be able to stop these messages, then vote with your feet and go to one who does. (I am absolutely not recommending either of these networks - simply repeating what I have heard from others in that they CAN stop these messages.)

My Petition can be found at.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Paymentbymobile/

Other websites where you will find many other people also affected by this are.


http://www.the-scream.co.uk/forums/f46.html?

grumble text as already mentioned

the regulator (although not independant according to some - I can't say myself as I don't know) but definately worth informing if you find yourself subjected to these charges.
http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/

And also you should send a letter or email to your MP, they after all should be doing something, and they do have a tendancy to pick things up only if they don't go away and lots of people get on to them about it. Remember to go to your MP for your area only.

and if you fancy it you could browse the consumer action group, although there seems to be apathy there.
http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/telecoms-mobile-fixed/


I had money charged to my account without any warning from an outfit calling themselves mobile CRM aka Mob CRM! by the networks and 2Ergo Ltd, today 2Ergo advise me that Mob CRM are
EXPANDING VISION LIMITED
CITY LABS
4-6 DALTON SQUARE
LANCASTER
LANCASHIRE
LA1 1PP

Whether they are or not, I can't confirm, but this is the information provided to me directly from 2Ergo Ltd today.