Spam Texts costing £1.50 (merged threads)

rrwfotr

Edinburghlass wrote:

Have a read of the previous posts on this thread I have merged your post with.

I had these texts myself before and although I hadn't subscribed to any websites I had once voted using text and can only assume thats where they got my number from

That's just the stange thing, I've never used the phone for texting or given the number out to any company at all or texted anyone on my phone/number. I'm sure that these companies have got my number from by another way....

mobilegossip

rrwfotr wrote:

That's just the stange thing, I've never used the phone for texting or given the number out to any company at all or texted anyone on my phone/number. I'm sure that these companies have got my number from by another way....

You can complain to Icstis.
http://www.icstis.org.uk/consumers/how_to_complain/how_to_make_complaint.asp

redmandarin

Anyone else been receiving "Joke" spam texts? They're sent by 87211 and I've received my current months' mobile bill to discover that they have sent 4 at a cost of £1.50 each! :mad:

I did not subscribe for this "service" which consists of them sending me a stupid, sexist and very old joke ONCE A WEEK! I had assumed that they wanted me to call back at a premium rate no. (as if!) and I therefore ignored them, because I had no idea that each one was costing ME money!

Can you wise and helpful people, please help with the following questions (as quick as you can please before they send me another one)?

1. How do I stop them sending any more of these blasted texts?

2. How can I find out who sent them (there's no other no. showing on my phone)?

3. Is it a waste of time for me to ring Virgin about a refund (on their 0845, costly number) or will they say "nothing to do with us" just ring ICSTIS/Caller Preference Service? Complaining is good but, hey - I also want the money back that someone stole from me!

4. I pay my phone bill by direct debit (they shouldn't have taken the money yet) so do I have to pay this direct debit (and also the next one - as there's another £1.50 that will appear on the next bill) and the additional unauthorised £6.00 or will that cost more money and trouble with Virgin?

5. Should I pay it and request a Visa chargeback?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
I hope this might help other people too.

mobilegossip

From the Icstis Site.This is what we know about the number you entered (87211).

We have the following information about this number.
This is a text message service charged at premium rate. Content ranges from ringtones, jokes, games, tarot, chat and more. Call the content provider shown below for more details. This service costs will vary depending on the service that you subscribed to.
Click the following link for further information about premium rate text messages. More...
We also have contact details for the company that provides this service. If you have any queries about it, please get in touch with them to find out more.

Hybyte Solutions and Services Ltd
114-116 Rochester Row
London
SW1P 1JQ
0870 835 5550

---

Also read their Website here http://www.hybyte.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=9949&products_id=4511

redmandarin

Thank you so much, mobilegossip. It's so kind of you to imput the no. and get the details for me. Looking at the website, it seems that they supply reverse charge text facilities to other companies. I need to ring Hybyte Solutions and see if I can get a refund. :rolleyes:

It is really annoying because I'm in work office hours and can't call then, plus it's an 0870 no. and I'll cost me even more money if I can get through and (like everyone else) I have OTHER things that I need to get on with! And all for a "service" that I did not subscribe to in the first place! This reverse charging facility needs to be stopped, entirely. If people want to subscribe to any service then their card details should have to be provided. This would stop kids (and others) from subscribing by text to things without realising (or being fully informed of) the full implications of their actions and it would also stop scammers randomly sending expensive texts to those who have not subscribed to a service.

Still dunno what to do about the Virgin bills! : :sad:
Any ideas anyone?

ianfm

redmandarin wrote:

Thank you so much, mobilegossip. It's so kind of you to imput the no. and get the details for me. Looking at the website, it seems that they supply reverse charge text facilities to other companies. I need to ring Hybyte Solutions and see if I can get a refund. :rolleyes:

It is really annoying because I'm in work office hours and can't call then, plus it's an 0870 no. and I'll cost me even more money if I can get through and (like everyone else) I have OTHER things that I need to get on with! And all for a "service" that I did not subscribe to in the first place! This reverse charging facility needs to be stopped, entirely. If people want to subscribe to any service then their card details should have to be provided. This would stop kids (and others) from subscribing by text to things without realising (or being fully informed of) the full implications of their actions and it would also stop scammers randomly sending expensive texts to those who have not subscribed to a service.

Still dunno what to do about the Virgin bills! : :sad:
Any ideas anyone?

You could try https://www.saynoto0870.com to try and get the geographical phone number. I had the same problem and in the end after phoning the 0871 number I was given andd leaving umpteen messages I decided to send an invoice by recorded mail to the company requesting a refund on the unsolicited texts plus the cost of the 0871 calls, plus a fee for my time in getting it sorted. This makes the bill enough to warrant a claim in the county court which is my next step if the company don't cough up.

If you don't pay your mobile phone bill chances are that you will get your service suspended and then end up getting your account sent to a dca. Me personally I would'nt pay my bill and fight it out with Virgin but thats up to you.

I am also writing to my MP. I noticed from the ICSTIS web site that the company who scammed me has been fined over a 12 month period a total of £105,000. Now if they can afford those sort of fines how much profit do they make out of these scams, and whats more why are ICSTIS just fining them every other month and not taking their licence away. I think its time we had some answers from government on this.

jem16

I have exactly the same problem.


Yesterday I got a text message inviting me to use 500 free sms at
07781485153.com. I ignored it completely as it was obviously spam.

Today I've got another message saying I've joined for£1.50 per week until I
send STOP to 82885.

I have not joined anything. Should I send STOP? I'm afraid that if I do, that
will start it rather than stop it.

Any advice please?

mobilegossip

jem16 wrote:

I have exactly the same problem.


Yesterday I got a text message inviting me to use 500 free sms at
07781485153.com. I ignored it completely as it was obviously spam.

Today I've got another message saying I've joined for£1.50 per week until I
send STOP to 82885.

I have not joined anything. Should I send STOP? I'm afraid that if I do, that
will start it rather than stop it.

Any advice please?

This is the advice Icstis Give.

This is what we know about the number you entered (82885).


We can tell you that this number (known as a 'shortcode') relates to a
text message providing premium rate content such as ringtones, jokes,
games, tarot and chat.


If you are receiving chargeable text messages that you want to cancel,
we would recommend that you get in touch with your mobile provider and
ask them for details of the company operating this shortcode. When you
have this information, contact that company and request to be
unsubscribed from it. We are unable to do this on your behalf.


Alternatively, you could text the word STOP to the number you queried;
however, we cannot guarantee that this will work with every shortcode.

jem16

Thank you for the info.

However as I did not subscribe to anything why should I be liable for its charge?

Will sending STOP only confirm my number is active?

redmandarin

Hi mobile, jem and ian - thanks a lot for your help and info. Unfortunately there isn't and alternative 0870 no for Hybyte. By the way jem I text'd STOP ALL to the text no. and received two texts to say that I had "unsubscribed" (I didn't subscribe in the first place) so hopefully they wont send anymore. As I said, I've been unable to sort this as I've been at work. I'm off work today as I'm going on holiday this afternoon (whoohoo!). Ordinarily I'd call Virgin today and battle with them and call my bank and cancel the direct debit and phone Hybte and demand a refund. But I haven't any time just now to be left hanging on the phone in several queues for goodness how long. All I can do is let the DD go through :mad: and then take ian's advice with Hybyte (finally going to the small claims court if necessary). Maybe I can get a visa chargeback (as this was a fraudulent and unauthorised withdrawl of funds) at some point too. You're absolutely right ian, we've all got to do everything we can to stop this kind of activity and I'll do what I can too.

In the meantime, I'm off to "just as sunny but more attractive" climes! Busy busy packing to do!

See you when I get back and thanks again. :wave: