Spam Texts costing £1.50 (merged threads)

jem16

redmandarin wrote:

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.

Thanks.

I did send STOP to the mobile number that the text came from whcih was the same number on their website for "unsubscribing", so should come out of my inclusive texts. I decided not to use the short code in case this cost me more. I also received an immediate text saying that the service had now been stopped.

I did phone O2 about it and was told that so far no charges had been made although it's always 24hrs behind so couldn't tell me about the main two texts yesterday. I was told that they would refund any charges and I have asked for it to be put on my notes and got the name and extension number of the person I was speaking to.

My O2 online account still shows no charges for yesterday and I have emailed O2 for further information. When I find out if I have been charged I will be putting in a complaint about this mob to Icstis.

redmandarin

Just to let you know - I've just cancelled the direct debit with my bank! I shall deal with the rest of it when I return! :rolleyes: Bye!

midlands_lad

Hi All,

I work for Vodafone and can offer some informal advice.

These messages can cause a lot of inconvenience if you've only requested 1 ring tone, game, wallpaper etc.

Although you can’t always see where these messages have been sent from, you may have the opportunity to forward these messages to us.

VSPAM is a free spam reporting mechanism set up by Vodafone. Through this mechanism, Vodafone is able to monitor the level of spam complaints made by customers. We gather evidence of spamming for the regulatory authorities, who are then able to take action.

You can simply forward these messages to 87726 free for Vodafone customers. Not too sure about other network operators, sorry.

Please note, by forwarding these messages to 87726, will not stop these messages. If you have the opportunity to reply to the message, please reply with the word STOP.

For more information, please visit http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=Page_BOS_MainContent&pageID=AV_0054

If you're a Vodafone customer and you no longer have the message to reply to, we will be able to see the numbers that have sent the messages to you if it's within the last 60 days. You'd then just be able to send the word STOP to their direct number.

If you need to find out the number, please email us through https://www.vodafone.co.uk/contactus so we can look into this and provide you with the sender’s information.

Please put FIT135 in the main body of the email so it's routed through to the most suitable advisor.

I hope this helps.

ianfm

sehenley wrote:

Hi

I have had a problem with premium texts recently and in the last two months it has cost me over £30. I have cancelled them now, however is it possible to get my money back?

Cheers

Sam

Go to the ICSTIS web site and you can enter the number that sent you the premium texts, this will tell you who sent them to you. Contact the company and ask them to tell you where they got your subscribe instruction from and that you want a refund. All I can say is Good Luck because I never got my money back. I am now contemplating action in the small claims court.

Oh and make sure you file a complaint to ICSTIS

jem16

ianfm wrote:

Go to the ICSTIS web site and you can enter the number that sent you the premium texts, this will tell you who sent them to you. Contact the company and ask them to tell you where they got your subscribe instruction from and that you want a refund. All I can say is Good Luck because I never got my money back. I am now contemplating action in the small claims court.

Oh and make sure you file a complaint to ICSTIS

I have complained to ICSTIS.

I refused to contact the company who sent the texts as I never requested them in the first place. I complained to O2 who kept refusing to refund my money saying that it was impossible to subscribe me without my knowledge and that I had to send a text requesting the service. I asked them to provide proof as they would have my call records.

Strangely enough they were unable to do this and have admitted that my records show that no such text was made. As a "goodwill gesture";) they have refunded my money.

This is what they had to say;

"I have looked through your call records and have been unable to locate a text message which you may have sent to validate your subscription to this alert service. This suggests that the Hybyte Solutions may have sent you this premium rate text message in error. As stated above, you will need to contact them directly if you want more details of why they began to send you this unsolicited premium rate text message."

I will now be asking O2 how they will prevent this "error" from happening again?

Keep at your service provider!

ianfm

jem16 wrote:

I have complained to ICSTIS.

I refused to contact the company who sent the texts as I never requested them in the first place. I complained to O2 who kept refusing to refund my money saying that it was impossible to subscribe me without my knowledge and that I had to send a text requesting the service. I asked them to provide proof as they would have my call records.

Strangely enough they were unable to do this and have admitted that my records show that no such text was made. As a "goodwill gesture";) they have refunded my money.

Well they are all on the make out of this scam. Cumulus have told me that I subsribed by texting YES to them on the 31 Mar 05, I don't think so!!!, so they won't refund me I have contacted O2 for proof I didn't send the text and they won't release details of my text messages to me unless I pay them £10. This is scandalous, can they do this? Jem did they try to charge you £10?

Without the proof I cannot demand the refund from Cumulus for the premium text charges so I will have to pay, the thing is can I bill Cumulus for the £10 charge O2 are making?

jem16

ianfm wrote:

Well they are all on the make out of this scam. O2 won't release details of my text messages to me unless I pay them £10. This is scandalous, can they do this? Jem did they try to charge you £10?

No they didn't try to charge me £10. In fact I made such a nuisance of myself emailing them and refusing to back off, that I think they gave me my refund to get rid of me! I basically pestered them about huge holes in their security and what safeguards were in place to prevent abuse.

I am waiting to see what O2 next reply and have told them I will be taking my complaint higher as they couldn't guarantee this would not happen again. I have since emailed Peter Erskine(CEO) about it.

Without the proof I cannot demand the refund from Cumulus for the premium text charges so I will have to pay, the thing is can I bill Cumulus for the £10 charge O2 are making?

I wouldn't even be contacting Cumulus. You didn't request this service.

jem16

ianfm

I had a phone call from the Senior Complaint's team about lunchtime today as a result of my email to Peter Erskine. They have to handle my complaint and report back to Peter Erskine who will then email me back.

They have agreed that my dispute could have been handled a lot better and have confirmed that the refund has been made - its a whole £1.50 but my main complaint was the fact that it could happen again and O2 denying responsibility.

The complaint's team have apparently contacted HyByte to ask how this "error" has happened but did not get a reply and have left a message - now that's a surprise :rolleyes: As soon as they hear they will report back to me. I said that I would be interested in their "story".

I also said that I did not like the way O2 denied responsibility, instead telling me to contact the company myself. He said that it was the company that was charging me and not O2 but did agree that O2 should accept some responsibilty to at least help the customer. He felt that regulations were being tightened as they had been getting less complaints now than before.

He has promised to get back to me when he hears from HyByte. At that point I will be looking for some guarantee that if this happens again, I will have no problem getting a refund as I have requested and they are unable to provide a bar on premium rate text messages.

If I were you, I would email Peter Erskine now.

ianfm

jem16 wrote:

ianfm

If I were you, I would email Peter Erskine now.

Thanks Jem - do you have his contact details?

Ian

jem16

I'm just off the phone to the person from Peter Erskine's department who was dealing with this. Strangely enough he didn't get a reply from HyByte and had to email them this morning.

They have sent a him a report on the "supposed" activity between HyByte and myself which has fabricated an extra 2 texts which have supposedly activated the service. He knows this is a load of rubbish as my call logs show otherwise.

He has told me that I have just to get in touch with him if this happens again and he would investigate it. Should my records confirm the complaint he would refund any charges made.

The email you want is [EMAIL="Peter.Erskine@O2.com"]Peter.Erskine@O2.com[/EMAIL].