34 replies to this topic

[davy]

kam_,
thanks for the reply.

I did not send any texts to anyone whatsover.

I only had the sim for a couple of weeks (direct from Voda website) to evaluate the service. I used it to phone once. Also browsed Vodafone live and tried out the free for 30 days TV service. I definitely did not send any texts.

Are you saying that these short code sms's can only be sent after you firstly send a text to the shortcode to subscribe?

fleabag, on Apr 2 2006, 13:54, said:

davy: It sounds to me like your case is one of a recycled number. I don't believe anyone has subscribed you, individual or company, it is likely nobody has decided to randomly bill you. Another user was probably subscribed, their number was cancelled or became inactive for some reason... It was recycled and given to you. The premium SMS messages have probably been sent over and over since the number became inactive until it was reactivated for you. It's like a spam list. If the e-mail address dies the emails are still sent to it over and over... They just bounce but nobody ever checks or cares. I've seen this happen many times before. Although you have no case as far as getting a refund from a network is concerned, you may have a case for a free number chnge (not a right, a case) - I doubt you'll get anywhere unless you ask to speak to a manager. To support your case, you can ask them to check your call history for your outgoing text to begin the subscribtion - which obviously they will not find. If the number is PAYG though, it is unlikely they have a record of more than 100 previous actions on file.

fleabag,
thanks for the input.

I have to disagree about my case for entitlement to refund from the network though. Especially if this matter turns out to have been caused by a recycled number.

I ordered the sim new from Voda's website (one of there free sim offers).
Nothing in the terms and conditions mentioned that I would be responsible for pending premium sms's ordered by a previous user of the number allocated to my new sim.

cheers,
davy.

[Swampie]

davy, on Apr 2 2006, 16:45, said:

Are you saying that these short code sms's can only be sent after you firstly send a text to the shortcode to subscribe?

A bit of a grey area.  Technically no.  You can be signed up by someone manually typing your number into their system.  Some sites allow online signups too.

However, I believe that if you can sign up away from the handset, then they are required to send you a SMS to which you must reply to before any reverse charged SMS.  Basically, this ensures that the person in possession of the handset actually authorises the charges.

In reality, not all do this, and therefore you can be signed up online without your permission.  HOWEVER: if the network cannot prove you signed up (ie. sent them an SMS first) then there's no proof you agreed to the charges.

[davy]

Swampie,
thanks for the info.
I have e-mailed Voda yesterday asking for any details they hold on my account regarding the logogo sms's so that I have it in writing.
No reply yet.
I sent a further e-mail today specifically asking them to check my call records and to advise me of details of any sms's sent since I activated the sim 2 to 3 weeks ago. I know I have not sent any.
I will try to contact this logogo outfit again this week.
Depending on what happens with the above I will refer the matter to Ofcom.

Cheers,
davy.

[sporkguy]

davy: may I suggest you call Vodafone directly, as they probably don't prioritise emails and therefore you will be waiting a while for what will probably be an automated response.

[davy]

sporkguy, thanks for the advice.
I have received automated responses for the mails already which Voda have allocated reference numbers to.
I can wait a few days to see if they respond.

davy.

[davy]

Got replies from Voda this morning. They supplied details of the transactions and confirmed I have never sent any texts since activating the sim last month.

The e-mail address originally supplied by Voda for Logogo was wrong.
I have e-mailed Logogo tonight and await there response.

davy.

[Confucious]

I've only just spotted this thread - missed it on MoDaCo because I don't normally read voda stuff.

Just wanted to say the same thing happens on T-Mob.

Gave my mum an old phone for Christmas 2004 and it was locked to T so bought her a PAYG SIM and chucked a tenner on it (enough to last hner about a year!), she turned it on and immediately received a 'joke' SMS and shortly after another one. Turns out she was being charged 50p a time. I textded back 'STOP' but they didn't.
I called T at some ridiculous rate to be told they could do nothing and we must have ordered it!

I eventually went to the T shop where I bought the SIM where a very helpful man explained that the number must have been recycled, gave us a new SIM with a new number and refunded the money taken. If it wasnLt for the helpful man in the shop I would probably have started a similar thread about T.

This is legalised THEFT - there is no other word for it. How many kids have bought a new SIM and had there money stolen like this and not been able to do anything about it?

I think it's disgusting but it's nit just voda and it hasn't stopped me going back to T for their wonderful new W'n'W tarrif...

The law needs to be changed and one day I'll get round to writing to my MP about it....

[mcwarre]

confucious, on Apr 16 2006, 05:29, said:

This is legalised THEFT

Theft, by definition, is illegal.

I agree that it is a complete joke and people make a lot of money and it should be stopped.  Unless a lot of people follow the advice on this thread then the phone companies won't do anything about it.  Another law will just be worked around.  Hit the network in the pocket it is the only way it will stop. Text STOP to.....

[Swampie]

confucious, on Apr 16 2006, 05:29, said:

I've only just spotted this thread - missed it on MoDaCo because I don't normally read voda stuff.

Just wanted to say the same thing happens on T-Mob.

Except if you ask T-Mobile nicely, they'll turn off the reverse billed SMS option on your account so you can't be billed like this.

AFAIK, they're the only UK network operator to do this.

[spacerace]

this is exactly what I was getting to - it must be a recycyled number and the previous owner signed up for this service and authorised it. agree - go back to Vodafone and show no texts have been sent while you owned the account and that you are not liable for the billing...

[MARKUKCOUK]

This makes PAC codes even more useful.  Quite scary to think of the risk you are taking getting a new contract!

[sporkguy]

markukcouk, on Sep 25 2006, 13:31, said:

This makes PAC codes even more useful.  Quite scary to think of the risk you are taking getting a new contract!

Uh oh. Tinfoil hat time!

[Sp00k]

Swampie, on Sep 19 2006, 22:38, said:

Except if you ask T-Mobile nicely, they'll turn off the reverse billed SMS option on your account so you can't be billed like this.

AFAIK, they're the only UK network operator to do this.

Hmm... T-Mobile CS tell me that if they do this, it will also prevent me from sending SMS... And that there's no way around it.

Mind you, so far I've only spoken to one person, who then asked her supervisor... So being an ex-Orange customer, perhaps I should apply the tried and tested 'best of three' method, in the hope of obtaining the correct information?

[pookiecheeks]

hello all,
..oi, contact www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog. if anyone can sort it, nicky campbell can !  


pooks  

[pd.ryder]

pookiecheeks, on Oct 30 2006, 00:06, said:

hello all,
..oi, contact www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog. if anyone can sort it, nicky campbell can !


pooks