Chris Tate-Davies:

Thats just plain stupidity. Why would you buy it? 6 people from the UK?

Not from the UK from, from the US; which makes a lot more sense.

However, I'd hazard a guess that it was more about someone wanting some notoriety, so it's not impossible that they knew some of the buyers. Then again being iPhone users, anything's possible.

testydonkey:Could have been worse

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/08/iphone-i-am-ric.html

Almost, but since Apple refunded the buyers, the posters above are actually worse off because they're still out of pocket. It seems that, with Premium Rate SMS, rip-offs are still the rule rather than the exception.

To be fair to the guy who wrote that app, the iPhone has a higher proportion of users with far more money than sense (my own dear brother included), and he did at least make very clear they were paying $1000 for sod all.

Thats just plain stupidity. Why would you buy it?

6 people from the UK???? More money than sence? Or just not thinking???

So, it seems like Premium Rate SMS is still the den of thieves that it's always been. Which is a bit of a shame, because it has the potential to become a reasonably effective form of micropayments.

Currently, though, it's just a way to steal money from us with impunity. What's wrong with on-the-spot fines, with a chain of accountability leading from the service provider up to the network-operator? They go to great lengths to ensure they get paid by customers, so why not from networks that they connect to?

Where's the consumer-biased legislation when you need it?

The most annoying this, is that you cannot get in touch with the company because phone calls and emails are ignored. The only way would be to go down to their offices, but no doubt, they'll be no one there either!

All this for a quid... No wonder they get away with it, because people like me just can't be bothered to continue persuing it for such a small amount of money...

Perhaps I'll go on a campaign to stop it. Another day perhaps.

That's a disappointing response from phonepayplus because their statements imply that they come down hard on unscrupulous service providers.

It shouldn't be possible to bill a number 'uninvited'; just entering your number into Facebook shouldn't be enough to allow them to charge your account. It normally requires you to send an initial message to which the service provider responds. Unless I misunderstood the actions that led to you being billed, this is what they've done.

What you might find is that the company that leases the short-code sub-lets keywords to 3rd parties. They are, however, ultimately responsible for the actions of these 3rd parties, and usually they just give refunds to users and knock it off the payments due. They always play safe because the penalties for breaching regulations can amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Kevin

Rich,

Finally got a reply from PhonePayPlus today. Not the greatest to be fair, but seems they can't do much about it. Reply follows:

Dear Mr Tate-Davies

Reverse-billed SMS service (chargeable text messages) - 61115

Thank you for your complaint received on 17 July 2008.

PhonepayPlus regulate the content and promotion of premium rate services. Our aim is to minimise consumer harm by ensuring that the companies responsible for providing these services abide by the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice.

As a result of your complaint, we would suggest contacting the service provider(s) directly and request that the service is cancelled. They will also be able to tell you how your number was obtained and how you came to receive these messages.

If you have any further information which you feel will assist the investigation please contact our helpline on 0800 500 212, between 8am and 6pm weekdays, quoting your case reference number. This can be found at the top of this letter.

PhonepayPlus does not have the power to force a service provider to refund consumers. You may contact the service provider direct to request a refund at the address provided below; however, if your request is denied, we can only advise that you seek independent legal advice (e.g. Citizens’ Advice Bureau). This is not something that PhonepayPlus can help with and we will not be able to comment on this issue.

If you are receiving regular text messages and wish to stop the service either send a new text with the words STOP ALL to the shortcode (5 digit number, standard text charge will apply), or contact the company responsible for the service who will also be able to give you more information about this service.

Anyway, thought I'd share as you wanted to know how I got on!

Chris.

Hi Chris,

Thanks for replying I have done exactly what you had suggested and gave it a go, I know also a similar occurence to what happened to yourself happening to a friend. I think some of them really are crafty in reeling you in so to speak, with the one on Facebook, friends unknowing send the quiz to a friend and this is what happens. I am so annoyed and have not topped up my mobile even though I have two confirmations the service has stopped, I do not trust them what they cannot do is take any credit off me at least but then I am without my mobile so you cannot win

Best wishes Rich.

P.S. Let me know how you get on Chris

Hi Rich.

I feel your annoyance, but, lesson learnt there I think.

You might want to try contacting phonepay plus at http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk

They will look into complaints for payable mobile phone services. I have recently had to complain to them about a company who have been sending me obscene text messages and charging me for the luxury of it!!! They're like the ombisman of these payable mobile services. (Although its been a week and I have heard nothing)

Anyway, give them a shot.

HTH, Chris

Hello,

I do not think this is the right place to post this question but maybe somebody else has had the same occurence as myself. Yesterday I was on my Facebook which is an online social networking website when unknowingly I took a quiz that was presented to me by a friend, the quiz was an einstien test to discover your IQ reading.

I was stupid enough to enter my mobile number online to discover my score just curious to know as you do, the next minute I was subscribed to a service that asks questions four times a week and by this time I had £6.00 taken from my credit, I am a pay as you go so that is all I have on my mobile and I have been reluctant to top it up anymore even after I sent a text saying stop to this particular number I still do not trust them.

I e-mailed my provider 02 who said that they cannot cancel the service or seek any reimbursment for this occurence and told me to get intouch with the company this being Wixawin.co.uk and the number is 81121. I received an e-mail from them telling me the service has been cancelled but my credit is not redeemable as it was my fault for accepting the service. Is there anything else I can do? I am still annoyed at the £6.00 credit for nothing really, I know it is not alot of money and I have learned a valuable lesson but this service was on Facebook and I only replied (yes stupid to give your number) thinking that it was just a score caculation I would receive and not a text subscription anyone can fall for this I am sure, any advice or where I can write to please reply, it is just so annoying I would like to stop someone else falling for this!

Rich