Your advice please ............

[awj85]

........... with regard to my Orange network iphone

Last night at 2126 I received 9 consecutive text messages from an unknown number to me "69030."  All received in less than 60 seconds! 

Most days I check my remaining minutes via an app i have downloaded as i only have 100 minutes per month.  I've just checked now, and in a way i am glad i have.  ::)

This number which text me last night has showed up on my account at £1.50 per message!

What do you suggest i do?  Anyone head of this kind of scam before?  Here are a couple of other peoples comments i have found when i google the number  http://www.smswatchdog.com/text-message-from/69030
http://whotextsme.com/text-message-from/69030

First thing i have already done is cancel my direct debit!    No way am i funding unsolicted text sent to me! 

[shadrack]

maybe youve been browsing porn....... )

[awj85]

I think the messages were something about gambling or debt consolidation??

Wouldn't be so bad if I had, but even then why should I pay for them to text me shadrach??

[Don Coffey]

[quote="awj85"]
I think the messages were something about gambling or debt consolidation??

Wouldn't be so bad if I had, but even then why should I pay for them to text me shadrach??
[/quote]

I would be contacting Orange instantly, firstly to warn them of this scam on their network, then to let them know that you don't expect to be charged for the incoming text and thirdly, to find out how Orange are dealing with it and how can someone send an unsolicited text and charge you for the privilege?

Don

[kkodal78]

Have you called the mobile provider to discuss the messages? They should be able to take the charges off and maybe put that number that sent you the messages on blacklist.

[psychosis]

I've heard stories of this but always assumed it was just rubbish. Quite frightening really that you can be charged for unsolicited messages. No help to resolve the situation but interested in any outcome. Surely these types of numbers are regulated? Maybe that's another avenue to explore if your service provider is unhelpful.

[awj85]

Right here is a little update.  just been on the phone to Orange.  basically its upto me to contact the sender of the text messages and ask them why/what they are going to do about it.  Orange customer services did kindly provide me with a contact number for the sender of these unrequested text messages.  Needless to say the number would be a premium rate number.  :rant:

So overall, no use phoning Orange  >:(

[X5Sport]

Can you not report this to PhonepayPlus and/or Ofcom?

Details here:  Phonepayplus

The mobile networks have a very poor rep for dealing with these cases and just hand it back to you to resolve.

Richard

[Don Coffey]

Call Ofcom.  This needs reporting to the highest level.  I would also consider call the police.  This must be a form of fraud or theft.  You have been charged for a service that you didn't request, sign up for, need or want.

Don

[jaynana]

getting charged for unsolicited incoming text messages is absurd!

you should tell Orange that you'd be making a complaint to ofcom. you could also let them know that you'd be exposing their stance on this matter. i say this cos they should not take htis lightly and think twice and be blo0dy sure of what they're doing because that sounds absurd to me!

i've found that usually the alert that they'd be exposed makes these companies sometimes retract on their stupid defensive positions...

[awj85]

Here is a copy of a letter i am sending to the muppets at this address
Suite 4
2 Station Court
Townmead Road
London
SW6 2PY

Obviously i have also included the contact number which received the messages and my address ..............(is that a mistake?!)


Dear Sir,
On Wednesday 6 February 2013 at 21:26 my mobile was sent 9 consecutive text messages from the number 69030.  They show up at a cost of £13.50 on my bill; these unsolicited messages were not requested or wanted.
I expect full reimbursement for these unsolicited messages, you sent me.
I look forward to receiving the full £13.50 for me to pay for your messages within the next 14 days.

Yours faithfully,

[Don Coffey]

There has been some recent cases where people who have been wrongly charged have sent a bill to the offending company covering the cost of their time, calls, letters etc.  maybe worth you threatening the company with extra cost of they don't sort the issue instantly.

With you mentioning the premium number, I wonder if this is there true scam.  Send out the text then when you ring take twenty minutes to apologise and correct the 'error', all for a priemium rate of £30!

Don

[jaynana]

don, that i can understand - that's teh usual type of scam on a premium rate number.

what i'm hearing from awj85 in this case is unsolicited text msgs, for which u get charged for on receipt!!

how crazy is that?? think about it - effectively you have NO CONTROL over your bill!

if that is allowed all the operator has to do is spin-off some cronies to send msgs to customers and they earn unlimited money!

up until now i did not know there could be text msgs u get charged for on receipt (except when on roaming)

if that is possible i'm sure it can't be at the free will of the sender.

the user should have an ability to control it before it even starts (not by being forced to say STOP), if that is not possible the operator has to take responsibility

[Don Coffey]

Yes, I'm fully up to date with how awj has been ripped off, but expressing a view that maybe the end intension is to get the receiver on the premium line to get more money but seem legitement in the eyes of the law. 

Don

[awj85]

Thanks for all the comments.  Needless to say I will not pay for some fraudulent company to send me unwanted porn messages.  I have no intention of paying Orange what is going to be added onto my next bill.  Direct debit is cancelled and I will wait for the phone call from them and pay my usual amount.