By Jo Best, 9 July 2004 11:50
NEWS Had enough of being ripped-off by premium rate mobile texts? So has the Mobile Data Association (MDA). It's decided to introduce a universal unsubscribe option for all providers of the higher-cost services from this year.
The premium rate services, which text their customers everything from updates on TV programmes and sports to ringtones and porn, often make unsubscribing too difficult, said the MDA, leaving customers paying for services they've long since stopped wanting.
To try and solve the problem, the MDA has told the premium rate service providers that from 1 August, if users text them the word 'STOP', they must unsubscribe them from the service. Some third-party suppliers will be exempt if they don't have the technology to deal with such requests.
While responsible providers have signed up to recognise the scheme, the text spammers - businesses that get unsuspecting users to ring a premium rate number by sending them a text promising them they've won a prize - will doubtless remain oblivious.
The premium rate regulator, Icstis, issued record fines to spam scammers in May.
Comments
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1. Troy
Quote "Some third-party suppliers will be exempt if they don't have the technology to deal with such requests."
Why? This is like saying "If you don't have a speedometer you can't be done for speeding"
The people that "Don't have the technology" are the people we need to target they are the 2-bit opperations that are abusing the system.
2. anonymous
My partner has recently been the victim of one of these unsolicited text scams on a prepay mobile, the money disappears as the text is delivered. It takes a good deal of time, and money, to get the service provider to reimburse and block the sendor.
At present it is not possible for service providers to bar incoming premium rate services.
Surely it should be mandatory for service providers to bar incoming premium rate services if the customer requests it, or is this too simple a solution?
3. Andrew Evans
My wife's cousin - only 13 years old has also been a victim of a supplier who promised a free ring tone. Even when we unsubscribed as soon as money was added a text was sent offering ring tones and £1.50 taken of the phone (a pre-pay phone). Vodafone were no help at all stating you cannot block only premium texts - many youngsters these days spend most of their air-time texting and not phoning. They also said it was not their responsibility that money had been taken without consent. Neither could they provide company details of who they were so we could take them to trading standards.
On a landline you can block premium rates, why can't it be done on mobiles ?
Simple it makes money for everyone.
It is about time it is made simple to prevent people sending you text's which just take money off you without your consent - and more prosecutions for those who try.
4. anonymous
Interesting......
But predictable, the 'phone companies are obviously reluctant to give up their 'cut'
Let's face it such companies are run by 'hard nosed' & quite ruthless men & women. That is why they are at the top in an age that the cult of ruthlessness is feted & admired, by some.