Wapstar Subscription I didn't sign up for

sloz

mjad7
can you see the balance when you dial
*100# ?
And you're texting 83463 ?

Which make and model of phone do you have?
slso
are you currently in the UK or abroad?

mjad7

sloz Yes, I can see the balance when I dial *100#.
And yep, texting 8346.

I've got an iPhone SE. And I'm currently in the UK.

jaymailsays

mjad7 Okay, I just added air time credit, texted STOP--but the message just keeps saying 'not delivered'? What should I do now?

You need to double check the 5 or 6 digit number you are replying STOP too. Update us here, , ,

By adding airtime, you potentially gave wapstar the opportunity to steal your money. Call the 03 number and the automated process will remove your number.

Contact giffgaff immediately and ask for a refund of the credit added.
https://support2.giffgaff.com/app/ask/Top-up-balances-and-goodybags/Cancelling-a-goodybag-or-top-up-purchase/form/

mjad7

jaymailsays The number I was texting is 83463.

I did just phone 03300535841 and was put through to customer services, and the lady there said the subscription had started this morning and that she's now cancelled it and doesn't think I'll be charged.

I've just checked my credit balance too and none's been taken from what I've added.

sloz

mjad7
What day and time did you receive the text to say that you have a free 24 hour period?

jaymailsays

mjad7
Great, You are unsubscribe.

Ask giffgaff for a refund of your credit.
https://support2.giffgaff.com/app/ask/Top-up-balances-and-goodybags/Cancelling-a-goodybag-or-top-up-purchase/form/

mjad7

sloz I received the text at 10.32 this morning. I only saw the text at 11am though as that was when I first picked up my phone as I was working earlier. The phone was off and in my pocket, so no one else could've signed up for the free trial, right?

jaymailsays

mjad7 But if I contact this company wouldn't that then sign me up?

Unfortunately you are already signed up (unlawfully) doing nothing is **not an option as now you have credit, they will take it.
I urge you to call the 03 number, included in your goodybag.

sloz

mjad7
Dors it show a date on the text when the free 24 hour period ends?

How much airtime credit do you currently have
(dial *100# to check)

Which value goodybag do you buy each month?

Incidentally, the number to text is 83463
not 8346
Perhaps that's the reason the text failed

jaymailsays

mjad7 so no one else could've signed up for the free trial, right?

These companies are usually based abroad and are not always transparent. They are meant to send a code which you authenticate, which of course they fraudulently disregard.

mjad7

sloz This is the text:
FreeMsg: Game players! Check out ALL of Wapstar latest games here: [link]

FreeMsg: Thank you Your free trial of Wapstar Content from Wapstar will end on 12/10/2019. Then £4.50 every week until you text STOP to 83463 HELP? 03300535841. Charge applied to mobile phone bill.

And I get a £8 goodybag each month, but it's not set to recurring.

sloz

mjad7
do you still have £10 credit?
(dial *100# to check)

mjad7

Should I be changing my mobile number as well?

jaymailsays

mjad7 Should I be changing my mobile number as well?

If your current number is not that important to you, then you can change it here.
https://giffgaff.com/profile/details/getnumber

You can also queue your next goodybag using existing credit.
https://giffgaff.com/buy/goodybag

sloz

mjad7
Wrote...
Should I be changing my mobile number as well?

mjad7
no, there's no reason at all why you should change your number,
You've cancelled the subscription before the free 24 hour period,
no charges will be taken

mjad7

sloz Yes, I do.

sloz

mjad7
try texting STOP to 83463 again

If you don't receive a reply, it means the subscription has been cancelled,
and if you do receive a reply
all well and good,

You can call 43430 and press option 2 and follow the directions to buy a £8 goodybag to queue

If you've been inconvenienced by topping up and you would rather receive a refund, contact an agent to ask for that
Use the link jaymailsays posted and ask for a refund, it'll be back in your bank account in around 5 days

With regards to how you subscribed to the service
giffgaff ibteiced an extra level of authorisation several months ago, and in theory it's virtually impossible to inadvertent subscribe
but
wapstar doesn't seem to be adhering to this,

mjad7

sloz So I spoke to a woman and she said she's cancelled the subscription. Do I still need to text STOP to that number too?

sloz

mjad7
there's no harm in texting it
If you don't receive a reply, that would confirm that subscription has been cancelled

mjad7

sloz I texted again and this time it worked. cost 10p, and no response, so do I assume everything is okay now? I'm still so puzzled how this happened. I definitely didn't click on anything, so surely it could happen again?

sloz

mjad7
yes, that confirms that the subscription has been cancelled,

As I mentioned earlier, the extra authorisation that's been added should make it impossible to inadvertently subscribe to a service
But there's been around 15 customers reporting that they've subscribed to wapstar over the last few months
so its something that needs investigating

As I said earlier, you could buy a £8 goodybag with your balance
or ask an agent to refund the £10

jaymailsays

mjad7 I definitely didn't click on anything, so surely it could happen again?

Some sites trick you into clicking an X to close the page, except it subscribes your mobile number to their system, supplied by giffgaff. They are then supposed to send a pin number, which you would enter, if you wanted the payforit service.

Of course the fraudsters ignore that and send a free trial text subscription instead.

sloz

mjad7
Hi, calling the 03 customer service number wouldn't mean that you're forced into a subscription,

If you don't have 10p credit to send the Stop text
Call the number up,
If there isn't an automated unsubscribe option, press to speak to someone in person, and ask for the subscription to be cancelled,

If there's only a call back option
Or you don't feel particularly comfortable in calling the number
Top up now, the same value as your usual goodybag
And then send the Stop text

You can contact an agent here, and explain that you had to top up to send a text to cancel a premium service, ask of they would kindly refund 10p so you're able to buy a goodybag with the balance
https://support2.giffgaff.com/app/ask/Calls-texts-and-data/Managing-calls-texts-data-and-premium-rate-numbers/form

Replies are found here
Http://giffgaff.com/support/questions

Once the agent has refunded
Switch off any recur option
Http://giffgaff.com/profile/payment-details
Click change on the recur option
Untick the small box
And click save recurring settings

Then call 43430 and press option 2 and follow the directions to buy a goodybag to queue with your balance

Once the queued goodybag goes live you can switch the recur back on