Secret sales codes

[#1]

chrisforder wrote:

@sloz
Hmm, OK back to the drawing board, got charged the 22p and got the bus info. I'll get back in touch with the Agent and see what they have to say.

That's very worrying. I had a similar block put on my own phone and my wife's and was assured that it WOULD stop reverse charge premium texts. Can you let us know what the Agent say's?

[#2]

@muggles708

Is it worth 22p to check it out yourself?

[#3]

tazzy19 wrote:

@muggles708

Is it worth 22p to check it out yourself?

Just tried it - same result £0.22 taken and bus info returned. Not happy as this is not what I would have expected after being told that premium texts (including reversed charge texts) were blocked!

[#4]

I've raised this matter with an Agent to try to clarify what is barred, and what is not, by the bar applied to my account. I'll post an update here when I get an answer. GiffGaff routinely apply this bar for customers who have been the victim of these scams and it seems inconceivable that it doesn't work!
I was led to believe that this bar affected all premium rate services (including some reputable services that I might otherwise like to use). I chose to apply this bar precisely because I was told it would stop me becoming a victim of premium rate text subscription scams. If it doesn't do that it is no use to me and is needlessly restricting my account in other ways!

[#5]

@muggles708
Unfortunatey, advice and information on various areas of the giffgaff site.
Including..
The call service page
Http://giffgaff.com/call-services
The landing page of this agent category
https://support2.giffgaff.com/app/ask/Calls-texts-and-data/Managing-calls-texts-data-and-premium-rat...

Have inaccuracies and wrong advice .
You'll notice on the landing page of the agent link I posted, it says...
.. "Blocking the premium number?
If you are being charged by a premium rate text service here's what you can do to stop it"..
And links to the call service page, which shows an option at the top to block premium calld and texts
So you happily switch on that block , thinking that you've blocked reverse charge texts, which of course you haven't

Here's a guide on blocking services on giffgaff
https://community.giffgaff.com/t5/Tips-Guides/Blocking-services-calls-texts-and-data-with-giffgaff/t...

[#6]

sloz wrote:

@muggles708
Unfortunatey, advice and information on various areas of the giffgaff site.
Including..
The call service page
Http://giffgaff.com/call-services
The landing page of this agent category
https://support2.giffgaff.com/app/ask/Calls-texts-and-data/Managing-calls-texts-data-and-premium-rat...

Have inaccuracies and wrong advice .
You'll notice on the landing page of the agent link I posted, it says...
.. "Blocking the premium number?
If you are being charged by a premium rate text service here's what you can do to stop it"..
And links to the call service page, which shows an option at the top to block premium calld and texts
So you happily switch on that block , thinking that you've blocked reverse charge texts, which of course you haven't

Here's a guide on blocking services on giffgaff
https://community.giffgaff.com/t5/Tips-Guides/Blocking-services-calls-texts-and-data-with-giffgaff/t...

I didn't attempt to turn on a bock myself, but asked an agent to do it - transcript below:

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Liza from the giffgaff team

01 Nov 2017 10:21
Hi Paul

Liza here from the giffgaff team, I will be assisting you with your query today.

I understand that you wish to have a bar placed on incoming and outgoing premium rate messages so that you are subjected to unexpected charges, rest assured you have come to the right place today to get this resolved

Upon doing some checks on your account I can that that there isnt currently any bars on your account for these services.

What I have done for you today Paul is I have now placed a bar on all incoming and outgoing premium sms so that you shouldnt face any charges going forward

If you want to ever remove these bars pease get back in contact with us and we will be able to remove them for you

I hope that this helps you today Paul and your mind is at ease

For helpful hints and tips you can ask one of our famous gaffers over at the community
https://community.giffgaff.com/

Kind Regards
Liza from the giffgaff team

Member

31 Oct 2017 22:28
I want to prevent being signed up inadvertently for premium rate incoming texts. There seem to a lot of these scams at the moment and I don;t want to become a victim.

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Is it any wonder that I am now confused!

I'll try to get a clear answer from an Agent, but given the time of year, and the apparent complexity of the issue, it may take a day or two.

Happy New year to all.

[#7]

Would be good to clear this up if you find out. I expect It's not possible as the government probably use such messages to war of impending death by nuclear apocalypse..... Bit realising no one would read it until they were vapourised

[#8]

I have now received a reply from an Agent who tells me that the information I received back in October is 'outdated', suggesting that this bar was once possible, but now is not.  Transcript below:

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Nadia from the giffgaff team

01 Jan 2018 11:44
Hi again Paul

I've checked your previous query now and unfortunately the information you were given is outdated and there isn't a way for us to stop premium rate charges from legitimate sources.

When there is a known scam we always help and offer refunds where we can but for numbers registered with PSA we assume they're operating correctly and we're legally obliged not to interfere with this.

If an individual has a dispute with a registered premium rate company PSA is the route to finding resolve.

I'm sorry I couldn't help further this time Paul.

Nadia at giffgaff (( spreading the giffgaff love ))

Member

01 Jan 2018 11:36
Hi Nadia

I'd be grateful if you could refer back to my original request in October, Reference Number: 171031-001514 . You will then, perhaps , understand why I am now confused.
I am not signed up to any premium rate service, but wish to avoid being scammed. You seem to be telling me that there is nothing you can do, but before making this information public I want to be sure. A number of members have been told that this bar will prevent them receiving premium rate texts. Have they also been misled.
Please read this before sending out another irrelevant response.

Is it possible for GiffGaff to apply a 'charge to account' bar similar to that which Vodafone offer?
Happy New Year.

Paul

Nadia from the giffgaff team

01 Jan 2018 10:27
Hi Paul

Nadia here.

I'm so sorry if you're signed up to a subscription service that you don't want.

Unfortunately, although there is a facility to bar these messages from being seen by your phone giffgaff are unable to prevent premium companies form contacting you and charges being applied and we can't apply a refund in these cases.

If texting STOP to 60031 didn't work, Phone-Paid Services Authority (PSA) offer a service allowing you to check details about a premium number and offer advice on how to stop future contact.

PSA: http://psauthority.org.uk/ (copy and paste).

Hopefully PSA can make sure you're unsubscribed as soon as possible Paul.

Nadia at giffgaff (( spreading the giffgaff love ))

giffgaff community: https://community.giffgaff.com/t5/Hub/ct-p/hub (copy and paste)

Member

31 Dec 2017 16:01
In October I asked for a bar on outgoing and incoming premium rate texts on my account.
Reference Number: 171031-001514
There now seems to be some doubt as to whether this is effective.
This forum discussion explains the background.
https://community.giffgaff.com/t5/Help-Support/Secret-sales-codes/td-p/21279747/page/2?_ms=234&_msd=...

Can you confirm whether or not I am protected from premium rate text subscription scams, as a test seems to suggest that I am not?

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I would appear that if you want to protect yourself you will need to move to Vodafone or EE, both of whom offer a  'charge to account' bar which is effective against these scams. An alternative is only to buy goodybags and maintain a zero balance.

I apologise to anyone on here who I may have misled based on incorrect information supplied by a GiffGaff agent.

If you have put a premium rate bar on your account, you may wish to reconsider it in the light of this information. There is a danger in not being able to see the texts you are being charged for.

[#9]

Unfortunately it takes a couple of days to be able to check call costs on giffgaff but I have now checked and confirmed that the reverse charge premium text cost me £4.50. So please note all others who have received such an unwanted and unsolicited text. My only recourse is to report it to the telephone preference service as my number is registered with them, in the hope that it is a British company sending these texts and that the TPS are able to do something about it. Hope this helps others!

[#10]

999keith wrote:

Unfortunately it takes a couple of days to be able to check call costs on giffgaff but I have now checked and confirmed that the reverse charge premium text cost me £4.50. So please note all others who have received such an unwanted and unsolicited text. My only recourse is to report it to the telephone preference service as my number is registered with them, in the hope that it is a British company sending these texts and that the TPS are able to do something about it. Hope this helps others!

The TPS have nothing to do with these scams. The place to make a complaint is the Phone-paid Services Authority. Please do make a complaint to them as very few defrauded consumers actually do this, so these frauds are massively under-reported.

I've put information about making a complaint here.

payforitsucks.co.uk