Premium text charges, Do,s And Don't,s
on: 08/05/2016 | 15:22 - edited: 01/02/2019 | 20:25
DO BE VIGILANT AND READ TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Firstly. when browsing and using apps. Look at the terms and conditions on the page. If it's a pop up advert, it'll say it's for a weekly charge (albeit in small lettering)
There's several ways in which you could subscribe to a premium service
In some instances the act of just clicking a link will enter you into a weekly subscription
(IMPORTANT the received text may inform you that you have a free 24 hour cooling off period first)
Or
clicking a link will then result in a text being sent to your phone
Or
there'll be a box to input your mobile number.
The received text will ask you to send a reply with a key word
Or it'll give you a code to input back on the site
Replying with the key word or inputting the code on the site will start the subscription.
So be aware of those various scenarios
DON,T IGNORE OR DELETE THE TEXTS
if you have inadvertently subscribed to a service or fell into the trap of subscribing to a service. Don't ignore the situation.
Open the text.
the act of opening a text won't charge you or initiate the subscription. If you've been subscribed to a service it's already happened. Read the text fully and don't delete it. Retain it in your inbox.
It'll show the weekly charge and it'll also include the customer service number. It'll also tell you how to unsubscribe
(IMPORTANT, do not delete that first text, if you delete it, and don't currently have any credit to cover the cost of the subscription and then add credit at a later date, you may receive a receipt text from 30090007 or 30090009 (or another 8 digit number starting 30) , this is from payforit, and won't supply any information on how to stop the service, all that info will be contained within the first text you received)
DON'T BLOCK ANY 5 OR 8 DIGIT NUMBER
If you receive a text from a shortcode number whether it's indicating that you've subscribed to a service or you haven't.
Don't block the number
Blocking the number won't stop the deductions. Weekly charges will still be taken but you won't receive a confirmation text of the deduction.
Also if you have the number blocked and don't currently have a subscription linked to the number.
If you subsequently inadvertently subscribe again. Charges will be taken and you're then left in the dark where they originate from.
So don't block any 5 digit numbers
And if you already have. Unblock them
DO TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY
If you receive a text indicating you've subscribed to a service.
Text the word STOP or STOP ALL as soon as possible (important if you have a 24 hour cooling off period)
the text will arrive from a 5 digit number or a word or words ("freemessage" for instance)
the number to send the text to, will be mentioned in the body of the message.
The text will almost always cost 10p to send. It won't cost any more
You won't be charged a larger amount (£1.50.£2. £3. £4.50 ect) As some people fear will happen.
(IMPORTANT, if you have inadvertently subscribed by merely clicking a link, you sometimes have a free 24 hour cooling off period.
So take action immediately and text the word STOP to the number mentioned in the text, if you don't have any credit, call the customer service number and use the automated unsubscribe option)
If you have at least 10p and the stop text won't send. You've almost certainly got a block on outgoing premium texts in your android settings
(steps will vary from phone to phone)
Go to settings
manage applications
Swipe to all
Scroll down to messages
And go to the permissions settings
And premium texts
Tick to "always allow"
(if you don't have an Android and /or you don't have a restriction set up in your settings, adding the 5 digit number to your contacts list, then sending a text by adding the contact on your messaging client will usually overcome the message failure)
If you don't have an android and /or you don't have a restriction applied. Try adding the 5 digit number to your contacts list, and sending a text by adding the contact
If you don't currently have any credit. To send the stop text. Call the customer service number that's mentioned within the text. It's not a premium number. It'll be either an 01,02, 03 or an 080 freephone number. Sometimes there'll be an automated option to unsubscribe your number on the line.
If you've subscribed to a service and didn't have enough airtime credit to cover the charge. It will be taken as soon as you add airtime credit.
In this situation you can either add some Airtime credit so the charge is taken. And take your medicine so to speak.
Or you can call the customer service number up during office hours. Ask for the subscription to be cancelled (if you haven't already done so)
And ask for any owing subscription be wrote off. Most services will agree to both those requests.
If you've already had the premium charge deducted you can also argue that you never knowingly subscribed to anything and ask for a refund
Most companies have a policy to agree to a refund if you specifically ask for one
They'll refund to your bank or PayPal account. or send you a cheque
So you need to supply details
DON,T ASK AN AGENT FOR A REFUND OR TO BLOCK THE CHARGES
Giffgaff aren't able to block the texts or charges at network level. It's the customers responsibility to manage and deal with the situation
If you think you've had a premium charge deduction
( check on the premium rate total on your balance usage here
Http://www.giffgaff.com/profile/usage-statement to see if there's a deduction)
and you've deleted any text and isn't in your blocked list. It still may be possible to discover the company that's taking the premium charges
Contacting an agent..
What an agent can do (on most occasions)
is supply you with the number that delivered the charge
https://support2.giffgaff.com/app/ask/Calls-texts-and-data/Managing-calls-texts-data-and-premium-rat...
Explain that you've been charged for a premium service and ask for the number that delivered the charge
The agent will sometimes supply the number in a 11 digit format
The last 5 digits of that number is the important part
Text the word STOP to that 5 digit number or
Make a search on here
http://psauthority.org.uk/about-us/number-checker
Once you've retrieved the company name and customer service number.
Call it and follow the steps already given.
There is also a new service that will tell you if you've subscribed to one of the well known companies..
www.PrizeFun.com
www.JuicyWin.com
www.MintedMobi.com
www.PrizeHook.com
www.PrizeNut.com
www.LoadedMobi.com
www.Nuyoo.com
On this page
http://mobilepaymentsupport.com
Input your mobile number and click send pin
You'll receive a 4 digit pin by text
Input that code on the page
And click send
The next page will inform you if your number is currently subscribed to a premium service to one of those well known companies
It'll give contact details, including the 5 digit number to text the word STOP to
Or
There'll be an unsubscribe option on the actual page
DO I CHANGE MY NUMBER
Although giffgaff have no say on the reason for changing your number
My own opinion is to not go down that route And to try and deal with the situation using the advice I've given
If you feel that you just want to wash your hands of the situation and predicament, and would rather change your number,
do remember this is irreversible
On your profile details page
Http://giffgaff.com/profile/details
Where it says
"get a new number"
Click open
Read the information and warnings before you complete the change
Your sim will lose service for up to 4 hours
on: 09/05/2016 | 16:42
@sloz What can say well done on putting this useful guide together, as I'm sure this will be very useful to members that have or could suffer this horrible problem that blight our phones with nasty ripoff charges.
Good work and thanks for sharing.
on: 09/05/2016 | 20:26
Yes ive certainly noticed an increase of people getting caught out. Particular in the last few months. A current running theme is the Tesco free vouchers premium charge which apparently arrives in an email
Regarding this Tesco scam. It would be interesting to see the wording of the email and also the wording of both the received text and the Web page that you input a code to start the subscription.
