Just a word of warning to those of you whose kids have their own mobile phones. My sister has just been raging on the phone:
Maybe this is common knowledge, I wouldn't know since I don't use these kinds of services, but it seems there are companies basically scamming kids with offers of free ringtones that are anything but free.
Their ads are deceptively worded so that kids order what they think is one free ringtone but in fact they are also agreeing to an indefinite subsequent daily supply of ringtones, for which they are charged each time one is sent. My nephew has run up a £150 bill without realising it, which of course his mother has to pay. She did some digging and it turns out that one of the companies also operates a "free" adult contact scam, whereby you pay premium rate to call a voicemail box and speak to an advertiser who doesn't exist. They get away with calling it free because you're only paying for the phone call, not the contact information. Apparently the scammers are turning to fake voice ads as an alternative source of income because people are getting wise to the ringtone rip-off.
Fukin ringtone company's are nothing but a bunch of hoodlums..
Scam you for a supposed ringtone thast sounds nothing like the one you ordered..
And charge !!!!!.............Boy can they charge...
I Know this probably doesn't help you in this particular instance - But it is definitely worth bearing in mind for future occasions! I believe all networks now have this in place - Certainly the case for Vodafone - I quote from their website!
Have you ever bought a ringtone and not realised you were being subscribed to an ongoing service? Well, all of these services are now obliged to support the STOP command so you can easily unsubscribe and get the service stopped.
How does it work?
To stop unwanted premium texts, simply follow the directions below:
* Send a reply to the text service with the word STOP at the start of your message.
Or
* Send a reply to the text service saying STOP ALL to ensure that everything on the service has been stopped.
If the service continues please call our Customer Services department to inform them.
It might also be worth calling your networks customer care department and having a chat with them to discuss how you can minimise or stop future occurences of this. I'm afraid you are likely going to get stung for this particular bill - but anything that will stop it in the future has got to be a help! Hopefully also this should teach the kids a lesson.
Most phones these days are capable of playing MP3s as ringtones - so should they be that desperate for the latest "trendy" ringtones - you could always get hold of an mp3 recording of it and upload it to the fone. Once again - proof that kids have got no sense, and are mercilessly preyed on by companies such as jamster. In this day and age - who else could get away with charging £1 - £2 for the electronic equivalent of someone farting or just generally being a twat! I guess it's easy money!
Hope this helps
kb
And swinging heaven has just been taken over by a ringtone company :shock:
Although you have to go through legal chanels, if a child has signed up to a premium rate or chargable service such as ringtones or been caught out by false advertising they can get the money back...
As a child (person under the age of 18) cannot legally enter into a contract then the contract entered into is null and void so is not legally binding so the child can be recompensed, but as I say you have to do it through legal chanels if the company refuse to pay up... I'm guessing as more people take issue then such companys will just remove the cash from the company, close it down, then re-start with another name to avoid the issues.
There was a TV docu. about this some months back, but I cant remember which one.
This is why I stick to pay as you go and only ever put a fiver on and programmed my ring tone myself using the phones composer (Combine Harvester by The Wurzels).
Should this be here now lmao given the new owners?
Hides fast
:cry:
