Somehow - I know not how - I recently became subscribed to some spam Text scam by Bequizzled.com. I suspect it was by way of not quite getting to grips with the ins & outs of my new Smart Phone & Apps yet. Anyway, I kept getting texy messages saying something like "Your Challenge Has Arrived", which I just ignored as spam. Then I got an eMail from TalkTalk to tell me that my bill had exceeded permitted levels. I thought it was something to do with leaving it on Data Stream or something without hooking up to a local Wireless Network. Any way, I phoned to check if it would be paid as usual by my Direct Debit or if I needed to make a payment there & then. I also asked to confirm this was excess of Data. That's when I learned that all those texts from Bequizzled.com were costing me £4.50 each.
Remember, I was not MAKING these texts - I was being charged to RECEIVE them. I've now made sure to put a block on ALL incoming Premium numbers.
Bequizzled - Beware
Bequizzled - Beware
FourPart;1479697 wrote: Somehow - I know not how - I recently became subscribed to some spam Text scam by Bequizzled.com. I suspect it was by way of not quite getting to grips with the ins & outs of my new Smart Phone & Apps yet. Anyway, I kept getting texy messages saying something like "Your Challenge Has Arrived", which I just ignored as spam. Then I got an eMail from TalkTalk to tell me that my bill had exceeded permitted levels. I thought it was something to do with leaving it on Data Stream or something without hooking up to a local Wireless Network. Any way, I phoned to check if it would be paid as usual by my Direct Debit or if I needed to make a payment there & then. I also asked to confirm this was excess of Data. That's when I learned that all those texts from Bequizzled.com were costing me £4.50 each.
Remember, I was not MAKING these texts - I was being charged to RECEIVE them. I've now made sure to put a block on ALL incoming Premium numbers.
Surely this is illegal! If a shopkeeper GIVES you something you didn't ask for, he can't charge you for it, as it counts as a gift. You didn't ASK for these texts. Did they give you an "opt-out" option? Sounds like a form of "sharp practice" to me, as it was unsolicited!!
Thanks for the "heads-up", FourPart. A truly disgraceful scam. Wonder how much the scammers make per day?
Remember, I was not MAKING these texts - I was being charged to RECEIVE them. I've now made sure to put a block on ALL incoming Premium numbers.
Surely this is illegal! If a shopkeeper GIVES you something you didn't ask for, he can't charge you for it, as it counts as a gift. You didn't ASK for these texts. Did they give you an "opt-out" option? Sounds like a form of "sharp practice" to me, as it was unsolicited!!
Thanks for the "heads-up", FourPart. A truly disgraceful scam. Wonder how much the scammers make per day?
" To finish first, first you have to finish!" Rick Mears. 4x Winner Indy 500. 3x Indycar National Champion.
Bequizzled - Beware
I made the official complaint about an hour ago. It appears it IS legal. I certainly wouldn't have knowingly subscribed to anything like this. I can only imagine that in getting to grips with my new Smart Phone, not really knowing anything about what does what, or what terms mean on there that I may have inadvertently clicked on something. However, you would think that legally there should be something requiring the sponsor to have to send an email outlining the terms & costs & require a positive reply first. As things are it's disgraceful.
This is the contents of the reply I got from my complaint PhonePayPlus, who deal with the finance administration:
Thank you for contacting PhonepayPlus and for bringing this matter to our attention.
PhonepayPlus will now contact the provider on your behalf to request specific information on the service and how you came to be opted in to it.
If you are still receiving text messages and wish to stop them, simply create a new message and text STOP ALL to the relevant shortcode. This will immediately unsubscribe you from the service but pending charges will continue to be added to your monthly bill or, if you are a Pay As You Go customer, queued and deducted from your available credit the next time you top up.
PhonepayPlus will contact you again shortly to update you on your case.
If you have any further questions or information about your complaint, please contact our helpline on 0800 500 212 between 9.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Please ensure you have your case reference number to hand before calling.
Kind regards
Eric Gyapong
The thing is that I'll still have to pay the cost of what I've been charged thus far. I can only be grateful to TalkTalk for alerting me to this & nipping it in the bud, otherwise, God only knows how much I would have had to pay. I just assumed I had left an open Data connection, using Wayz or Satmii apps while trying to find my way using them as a SatNav (which it does most effectively). Normally I have it set to only connect where Wi-Fi is available, but obviously when out of the road you can't rely on that, and I just thought I'd forgotten to turn it off.
This is the contents of the reply I got from my complaint PhonePayPlus, who deal with the finance administration:
Thank you for contacting PhonepayPlus and for bringing this matter to our attention.
PhonepayPlus will now contact the provider on your behalf to request specific information on the service and how you came to be opted in to it.
If you are still receiving text messages and wish to stop them, simply create a new message and text STOP ALL to the relevant shortcode. This will immediately unsubscribe you from the service but pending charges will continue to be added to your monthly bill or, if you are a Pay As You Go customer, queued and deducted from your available credit the next time you top up.
PhonepayPlus will contact you again shortly to update you on your case.
If you have any further questions or information about your complaint, please contact our helpline on 0800 500 212 between 9.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Please ensure you have your case reference number to hand before calling.
Kind regards
Eric Gyapong
The thing is that I'll still have to pay the cost of what I've been charged thus far. I can only be grateful to TalkTalk for alerting me to this & nipping it in the bud, otherwise, God only knows how much I would have had to pay. I just assumed I had left an open Data connection, using Wayz or Satmii apps while trying to find my way using them as a SatNav (which it does most effectively). Normally I have it set to only connect where Wi-Fi is available, but obviously when out of the road you can't rely on that, and I just thought I'd forgotten to turn it off.
Bequizzled - Beware
Sounds very shady to me. TalkTalk have done the right thing though. I would have thought also that the bequizzled w..k.rs should have made some PRIOR explanation about their terms and conditions/charges BEFORE "signing you up", I think they have to for online payments/purchases, but phone "sales" may be different. If so, then they're exploiting a serious "loophole" which needs closing PRONTO!
A disgraceful scam equivalent to theft, in my opinion! TELL YOUR LOCAL MP!!
A disgraceful scam equivalent to theft, in my opinion! TELL YOUR LOCAL MP!!
" To finish first, first you have to finish!" Rick Mears. 4x Winner Indy 500. 3x Indycar National Champion.
Bequizzled - Beware
I briefly checked on Bequizzled.com (but did not actually go on the site) and as I was typing their name in the search, it came up with several Bequizzled.com headings including .....bequizzled stop. I did not venture any further as I do not want to risk those iffy buggers sending me their crap ! Perhaps this would be of interest to you and maybe you could use the 'bequizzled stop' to stop their nonsense.
I'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
Bequizzled - Beware
Smaug;1479726 wrote: Sounds very shady to me. TalkTalk have done the right thing though. I would have thought also that the bequizzled w..k.rs should have made some PRIOR explanation about their terms and conditions/charges BEFORE "signing you up", I think they have to for online payments/purchases, but phone "sales" may be different. If so, then they're exploiting a serious "loophole" which needs closing PRONTO!
A disgraceful scam equivalent to theft, in my opinion! TELL YOUR LOCAL MP!!
I already have emailed my new M.P. However, I don't give much hope for anything getting done - or even getting a reply, to be honest. My previous M.P. was John Denham, but he stood down this time, giving the candidacy to Rowena Davis. Given the current balance of things that was probably not the best time to do so. Royston Smith (Conservative) got into a previously safe Labour seat, and last time Royston Smith was on the Council he brought the City to a standstill with all the services going on strike after he tried to introduce pay cuts across the board. Eventually he lost his case & things got back to normal, but it took having to call in additional external contractors to help clean up after the masses of uncollected bins & the inevitable vermine that consequently ensued. I dread to think what it's going to be like now that he's in Central Government.
This is the sort of thing I was getting:
Premium rate text trap: retired vicar billed £200 for gambling texts he didn't want - Telegraph
I wonder if it might be worth contacting 38 Degrees or Change.org? Something really needs to be done to ban this sort of scam. I've no problem with outgoing Premium Rate Numbers - if people want to throw their money away by conciously making the call, but just to receive - and getting in debt on a phone that doesn't even have any credit on it is just ridiculous.
A disgraceful scam equivalent to theft, in my opinion! TELL YOUR LOCAL MP!!
I already have emailed my new M.P. However, I don't give much hope for anything getting done - or even getting a reply, to be honest. My previous M.P. was John Denham, but he stood down this time, giving the candidacy to Rowena Davis. Given the current balance of things that was probably not the best time to do so. Royston Smith (Conservative) got into a previously safe Labour seat, and last time Royston Smith was on the Council he brought the City to a standstill with all the services going on strike after he tried to introduce pay cuts across the board. Eventually he lost his case & things got back to normal, but it took having to call in additional external contractors to help clean up after the masses of uncollected bins & the inevitable vermine that consequently ensued. I dread to think what it's going to be like now that he's in Central Government.
This is the sort of thing I was getting:
Premium rate text trap: retired vicar billed £200 for gambling texts he didn't want - Telegraph
I wonder if it might be worth contacting 38 Degrees or Change.org? Something really needs to be done to ban this sort of scam. I've no problem with outgoing Premium Rate Numbers - if people want to throw their money away by conciously making the call, but just to receive - and getting in debt on a phone that doesn't even have any credit on it is just ridiculous.
Bequizzled - Beware
I've set it up. Please sign & share with anyone you think might agree.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ ... 1432688917
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ ... 1432688917
Bequizzled - Beware
Nice one FourPart. I have signed, and I hope that something can be done to remove this problem. Also the public should be educated about such nasty 'fiddles'.
I also find that 'voice mail' can be costly as well. I have informed all my friends and family that I never listen to 'voice mails' now because I found out that the moment I 'open' it to listen to the message, it costs me quite a lot of money and most of them are advertising rubbish anyway.
I also find that 'voice mail' can be costly as well. I have informed all my friends and family that I never listen to 'voice mails' now because I found out that the moment I 'open' it to listen to the message, it costs me quite a lot of money and most of them are advertising rubbish anyway.
I'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
Bequizzled - Beware
Here in the States we now have it required by law that the phone companies offer a third-party charges block on the account, to prevent such things.
You still have to opt for the feature, but it can save a lot of money.
You still have to opt for the feature, but it can save a lot of money.
The home of the soul is the Open Road.
- DH Lawrence
- DH Lawrence
Bequizzled - Beware
That's what I was saying. The block should be there by default, requiring anything different to have the account holder purposely enable it.
Bequizzled - Beware
FourPart;1479785 wrote: That's what I was saying. The block should be there by default, requiring anything different to have the account holder purposely enable it.
Totally agree, FourPart! That would stop this malarkey.
Totally agree, FourPart! That would stop this malarkey.
" To finish first, first you have to finish!" Rick Mears. 4x Winner Indy 500. 3x Indycar National Champion.