could anyone let me know if they have come across a company called Tonesite Club or a number 0844 5796359 or 88066. They have unscrupuously added without permission £3.00 a week to her monthly contract for 6 weeks.Has anyone got any info.Cheers,Tony

Have a look here: http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/700138151

mentions Tonesite in a couple of the posts.

Cheers,Reserved.That has been very helpful - and am livid others have also been ripped off! Sadly Orange wouldn't refund money. Have received a text saying i am now unsubscribed. Will be checking my next bill avidly!

hi i have just had my contract fone bill unknown to me i have been charged £3 a week for a tone which i have no knowledge of. does anyone know about this tonesite club.

See reply #1

You are not alone,

http://www.the-scream.co.uk/forums/t28779.html?


If you haven't already had your money refunded from your network, keep phoning them, they need to realise that they are the ones in the direct and only position of stopping this.

please also sign this

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Paymentbymobile/

Don't let these scammers get away with this.

>:(

Thanks, that is really helpful.

Vodafone have so far refunded some of the charges which were made to my bill, but they have on the whole been lacking understanding, support and interest. For me the problem only stopped after I changed my mobile number... (Since then I have also not had any more cold calls).

I can't understand why Vodafone doesn't show more interest in tracking these criminals, who are successfully using them to rip of their own customers, until I realised, that Vodafone (and other mobile phone companies) are probably benefitting themselves by charging "Tonesite" for charging us... A friend of mine was given 2 different numbers to ring regarding unwanted messages from apparently different companies, but in both cases spoke to the same person! No need to say that the phonecalls were a complete waste of time, as was writing the requested letter to cancel the messages.

The phone operators CAN block unsolicited reverse charge texts to peoples phones. You just have to stamp your feet & shout, so to speak, very loudly
I was scammed in this way at the beginning of this month.

See... http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1607621

and... http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1591489

         http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=472962&highlight=evenasus&page=8

I have read all the caper above and its not entirely true.

1 - If you are receiving unsolicited texts from any company you should ask your service provider for that companies details.
2 - You ring the company in question and ask them to prove that you initiated the service. Usually they will do this or offer a refund.
3 - If you dont get any joy from said company, visit www.phonepayplus.org.uk - They regulate all premium rate services and if they are sending unsolicited texts, they need to know about it!! you only need to search their history to see what kind of fines they have imposed on companies like Mblox ltd (Crazy frog)
4 - Vodafone do unoficially offer a service where they can block premium rate messages, this is not a guaranteed service and they do not have to offer it. It does not cover purchses over the internet, though there is another way to stop this.
5- If you register yourself for premium text messages all service providers Orange, Vodafone o2 etc are obliged to pay the premium text bills then pass on the costs to the end user. Pain in the a**e they are too..
6 - Not everyone is evil and out to get you!!!!!!!!!

vodaclone wrote on May 20^th, 2009 at 4:43pm:

1 - If you are receiving unsolicited texts from any company you should ask your service provider for that companies details.

...who will inform you that they are based in some far away land and have an 0871 or 0844 contact number, thus enabling more revenue generation.


vodaclone wrote on May 20^th, 2009 at 4:43pm:

2 - You ring the company in question and ask them to prove that you initiated the service. Usually they will do this or offer a refund..

You cannot be serious! Hurdles, hoops, blood out of a stone.


vodaclone wrote on May 20^th, 2009 at 4:43pm:

3 - If you dont get any joy from said company, visit www.phonepayplus.org.uk - They regulate all premium rate services and if they are sending unsolicited texts, they need to know about it!! you only need to search their history to see what kind of fines they have imposed on companies like Mblox ltd (Crazy frog)

A wholly pointless regulator. It acts in the interest of PRS scammers. It pays lip service to the public. It is rotten to its core.


vodaclone wrote on May 20^th, 2009 at 4:43pm:

6 - Not everyone is evil and out to get you!!!!!!!!!

Reverse-billed SMS *is* evil, and is a massive fraud that Ofcom and PPP will not act upon.
Only in the UK, of course - scammers' paradise.

1 - If you are receiving unsolicited texts from any company you should ask your service provider for that companies details.
"who will inform you that they are based in some far away land and have an 0871 or 0844 contact number, thus enabling more revenue generation"
-These companies have a UK base, representative or sub dealer - Yes almost always an 0870 number (which I am not defending) But you could just call them from a BT line for FREE!?

2 - You ring the company in question and ask them to prove that you initiated the service. Usually they will do this or offer a refund..
"You cannot be serious! Hurdles, hoops, blood out of a stone. "
- I have contacted many many many of these companies on customers behalf- They have always sent transcripts if asked or simply offered refunds. Note: Social skills will get you alot further than pitchforks and fire...


3 - If you don’t get any joy from said company, visit www.phonepayplus.org.uk - They regulate all premium rate services and if they are sending unsolicited texts, they need to know about it!! You only need to search their history to see what kind of fines they have imposed on companies like Mblox ltd (Crazy frog)
"A wholly pointless regulator. It acts in the interest of PRS scammers. It pays lip service to the public. It is rotten to its core. "
- You clearly have no idea what you’re talking about. They are endless records of scams they have efficiently stopped and heavily fined.

6 - Not everyone is evil and out to get you!!!!!!!!!
"Reverse-billed SMS *is* evil, and is a massive fraud that Ofcom and PPP will not act upon.  Only in the UK, of course - scammers' paradise. "
- Only in the UK? Do your research..
- I don’t like reverse billed SMS and I have never used them, and probably never will. I have had to investigate hundreds of cases where people are screaming and shouting about these unsolicited texts. In ALL cases I have seen the texting transcripts for both messages sent/received - In ALL cases the customer has initiated either through a website or just by texting one of these short codes. They have THEN gone onto agree to the terms and conditions which were sent to the phone (and in some cases - Like the lottery -  you have to agree by texting back unique words after twice reading the terms and conditions)


But lets be clear, I am not advocating for premium text messaging. I think they make most of their money from children/vulnerable/clueless people who have been given mobile phone by their parents and who will sign up to anything to get that 'Free tone' and still not recognise what they have signed up to.

I am investigating a claim regarding Tonesite club now (which is how I came across this site)
I'll post how that goes..

It remains the fact though, if you don’t want any dealings with Premium text message providers - Don’t sign up to them!

Hope this helps I also work for vodafone and have found this today I have also credited the customers a/c!!

Tonesite is a subscription service. You will receive unlimited content for £3 per week until you text stop to 87448.

Tonesite is provided by Mobile CRM. You can contact Mobile CRM by calling 0844 579 636.

Hope this works !!!! :)

vodaclone wrote on May 22^nd, 2009 at 11:15am:

1 - If you are receiving unsolicited texts from any company you should ask your service provider for that companies details. "who will inform you that they are based in some far away land and have an 0871 or 0844 contact number, thus enabling more revenue generation" -These companies have a UK base, representative or sub dealer - Yes almost always an 0870 number (which I am not defending) But you could just call them from a BT line for FREE!?

The very nature of reverse-billed SMS garbage means that a significant proportion of users only have a cellular phone. You will be aware of call charges to 08X numbers. Of course, any serious and responsible regulator would mandate a geographic number be used by these fraudsters. PPP will not do this as it is industry-centric and desires maximum revenue generation.


vodaclone wrote on May 22^nd, 2009 at 11:15am:

2 - You ring the company in question and ask them to prove that you initiated the service. Usually they will do this or offer a refund.. "You cannot be serious! Hurdles, hoops, blood out of a stone. " - I have contacted many many many of these companies on customers behalf- They have always sent transcripts if asked or simply offered refunds. Note: Social skills will get you alot further than pitchforks and fire...

I suggest you read some of the complaint sites and how difficult it can be to elicit a refund.


vodaclone wrote on May 22^nd, 2009 at 11:15am:

3 - If you don’t get any joy from said company, visit www.phonepayplus.org.uk - They regulate all premium rate services and if they are sending unsolicited texts, they need to know about it!! You only need to search their history to see what kind of fines they have imposed on companies like Mblox ltd (Crazy frog) "A wholly pointless regulator. It acts in the interest of PRS scammers. It pays lip service to the public. It is rotten to its core. " - You clearly have no idea what you’re talking about. They are endless records of scams they have efficiently stopped and heavily fined.

Sadly I do know what I am talking about. The last time I looked, only a small percentage of fines levied by the regulator are collected. The scammer simply operates again under a nw guise.


vodaclone wrote on May 22^nd, 2009 at 11:15am:

6 - Not everyone is evil and out to get you!!!!!!!!! "Reverse-billed SMS *is* evil, and is a massive fraud that Ofcom and PPP will not act upon.  Only in the UK, of course - scammers' paradise. " - Only in the UK? Do your research.. - I don’t like reverse billed SMS and I have never used them, and probably never will. I have had to investigate hundreds of cases where people are screaming and shouting about these unsolicited texts. In ALL cases I have seen the texting transcripts for both messages sent/received - In ALL cases the customer has initiated either through a website or just by texting one of these short codes. They have THEN gone onto agree to the terms and conditions which were sent to the phone (and in some cases - Like the lottery -  you have to agree by texting back unique words after twice reading the terms and conditions)

In ALL cases? I had three pounds stolen by one of these scammers and have never subscribed to such a service. It was only discovered when I switched on the phone to see whether it was working. I do not live in the UK. I maintain an Orange pre-pay phone to use twice per year when I visit the UK. The advice offered by ICSTIS was to contact the SP (Dialogue - it has 'form' as a quick web search will indicate). I explained that the cost of calling the SP (08) from the United States was around a dollar per minute. I was asked to obtain billing records from Orange, however it would charge five pounds for this. Complete nonsense for a claim of three pounds. Eventually, after much fuss, Orange refunded the stolen money. The investigation revealed that numbers were simply made up. How many people didn't notice, or even bother to claim? I received a four page letter from George Kidd trying to defend this ludicrous system, when, many of this cases could be avoided by enforcing 'opt-in'. Reverse SMS without redress or restriction allows legalised theft.



vodaclone wrote on May 22^nd, 2009 at 11:15am:

It remains the fact though, if you don’t want any dealings with Premium text message providers - Don’t sign up to them!

I haven't, yet three quid was stolen. Explain please.

But you could just call them from a BT line for FREE!? The very nature of reverse-billed SMS garbage means that a significant proportion of users only have a cellular phone. You will be aware of call charges to 08X numbers. Of course, any serious and responsible regulator would mandate a geographic number be used by these fraudsters. PPP will not do this as it is industry-centric and desires maximum revenue generation.  

- Fair point i'm afraid.

Quote from vodaclone on May 22nd, 2009, 11:15am:

- I have contacted many many many of these companies on customers behalf- They have always sent transcripts if asked or simply offered refunds. Note: Social skills will get you alot further than pitchforks and fire... I suggest you read some of the complaint sites and how difficult it can be to elicit a refund.

- Again with the pitchfork and fire aproach, I have never had a problem. And in one sickening court case a customer had signed up to 6 gambling sites - gambled away £500 (sending texts including her details and bank info incase she won) then went to small claims court pretending she never signed up for these services. Probably because she didnt win anything.. Anyhoo i called them and 3 of them offered no quible refunds of upto £150. And one of them a partial refund, all recognising that she was a lying filth scummy *****
(I dont like liars)
I just dont see how anyone has trouble getting their money back from these people.
 

Quote from vodaclone on May 22nd, 2009, 11:15am:

- You clearly have no idea what you’re talking about. They are endless records of scams they have efficiently stopped and heavily fined.
Sadly I do know what I am talking about. The last time I looked, only a small percentage of fines levied by the regulator are collected. The scammer simply operates again under a nw guise.

-  How did you manage to check if the fines were clollected? Worrying if true..

Quote from vodaclone on May 22nd, 2009, 11:15am:

- Only in the UK? Do your research..
In ALL cases? I had three pounds stolen by one of these scammers and have never subscribed to such a service. It was only discovered when I switched on the phone to see whether it was working. I do not live in the UK. I maintain an Orange pre-pay phone to use twice per year when I visit the UK. The advice offered by ICSTIS was to contact the SP (Dialogue - it has 'form' as a quick web search will indicate). I explained that the cost of calling the SP (08) from the United States was around a dollar per minute. I was asked to obtain billing records from Orange, however it would charge five pounds for this. Complete nonsense for a claim of three pounds. Eventually, after much fuss, Orange refunded the stolen money. The investigation revealed that numbers were simply made up. How many people didn't notice, or even bother to claim? I received a four page letter from George Kidd trying to defend this ludicrous system, when, many of this cases could be avoided by enforcing 'opt-in'. Reverse SMS without redress or restriction allows legalised theft.

- Interested to know more about these 'Made up numbers'
And 'opt in'.. like it is now you mean?? ( I assume you dont so could you clarify for me)
But you are right, this would affect Payg customers alot more than contract - It is expensive to get billing for (though I dont think that would help in the case of premium services as the billing data rarely shows the short codes required to track them in ppp) Orange really should have found them for you, but i understand taht it is not easy for new agents and you may need to speak to someone more senior or simply writing to their head office ususally resolves the matter and wastes less time/money.


Quote from vodaclone on May 22nd, 2009, 11:15am:


It remains the fact though, if you don’t want any dealings with Premium text message providers - Don’t sign up to them!
I haven't, yet three quid was stolen. Explain please.
- Well there are a few scammers, not many. I would have to see more evidence to support that claim. But if it really was unsolicited, what did icstis say about it?

Sorry about the lame format of my message..

Vodaclone....I can assure you that I have never and would never contact premium rate text services. I have never had nor want a 'download ringtone'. My ringtone is a clip of an Abba mp3 which I loaded on my phone myself.
I have a PAYG sim which a £10 top up lasts me well over a year. This shows how much I use my phone. The only people that have my phone number are my family and a couple of close friends. Oh - and T Mobile of course.


Quote:

I thought I'd give people an update on my thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...light=evenasus As I wrote in my last post, T Mobile did refund the charges pretty quickly. Last Friday, I received a call from PhonepayPlus calling about the complaint I made to them via their website on 6th April. I no longer have the texts on my phone, neither can I remember what they actually said. So I wasn't able to give them much information re the short code numbers. Anyway, the chap said he may contact me again in a few days, why I don't know. Yesterday, I received a phone call from the company that STOLE my money in the first place. They apologised for the trouble I had with their service. I told them I had never even had their service and that I had never requested it. I was then asked did I know a 'George'? As it happens, I don't know anyone called George. Anway, after he had finished quizzing me, he apologised again, told me that my number had been removed from their database and that I wouldn't received any further texts from them. Try it, I thought - T Mobile put a stop on all premium rate texts on the day I made my complaint. He also said that they would raise a cheque immediately for the charges, which were £5.50. Peanuts I know, compared to what some folk have had stolen but there's a principle here. He also gave me his name and telephone number in case I had any more problems. Today, I received the cheque with a letter which said they were sorry to hear I was unhappy with their service - are they kidding me? And in addition, by way of a goodwill payment, we have enclosed a cheque for your attention. Good will - HA! Now, I should, I suppose tell T Mobile that Digital Daze Ltd have reimbursed me and I should let T Mobile put the charges back on my sim. I think this might end up complicating matters. So, as I would feel guilty at keeping both refunds, I'll make a donation to charity with it. So, all you people who are still having problems, don't take any 'can't do' from your operator.

Well to be honest Evenasus it sounds a bit like a mistake - but they called and refunded you.
I wouldn't read too much into the "sorry to hear I was unhappy with their service" its probably a letter they copied and pasted and means very little. (except for the cheque posted with it)

It would have been interesting to have aqquired a transcript of texts sent/received between you and the company. It would shed some light onto how they got your number in the first place and how the service was started without your consent.  I find it unlikely they can just text you out of the blue.
If you are interested you could still request proof from them? for the sake of argument if nothing else..

Its also worth noting that your phone number was bought in bulk and is held in a permenant database filed by date order. For example 07738 range sold 17th oct 05 - 07739 sold 14th feb 2009 etc etc. This is how those horrible sales companies can contact you guessing that you are out of contract. They call you roughly 12 months after the number was bought and again at 18 months in the ofchance you will be ready to upgrade. Savages.

I'm always glad to hear when people can get these things sorted for themselves, must be these 'social skills' i keep hearing about!  :D
Also pleased to hear you will be donating the extra funds, thousands wouldn't!



Quote:

Vodaclone....I can assure you that I have never and would never contact premium rate text services. I have never had nor want a 'download ringtone'. My ringtone is a clip of an Abba mp3 which I loaded on my phone myself. I have a PAYG sim which a £10 top up lasts me well over a year. This shows how much I use my phone. The only people that have my phone number are my family and a couple of close friends. Oh - and T Mobile of course.