motco wrote on Oct 4
th, 2006 at 5:33pm:
As far as I know this 0709 number is 47p per minute from a landline so the likelihood is that this is a money-making scam intending to keep you talking at 47p/min for as long as possible. What can be done to stop it - it is irritating (calls everyday for a week) and dishonest.
This is a further example of the use of scam 070 "Personal Numbers" as a way to run fake prize line scams as an alternative to 09 prize scams because 09 numbers are properly regulated by ICSTIS and revenue payments are now delayed for 30 days from the time of the call so that scammers don't get their money if there are lots of complaints to
www.icstis.org.uk and the line gets closed down. Unfortunately 070 scams don't appear to be under ICSTIS control.
First port of call should be the ICSTIS Contact Centre as follows to see if they think this could be a matter for them:-
ICSTIS Ltd
www.icstis.org.ukTel:
0800 500212Fax: 020 7940 7456
Clove Building
4 Maguire Street
London
SE1 2NQ
Assuming ICSTIS claims this is not their problem then you should contact Ofcom and ask them to register a formal complaint (don't just let them listen to you ensure it is lodged as a formal complaint) and ask what they are doing about 070 numbers since they are being used for premium rate calls illegally but are not controlled by ICSTIS. You might also want to email Ofcom Director of Investigations - david.stewart@ofcom.org.uk with your concerns.
Ofcom's contact details are:- Tel: 020 7981 3000
If Ofcom refuse to investigate this matter properly I suggest you arrange an a appointment with your Member of Parliament or write to him using
www.writetothem.com saying you want him to lodge a formal complaint with the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Adminsitration that Ofcom have failed to protect you as a UK Citizen Consumer under the terms of their duties under Section 3(i) of the Communications Act 2003 and have not properly investigated the matter complained about.
Tell your MP that as scams on 070 are not regulated by ICSTIS and they are controlled by no one and suggest this is Ofcom's fault.
This is another case of useless Ofcom having knowingly allowed a major route for scamming to grow and prosper and having done almost nothing about it. You have to go to your MP to get the Ombudsman involved and although there is a contact number for the Ombudsman he will insist that you go to your MP first. More importantly the contact number for the Ombudsman is according to Ofcom an
0845 number!
Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP
Tel: 0845 015 4033 (enquiry line)