http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/07/31/text-help-service-falls-f...

Shortcode foxes shortcode service

By Tony Dennis: Thursday, 31 July 2008, 1:49 PM

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HIGH HOPES that industry regulator, Phonepayplus, might have finally launched a useful tool for consumers have just been dashed. It failed to recognise the first two shortcodes the INQ tried.

The service is called 'SMS us' and involves the consumer texting a shortcode that needs to be traced to a special number. Which is 76787 (S-M-S-u-s on a mobile phone's keypad).

The purpose is to help consumers quickly identify a shortcode that they previously used to purchase ringtones and wallpapers; download a game; or to vote for a favourite TV contestant.

These 'shortcodes' (which are always five digits long) often cause confusion when they appear on a consumer's phone bill.

So when an INQ reader complained about being charged for a sex chat service which he claimed he hadn't used, the obvious next step was to text the offending shortcode '69966' to SMS us. Sadly, the service couldn't help out.

Mysteriously, however, a text inviting us to join another sex service arrived the next day from '69096'. Only one digit different. Again SMS us couldn't help. This was especially strange since the receiving Vodafone handset was supposedly protected against over-18 text materials.

In the end, our reader found out from his network provider that the content provider was Wow Telecom and that the service provider was MX Telecom. The pair seem to have a track record and have been fined previously. See the Phonepayplus archive.

In theory, SMS us will provide a contact number to reach the service provider responsible for the service it has identified.

But the enforcer goes on to warn that, "In many instances, this number is on the 0870 range. Callers should check with their mobile operator to check how much it would cost to call these numbers."

Brilliant. So it admits that it can't be sure that you won't be charged just as much for making the phone call to complain as you are trying to get recovered from your mobile phone bill in the first place.

In essence, companies can get away with charging for thousands of premium rate texts at £1.50 a go, knowing full well that most people won't bother to complain.

Hardly an ideal situation is it?
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