SAYNOTO0870.COM - mobile scam

bimber Newbie Offline Posts: 2	mobile scam - Tonesite Club Mar 18^th, 2009 at 5:39pm 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
Back to top	IP Logged

reserved Junior Member Offline Posts: 92 East Sussex Gender:	Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club Reply #1 - Mar 18^th, 2009 at 6:12pm Have a look here: http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/700138151 mentions Tonesite in a couple of the posts.
Back to top	« Last Edit: Mar 18^th, 2009 at 6:16pm by reserved » IP Logged

bimber Newbie Offline Posts: 2	Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club Reply #2 - Mar 18^th, 2009 at 6:38pm 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!
Back to top	IP Logged

delboy Newbie Offline Posts: 1	Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club Reply #3 - Mar 19^th, 2009 at 1:31pm 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.
Back to top	IP Logged

sherbert Supreme Member Offline Posts: 2,011 Gender:	Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club Reply #4 - Mar 19^th, 2009 at 3:08pm See reply #1
Back to top	IP Logged

outofsorts

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 1

Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club
Reply #5 - Apr 12^th, 2009 at 8:22pm

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.

Angry

Back to top

IP Logged

Teph

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 1

Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club
Reply #6 - Apr 21^st, 2009 at 10:56pm

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.

Back to top

IP Logged

evenasus

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 3
Gender: female

Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club
Reply #7 - Apr 30^th, 2009 at 9:02pm

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&...

Back to top

IP Logged

vodaclone

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 5

Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club
Reply #8 - May 20^th, 2009 at 4:43pm

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!!!!!!!!!

Back to top

IP Logged

idb

Supreme Member

Offline

Posts: 1,499
Miami, Florida, United States
Gender: male

Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club
Reply #9 - May 21^st, 2009 at 2:36am

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.

Back to top

As from November 21, 2013, I no longer participate in the forum and am unable to receive private messages.

IP Logged

vodaclone

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 5

Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club
Reply #10 - 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!?

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!

Back to top

IP Logged

Emab

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 1

Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club
Reply #11 - May 22^nd, 2009 at 1:17pm

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 !!!!

Back to top

IP Logged

idb

Supreme Member

Offline

Posts: 1,499
Miami, Florida, United States
Gender: male

Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club
Reply #12 - May 22^nd, 2009 at 1:42pm

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.

Back to top

As from November 21, 2013, I no longer participate in the forum and am unable to receive private messages.

IP Logged

vodaclone

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 5

Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club
Reply #13 - May 26^th, 2009 at 11:41pm

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?

Back to top

IP Logged

vodaclone Newbie Offline Posts: 5	Re: mobile scam - Tonesite Club Reply #14 - May 26^th, 2009 at 11:42pm Sorry about the lame format of my message..
Back to top	IP Logged