Text help service falls at first hurdle
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? µ
Share this:
Business Intelligence Software
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Enterprise Accounting Software
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Enterprise Systems Management
Even worse than the fact that the SMSUS "service" is woefully incomplete is that fact that it does not even help when it has the number.

In the press release that accompanied the launch of SMSUS, PhonePayPlus said "the new text message service will make it even easier for the millions of consumers that regularly enjoy phone-paid services to get information on a service BEFORE they sign up".

So try typing in the number used by one of the scammers identified by PP+ to run one of the scams identified by PP+. Will you be warned not to use the service? No! You will simply be informed blandly that the service is operated by firm "XYZ" and provided with its 087 contact number - giving the distinct impression that all is well and that you can go ahead and phone.

It is very difficult to distinguish between the gamekeeper and the poacher in this business.
69966
69096
__^^_

I make that two digits different...
Whether these codes are one or two digits different depends on whether we are talking sets or lists (respectively) ;)