Receiving Unwanted Chargeable Texts

[Intasun77]

In the UK we have a big problem with scam that is known as unsolicited reverse bill texts. This is when you receive an sms from a content provider which is charged directly to your account, normally £3 for each sms. Only T-Mobile(UK) gives the option to bar the 5 number short codes that the sms use. All other companies refuse to give the option to bar the codes, mainly because they can earn up to 20% of each sms.

They are allowed to operate in such a way due to a loop hole in UK law in which although it is not a legal act, it is not illegal.

Effendi, what is the position in Italy with this form of scam? Does it happen? I have read that they have the same problems in the US but the government are now acting against such companies. Australia & Germany also has problems. Does it happen in any other countries and what are the goverments doing, if anything, to protect mobile phone accounts?

Thanks guys.

[AndreA]

Originally Posted by Intasun77

Effendi, what is the position in Italy with this form of scam? Does it happen?

Well, in Italy the operators are trying to solve the problem, they just wrote an autoregulation (see at Mondo3 | Annunciato il Codice di Condotta per i servizi premium )... our Antitrust Authority ( http://www.agcm.it/eng/index.htm ) is also working on that... see below:

THE AUTHORITY'S POWERS
Under the new rules the Competition Authority may investigate irregular commercial practices and misleading and comparative advertising acting on its own authority, that is to say, without having to wait for an external complaint to be submitted. It has investigative powers which give it the authority to access any relevant document, request information and documents of relevance to the investigation from any party whatsoever, impose penalties in the event of refusal or if untruthful information and documents are submitted, conduct inspections, use the offices of the Customs and Excise Police (Guardia di Finanza), and order expert testimony.
Once a violation has been ascertained, the Authority may the party to stop it, order rectifying statements to be published at the expense of the company found liable, and issue penalties of between €5,000 and €500,000. If the practice relates to hazardous products, that could, even indirectly, threaten the safety of children or adolescents, the minimum penalty is €50,000. In the event of non-compliance with the Authority's measures, the penalty can range from €10,000 to €150,000.
A system of undertakings has also been instituted: except for cases of manifest unfairness and gross violations, the Authority may waive the need to prove that a violation has been committed if the trader undertakes to remove the unlawful aspects from its commercial practices.

[Intasun77]

Hi AndreaA,

Have you come across this scam yourself? Have the new regulations in Italia done anything to protect the mobile phone customers? In the UK the networks, Vodafone, 3, o2 & Orange, refuse to help its customers when they are the victim of scams, what is the position in Italia?

[AndreA]

the position is to resolve the question in front of Antitrust Authority, but this way is extremly slow (around 1 year to reach a decision)... so the scam is still living

In fact I don't believe that the recent autoregulation can protect the mobile phone customers...

[Intasun77]

Thanks for the information AndreA.