11yrs old child & T Mobile & lottobytext Text charges ***Refunded by T-Mobile***

[Isiris]

I decided to put my son on a Monthly SIm only contract on his phone as he was topping it up to £20-£30 a month and I got one for £11.50 from T Mobile.

 

I have just got the bill and he has been charge £27.30 for text messages from a lottery syndicate where they had been charging upto £5 per text.

 

He is 11

 

I asked him what happened and he said he tried to download some wallpaper on his laptop and a page came up that he couldnt close until he entered his mobile number. Being naieve he did and thats when it started.

 

What can I do.

 

Thanks

[IdaInFife]

I'm afraid you will probably have more of this to come.

 

Unless you can get you son to understand not to agree to anything that may appear.

[havinastella]

You could cut his fingers off!

[IdaInFife]

You could cut his fingers off!

 

 

[BazzaS]

Ask the network to bar any and all "premium rate" services (text or voice).

 

An alternative where you want the advantages of a contract's inclusive minutes / texts but no surprises re: bills is a "capped contract"

 

T-mobile led the way initially with "U-fix" though I've not seen these actively promoted by the (Orange/T-mobile merged) EE network.

Tesco mobile actively promote their option for a "capped contract" : you can ask your (network) provider if they offer this as an option or if they can set a £0 credit limit.

 

The latter (£0 credit limit) might leave the handset unable to make calls once the allowance has been reached.

At least with U-fix / "capped contract" then calls / texts can be made on a PAYG basis once the inclusive minutes / texts are used up.

[Isiris]

Bazzas, thanks for your advice. The other 2, glad you find some humour out of this because Im struggling.

 

Can anyone advise if an 11 year old can agree to enter into a gambling contract?

[havinastella]

Sorry Isiris.

 

I think the simple answer is 'YOU' entered into the contract and gave the phone you your son.

 

We have a fantastic vodaphone rep who may be able to advise on the contractual issues and I will ask him to look in (I assume the Phone companies have the same sort of contracts)

 

Once again I apologise for the silly response earlier.

[noddy997]

The best bit to start off with is get the number changed. Since the number is on the lottery syndicate it will continue to send texts and you shall get charged.

 

Its one of many [problem]s out there. This is just the stepping stone it will get worse.

 

It is likely that your sons number will be passed around to other [problem]mers who will contact regarding bogus "unbelieveable" attractive offers. This indulges in nothing but wasting your own hard cash for no gain.

 

Tip: if the internet browser will not close and constantly show some form where you got to fill out details of payments or your details, you need to force it to close - 2 ways of doing this:

 

1) Press control, alt and delete keys together - and when menu pops up choose task manager and force close the open explorer window.

2) Or you can use the power button to turn it off.

 

There is a lot of spyware/[problem]ware out there that people aren't aware of - its nothing but a bunch of lies.

 

Regards.

[BankFodder]

The contract in question is the contract with the lottery syndicate.

 

Who are they?

 

This kind of thing happens too often and I suppose that a problem is that in the end, the amounts are so small that people just decide to "learn the lesson" for the future.

 

I would consider taking an action against the lottery company. I'll bet they would just settle up.

[Isiris]

Hi Bankfodder

 

http://www.lottobytext.co.uk/

 

I believe the above is the company looking at the texts.

[Lee Vodafone Company Rep]

Hi Isiris,

 

Firstly, as recommended by BazzaS I ask your network provider to place a premium rate message restriction on the service to prevent any further charges from being inadvertently incurred.

 

In addition, I'd suggest contacting the text message provider in question to explain the circumstances under which these charges have been incurred and ask if they could refund them as a goodwill gesture.

 

Failing this could ask for further assistance from the regulator for premium rate service PhonepayPlus here.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Lee

 

Web Relations Team

 

Vodafone UK

[Isiris]

Thanks Lee

 

Tmobile have been brilliant. Blocked the numbers as suggested. Got three different services that have text. Got contact numbers, email addresses and website addresses for the companies. The emails are on their way.

 

To be honest, I wont be asking for a refund as a goodwill gesture as he is 11.

[MaxxPower]

I'd agree with the recommendation that the number be changed. As has been said it's likely that the number will now be sold on/passed around to start receiving spam texts from other services as well, with or without being charged for them.

[goodwill]

I decided to put my son on a Monthly SIm only contract on his phone as he was topping it up to £20-£30 a month and I got one for £11.50 from T Mobile.

 

I have just got the bill and he has been charge £27.30 for text messages from a lottery syndicate where they had been charging upto £5 per text.

 

He is 11

 

I asked him what happened and he said he tried to download some wallpaper on his laptop and a page came up that he couldnt close until he entered his mobile number. Being naieve he did and thats when it started.

http://www.lottobytext.co.uk/

 

I believe the above is the company looking at the texts.

To be honest, I wont be asking for a refund as a goodwill gesture as he is 11.

Marketing Craze Limited/lottobytext uses affiliate marketers to promote their service and acquire new 'customers'(mobile phone numbers). Marketing Craze pays their affiliates for each customer they acquire.

 

As far as I understand UK consumer Law there is no legal agreement between you and Marketing Craze. Irrespective of your son's age somebody entering your mobile phone number on the internet does not constitute a legal sales agreement.

 

On 06 December 2012 Marketing Craze/Lottobytext was fined £250,000 for this type of swindle.

http://www.phonepayplus-services.org.uk/output/search-adjudications.aspx

[BazzaS]

Thanks Lee

 

Tmobile have been brilliant. Blocked the numbers as suggested. Got three different services that have text. Got contact numbers, email addresses and website addresses for the companies. The emails are on their way.

 

To be honest, I wont be asking for a refund as a goodwill gesture as he is 11.

 

Thank you for your thanks (higher up the thread).

I missed that this was t-mobile : is it worth asking them if this could be moved into a u-fix contract or u-fix SIM only contract of the same term / similar monthly payment?

 

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/you-fix/plans/

 

You might get less inclusive minutes per month than your current plan, but

a) your liability would be fixed to the monthly fee, and

b) you'd still get some inclusive minutes? (and the unlimited texts)

[2Grumpy]

Tell your son that whenever he is required to enter a mobile number, he can put in a random number (or 999 maybe)

 

Given that anyone could have done that, hopefully you won't have too much trouble getting your money back, so long as they haven't done a runner

[Lee Vodafone Company Rep]

Thanks Lee

 

Tmobile have been brilliant. Blocked the numbers as suggested. Got three different services that have text. Got contact numbers, email addresses and website addresses for the companies. The emails are on their way.

 

To be honest, I wont be asking for a refund as a goodwill gesture as he is 11.

 

You're welcome Isiris.

 

Fingers crossed for a positive outcome.

 

Lee

 

Web Relations Team

 

Vodafone UK

[AndyOrch]

Many thanks Lee in helping to resolve this.

 

Regards

 

Andy

[Lee Vodafone Company Rep]

Anytime Andy.

 

Lee

[Isiris]

Just and update.

 

Cheque received today for full amount.

 

Thanks again

[AndyOrch]

Result Isiris..... Thread title amended.

 

Regards

 

Andy

[Lee Vodafone Company Rep]

Just and update.

 

Cheque received today for full amount.

 

Thanks again

 

This is great news Isiris.

 

Lee