Register of 19 premium SMS numbers?

[Ext User(googlegroups@sensation.net.au)]

Is there an easy way to find out who owns a 19 SMS number? My wife has
been hit with the "enter a competition and get subscribed" scam to the
tune of nearly $40 on our latest bill - and she's apparently still
subscribed! The number is 193 666 but I can't find any reference to it
via google.

Is it worth trying to contest this? It's time someone steps in and
regulates the mobile content subscription industry. Some of the ads I
see on TV end up charging you over $50 per month if you don't realise
you have to unsubscribe. In this case I don't think my wife was even
receiving any meaningful content, just an invitation to enter the next
contest - and each invitation msg she received was charged $3.18...

[Ext User(Spokes)]

Who is your carrier? Telstra?

[Ext User(googlegroups@sensation.net.au)]

Spokes wrote:
> Who is your carrier? Telstra?

Optus. I know they can provide the info (we had a premium inbound SMS
charged to a virtual number that wasn't associated with a SIM - figure
that one out?) but I'm probably not going to have much luck getting the
info on a friday night or the weekend. :)

[Ext User(Dean Collins)]

in the USA there isn't one but a guy set up this site as a privately run
group www.usshortcodeswhois.com

I'm surprised someone hasn't done something similar in Australia.

I'm also surprised Australia hasn't required a double opt-in as a method of
preventing this crap.


Dean

<googlegroups@sensation.net.au> wrote in message
news:1146826846.294306.67410@j33g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Is there an easy way to find out who owns a 19 SMS number? My wife has
> been hit with the "enter a competition and get subscribed" scam to the
> tune of nearly $40 on our latest bill - and she's apparently still
> subscribed! The number is 193 666 but I can't find any reference to it
> via google.
>
> Is it worth trying to contest this? It's time someone steps in and
> regulates the mobile content subscription industry. Some of the ads I
> see on TV end up charging you over $50 per month if you don't realise
> you have to unsubscribe. In this case I don't think my wife was even
> receiving any meaningful content, just an invitation to enter the next
> contest - and each invitation msg she received was charged $3.18...
>

[Ext User(Jeremy Quirke)]

<googlegroups@sensation.net.au> wrote in message
news:1146826846.294306.67410@j33g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Is there an easy way to find out who owns a 19 SMS number? My wife has
> been hit with the "enter a competition and get subscribed" scam to the
> tune of nearly $40 on our latest bill - and she's apparently still
> subscribed! The number is 193 666 but I can't find any reference to it
> via google.
>
> Is it worth trying to contest this? It's time someone steps in and
> regulates the mobile content subscription industry. Some of the ads I
> see on TV end up charging you over $50 per month if you don't realise
> you have to unsubscribe. In this case I don't think my wife was even
> receiving any meaningful content, just an invitation to enter the next
> contest - and each invitation msg she received was charged $3.18...

I'm not a fan of over regulation, but if we must regulate something then it
had better be these premium SMS blood sucking parasites. I think I posted my
woes about being involuntarily being subscribed on a website that accepted
any mobile number without proof it was the person entering it.

Anyway now I too have been hit by the competition-and-get-subscribed scam; I
was stupid enough to see a competition on TV and give in to the "what the
heck" impulse. Ever since I keep getting "follow up" trivia questions etc...
no "to opt out REPLY STOP" at the end of the SMS or anything like that.
Before Rod Speed and the like accuse me of being pig-ignorant, I did read
the blurry fine print on screen..

[Ext User(Nick W)]

googlegroups@sensation.net.au wrote:
> Is there an easy way to find out who owns a 19 SMS number? My wife has
> been hit with the "enter a competition and get subscribed" scam to the
> tune of nearly $40 on our latest bill - and she's apparently still
> subscribed! The number is 193 666 but I can't find any reference to it
> via google.
>
> Is it worth trying to contest this? It's time someone steps in and
> regulates the mobile content subscription industry. Some of the ads I
> see on TV end up charging you over $50 per month if you don't realise
> you have to unsubscribe. In this case I don't think my wife was even
> receiving any meaningful content, just an invitation to enter the next
> contest - and each invitation msg she received was charged $3.18...
>

The number appears to be owned by Netsize Pty Ltd.
Their website (netsize.com) gives a contact number of 1300650521 for
their Australian office.

-Nick

[Ext User(Josh B)]

On 5 May 2006 04:00:46 -0700, (or one of their many personalities)
said......


> Is there an easy way to find out who owns a 19 SMS number?

Yep -
http://web.acma.gov.au/numb/openAccess/inquiry/viewAllocationSearch.do

But ask your carrier. If it's Telstra they are about to change their
policy to take up these matters on behalf of their customers. Previously
they told their customers to contact the service provider in question.

[Ext User(Michael)]

<googlegroups@sensation.net.au> wrote in message
news:1146826846.294306.67410@j33g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Is there an easy way to find out who owns a 19 SMS number? My wife has
> been hit with the "enter a competition and get subscribed" scam to the
> tune of nearly $40 on our latest bill - and she's apparently still
> subscribed! The number is 193 666 but I can't find any reference to it

Message STOP back to the number.

> via google.
>
> Is it worth trying to contest this? It's time someone steps in and

Yes

> regulates the mobile content subscription industry. Some of the ads I
> see on TV end up charging you over $50 per month if you don't realise
> you have to unsubscribe. In this case I don't think my wife was even

Its absolutely ridiculous I agree, $10 per message per week is crap

[Ext User(Michael)]

<googlegroups@sensation.net.au> wrote in message
news:1146832002.154326.195980@e56g2000cwe.googlegr oups.com...
> Spokes wrote:
> > Who is your carrier? Telstra?
>
> Optus. I know they can provide the info (we had a premium inbound SMS
> charged to a virtual number that wasn't associated with a SIM - figure
> that one out?) but I'm probably not going to have much luck getting the
> info on a friday night or the weekend. :)

With Telstra, the vendor of the service appears on your bill with a contact
number. Not sure whether Optus provide this service
>

[Ext User(Kwyjibo.)]

"Michael" <michael@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xx17g.23891$vy1.16812@news-server.bigpond.net.au
> <googlegroups@sensation.net.au> wrote in message
> news:1146832002.154326.195980@e56g2000cwe.googlegr oups.com...
>> Spokes wrote:
>>> Who is your carrier? Telstra?
>>
>> Optus. I know they can provide the info (we had a premium inbound SMS
>> charged to a virtual number that wasn't associated with a SIM -
>> figure that one out?) but I'm probably not going to have much luck
>> getting the info on a friday night or the weekend. :)
>
> With Telstra, the vendor of the service appears on your bill with a
> contact number.

Which means fuck all. The charge appears on your bill from Telstra. As it's
their bill, *they* are the ones who have to justify the charge. The onus is
not on the end user to chase it up.

--
Kwyj

[Ext User(googlegroups@sensation.net.au)]

Michael wrote:
> <googlegroups@sensation.net.au> wrote in message
> news:1146832002.154326.195980@e56g2000cwe.googlegr oups.com...
> > Spokes wrote:
> > > Who is your carrier? Telstra?
> >
> > Optus. I know they can provide the info (we had a premium inbound SMS
> > charged to a virtual number that wasn't associated with a SIM - figure
> > that one out?) but I'm probably not going to have much luck getting the
> > info on a friday night or the weekend. :)
>
> With Telstra, the vendor of the service appears on your bill with a contact
> number. Not sure whether Optus provide this service

Nup. We didn't even get an itemisation of each SMS - just a msg count,
unit cost and total $. Pretty poor really. I only found out the number
by getting my wife to check her phone.

When we had the premium SMS sent to a virtual number the person at
Optus was a little "reluctant" to refund the charge and then said it
was as a goodwill gesture. This was after I had explained that the
number in question was not even linked to a mobile phone or a SIM card;
it's a back2base number which allows us to call a specified landline
for a lower rate. Hopefully I won't be greeted with the same
"enthusiasm" when I call them about this scam......

[Ext User(Michael)]

"Kwyjibo." <kwyjibo@Removeozdebate.com> wrote in message
news:445cbc41$0$50084$c30e37c6@ken-reader.news.telstra.net...
> "Michael" <michael@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:Xx17g.23891$vy1.16812@news-server.bigpond.net.au
> > <googlegroups@sensation.net.au> wrote in message
> > news:1146832002.154326.195980@e56g2000cwe.googlegr oups.com...
> >> Spokes wrote:
> >>> Who is your carrier? Telstra?
> >>
> >> Optus. I know they can provide the info (we had a premium inbound SMS
> >> charged to a virtual number that wasn't associated with a SIM -
> >> figure that one out?) but I'm probably not going to have much luck
> >> getting the info on a friday night or the weekend. :)
> >
> > With Telstra, the vendor of the service appears on your bill with a
> > contact number.
>
> Which means fuck all. The charge appears on your bill from Telstra. As
it's
> their bill, *they* are the ones who have to justify the charge. The onus
is
> not on the end user to chase it up.

Sorry, not how it stands at present for any carrier

[Ext User(Michael)]

> > > > Who is your carrier? Telstra?
> > >
> > > Optus. I know they can provide the info (we had a premium inbound SMS
> > > charged to a virtual number that wasn't associated with a SIM - figure
> > > that one out?) but I'm probably not going to have much luck getting
the
> > > info on a friday night or the weekend. :)
> >
> > With Telstra, the vendor of the service appears on your bill with a
contact
> > number. Not sure whether Optus provide this service
>
> Nup. We didn't even get an itemisation of each SMS - just a msg count,
> unit cost and total $. Pretty poor really. I only found out the number
> by getting my wife to check her phone.

Im talking about post bill, are you?
If so, thats pretty crap billing from Optus

[Ext User(Simon Templar)]

Josh B wrote:

> But ask your carrier. If it's Telstra they are about to change their
> policy to take up these matters on behalf of their customers. Previously
> they told their customers to contact the service provider in question.

Which is the way it should be! The company that is billing you are the
one's that have to justify the expense, especially when they let these
premium services hide behind them with fuck all accountability and
bugger contact details!


--
The views I present are that of my own and NOT of any organisation I may
belong to.
http://web.acma.gov.au/pls/radcom/client_search.client_lookup?pCLIENT_NO=157452

73 de Simon, VK3XEM.

[Ext User(Rod Speed)]

Michael <michael@yahoo.com> wrote:
> "Kwyjibo." <kwyjibo@Removeozdebate.com> wrote in message
> news:445cbc41$0$50084$c30e37c6@ken-reader.news.telstra.net...
>> "Michael" <michael@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:Xx17g.23891$vy1.16812@news-server.bigpond.net.au
>>> <googlegroups@sensation.net.au> wrote in message
>>> news:1146832002.154326.195980@e56g2000cwe.googlegr oups.com...
>>>> Spokes wrote:
>>>>> Who is your carrier? Telstra?
>>>>
>>>> Optus. I know they can provide the info (we had a premium inbound
>>>> SMS charged to a virtual number that wasn't associated with a SIM -
>>>> figure that one out?) but I'm probably not going to have much luck
>>>> getting the info on a friday night or the weekend. :)
>>>
>>> With Telstra, the vendor of the service appears on your bill with a
>>> contact number.
>>
>> Which means fuck all. The charge appears on your bill from Telstra.
>> As it's their bill, *they* are the ones who have to justify the
>> charge. The onus is not on the end user to chase it up.
>
> Sorry, not how it stands at present for any carrier

Irrelevant to the law on that, you stupid pig ignorant dunny cleaning fuckwit child.

[Ext User(Mike)]

Josh B wrote:
> But ask your carrier. If it's Telstra they are about to change their
> policy to take up these matters on behalf of their customers. Previously
> they told their customers to contact the service provider in question.

If they do that, then go direct to the TIO. It's the only way to get the
telecos to listen. Don't waste your time attempting to contact the scammers.

[Ext User(Kwyjibo.)]

"Michael" <michael@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ECb7g.24094$vy1.21734@news-server.bigpond.net.au
> "Kwyjibo." <kwyjibo@Removeozdebate.com> wrote in message
> news:445cbc41$0$50084$c30e37c6@ken-reader.news.telstra.net...
>> "Michael" <michael@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:Xx17g.23891$vy1.16812@news-server.bigpond.net.au
>>> <googlegroups@sensation.net.au> wrote in message
>>> news:1146832002.154326.195980@e56g2000cwe.googlegr oups.com...
>>>> Spokes wrote:
>>>>> Who is your carrier? Telstra?
>>>>
>>>> Optus. I know they can provide the info (we had a premium inbound
>>>> SMS charged to a virtual number that wasn't associated with a SIM -
>>>> figure that one out?) but I'm probably not going to have much luck
>>>> getting the info on a friday night or the weekend. :)
>>>
>>> With Telstra, the vendor of the service appears on your bill with a
>>> contact number.
>>
>> Which means fuck all. The charge appears on your bill from Telstra.
>> As it's their bill, *they* are the ones who have to justify the
>> charge. The onus is not on the end user to chase it up.
>
> Sorry, not how it stands at present for any carrier

The carriers get no say in it.


--
Kwyj

[Ext User(googlegroups@sensation.net.au)]

Michael wrote:
> > Nup. We didn't even get an itemisation of each SMS - just a msg count,
> > unit cost and total $. Pretty poor really. I only found out the number
> > by getting my wife to check her phone.
>
> Im talking about post bill, are you?
> If so, thats pretty crap billing from Optus

Yep, post-paid business. Non premium SMSs are not itemised either. So
we have a bill that shows we've been charged for X units, but no idea
who, why (well, kinda ;) ) or when. I wonder how many are lurking on
the next bill.

[Ext User(Blondie)]

Is your wife fat, does she wear trakky dacks, does she wear moccasins and
does she have some of her breakfast down the front of her shirt, does she
eat lots of potato chips and spend a lot of time at the pokies as well ?

<googlegroups@sensation.net.au> wrote in message
news:1146826846.294306.67410@j33g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Is there an easy way to find out who owns a 19 SMS number? My wife has
> been hit with the "enter a competition and get subscribed" scam to the
> tune of nearly $40 on our latest bill - and she's apparently still
> subscribed! The number is 193 666 but I can't find any reference to it
> via google.
>
> Is it worth trying to contest this? It's time someone steps in and
> regulates the mobile content subscription industry. Some of the ads I
> see on TV end up charging you over $50 per month if you don't realise
> you have to unsubscribe. In this case I don't think my wife was even
> receiving any meaningful content, just an invitation to enter the next
> contest - and each invitation msg she received was charged $3.18...
>

[Ext User(thegoons)]

"Michael" <michael@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ECb7g.24094$vy1.21734@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> "Kwyjibo." <kwyjibo@Removeozdebate.com> wrote in message
> news:445cbc41$0$50084$c30e37c6@ken-reader.news.telstra.net...
>> "Michael" <michael@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:Xx17g.23891$vy1.16812@news-server.bigpond.net.au
>> > <googlegroups@sensation.net.au> wrote in message
>> > news:1146832002.154326.195980@e56g2000cwe.googlegr oups.com...
>> >> Spokes wrote:
>> >>> Who is your carrier? Telstra?
>> >>
>> >> Optus. I know they can provide the info (we had a premium inbound SMS
>> >> charged to a virtual number that wasn't associated with a SIM -
>> >> figure that one out?) but I'm probably not going to have much luck
>> >> getting the info on a friday night or the weekend. :)
>> >
>> > With Telstra, the vendor of the service appears on your bill with a
>> > contact number.
>>
>> Which means fuck all. The charge appears on your bill from Telstra. As
> it's
>> their bill, *they* are the ones who have to justify the charge. The onus
> is
>> not on the end user to chase it up.
>
> Sorry, not how it stands at present for any carrier
>
>
You never ever did consumer law 101 did you dunnychild?



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