How can I block incoming premium service text messages

[Anonymous]

Is there any way I can block unwanted incoming premium service text messages. I am being charged for incoming text messages which I have no control over.

[Bambino]

http://www.o2.co.uk/help/everything-else/unwanted-calls-and-messages#qs

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

and a community help thread here http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Pay-Monthly-and-Pay-Go/Are-you-fed-up-with-spam-calls-and-texts-Follow-...

[Anonymous]

The general rule of thumb is to send a text back with the word STOP in capitals. That should do it

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
The general rule of thumb is to send a text back with the word STOP in capitals. That should do it

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@Anonymous 

Is their any truth in that some say if a person responds with 'STOP' this then let's more unscrupulous companies know they've managed to connect to a live number and pursue sending such texts.

Now we have phones with blocking facilities it should be possible nowadays to use that to block. 

[Anonymous]

Hi @Anonymous

Many of us have read about whether sending "STOP" works.

Where someone receives texts that they never asked for (which is what I think your question is aimed at - then there may be some mileage in such a suggestion but I don't know for sure.

In this type of case however, at some point the OP must have given their number and signed up for such service so in this case the texts are not unsolicited (if I have read it right).

By law sending STOP is a requirement but of course those sending these texts illegally may not have this in place. But then they would also know without offering if they would almost certainly get banned (after they have made a few quid of course)

[Anonymous]

Thank you @Anonymous for the explanation.

I've been fortunate to be targeted only once by this situation, and this resulted in me changing my mobile number with O2 ,and as it was the first time it was free.

Not a guarantee I won't be again but it certainly stopped the issue.

[Anonymous]

I would also add @Anonymous that where the OP is receiving texts for which he / she is being charged, blocking them would stop them coming to the phone yes but would not stop the charges.

The charge would be initiated when the sender sends the text. Whether it is received is almost irrelevant. Think back before we had free texts, if you sent a text to someone who had changed their number and not told you, even though they didn't get the text you were still charged.

Tis the same principle.

[Anonymous]

A very valid point @Anonymous

So would changing Mobile Number cease the charges ?

[Anonymous]

That is a good question @Anonymous

In theory changing your number via o2 so that the existing number is disconnected and o2 move the OP top a new number keeping the same account should stop the charges as there is no number to bill it to. That would be my understanding unless the rules have changed (think like the new changing bank account rules).