Safari mobile lottery

[Anonymous]

Just had my latest bill and been charged £45 for Safari mobile lottery. Tried to find out how I've been charged for this unwanted item that I've never subscribed to but O2 say it's nothing to do with them. This is a complete scam that O2 go along with. Click on the Safari app and it comes up O2 so it must have something to do with them. Spoke to "customer services" and had to speak to a manager. I said I couldn't get through to Safari, which I couldn't, half hour on the phone before being cut off. Magically the manager got through to Safari and put me on to their customer service advisor. She said I had not not subscribed and this meant I had subscribed, a complete scam. I will have to pay the £45 I suppose but I've said if this is not unsubscribe as she said would happen I shall have to close my account and go elseware. I can not believe that a company the size of 02 collude in this scam and make it impossible to get any satisfaction but insist I'm fleeced and give in to their threats. Oh well you live and learn but please be aware of this situation. On a lighter note when I asked if I'd won anything in the lottery I was told I had not been lucky, the prize was a mobile phone.

[Anonymous]

Jonsie- I think 02 know fine well that their customers do not willingly sign up to be scammed by Safari Mobile Lottery aka Switchfire! The number I was given "02077982800" belongs to switchfire and they have been scamming people for years "a quick google of that number will confirm" so why on earth would 02 agree to give these scammers our money after taking thousands of complaints? Strange to say the least. Just out of curiosity, what date did they begin taking money from your accounts?

[jonsie]

What I'm saying is that it is the responsibility of ourselves as customers to be wary about clicking on any links and then to deal with the problem ourselves. It's the regulators that deal with complaints and yes, I agree these scams have been going on for years. But O2 cannot possibly stand the loss by refunding everyone who inadvertently clicks on a link or enters a competition. Don't forget these cowboys are operating within current legislation and unless the regulators feel they are overstepping the boundary we are subject to following official routes of complaint.

We know they are scammers but they are being allowed to get away with it.

[Beenherebefore]

Would you blame your ISP if you clicked on a spam/scam link showing on your laptop/PC ?

[Cleoriff]

Also the fact remains that MANY people want this sort of service. They are happy to enter competitions, visit gambling sites and even watch ******. Their choice. Not for everyone but the advice is always don't click on links from FB or any other site. Nothing is free nowadays.

I see the forum filter bleeped out a short word meaning looking at sites with 'sexual content'

[Anonymous]

I get what your saying Jonsie but it's the fact that 02 are willing to charge people for those scamming ****s even though I never signed for nothing and never gave permission for them to add charges. I know 02 can't take the loss for everyone that's scammed by Switchfire Ltd but what they can do and should have done years ago is impose a block to protect their customers!

Beenherebefore- No, why do you? If my ISP tried charging me for something I didn't want nor need you can bet I wouldn't be paying for it though!

[Anonymous]

Cleoriff- I'm not talking about other sites as I know people like to gamble and watch ****. I'm talking about one site and that's Switchfire Ltd! They don't give people the option to buy, they try force it upon you. If you believe Switchfire/Safari Mobile Lottery gives people the option to subscribe feel free to post the link that gives people the option! As there is none..

[MI5]

Everyone would be a lot more comfortable if a block was put on by default (such as the 18+ one) which could then be lifted upon request.
Surely this is the best way to protect evryone from unwanted charges?
Maybe it requires Ofcom to make a ruling before something will change?

[Toby]

Hi @Anonymous,

Sorry to hear about this and welcome to the community. While its mostly not possible for O2 and other operators to control this kind of thing, I will report this experience to the team. How did the competition appear on your device exactly?

[Cleoriff]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Cleoriff- I'm not talking about other sites as I know people like to gamble and watch ****. I'm talking about one site and that's Switchfire Ltd! They don't give people the option to buy, they try force it upon you. If you believe Switchfire/Safari Mobile Lottery gives people the option to subscribe feel free to post the link that gives people the option! As there is none..

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Yes I realise you were being specific about Switchfire @Anonymous BUT the conversation had wandered into clicking links for other sites so I added my post for general information.

[jonsie]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I get what your saying Jonsie but it's the fact that 02 are willing to charge people for those scamming ****s even though I never signed for nothing and never gave permission for them to add charges. I know 02 can't take the loss for everyone that's scammed by Switchfire Ltd but what they can do and should have done years ago is impose a block to protect their customers!

Beenherebefore- No, why do you? If my ISP tried charging me for something I didn't want nor need you can bet I wouldn't be paying for it though!

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Don't forget that O2 are charged for this service and they merely pass the charge on to us as customers.