Blocking premium rate text message

Anonymous · ‎16-07-2010

I came to O2 as it offered the best coverage for the area I work in.
Today I attempted to place a premium rate text message bar on my phone as I have done with my Vodafone service. The reason for this request is to prevent the M type premium charge incoming text messages that I have been receiving. Replying to these disguised messages will invite countless reverse charge premium rate messages and even texting STOP as advised by the O2 operative will cost me £1.50

When I telephoned customer services, I was advised that "O2 does not offer the premium call bar service".
I requested that the text message service on my number be blocked, again I was informed that "O2 does not offer that service". (I'm beginning to think I have made a wrong decision going with this provider).

Can anyone advise if it is possible for me to reclaim the remaining credit I have on my payg phone and transfer it, along with the number to a provider that does offer the premium text bar or total text block I asked for.

Anonymous · ‎17-07-2010

Seems O2 are not interested in stopping the scams, but then if they make money out of the misfortune of others, why should they care?..............not impressed at all!

jonsie · ‎17-07-2010

You shouldn't receive premium texts unless you subscribe to them. If you have a complaint about these texts then report it to PhonepayPlus here. All information on these services can be found on the site as they are the regulatory body of phone pay services.

You can obviously take your number to another provider of your choice but not your credit, you will need to use that or lose it when you port your number.

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perksie · ‎17-07-2010

You rarely hear of people having this problem, it usually only happens when you have asked for this type of service.

I don't believe unused credit is refundable.

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Anonymous · ‎19-07-2010

I have received these messages as have my friends and I can confirm that none have requested them, the scam texts are disguised as from a bank or insurance company and are a known problem just the same as email scams.
These scams have been around for quite a while, the phone companies are aware of them but choose to allow them to go unchecked. Most will put a premium block on your phone if requested (but not O2)

As I have difficulty reading from the phone's small screen, I do not use text messaging, my contacts are aware of this and do not send any.
The only other annoying text messages that I receive are from O2 trying to get me to spend more money.

Sorry O2, you had an initial top up from me, you won't be getting any more.

Anonymous · ‎19-07-2010

These messages are not widespread as it is illegal to send them. If you do get them then you need to report them to the statutory body. Which is phonepayplus. They have the power to refund you and fine the company who sent them.
If they are just spam messages then that is also illegal and you would report them to the office of the information commissioner. A premium rate block wouldn't stop these.

adamtemp64 · ‎19-07-2010

and o2 has the spam reporting short code of 7726 just forward them to that no.

Taken from http://www.o2.co.uk/assets/O2HybridNav/ ... actice.pdf page 11 look at other usefull info in that pdf

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perksie · ‎19-07-2010

You have also elected to recieve marketing messages from O2, these can be turned off if you don't want them in MYO2.

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Anonymous · ‎19-07-2010

All that has been posted is fine, good advice thank you......but if I only use the phone to receive voice calls and don't use text messaging service ever, then why on earth can I not opt to have the SMS service (incoming & outgoing) blocked on my O2 phone as I have done with other providers in the past?
(Can't find the turn off O2 messages option in myO2)

Anonymous · ‎19-07-2010

You can delete the message centre number from your handset.
You cannot block all SMS messages, as the SMS service is an intimate part of the GSM specification.
Some networks claim to block premium messages, but what this actually does is maintain a blacklist of numbers. As you can imagine this is prone to errors and these networks receive many complaints.
So there are certainly good reasons for and against a provider offering the service. Incidentally, not all other providers offer the facility.