Spam Text 64640

[Minchroadster]

Just been charged £3.750 for a premium text service I never signed up to. How do I stop these charges to my account ASAP?

[Bambino · Accepted solution]

@Minchroadster This site is very helpful. Take a look at the links: https://payforitsucks.co.uk/   https://payforitsucks.co.uk/o2-payforit-faq/

Also please take a look at this link: https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/How-to-Guides/Have-you-fallen-for-or-been-conned-into-a-premium-rate-s...

You can also speak to customer service and request a bar on Premium Rate numbers and a bar on 'charge to mobile'. https://www.o2.co.uk/contactus 

[Cleoriff]

@Minchroadster

We also have a petition here where we hope to get O2 to change the system to stop people being scammed this way https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Discussions-and-Feedback/Premium-rate-services-petition-to-O2/td-p/118...

[Payforit_Sucks]

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@Minchroadster wrote:
Just been charged £3.750 for a premium text service I never signed up to. How do I stop these charges to my account ASAP?

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The charge is actually £4.50 (£3.75 +20% vat). Shortcode 64640 is operated by a company called Veoo.

These companies use vulnerabilities of the 'Payforit' system to obtain consumers numbers and sign them up to bogus subscriptions. Simply closing an innocent looking popup can pass your number to these scammers.

 O2 appear to have a policy of not helping members affected by these scams, so you will have to take action yourself to stop the charges and obtain a refund.

Sending a STOP ALL text to 64640 should stop further charges. This text should ot cost more than 15p. You can then call them on 0800 157 7502 to insist on a FULL refund.

'Payforit' charges are applied directly to your account by a 'third party' which has acquired your phone number. O2 make no check that you have consented to these charges. You can ask O2 to place a ‘charge to bill’ bar on your account, which will protect you from further ‘Payforit’ scams. However, be aware that his is a blunt instrument and will also stop other third party charges such as donating to charity and voting in TV competitions

You need to be aware that O2  leak your phone number to third parties when you access the internet using mobile data, and this is probably how your number was acquired in order to make these charges. The system which does this is called 'Payforit'.

Comprehensive and independent information and advice on dealing with these scams is on the payforitsucks website.  This website won't blame you for being scammed and provides constructive advice about forcing the scammers to refund. Support is also available if you encounter difficulties. Google "payforitsucks" or follow the link to the faq in my signature. The website contains detailed advice on the steps you need to take to stop further charges, obtain a refund and protect yourself from these scams in the future.

I hope you manage to resolve this matter. These scams are a disgrace to the mobile communications industry and O2 should be doing more to assist affected customers and to protect them from these scams.

Paul 

[Slushpuppy1]

I'm not sure o2 leak phone numbers to scammers. Do you have any proof of this? .
As with most things nowadays blame someone else for the problem.
Although I do agree with you more needs to be done to prevent these kind charges