@Amer
Games Network is a Payforit scam operated by a company called Noatel.
Noatel Europe Limited
Chester House 81-83, Fulham High Street
London
SW6 3JA
United Kingdom
You need to stop further charges by sending a "STOP ALL" text to 64055.
As you have discovered, O2 would find it difficult to be more unhelpful to victims of these Payforit scams.
Call Noatel on 0207 855 2665 or email them at helpcc-uk<at>noateleurope.co.uk to insist on a full refund. Tell them that you never subscribed to their service.
If they claim you consented to the charges, ask them to provide proof as follows:
- Screenshots of the subscription workflow where you were alleged to have signed up for this service.
- A description of what the service you are supposed to have subscribed to provides. Is this a newsletter, access to a web portal, a competition? How would it have been accessed if you had used it?
- Any evidence that after supposedly signing up for the service, you actually used it
- The complete web server log of the subscription, including the User Agent strings containing all device details (browser, device type, device IP address) together with dates and times.
- Full company details of the company operating the service, country of registration, full name of company, company number and registered company address.
If the company refuses to provide this, you should report this refusal to the regulator, and also use it to support an escalation of your complaint to O2. This is allowed under the Payforit rules and the Mobile Operators Code of Practice for the Management and Operation of Payforit.
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'.
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.
To protect yourself from these scams in the future, ask for a "charge to mobile" bar to be put on your account.
Comprehensive and independent information and advice on dealing with these scams is on the payforitsucks website. This website provides constructive advice about forcing the scammers to refund. Specialist and legal support is also available through the site 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 customers from these scams.
Paul
