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Unknown Charge to my account

GarySSH
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I have just checked my billing and noticed there is a charge of £4.50 and I have no idea what it is for or where it has come from. Has this happened to anyone else and can I be refunded for this amount?
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MI5
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@GarySSH very common. See advice here https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/How-to-Guides/Have-you-fallen-for-or-been-conned-into-a-premium-rate-s...

 

https://payforitsucks.co.uk/

I have no affiliation whatsoever with O2 or any subsidiary companies. Comments posted are entirely of my own opinion. This is not Customer Service so we are unable to help with account specific issues.

Currently using:
Pixel 7a (O2 & Lyca), One Plus 6 (Sfr), iPhone 12 Pro Max (Vodafone)

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MI5
Level 94: Supreme
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@GarySSH very common. See advice here https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/How-to-Guides/Have-you-fallen-for-or-been-conned-into-a-premium-rate-s...

 

https://payforitsucks.co.uk/

I have no affiliation whatsoever with O2 or any subsidiary companies. Comments posted are entirely of my own opinion. This is not Customer Service so we are unable to help with account specific issues.

Currently using:
Pixel 7a (O2 & Lyca), One Plus 6 (Sfr), iPhone 12 Pro Max (Vodafone)
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Cleoriff
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@GarySSH

To avoid this happening again, contact customer services https://www.o2.co.uk/contactus and ask them to place the following 2 bars to your account

  • Bar all Direct to Bill Debits
  • Premium Bar (calls to premium numbers, 090, 070 etc

Best of luck and welcome to the forum Welcome

Veritas Numquam Perit

Girl in a jacket
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MI5
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@GarySSH we also have a petition running here to try to force O2 into making changes https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Discussions-and-Feedback/Premium-rate-services-petition-to-O2/td-p/118...

I have no affiliation whatsoever with O2 or any subsidiary companies. Comments posted are entirely of my own opinion. This is not Customer Service so we are unable to help with account specific issues.

Currently using:
Pixel 7a (O2 & Lyca), One Plus 6 (Sfr), iPhone 12 Pro Max (Vodafone)
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Payforit_Sucks
Level 17: Luminescent
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@GarySSH wrote:
I have just checked my billing and noticed there is a charge of £4.50 and I have no idea what it is for or where it has come from. Has this happened to anyone else and can I be refunded for this amount?

Unexpected charges of £4.50 are usually associated with 'Payforit' scams. You should have received a text message (usually prefixed by "Freemsg:") giving you details of the bogus subscription you are supposed to have signed up to. Consumers often block or delete these in error, thinking that they are spam. The text will give you the details you need to stop the subscription and claim a refund. If you can't locate the text, you will need to ask O2 for this information.

 

This will be a weekly subscription, so you need to take action to prevent further charges being taken.

 

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 the 5 digit number given in the subscription text should stop further charges. You can then call them on their customer services number (also in the subscription text) 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. 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 them from these scams.

 

Paul 

Phone payment scam? Need independent advice? Payforit Faq for O2 Customers
 
Help put a stop to these scams. Join our Facebook Group
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jonsie
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These scams are coming thick and fast now and those in charge of legislation and O2 are doing nothing at all to protect customers. They wash their hands of it but continue to profit from our misfortune. 

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