Unsolicited Text Messages
Did you know : -
- Approximately 30,000 premium rate services are in operation at any one time generating
projected revenue of £1 billion in 2002;
- Research shoes that nearly 50% of children aged 7 - 16 now own a mobile phone;
An estimated figure of 40 million people use mobile phones in the UK and over 1.3 billion
text messages being sent each month. It can therefore come as no surprise to note that there
has been a significant increase in the use of 'SMS' or 'short text messages' used to
promote premium rate services or to convey information on news or entertainment. Service
providers are able to reach consumers with an ease previously not possible.
The use of such methods has obvious benefits for consumers when used in a responsible and legitimate manner. BUT, there are a handful of service providers who have caused widespread problems and consumer harm.
There are three categories of SMS messages
- 090 where mobiles receive a promotional text message invited them to call a premium rate
service with a 090 dialling code. Often used for competitions.
- Pay to Send where mobile users are invited to send a text message at a premium rate -
often used for votelines or opinion polls.
- Reverse billed premium rate services - where a promotional text message invited user to
respond by text which triggers a premium rate service where the user will receive a number of
other texts which they will be charged for.
ICSTIS, or the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information
Services, are the regulators of premium rate services and have issued guidance throughout the
UK with regard to the growing use of premium rate charging on mobile phones. ICSTIS and
trading standards departments are focusing on establishing how premium rate services on
mobile phones work and educating consumers about the sensible use of premium rate services
on mobile phones.
WHAT SHOULD MOBILE USERS LOOK OUT FOR?
- REMEMBER friends or relatives will NOT send messages asking you to call back on 090
numbers ;
- REMEMBER that Offers that seem too good to be true normally are.
- READ all the information about the cost of the calls/texts - if there is a lack of
information or it is not clear, check before you call.
- BEWARE of misleading information on promotions.
Mobile users can register with the Telephone Preference Service on 0845 0700707 to remove
your mobile phone contact details from future mailing lists.
Mobile users can prevent calls to premium rate services by obtaining premium rate call barring
from the network provider.
If you receive an unsolicited text message which you think contains misleading information
or a lack of pricing information, contact ICSTIS's on 0800 500212.
Trading Standards Division, 3rd Floor, Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral CH44 8ED
Telephone: 08454 04 05 06 Fax: (0151) 691 8098
Internet World Wide Web http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/wirral/
Electronic Mail: tradingstandards@wirral.gov.uk
