Dear 2degrees......Premium services

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Dear 2degrees......Premium services

ZollyMonsta

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#39021 7-Aug-2009 17:07

Dear 2degrees,

I'm sad to see some of those 'dodgy' looking premium text services available on your network.

http://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=393a5854-8b5f-45a2-acad-e80ac190449d&groupId=10128

Most costing around $3.50 per message recieved... one of which costs a great walloping $7 per message recieved!!!

Whats your 'opt in' process 2degrees and how do you protect customers from providers which covertly sign up customers without their knowledge or clear indication they are signing up for such a service?

I note from your list that it seems some of the providers listed in your document don't even have an active website to get information on how to unsubscribe, for example:

Blinck 'Chat' which costs $3.50 per message recieved has a website of www.chatting4you.com which does not even exist!

I am hopeful that 2degrees will handle these service better than the incumbent mobile providers. Can you please comment?

Regards,
Grant

openmedia

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#244025 7-Aug-2009 18:21

You will notice that the same company provides other services that do have a valid website, plus they have an 0800 number.

I assume that they have to follow the same teleco guidelines as Vodafone and Telecom.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

ZollyMonsta

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#244026 7-Aug-2009 18:26

Then why cant the company provide a valid website for the service?

Niel

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#244079 7-Aug-2009 22:11

Nothing new, Vodafone also allows Chatting4You:
http://www.vodafone.co.nz/services/txt-and-pxt/premium-interactive-code-details.pdf

But I would love to see an option for blocking them for one day when my kids get phones.

You can never have enough Volvos!

tumnasgt

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#244083 7-Aug-2009 22:46

I think that when you sign up to receive premium SMSs, you should be sent a message asking if you want to allow that number to contact you, replying 'block' or 'no' would stop them contacting you and you wouldn't be charged.

If it's a premium number that charges when you SMS them, such as voting, there is no need for a notification, but an online tool to disable them would be nice, especially for kids phones.

simon14

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#244086 7-Aug-2009 22:59

I think by default, every mobile user shouldn't be able to have access to these services. They should have to "opt in" with their mobile provider and then be able to opt in to the service.

jmosen

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#244089 7-Aug-2009 23:14

Interesting that Facebook is listed in that PDF document, but Facebook itself says it only supports Telecom.

Jonathan

Kyanar

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#246579 14-Aug-2009 14:30

jmosen: Interesting that Facebook is listed in that PDF document, but Facebook itself says it only supports Telecom.

Bonus cryptic points for the fact that the contact phone number for "Facebook" in 2degrees document appears to belong to Vodafone, who also aren't supported.