Who are these shysters? One of these ads popped up in an app I was using (WebSms) the other day, something about free text messages, I clicked it (not sure why as I get free UK text message but use websms to text abroad cheaply so thought might of been something to do with that). Next thing I know I got a text message saying I'd got 500 text messages this week, service is £1.50 a week, to stop text STOP to 84025. I replied stop straight away to said number then got another message back saying "text4less, 500 messages for £1.50 a week, log in at www.v2text.net".

I just checked by bill and so far I've been charged £1.60 (a £1.50 charge and a 10p charge)by this 84025 number and still not sure if it's cancelled? I wouldn't mind but I never even signed up for anything, all I did was click an ad and that seemed to sign me up instantly, is this even legal?

Certainly a bit dodgy!

I don't know anything for certain but it seems odd that you could "sign up" for this just by clicking an advert. Is there any chance it could have been a scam message, that you weren't actually signed up at that point, and it was actually the texting of "STOP" to 84025 that cost you the £1.60?

Well looking at the times on my phone bill and the texts they sent me the 10p charge was at the time I sent STOP and got a message back straight after saying sorry to see you go, the £1.50 charge was 4 minutes earlier which ties in with when I clicked the advert. The 3rd message I got with their website address was about half hour later and there's not any more charges on my bill so hopefully it's cancelled, I see what happens when the week is up they better not charge me again.

I'm always careful signing up to things and not sure how they could do it, alot of these apps know your phone number etc?

The good news is no more charges onto my bill since I posted the original message.

Still a bit miffed I got done like this though, (I know is only £1.60 but not the point, I never signed up for anything) no one else had this problem? Did a bit of googling and found a few things along the same lines though not a great deal of other info out there.

A load of these companies are a very dodgy. Have a check on http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk and Google the shortcode to find experiences of other people. However they are obliged to stop all further messages if you text STOP ALL to these scam artists.

Interesting site, there's a complaint form to fill out which I will do so they can investigate these arseholes.

Hi jimmy7bellies,

I’m sorry to see what happened here and if that had happened to me I’d be just as frustrated.

It’s great to see that this now seems to have stopped, however should you need any further help, feel free to email us via Web Relations Team and we’ll be happy to look into this for you.

(When contacting, please quote the code WRT135 in the subject line. In the main message body, please include a link to this thread and your user name. This will ensure that your message comes directly through to my team).

Best wishes,

Jenny
Web Relations Team
Vodafone UK