Charged $1 for receiving an unsolicited CNY greeting SMS

[longkangman]

Most company will sell the numbers if anyone insterested and willing to pay for it, can even ask them to select profile etc.

 

[AReality]

Most company will sell the numbers if anyone insterested and willing to pay for it, can even ask them to select profile etc.

Hmmm...
This reminds me of NKF contemplating on selling our data to an insurance company in the interest of "fund raising".


.

 

[hori]

Hi, for Singtel users, are the fraudulant charges called "World Remind" under Content & Services?

I just received my bill and I was billed $2 for World Remind under Content & Services on 25 Jan 2006. And I don't think I have subscribed to anything. But I did received some greetings like the CNY a few times. Maybe two times, can't really remember. I have deleted them, so no way of confirm the number.

Thanks!

 

[chainsmoker]

today news

mTouche suspended for letting users get charged for New Year SMSes


SINGAPORE : The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) has suspended mobile phone services provider mTouche for six months.

Close to 300,000 mobile phone customers received New Year greeting SMSes, and were subsequently charged $1 per message.

IDA says that mTouche's licence only allowed it to enable corporate users to send free SMSes to their customers.

But the company let its customer MyGlobal Fun send the messages, then charge for them.

IDA is investigating mTouche for breach of the Telecoms Competition Code, for not ensuring that customers are not charged for unsolicited SMSes.

mTouche is also being investigated as to whether it had provided subscriber information to a third party, without the subscriber's consent.

IDA says that if mTouche is found in breach of the Code, it will take further action which may include imposing a fine of $1 million, further suspension or cancellation of mTouche's licence.

- CNA /ls

 

[mpenza]

thanks for the update. apparently, their public and private apologies were not enough.

 

[longkangman]

Aiya, peanuts lah.

So easy to workaround that, just close the company and operate with another new company under new name loh.

 

[zhang3feng]

Aiya, peanuts lah.

So easy to workaround that, just close the company and operate with another new company under new name loh.

true true... then the same case will happen again.. :sticktong

 

[Astin]

IDA should probe M1, Singtel and Starhub as well, to avoid a repeat in future. Dont anyone will want to close down M1, Singtel and Starhub?

 

[longkangman]

IDA should probe M1, Singtel and Starhub as well, to avoid a repeat in future. Dont anyone will want to close down M1, Singtel and Starhub?

They are just provider and nothing can they do.

Just like the land line in your home you can call whoever you like.

It takes a very very long time for IDA to take an action, why?

Then again we are not peanut.

 

[yanyewkay]

thanks for the update. apparently, their public and private apologies were not enough.

on top of the $1M fine. I hope they get charged with fraud and the boss goes to jail! :angry:

A lawyer interviewed by ST said that if mTouche was responsible but shifts the blame to MyGlobal Fun then mTouch might be liable for fraud.

 

[jhansolo]

If they want to be part of the process and wants to collect middle man's fee for collecting, then they should be at the front line to answer the queries and not ask us to ask mtouche directly - this is very irresponsible and they are clearly only wanting the benefit but not the burdens of collceting money.

Agreed I may draw the example of credit card fraud ... do you have to pay late fees for fraud cases. Who are you to check on a 3rd party vendor that charged to your credit card. Telcos have not learnt their responsiblity as collectors. If you get charged for soft drinks via Telcos but you did not make the transaction, do you go to the opposite side of the island to investigate the vending machine?

As for people on GIRO, if you must GIRO thru your credit card at least there is some reaction time rather than direct deduction from your account.

 

[Astin]

on top of the $1M fine. I hope they get charged with fraud and the boss goes to jail! :angry:

A lawyer interviewed by ST said that if mTouche was responsible but shifts the blame to MyGlobal Fun then mTouch might be liable for fraud.

There are dozens of ex-CEOs (and ex-CFO) in Singapore jail already, I think must be very crowded :bsmilie:

 

[Cheesecake]

There are dozens of ex-CEOs (and ex-CFO) in Singapore jail already, I think must be very crowded :bsmilie:

make space for one more.

there's this chinese saying... sa yi jing bai.

appease the mob first.

 

[alba]

IDA should probe M1, Singtel and Starhub as well, to avoid a repeat in future. Dont anyone will want to close down M1, Singtel and Starhub?

Hahaha, Fat hope!

Don't you know who are the shareholders behind these 3 telcos???

 

[longkangman]

Make friend with peanut relative and you will be treated very well in the jail.

 

[hori]

Hi, for Singtel users, are the fraudulant charges called "World Remind" under Content & Services?

I just received my bill and I was billed $2 for World Remind under Content & Services on 25 Jan 2006. And I don't think I have subscribed to anything. But I did received some greetings like the CNY a few times. Maybe two times, can't really remember. I have deleted them, so no way of confirm the number.

Thanks!

Hi guys, I emailed Singtel to inquire about this charge. WorldRemind later call me to inform me that the charges are for a service I get from the website WhoLivesNearYou.com

Apparently, that website has two types of membership: Standard and Verified.

Standard is free while for Verified accounts you need to pay a one-time fee of $2 for one year subscription. You just send an SMS to a 5 digit numbers and they will replied to indicate your registration. There is a statement that says that there will be some form of fee payable. But I did not know that it is $2, I thought it will be like 50cents.

Very expensive for a web community that is not as good as friendster in features or interactivity.