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CRTC to hammer down on “premium” text messages rules?

58fc9ac848ed4587dc4564c0db98a470Montreal-based non profit group, Union des consommateurs, is submitting a request to the CRTC to look into getting stricter rules for companies who send out “premium” text messages. You know the companies who ask you to sign up and offer you jokes, contests, quizzes, surveys, horoscopes, sports scores etc…

Seems like some individuals after signing up are being billed between $16 to $35 a month. Although some customers don’t remember actually signing up for the double opt-in service, they try and make contact with the carriers/marketers to remove them only to get frustrated when no contact information made available.

On behalf of Quebec residents, the group has filed complaints against Fido, Rogers, Telus, Koodoo, Bell and Vidéotron to the CRTC. They’re requesting the carriers to remove charges for premium text messages from their customers’ bills while a complaint is investigated.

More on this Monday

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  • Discussion

    3 comments for “CRTC to hammer down on “premium” text messages rules?”

    1. I agree. Every time I see one of these message systems with fees, I want to cry. IQ tests, Jokes, stupid contest trvia that will cost innocents $4.00 minimum and often far more.

      I hate this kind of evil. Evil against innocents is the worst.

      Reply

      Posted by Jeff Goebel | March 9, 2009, 10:49 am
    2. Mobile Syrup keeps saying “More on this Monday”, but here it is Tuesday and still no update on what has taken place.

      I got dinged $15.00 for 3 premium messages, but when I phoned to enquire as to what exactly was a premium message, I received a very vague answer and Telus could not identify just who these messages were from. Well, now I understand that Telus indeed does know who the message was from, because they are acting as bill collectors for the offending web site… they were just not prepared to tell me. I cannot, for the life of me, remember EVER signing up for such a thing, and that is something I would never do anyway. So, the fight continues with Telus to get those charges reversed.

      Reply

      Posted by Nick Andriash | March 10, 2009, 12:38 pm
    3. Mine is worse, Being charged $600..yes it’ $600 from this premium messaging that I never used and signed up for. Charging me for chat and text messaging for $5 / message that I didn’t use. Oh, btw Koodo CS told me that they are not affiliated in anyway with Telus..what a lie. When in fact I sent the complaints to Telus and was answered by Koodo personnel..crap.

      Reply

      Posted by Dominic | May 6, 2009, 4:16 am

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