08706091795

just got a msg from 81213 and it d/w a video without any permissions and now just recevd a msg saying the video was for £4.50

I received the message on my blackberry about dodgy videos at stupid prices - wasnt an ordinary text, as it produced a new icon  in my phones main screen. not sure if i have been charged yet!, I texted "stop" to the  number provided , now they have emailed me to ask for my phone number! - how they got my email , i don't know. Very dodgy.

w2mobile are still at it.  Unsolicited video message from a mobile number to allay any suspicions on recipient's part.  You need to open and scroll through before you are finally told you are now subscribed and owe them £4.50 and will be charged at that rate weekly from then on.  O2, my service provider, were brilliant.  They immediately gave me a credit of £5.00 to my account and gave me the number of PhonePayPlus for me to complain officially. Phoned PhonePayPlus on 0800500212 and they were about as useful as a chocolate teapot!  Not their area of responsibility, try OfCom.  Phoned OfCom.  Not their area of responsibility, try Phone PayPlus.  Exasperated, I submitted a written complaint online to PhonePayPlus more in hope than expectation.  Strikes me nobody in any official capacity wants to know.

Hey, me too.  I've just received same message - went to download but cancelled before download completed.  Still got text saying thanks for downloading and that it just cost me £4.50.
Phoned Tesco Pay as You Go who were very good.  Reimbursed my account and put bars on phone.
It's a pity that we don't know this is going on until it happens to us then we Google and find it's happening all too regularly.

I received a text from this number saying "Video service message! w2m"  As I didnt know who it was from I intended to choose options to delete but accidentally pressed on Go To. Immediately I realised this, I cancelled it but then got another text from 81213 thanking me for downloading the video and saying it cost £4.50. I do not want to receive any more of these texts but do not want to reply in case that too costs me money, I shall take my mobile into Vodafone tomorrow and ask their advice and see if they know how whoever it was from got my number.  (incidentally I am not even able to look at the video, not that I want to, as it says my mobile does not support the file type!)

I too received an unknown download from a company and thought it was ne of my friends sending me something as it is near to christmas. I clicked download after some thought as I do not like to access the internet from my phone. Once it was downloaded it wasn't a brilliant video and I thought what a waste of time sending that, only for a text to arrive a minute or two later saying, thankyou for downloading the videa you can share it for free via MMS or bluetooth cost £4.50/video + GPRS/WAP charges. So now I have paid £4.80 for the priviledge of downloading something i didn't ask for and had no warning of cost. Have complained to my mobile vcomapny to ask for them to block this, I know I haven't signed up to anything becasue I don't do that at all, have tried phoning their number they gave (wondered if that too is a scam) and no person has answered, so will wait to see if i receive a call back.

I got this text 17 Dec saying thanks for down loading a video which again I couldn't see that seems to have cost me £4.50 another con is to give out 0870609175 as a number to call for any problems as if I would be stupid enough to call that.  I got another test today and just deleted.

Caller ID 81213

I got the same message as all of you and was charged over £4 just for the privilege of reading the text, I didn't click on anything other than the text to read it and got a second text later to tell me thanks for downloading some video I never heard of.

I also got the same phone number to call.

I have not very techie or anything actually so I was wondering if anyone knew what I should do or if I just get over the fact someone somehow took this money off my phone?

Check your balance if you receive a message from this number or from 81213 it took £8 from a 10 year olds phone...Robbers

I got the same message and instead of deleting it I downloaded by accident (I'm not very good with mobiles). Just contact the phone number on the message, it's the customer services number, and leave a message giving your mobile phone number and asking for your call to be returned. I did this and a very nice and helpful lady called me back the same day and refunded me in full (she said that's the company policy). She also blocked my number so I don't get any more.

I have just got exact same, and foolishly clicked on link.
Then I had text, and like others,  thanking me for down-loading.

On advice of my son I replied with STOP to 81213 and received.............

"We received your request and will delete your number within 1-2 working days from our database! This message is free of charge. Thanks!"

Cheeky buggers.....probably get £4+ off me then imply I should be pleased to receive a free text.
Also, the !'s were there not me..........exclamation mark for sure

Just checked my bill, and I was charged £1.50 for receiving the "thanks for downloading the video" text, and charged (probably valid) 10p for sending the stop text.
No sign yet of being charged for video I never asked for or wanted.

Having had the same happen i.e. video message opened by accident and the charges @ 12.08 pm today I contacted my provider Virgin - hopeless, did send a complaint to PayphonePlus.

However I did using PayphonePlus supplied detail mail w2m or venvista as well as mailing info @venista and dora@venista to complain and register my requirement for a complete refund.

You can imaging my surprise when Dora called just now 8.07pm to apologies and offer a full refund including incidentals costs to my provider. Her explanation is someone mis-keyed their number incorrectly for a ring tone or service, her company then in good faith sent me the video message. Now this could be a rouse, but I do note some of you have reported the refund as coming, time will tell! In the meantime make a formal complaint to your service provider, PayphonePlus and as I have my local MP.

I'll sit back and wait for the cheque, I do hope those of you saying you have had a refund are genuine and not wind up merchants. Marc

Phone PhonePayPlus (0800 500 212) and complain. I did and they said they had loads of complaints recently.

http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/output/contact-us.aspx

I did and very helpful lady said the company "venista" had had complaints from them in past and were very good at refunding........I bet they are.

Say they sent 1,000 of these messages.
From that (assuming £4 from each message after provider taken their cut) thats £4,000
If only 5% complain, and they refund £200 in total, thats £3,800 in their grubby back pockets.
My guess is they catch more out, and fewer complain.......Nice little earner.


PLEASE complain

Guess what. Less than an hour after I complained to reglator I had a call.................

You can imaging my surprise when Dora called just  apologies and offer a full refund including incidentals costs to my provider. Her explanation is someone mis-keyed their number incorrectly for a ring tone or service, her company then in good faith sent me the video message.


Sound familiar..........as I said, how many have not got refund

On 29 April 2010 PhonepayPlus fined Venista a poultry £50,000 for this exact same stunt.

The revenue they stole was £500,000+.  That amount only related to a few months.  

The fine is actually revenue that is purposely withheld in order to pay the 'fine'.  You guys are not only being ripped off and conned you are also paying the fines.

http://www.the-scream.co.uk/forums/t30575.html?

Now they are giving out a different number to gain even more revenue. The number for their help desk is 08451309911 they vcharge you while you waiting on line and mount up charges. its a win win for them. Venista ripp offs.

My cheque (written 20/12/10) arrived today from Mr Stephen Harris T/AS SMS Services, with a compliments slip reading SMS SERVICES, W2 Mobile Refund, Helpdesk: 08706091795 www.w2mobile.com.

I'll let you know if it is honoured at the bank. I did as advised make a complaint to PhonepayPlus, who are investigating it formally.

Marc

have also been robbed by venista plus quantone and samsung i believe,according to the young lady in the philipines,my customer services for t.mobile account can you believe!

I've just had this unsolicited message and video too. According to your website, this has been going on since
last March. 15 months gone by and no-one has managed to stop these thieves. Disgusting!