Premium Rate Crap

[caddyman]

I am pretty pissed off right now.

I got home to find my phone bill sitting waiting for me. Now I only use my land line for the very occasional call other than dial up internet, so it doesn't take long to spot an error. In fat there was a single call logged on the line, to a premium 090 number. At the end of May, it seems, while I was at work, my phone line indulged itself with a 12 minute call to God knows where, costing me £18.08 to boot. I just dialed the number to see what it is and I am none the wiser since it seems to be an incomprehensible recorded voice in a hangar somewhere.

Ntl tell me that this is probably a number that has stored on my modem and is activated to dial these numbers automatically there from. Well quite how that can be is beyond me, since the PC and hence the modem is switched off when I'm not using it; I never leave it on standby.

I am faced with two possibilities - either there is some kind of spy ware on my PC/modem which operates even when the machine is turned off - how that works is beyond me - or someone, presumably a member of the Polish Brigade^tm has gained access to my room in my absence and made free with the phone to call an incomprehensible sex line or something.

I am less than thrilled at either prospect.

Do any of the techie types out there know how this scam works, and whether modems can do that sort of thing? It seems unlikely to me if the PC is powered down.

Anyway, I've logged an online complaint at the ICSTIS website and hopefully they will investigate it and get back to me.

Check your phone bills carefully, kids. It's not the end of the world if I don't get my money back, but I don't want to make a habit of it.

Comments

[willowing.livejournal.com]

argh, how irritating! I also think it's unlikely that some spyware would activate some number while your computer is switched off, it's much more likely to be someone hacking into your telephone system, using your number to call from (how they do that though, no clue)

the call may not have been made at all.

[suitandtieguy.livejournal.com]

utilities have been known to make mistakes.

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

When we first got our NTL stuff activated, for the first two or three months we'd get bills -- not large ones, but they existed -- for calls made on the NTL phone line. Problem was that we had never had a phone plugged into it, the socket was behind a large, heavy cupboard, and some of the calls had been made while we were away. We were told it was a crossed line and the call charges were refunded, but you'd better believe I watch those bills like a hawk now.

[the-hooded-crow.livejournal.com]

Hmm..
Are there any other calls made on your bill on the same day at around the same time of that call?
And if so - do you recognise those numbers?

As an ex-telecoms employee I dealt with this sort of thing very frequently - and all I can tell you is that advisers are instructed not to refund anything. The firm I worked for took the view that their equipment is digital, highly accurate and does not make one-off errors, and on the whole they are right. It is highly likely the call was made from your line.. Guh, I sound as though I still work there.
Seriously though - I've seen bills where an exchange fault or technical error was the cause - hundreds of calls listed, running into thousands of pounds..
My best advice - kick up as much stink as you possibly can. Be a stroppy customer, don't back down, speak to their manager, and the centre manager if necessary. There's no need to be a complete bastard - but don't let them talk the company line at you either. Stand firm enough, and you may get them to do a discretionary refund.
You can always pay the bill minus that amount whilst the investigation is underway. Stand your ground long enough and they will back down. It may take months, and will feel like like getting blood from a stone, however.

And yes - there are sites out there who sneak up on you - download their own versions of dial up software and divert all outgoing modem calls through to premium rate numbers. They are supposed to show a pop-up window to inform you that this is happening and give you the option to deny access, but many don't. ICSTIS will investigate any claims of unfair trading by UK premium rate services.

In this case, as there is only one instance of the call on your bill it is unlikely that your computer is to blame. I'd expect to see a long list of calls to the same number if it was an auto-dialler.
Sorry to have to say this, but it is more likely that someone gained access to your line whilst you were out.

Best of luck with the investigation..:)

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

There are some that ring you and when you answer connect you to a premium rate number - I think they have managed to get them all shut down now, but there was a spate of it earlier this year. You'd probly remember though if you had a weird call like that - you get a recorded message when you answer.

In my experience if you stand firm enough that you never made the calls then eventually you get them taken off your next bill...

[romney.livejournal.com]

Think of it this way, if it was one of the Polish Brigade it at least means you had a Real Live Girl in your bedroom...