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Short code texts (Read 10,410 times)
derrick
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Short code texts
Oct 10th, 2017 at 5:35pm
 
I have a 1p mobile sim, (free with credit),as the name suggests 1ppm to mobile and landlines, 1p per text and 1p per MB data.  1p mobile site: https://www.1pmobile.com/tariff-and-charges.taf

I have just sent a text to Radio 5 Live using their short code 85058, their website states:

"If you're texting us on 85058, you will be charged at your standard message rate for each message."

Radio 5 contact us page:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0070lvr/contact


Yet 1p mobile charged me 12p. when I queried this with them they inform me by email:
"
Dear Mr *****,

Many apologies for the confusion regarding the cost of the code to the BBC. We can confirm that the BBC are not correctly quoting the cost of the code. It is a premium SMS which is charged at 12p each with our network. Our tariff page has more details about premium text messages.

As a courtesy we are happy to refund you 11p for this text message. Please be advised that all subsequent premium text messages to that particular code will be 12p each.

Regards
"


Any suggestions as to why they can get away with this as countless corporations use these short codes and they cannot all be Premium SMS, although I believe some are.


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Ian01
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Re: Short code texts
Reply #1 - Oct 11th, 2017 at 12:36am
 

Text messages sent to ordinary UK mobile numbers starting 071-075 and 077-079 can be inclusive in allowances else charged at the "standard message rate for a message sent to a UK mobile number" as published by the sender's mobile phone provider. The charge varies from mobile provider to mobile provider. Outside of inclusive allowances, some mobile providers charge up to 55p per message. The message recipient imposes no charges and receives none of the revenue.

Text messages sent to mobile numbers allocated in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man are usually non-inclusive and charged at a different rate. This rate must also be detailed in the tariff list published by the sender's mobile phone provider as it varies from mobile provider to mobile provider. Outside of inclusive allowances, some mobile providers charge up to 55p per message.

Text messages sent to five-digit mobile shortcodes can have two parts to the charge - one applied by the mobile provider when you send a message to the shortcode and/or one applied by the service provider when they reply. Messages sent to mobile shortcodes are never included in message allowances.

Sending a message to a five-digit mobile shortcode may be free-to-sender or may be charged at the "standard network rate for a text message sent to a mobile shortcode". Which one applies depends on the number the message is sent to. The service provider should state whether sending a message is free-to-sender (e.g. on 85095) or is "one standard message rate cost" (e.g. on 78070). The sender's mobile provider must declare the "standard message charge for a text message sent to a mobile shortcode" in their published tariff list because it varies from mobile provider to mobile provider.

There may be an additional or "premium" charge for receiving a message in reply. This can cost up to £10 per message received. It may be a one-time charge (such as when entering a competition or donating to charity) or it may recur if you have subscribed to a premium rate service that sends multiple messages (such as sports results, text chat services, etc). This revenue goes to the service provider.

If you were to donate something to charity using one of the many 70XXX shortcodes advertised for this purpose (where message charges are declared as, for example, "£5 plus one standard rate message"), it would be interesting to see whether you were charged £5.01, £5.12 or some other sum.

I suspect £5.12 would be charged. Whatever the figure, your mobile provider needs to add an entry to their tariff list - "standard cost of sending a text message to a mobile shortcode (where charged)", noting the service provider may add their premium charge on top and which the service provider must declare.

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« Last Edit: Oct 11th, 2017 at 2:46am by Ian01 »  
 
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allegro
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Re: Short code texts
Reply #2 - Oct 11th, 2017 at 8:10am
 
Ian01 has provided a good explanation. The brief conclusion is that short codes are a b******s muddle and that usually you've no idea of what you'll be charged.

Best not to use them at all though if you need to text STOP to a short code to cease marketing texts (I'm talking about legit stuff, not scammers) you'll still pay. How much? Who knows.
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derrick
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Re: Short code texts
Reply #3 - Oct 11th, 2017 at 8:37am
 
So despite the BBC stating, If you're texting us on 85058, you will be charged at your standard message rate for each message.", and 1p Mobile charges 1p per text but between 10p and £10 for premium texts, (which 85058 isn't), then 1p Mobile are OK charging 12p?

Does the BBC need to change their statement as it is obviously misleading/wrong.

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derrick
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Re: Short code texts
Reply #4 - Oct 11th, 2017 at 8:56am
 
Have you seen the BBC complaints page? http://www.complaintsnumbers.co.uk/numbers/bbc

Tel number:  0843 254 8737
Verified correct on: 08/10/2017


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Ian01
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Re: Short code texts
Reply #5 - Oct 11th, 2017 at 9:15am
 
derrick wrote on Oct 11th, 2017 at 8:56am:
Have you seen the BBC complaints page? http://wxw.complaintsnumbers.co.uk/numbers/bbc

Tel number:  0843 254 ****
Verified correct on: 08/10/2017

Unfortunately, that is NOT the BBC complaints page.

That 0843 number is a premium rate "call connection service". It's effectively a scam.

The scam is described in detail here: http://www.fairtelecoms.org.uk/ICSS and here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5639282
The scam has also been covered on BBC TV in Wales: http://www.fairtelecoms.org.uk/tv.html?wcGwGDp4wTs

The website promoting the premium rate 0843 number should be reported to ASA as being misleading. Very tew such reports are made.

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« Last Edit: Oct 11th, 2017 at 9:44am by Ian01 »  
 
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CJT-80
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Re: Short code texts
Reply #6 - Oct 11th, 2017 at 10:28am
 
derrick wrote on Oct 11th, 2017 at 8:56am:
Have you seen the BBC complaints page? http://www.complaintsnumbers.co.uk/numbers/bbc

Tel number:  0843 254 8737
Verified correct on: 08/10/2017
.


The actual BBC Complaints page and number is here note the number is an 03 number.

I will raise a complaint to the ASA regarding that other website.  I would recommend others do the same.

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Regards,

CJT-80

Any comments made are my own and are not those of SayNoTo0870.com
 
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derrick
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Re: Short code texts
Reply #7 - Oct 11th, 2017 at 11:39am
 
Ian01 wrote on Oct 11th, 2017 at 9:15am:
derrick wrote on Oct 11th, 2017 at 8:56am:
Have you seen the BBC complaints page? http://wxw.complaintsnumbers.co.uk/numbers/bbc

Tel number:  0843 254 ****
Verified correct on: 08/10/2017

Unfortunately, that is NOT the BBC complaints page.

That 0843 number is a premium rate "call connection service". It's effectively a scam.

The scam is described in detail here: http://www.fairtelecoms.org.uk/ICSS and here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5639282
The scam has also been covered on BBC TV in Wales: http://www.fairtelecoms.org.uk/tv.html?wcGwGDp4wTs

The website promoting the premium rate 0843 number should be reported to ASA as being misleading. Very tew such reports are made.



When I phoned 5Live this morning re the text number and charge displayed I was informed to contact the BBC complaints department and was given 2 phone numbers -
0843 2548737
0370 0100222

I told the person that 0843 was illegal and he just said contact BBC complaints, so they are giving out the 0843 number to callers wishing to complain.

.

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Ian01
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Re: Short code texts
Reply #8 - Oct 11th, 2017 at 1:49pm
 

Regarding text message costs, the issue is not with the BBC. It's your mobile provider failing to declare their standard message charge for texting a mobile shortcode.

On the issue of the 0843 number, it appears the BBC representative has been lazy in Googling the phone number and has been fooled by a scam site into giving out a fake number.

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CJT-80
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Re: Short code texts
Reply #9 - Oct 12th, 2017 at 10:34am
 
derrick wrote on Oct 11th, 2017 at 11:39am:
When I phoned 5Live this morning re the text number and charge displayed I was informed to contact the BBC complaints department and was given 2 phone numbers -
0843 2548737
0370 0100222

I told the person that 0843 was illegal and he just said contact BBC complaints, so they are giving out the 0843 number to callers wishing to complain.


In which case you have two reasons to complain, clearly this individual needs to be educated by the BBC over their own complaints number... oh and the BBC need to complain about an ICSS service claiming to be for BBC Complaints.

It does make your blood boil sometimes!
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Regards,

CJT-80

Any comments made are my own and are not those of SayNoTo0870.com
 
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