Gogogy
Complaint 275210 Details

My mother somehow accidentally signed up to this service. She showed me the text messages after having signed up to the service 2 months previous. The service continuously kept texting her stating that each text message sent was costing her money and if she wished to unsubscribe from the service to reply with the word "STOP". She tried to cease the service but it continued.

After a little research, I learnt these services are know as premium text messages. I wondered how they could actually be charging her without billing details but realised a total amount of $39.00AUD had been charged to her phone bill.

I contacted Telstra initially to stop it, they said I had to contact the company. I contacted the company and spoke to a man who told me my mother had not tried to unsubscribe from the service (despite the fact I'd also tried to cease by sending STOP & I could see the text messages where my mother had). I explained my mother's situation and requested a refund, he stated he was unable to give me one over the phone and I would have to send an email requesting one.

I sent the email and received a reply with 24hours. The company granted my mother the refund for $39.00 but would not direct transfer the money. In order to obtain a refund I had to give them my mother's address details and a hand written check arrived at her address around roughly a month later.

So bottom line, the company takes advantage of people who are not so tech savvy and denies you the ability to easily unsubscribe from the service. The company itself seemed dodgy the whole time I was dealing with them. However, credit to them, they returned her all the money.

Oh, and your phone company can bar the service if they refuse to cease it for you.