Friday, June 11, 2010

Big Con

Last month, I came across a website which asked me to put in my mobile number to win a 3Gs iPhone.


After keying in my number, I received sms asking me to confirm the submission by replying the email. I did the same for this and was innocently thinking that i might able to win an iPhone. With the TWO sms that were sent to me by the content provider, it charges me RM8 per sms which I am totally do no aware of.

When my phone bill came, I then realised that the TWO sms costs me RM8 per sms.
I was very shock on how expensive the sms are.
During that time, I comforted myself thinking it is okay, this big con just cost your RM16. Just take it as a lesson.


My April Phone Bill on the External Content Provider section


A few weeks after that, i received TWO sms again from this content provider by asking me to download free ringtones, images...etc. It stated RM8 in the each sms and I was thinking, Sh*t! This time really big con already. The company is still charging me without my permission.

So, I have decided to sms "Unsubscribe" to this 36181. Then it asked me to sms "STOP" to stop the service.
I did it as told. Then, it sms me back and asked me to type "STOP ALL" to stop all services. I did it as told too.
Finally, it sms me back by saying I have successfully unsubscribe.

I thought I will have to pay another RM16 for the TWO stupid sms that was sent to me.
When I have my May phone bill, I have found that this 36181 have already charged me RM48 for all those sms and the sms were just asking you to download ringtones and images from their website.

My May Phone Bill on the External Content Provider section

What kind of sms that need to charge RM8? They are not those mms with pictures or musics. They are just normal sms with just a few texts asking you to go their website to download stuff. Do they need to charge RM8??!!

I complaint to Maxis and also call to the number 03-20722617 to ask for refund.
It is not refundable as the terms & conditions were stated very clearly in the website which I have overlooked on it.

So, alright I admitted that i have been so careless that I did not read on the terms & conditions.
But, to me this company is not doing the right thing as they are waiting for people like me to fall into the trap:
  1. Firstly, the T&C were at the bottom that the subscribers might overlook on it. As a normal practise for those company who want to charge the users for the sms, the T&C normally will appear at a very prominent place to make sure that the subscribers are totally alert about the charges.
  2. Secondly, RM8 for a sms?! Do you still think that they are not trying to con people? I doubt it!
Here are the BIG CON company's info:

When I Google Search on the number 36181 or 03-20722617, I found out that this Big Con have been happening since 2006. Since it has been happening since 2006 and the company is being fined but why this company is still active and conning people around??!!

5 comments:

  1. can try to complaint to those consumer association?

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  2. wa.... like that also can ah...

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  3. Complaining to MCMC - Malaysian Communications And Multimedia Commission...see what is their reply lo. Dun think that they will refund, but at least can alert them on this so that the website can be closed down.

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  4. i also kena once~ haiz~ this make cause of our greed ~ make sure no next time~

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  5. This freaking website is using my blog to promote their scam as pop ups! I googled their number and stumbled upon your page here, sooooo sorry to hear this! I hope anybody who knows how to stop their pop ups on my blog will come forward and tell me how. Please!

    ReplyDelete