11 posts tagged “spreadmedia”
The guy behind this is known as being a bit shifty*. He's sent out a bucket load of unsolicited crap and charged folk on the receiving end for the privilege (including moi). He's been ticked off by the regulator before but keeps coming back, 'cos the regulator doesn't give a damn.
The joker has the cheek to run a site that claims to put a stop to what his other companies do. Crazy that, isn't it? Well let's see what PhonepayPlus have to say about it (yeah, I like wasting time!)
*Did I forget to say he sent me a 'goodwill' check that bounced?
No word from my buds, be they Bud, David Shepard or, er, anything from PhonepayPlus, mBlox, or Hotwire PR.
A blog reader helped me out with a regular, landline, contact number for getting my money back: 01189241861 cheers Laura. She was a fellow victim. For what it's worth that's a Reading number and may also look like: 0118 924 1861 or 011 8924 1861 or 0118 924 18 61 - depending on where you see it. If one has been scammed from outside the UK it might look like this... +44 (0) 118 924 1861 or +44 (0) 118 9241861
Just making sure anyone else needing to Google this can find it. I'm not yet 100% sure if it's Spread Media's number, some number belonging to the company director David Shepard, or some 3rd party company that has been contracted out by him, a business partner of his or someone who I can't even think of right now. One thing I do know, they don't make themselves that easy to track down. These companies should have all their contact details available on PhonepayPlus, including a landline number and that landline number should have to be for the company and no outside call centre where they refuse to tell you anything about their client.
Sorry about the state of this post. I'm hungry and lunch has arrived!
Normally I recommend 3. They have the best deals, cheap internet and some fine handsets. And despite what you may hear from some naysayers, their coverage (at least in areas where I used it - London and the South East) knocks spots of the competition.
Why would I not recommend them now? Well I'm not, not recommending them, if that makes sense - but if you're a parent or a student you should think about going for a network that allows you to block fraudsters from stealing from you.
Who offers such a wonderful service? Why it's T-Mobile (although they probably won't tell you they do, at least not on the phone to the regular drones in the call centres). I did also, accidently as may turn out, recommend Vodafone yesterday as they announced they were putting a similar block on these reverse charge premium rate scams. Looks like I shot the gun there, at least according to The Mirror's Penman & Sommerlad Investigate
That's not a typo, I meant SPANNER, 'cause that's what they are... tools! Oh, enough of my never ending wit already...
I would love to hear from those of you that have had a run in with PhonepayPlus/ICSTIS maybe even OFCOM or OFTEL, PayPal or PalPlus. Whatever they like to be called on a Tuesday! Crikey, it's Tuesday already!
Of equal interest to me and presumably the majority of the people reading my Fraudwatch posts (remember don't have nightmares, goodnight and good luck) are the perpertrators and enablers, the likes of mBlox and the Tanla's and Spread Media's of this world. Anyone got any stories about these less than savoury folk (oh I hate biting my tongue!)
The world (okay the UK) needs to hear your story, so please get in touch. I know you're reading as lots of people were checking out my latest Fraudwatch posts, from across the country - and they can't all be Andrew Bud (scroll to comments for a treat) or David Shepard.
BTW for those new to my blog, Andrew Bud's company is in cahoots with the scammers and he is also The Regulator - I'll be back... to steal your money!
My first recording of a phone conversation hasn't gone swimmingly. Too much feedback from using my phone hands-free with 3's CS (on 333).
Did manage to record some nuggets though, including the guy saying 3 didn't get a cut from the £1.50 charge (that's the amount I'm getting ripped off each time I get an unsolicited message). He also claimed that neither 3, nor any other UK provider could put a block on premium messages. Then I told him about Vodafone's announcement from earlier today.
...Right, I'm back from being on hold and speaking to the gentleman again. He couldn't find an available manager and suggested they call me back in an hour. I got a bit shirty and asked if there was anyone else he could put me on with either there on at 3 UK's HQ in Berks. Well he couldn't and he didn't have numbers. As he seemed a bit worried about me recording the conversation and was willing to give me his name, I put him at ease explaining my beef wasn't with him. If he's giving out the wrong info, chances are that's what his been. I don't want to get him in trouble.
Anyway, now to try PhonepayPlus. I think their phonelines are open for a while yet. Hopefully they'll take this more serious than last time, but then again - who pays the bills? I'll attempt to record it again, but as I'm doing it the quick and dirty way (sound recorder on my Eee, loudspeaker on handset) there's no guareentees.
Oh and if 333 guy was correct, 84566 is Spread Media. Yep, Spread Media again! Thieving bar stewards! Surely they should've been barred for life?
I've just received a letter from the company that overlooks premium rate phone services in the UK, PhonepayPlus. I say 'company' as that's what they are, they're not a Government regulator - no, they're a non-profit making company made up of the companies they regulate.
Now to the letter I received and why...
The main points in the above are:
- PhonepayPlus received 90 complaints
- Spread Media were found in breach of the Code of Practice
- The company were Fined £20,000
- 'A 6 month bar on premium rate services promoted by reverse billed SMS...'
- Those wishing to get their money back need to handover their full name and address as well as a copy of their phone bill to the fraudsters (contacting them either by premium rate phone number or by snail mail)
I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand £20,000 isn't enough but on the other, other companies have gotten away with just £500 fines for similar breaches. The letter is a bit sketchy as regards to the details and how they came up with their conclusion as well as their fine. Instead they leave most of the juicy bits for the website HERE. It looks like Spread Media weren't the only shady company involved in this - I'll be delving deeper into this at a later date.
What exactly will the 6 month 'bar' mean to the company and the guy that runs it? Maybe he just needs to set up another company (he's had lots of practice). Where does it leave this little gem? That's way too funny and will need its own post!
Do PhonepayPlus really think it's a good idea for those of us scammed to hand over our full names, addresses and phone records to a company that clearly can't be trusted? It's bad enough they stole money from us, should we set up friends, family and colleagues for a future scam? And would you want to hand over your details to a man who's just lost £20,000 partly because of you? Yeah, I figured not!
Thinking out loud... there were 90 complainants - how many more were conned and:
- didn't realise it
- thought they'd subbed to the service when drunk
- thought their friends had subbed to the service for a laugh
- thought their kids had subbed to the service (and gave 'em a right rollicking over it)
- had no idea who to complain to
- sent STOP and couldn't be bothered to complain as they didn't have the time to chase it up?
Could this be the man behind the infamous "Katie" premium rate scam? Anyone know more about him or the companies connected with him? As well as Spread Media, there's Equinox Agency Ltd, Vaudaville.com and Photoidol
Here's a picture of a guy who I believe must be the David Shepard - courtesy of facebook.
Just off the phone to PhonepayPlus (the regulator in charge of premium rate services). I was advised to send the 'STOP' message to Spread Media - at cost to me. I was also advised to call Spread Media's premium rate phone number in order to get a refund!
So, lets get this straight:
- Some random company uses deception in an attempt to trick me out of money (which I ignore)
- A month later they attempt the same deception - this time charging me £1.50
- The UK regulator tells me that I have to give the thieving bastards more money in order to get my money back and prevent the scum from taking more.
Great regulating guys! Show those scam artists who's boss. That £500 fine and formal reprimand you gave them last time sure did the trick. No wait, it didn't - you just told me on the phone that there's already a bunch of complaints about Spread Media's latest deception! I guess the paltry fine and slap on the wrist didn't work after all?
Readers, what d'ya reckon? Should I text 'STOP' to 68888 or not? PhonepayPlus seemed to think it'd only cost the same as a normal text message, would put an end to future messages from Spread Media and would be more or less essential (if I get more messages and get charged it will be apparently my fault for not sending the 'STOP')
Check out the following forum threads, especially if you've had money stolen from you by Spread Media...
Just a few more things to add...
Hope The Independent don't mind me copying and pasting that, fair use and all! Here's the link > The City Diary
And to add to that I've just found out that a company called "Equinox Agency Ltd" is behind Spread Media and I'm uncovering more and more.
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