Why won't these text messages stop?

By THIS IS MONEY
Updated:

 

I have an Orange mobile phone. In April I received, unsolicited, 18 text messages one after the other.

Each stated I would be charged £1.50 for the message. I immediately called Orange and was told that as I hadn't asked for them, I would not be charged. However, I was billed £27.

When I called Orange again they said they were only passing on the charge of a third company and so could not directly refund me. When I pointed out that I had no idea which company was sending the messages, I was given another number to call. This is an answerphone service and I have never been called back, nor has Orange replied to my e-mails. J.K., North Somerset.

Margaret Stone, the Daily Mail's Money Doctor, replied: Your experience highlights the need to be careful when you go online to, perhaps, a music download or gaming or betting site where you might be asked for your mobile number.

There is often small print which states that if you provide the number, that site or its partner(s) can send messages such as you received. Orange has a procedure for dealing with this problem.

The routine is for the victim to contact Orange customer services (dial 450 and choose option 4) and give them the short code accompanying the message which shows where it has been sent from. It will then provide contact details of the company sending the messages so that the customer can get in touch with them directly.

Orange is worried that this procedure didn't work for you and is looking into it. It calculates you are owed £30, and it is reimbursing that to your account.

Most watched Money videos