What’s the deal on 08000mumdad.co.uk?
Has anyone heard much about 08000mumdad.co.uk?
I’ve had quite a few of emails from people recently wondering if it’s a genuine service.
Here’s an example of one email:
I wonder if you have come across a company called 08000mumdad.co.uk that
proports to deal with reverse charge calls from kids to their parents
mobile phones. My young daughter keeps receiving text messages from this
company which when accessed debit money from her pay as you go mobile.
She is adamant that she has not received any reverse charge calls via
this company and I strongly suspect that this is a scam. I contacted
Virgin (her provider) who told me to reply to the text with the word
stop and also they gave me an email address (xxx@spinvox.com). I have
sent countless emails with stop in the subject and in the message have
listed the affected mobile number, the shortcode and the service id.
It hasn’t worked. I think the only alternative is for her to change her
number. But still feel something must be done about this disgusting firm.
(I manually edited out the spinvox address for privacy.)
Surely this isn’t a spinvox service? If it is, it’s not very consistent with their brand and reputation. (I have, by the way, been phenomenally enjoying their voicemail conversion service).
It’s a little bit rude, don’t you think, to put ‘Disclaimer’, ‘Terms & Conditions’ and what not all at the bottom of the site and then, throw up a javascript box saying ‘er, we’re updating this document’ (words to that effect) when you click on it.
Have you heard anything about 08000mumdad?
In Australia they have a 1800Mumand Dad service. (www.1800mumdad.com.au). I am told that they have a voice recording of the person who “accepts” the reverse charge call to their mobile. They then have the charges deducted in a series of Prsms charges (something like $3/min!)
If some-one maintains they did not “accept” a call to their mobile, then will apparently play back the recorded acceptance.
It’s apparently designed for a son or daughter who has no credit on their mobile to make a free 1800 call to this service, they will then dial the designated mobile on their behalf and send out a series of MT charged prsms to the receivers phone (if the accept the charges)
Posted by Rob McDOnald on February 19th, 2007 at 8:14 pm.Hello Ewan, thanks for posting this. Update: received an email from spinvox saying that they are going to investigate the matter and will let me know what is going on asap.
If the service in Australia is genuine then is this a scam trying to mimic it ?
Posted by Phillipa on February 22nd, 2007 at 4:08 pm.I am sick of all these txt I am gettin and then wen a put monye on my phone to txt my friend they take the monye of my phone am not very happy with this servus its apoling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by alpha robertson on April 1st, 2007 at 3:54 pm.Hi All,
i got the customer service number from a friend, as below
0800151455
i had the same issue with this company and so i gave them a call for further help. The answering machine said they would call back within 24 hrs! i didn’t believe this statement, until they rang and a friendly customer service officer answered all my desired questions.
It turns out they do simply provide reverse charge calls to mobiles which can be extremely helpfull in times. Their way of billing is via premium SMS to your mobile.
If your having any problems i advise you give them a call just as i did and soon enough you will sort out your enquiries!
Charlie
Posted by Charlie on April 12th, 2007 at 7:46 am.i had the same problems as well. i was recieveing those stupid txts nearly every day deducting my credit.and didnt understand y. I finally got through to an operator and they were actually to my surprise helpful.They advised me that the service was not a subscription service and that replying stop back to messages wont do anything. They also explained that the reason y i had recieved those txts was to pay for reverse charge calls that i had accepted and simply forgotten about. they also told me about there cheap pranking service which i now use i can make five prank calls with out being cahrged i only get charged on the sixth call. at first i thought this service was a scam and bogus but only to find out its just a service out there for help. It comes in handy when i run out of credit. If anyone else needs to be help out like me just go to the website and get the number off there
Posted by Jane on August 17th, 2007 at 3:37 am.i also receiced a call last night to say my child was trying to call me after accepting the call i was no longer connected and was charged 5.00 1 i have tried ringing the number mentioned for customer services which does not exist. i personally think this is a scam
Posted by tracy pape on January 19th, 2008 at 8:15 pm.this also has happened to me, but soon accpeted to cop the charges, after all i did accept the call and regardless of weather my friend hung up or not i would be charged, anyway i wanted to communicate with this company as i believe there system to be a bogus scam. I searched there website (www.08000mumdad.co.uk) and found that if you click on the ‘help’ button a drop down drops saying contact us and you can write them an angry email. I wrote them one and they replied with this response
“Dear Ash,
Thanks for your email.
Each PSMS (premium SMS) that you are receiving is charged at £1.50 each for previous accepted 08000mumdad calls. These PSMS are sent in part payments to cover total costs of calls depending on amount of calls and durations, which may vary the price.
In your case we need to send you 6 PSMS to cover the cost of the call accepted on the 28/12/2007. You current still have 2 outstanding sms. Once you receive these it will finalise your account with us and no more sms charges will be sent to your mobile.
I have also put a barr on your number that will prevent any future 08000mumdad calls from being connected on your mobile.
For further assistance do not hesitate to contact us on 08 000 151 455 or reply email.”
I thought this was rather good as they got bac to me in good timing and answered all my enquiries,
my advice would be to contact via email but if not keep trying on the phone. i know longer think this system is a scam after reading about it also it has come in handy for my kids to call me on!
Posted by Ash on February 7th, 2008 at 5:38 am.