2Ergo fined £50k, regulator ‘concerned’ by their breach history
It’s Fine Day today — the UK regulator, PhonepayPlus published details of the companies that it has fined for breach of its regulations last month. Most of the fines are 5,000 or 10,000… small beer, really, especially compared to last month’s 175,000 pound whopper fine for SMS.ac.
2Ergo is banished to the naughty step as a result of one of it’s clients operating a rather suspect free text online service that charges users £1.50/fortnight and whose server appeared to misunderstand the ‘STOP’ opt-out command, a huge no-no when it comes to the PhonepayPlus regulator panel. Effectively, once you signed up, you couldn’t unsubscribe…
2Ergo were reportedly quick at reacting when the regulator came-a-knocking and this stood them in good stead when it came to working out the value of the fine. However:
In coming to its decision on the level of fine to impose, the Panel was particularly concerned by the service provider’s breach history, noting that this was the fourth time within the past year that breaches had been upheld against this service provider.
Deary me. Not good!
This week lots of 3 customers received this message. It will be interesting to see what (if anything) PHonePayPlus does about it.
I find it amusing that PhonePayPlus describes a mas-marketed scam designed to obtain by deception as a ’service’.
FreeMsg: We have you listed as a In-active user, Please text ‘Live’ back to us on ‘81456′ or your service will be suspended.
If the recipient doesn’t reply, after an hour a second, more intimidating message is received:
FreeMsg: User you must respond only to ‘81456′ with the txt ‘Live’ failure to do so, your service will be suspended.
………………………………………
PhonepayPlus has the following information about the number 81456.
This is a shortcode number. 3 are aware that some customers on their network have received an unsolicited text stating: Freemsg: we have you listed as an in-active user, please text “Live” back to us on 81456 or your service will become suspended. 3 has organised direct refunds to anyone who has been charged for replying to this message.
* This service costs £3.50 per text.
To stop the service you simply need to open a text with the words STOP ALL (in capitals) to the shortcode number.If you would like to find out more about this service or have a question about it you should contact the company that provides this service which is listed below.
2 Ergo Ltd
St Marys Chambers
Haslingdon Road
Rawtenstall
Lancashire
BB4 6QX
Tel: 0871 871 9625
customer.services@2ergo.com
If you want to make a complaint to PhonepayPlus or want to contact us about this service please follow the steps here.
Posted by Brin on March 28th, 2008 at 9:09 pm.