Surely, each of you has received an SMS with a contest or advertisement message more than once, a promise of a great win or great love waiting just around the corner. Most likely from a previously unknown short number. All you need to do is reply YES. They say that Premium SMS messages are the biggest bane of mobile phone users. It’s good when such a message is solely a cause for irritation. The real problem arises when this type of SMS is paid. The cost of Premium SMS messages can range from PLN 0.50 to even PLN 30.75.
It is estimated that the market associated with Premium SMS messages is worth as much as PLN 1 billion annually. According to the report “SMS Communication in Poland 2015/2016” by Platforma SerwerSMS.pl, 66.3% of respondents admit that they consciously and voluntarily use Premium SMS messages. 62% of them do so for charitable purposes, participating in various types of charity collections. The rest pay for actual services in this way, e.g., participation in contests, voting in TV shows, downloading applications, ringtones, or phone wallpapers.
Unfortunately, receiving Premium SMS messages can also result from accidentally granting consent on a visited website or from taking advantage of promotions with not always clear terms and conditions. These SMS messages are an excellent tool for swindlers who draw us into a carousel of high fees. The Ministry of Digital Affairs has decided to defend consumers under the slogan “End of scams” and is preparing an amendment to the telecommunications law. The changes will primarily include the introduction of a default monthly limit for premium services at PLN 35. Pre-paid and for everyone, we will no longer have to apply for such a limit or remember it. After exceeding this limit, our operator must immediately block further paid services until we unblock them ourselves. Additionally, we will have to express our consent each time to receive Premium SMS messages, which will help us avoid costly subscriptions that we often forget about.
And how to protect yourself against Premium SMS messages today, without waiting for changes in the law? We will advise you on how to act in accordance with the guidelines of the Office of Electronic Communications.
Read the fine print
Scams related to premium messages are facilitated by the fact that they expose large groups of people to relatively small costs, which is why serious consequences for the service provider are rarely pursued in such cases. However, this does not change the fact that none of us wants to incur costs for something that is unnecessary, unwanted, and for which we often have not given consent or have given it unknowingly. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully read all kinds of agreements, regulations, and registration terms (also when registering for portals or even downloading applications). They may contain consent to receive such messages. Otherwise, we may get annoyed by incoming SMS messages and high bills, but no complaint will be accepted when the service provider has received our official consent to send us this content.
After receiving an SMS that raises our doubts, we can check its price on our online account with the operator or by calling the hotline. If we have a prepaid phone, we will most likely immediately realize that funds are disappearing from our account. In any case, it is the operator who can help us.
Block the service
If you are exposed to fees for premium services, it is worth contacting your operator, who has the ability to block such messages from being received on your phone number. They can then block a specific number, all Premium SMS messages charging your account, or create a message block for messages whose cost exceeds a specified amount (declared by you).
In our network, you have two options:
➡ Send an SMS with the text STOP to number 252 -> Incoming Premium SMS messages are blocked, but you can still send them freely;
➡ Contact our Help Desk -> Incoming Premium SMS messages are blocked, and regarding sending them, you can decide whether we implement a complete block, a limit on the price of one SMS, or a limit on funds allocated for premium services per month.
If, on the other hand, we wanted to file a complaint due to receiving Premium Rate SMS messages, we should contact the service provider, not the operator. Information on who this service provider is should be included in the received message. In the absence of such information, the sender can usually be identified by searching the number on the internet or checking the official lists of service providers published online.
In any case, we should remember not to ignore the provisions regarding the terms of use of ordered services, which may entail not always pleasant “bonuses”. And when you decide to order a service that is paid for via premium SMS, check if the service provider is trustworthy. Remember, as Vikings, you are used to us having no hidden costs, no legal loopholes, and always playing with open cards, but not everyone operates that way, so be vigilant!
