eir and Zamano

Kh1993

Hi,

more a query for other eir users and the team on here.

recently got charged 30 euro extra on my phone bill. With deeper digging, turns out its Zamano (57030).
Now eir advised me to go to comreg, comreg then sent me to zamano. Zamano claim I subscribed for video content (video nudies more or less). The times give were 7.10 am on weekday mornings I'vè been on my way to work. I have never signed up to this. No history at all. Surely this is a data protection issue for phone companies? How did they get my phone number while I'm commuting? Ads on an app?

now zamano have hung up on me when I mentioned how they have been previously taken to court for illegally charging customers. Where can I go now?

tuch

In my opinion what Zamano does is amoral and nasty. But it is extremely lucrative. Last year they made profits of [font=arial, sans-serif]€5.1[/font] on revenue of over [font=arial, sans-serif]€25m[/font]
They have been caught and convicted dozens of times in the UK for illegal activities and been fined hundreds of thousands of pounds for multiple scams.
For noble activities like buying sucker lists to target children with PAYG mobiles. i.e they buy lists of mobile numbers that have texted in to shows to vote for acts that attract children or competitions aimed at children. They then steal their credit.  But who will most parents believe. A child or a reputable company like Zamano. 

They got your number somewhere OP and decided that you were worth targeting. Maybe you clicked on an ad in an app, maybe you texted in to a competition or voted for an act on a reality show. Unlikely they can legally take your money but that is to a large extent irrelevant. Saying that you subscribed to porn is standard procedure. Makes it less likely that you will complain and ask for a refund. The shame.

In Ireland unlike the UK we have what it quaintly known as "light touch" regulation so they get away with a lot more. 

Be clear OP however it is not Zamano that took your money. They don't have the power. It is Eir. Granted they did so when they were given your number by their business partner Zamano but it is Eir that has your money. Eir will retain most of it before passing on  a cut to Zamano as per their business arrangement. Without business partners as accommodating and understanding as Eir, Zamano couldn't operate. 

[font=Calibri, sans-serif]When people complain the participants in the scams like to pay ping pong.  Eir will tell you that it is nothing to do with them and to contact Zamano or the toothless pointless regulator Comreq. Comreq will  tell victims to contact Eir or Zamano or make a pointless complaint.  Probably your best bet is to keep pestering Zamano. They have a few hundred thousand set aside to refund those that complain about their money being stolen. It is  built into their business plan.  Eir will deny all responsibility.[/font]


[font=Calibri, sans-serif]It is in my humble opinion though a despicable way for Eir to make money. Although they don't come up with the scams they facilitate them and make a lot of money from them. [/font]


[font=Calibri, sans-serif] [/font]

grinder23

And are Vodafone and three and all other network operators business partners too??

tuch

grinder23 wrote: »

And are Vodafone and three and all other network operators business partners too??

As far as I am aware. in the UK most networks allow subscribers to "opt out" of being charged for premium texts and routinely refund.
In Ireland they pass the buck. it would be a simple matter for Eir to check whether the OP sent a text to subscribe to the porn for which Zamano says he is being charged. If there is no opt in text then taking his money is illegal and Eir should give it back. 
However and I am being presumptuous because Eir here hasn't responded yet,  but I assume that they will simply deny responsibility and tell him to contact someone else.

Kh1993

I believe Three and Vodafone are partners with Zamano, I cannot find a link to Eir yet. Yep, no notification from Eir at all, despite me never sending anything to a 57030 number, or never receiving any until their 6 messages at once costing over 12 euro. 

Eir: Pamela

Kh1993 wrote: »

Hi,  

more a query for other eir users and the team on here.

recently got charged 30 euro extra on my phone bill. With deeper digging, turns out its Zamano (57030).
Now eir advised me to go to comreg, comreg then sent me to zamano. Zamano claim I subscribed for video content (video nudies more or less). The times give  were 7.10 am on weekday mornings I'vè been on my way to work. I have never signed up to this. No history at all. Surely this is a data protection issue for phone companies? How did they get my phone number while I'm commuting? Ads on an app?

now zamano have hung up on me when I mentioned how they have been previously taken to court for illegally charging customers. Where can I go now?

Hi Kh1993,

Thanks for getting in touch. I'm so sorry to about these charges and I can understand your frustration with this. 
You can read more on this here http://www.comreg.ie/premium-rate/ It is a common problem for people but unfortunately as they are third party charges, we are unable to credit you back for them here. You would need to contact COMREG and they will be able to help you further with this.

-Pamela 

A2LUE42

http://www.boards.ie/ttfpost/99081444

Eir: Pamela

A2LUE42 wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/ttfpost/99081444

Thanks  A2LUE42.


-Pamela 

Kh1993

Eir: Pamela wrote: »

Hi Kh1993,

Thanks for getting in touch. I'm so sorry to about these charges and I can understand your frustration with this. 
You can read more on this here http://www.comreg.ie/premium-rate/ It is a common problem for people but unfortunately as they are third party charges, we are unable to credit you back for them here. You would need to contact COMREG and they will be able to help you further with this.

-Pamela 

Fair enough, its not up to eir to refund .

However, i would be surprised if a reputable company like eir wasnt worried about the likes of Zamano acquiring Eir mobile numbers through shady means.

Eir: Pamela

Kh1993 wrote: »

Eir: Pamela wrote: »

Hi Kh1993,

Thanks for getting in touch. I'm so sorry to about these charges and I can understand your frustration with this. 
You can read more on this here http://www.comreg.ie/premium-rate/ It is a common problem for people but unfortunately as they are third party charges, we are unable to credit you back for them here. You would need to contact COMREG and they will be able to help you further with this.

-Pamela 

Fair enough, its not up to eir to refund .

However, i would be surprised if a reputable company like eir wasnt worried about the likes of Zamano acquiring Eir mobile numbers through shady means.

[font=Verdana, sans-serif]Hi [/font][font=Verdana, sans-serif]Kh1993,[/font]
[font=Verdana, sans-serif] [/font]
[font=Verdana, sans-serif]I can understand your frustration with this. eir supplies the user with data, calls and texts, unfortunately we are unable to prohibit customers from opting into services. These services can be opted into by clicking on pop ups, advertisements and downloading products such as games.[/font]
[font=Verdana, sans-serif] [/font]
[font=Verdana, sans-serif]-Pamela [/font]

[font=Verdana, sans-serif] [/font]

Kh1993

Eir: Pamela wrote: »

Kh1993 wrote: »

Eir: Pamela wrote: »

Hi Kh1993,

Thanks for getting in touch. I'm so sorry to about these charges and I can understand your frustration with this. 
You can read more on this here http://www.comreg.ie/premium-rate/ It is a common problem for people but unfortunately as they are third party charges, we are unable to credit you back for them here. You would need to contact COMREG and they will be able to help you further with this.

-Pamela 

Fair enough, its not up to eir to refund .

However, i would be surprised if a reputable company like eir wasnt worried about the likes of Zamano acquiring Eir mobile numbers through shady means.

[font=Verdana, sans-serif]Hi [/font][font=Verdana, sans-serif]Kh1993,[/font]
[font=Verdana, sans-serif] [/font]
[font=Verdana, sans-serif]I can understand your frustration with this. eir supplies the user with data, calls and texts, unfortunately we are unable to prohibit customers from opting into services. These services can be opted into by clicking on pop ups, advertisements and downloading products such as games.[/font]
[font=Verdana, sans-serif] [/font]
[font=Verdana, sans-serif]-Pamela [/font]

[font=Verdana, sans-serif] [/font]

Problem here is that this service was "opted into" by clicking a message which was unsolicited from 57030. 

tuch

EIR

It is a common problem for people but unfortunately as they are third party charges, we are unable to credit you back for them here. You would need to contact COMREG.

Unfortunately we are unable to prohibit customers from opting into services. These services can be opted into by clicking on pop ups, advertisements and downloading products such as games.

VODAFONE UK

Premium rate SMS FAQ

Vodafone offer ways of dealing with unwanted premium rate SMS:
 
 We provide a reporting service for anyone who thinks they are receiving messages they haven’t asked for. Once we’ve collated evidence on offending companies, we’re then in a position to take appropriate action. This could range from financial penalties, to temporary or even permanent suspensions of the individual services on our network.
 
Premium rate SMS bar - The Bar will block all incoming Premium Rate charged SMS messages being sent from and coming to your phone,To apply the bar contact us and we'll get it added.

https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Pay-monthly-products-services/Premium-rate-SMS-FAQ/td-p/2421982

tuch

Kh1993 wrote: »

Fair enough, its not up to eir to refund .

[font=Calibri, sans-serif]Mr Z asks Mr E to mug one of his customers and steal money from him. "No problem" says Mr E. "Lets do a deal" Mr E mugs you, takes your money, keeps most of it but gives a small cut to Mr Z as per their business arrangement. You contact Mr E and ask for your money back. "I can understand your frustration" says Mr E "but unfortunately its nothing to do with me. You should contact somebody else" "Fair enough" you say "Its obviously not up to you to refund"  [/font]

Satanta

Sorry to dig up an old thread but I've noticed these charges over the past few months on my bills. Contacted eir and got nothing back except the bs "we'll get bac to you in 2 days". I have asked 3 times now that third party charges are blocked in my account. So I'll be cancelling me and wife's accounts when the 24 months is up in Feb. It's disgraceful that they can't protect their customers from this. 

A2LUE42

Follow process in this post to get refund.

http://www.boards.ie/ttfpost/99081444

Eir: Pamela

Satanta wrote: »

Sorry to dig up an old thread but I've noticed these charges over the past few months on my bills. Contacted eir and got nothing back except the bs "we'll get bac to you in 2 days". I have asked 3 times now that third party charges are blocked in my account. So I'll be cancelling me and wife's accounts when the 24 months is up in Feb. It's disgraceful that they can't protect their customers from this. 

Hi  Satanta,


Thanks for getting in touch. 


I'm so sorry to hear about these charges and I can understand your frustration with this. 
You can read more on this here http://www.comreg.ie/premium-rate/ It is a common problem for people however unfortunately as these are third party charges, we are unable to credit you back for them from here. You would need to contact COMREG and they will be able to help you further with this.

-Pamela 

colm_mcm

That is actually unbelievable, a copy and paste of a post in this thread from July. Same spelling mistakes even.

A2LUE42

So in summary, if this happens to you;

Text STOP to the number to stop them.
Contact Comreg and get a case ID.
Email Zamano customer care at csemails@zamano.net

Subject: 57030 - Request for Return of funds taken and explanation of where you got my phone number.

To whom it may concern,

I would like a refund of the charges you caused on my mobile phone 08x xxxxxxx and also an explanation of where and how you got my phone details. I have reported this to both Comreg (Case ID yy) and the mobile phone provider.

<Insert call charge details here> (Don't forget the VAT)

Regards.

A2LUE42


They should then agree to refund you and look for your address details to send the cheque. Or you could put that info in the first email

Eir: Pamela

A2LUE42 wrote: »

So in summary, if this happens to you;

Text STOP to the number to stop them.
Contact Comreg and get a case ID.
Email Zamano customer care at  csemails@zamano.net

Subject: 57030 - Request for Return of funds taken and explanation of where you got my phone number.

To whom it may concern,

I would like a refund of the charges you caused on my mobile phone 08x xxxxxxx and also an explanation of where and how you got my phone details. I have reported this to both Comreg (Case ID yy) and the mobile phone provider.

<Insert call charge details here> (Don't forget the VAT)

Regards.

A2LUE42


They should then agree to refund you and look for your address details to send the cheque. Or you could put that info in the first email

Thanks  A2LUE42,


-Pamela