Off topic - unwanted phone calls

Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 00:32

ThreadID: 33212 Views:2429 Replies:9 FollowUps:7

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joc45

A recent dirty trick some marketing mobs are doing now is to make a robot call to your mobile, and let it ring once, then hang up. Curious, you ring back thinking it's important, only to find out it's an advertisment. Pretty cunning for them, as they don't even incur a call charge, and you pay for the privelege.
So if you get a call from an 03 number that you don't recognise, don't bother checking; if it's important, they will ring back themselves.
Gerry

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Reply By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 01:01

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 01:01

Note the number and tell the TIO, If you have called the number, not who the advertiser is too. It is illegal to do that. Not allowed to cause financial loss due to advertising. Same reason they cannot do it with SMS (costs you to read). I bet they even have it hooked up to a 1900 number service as the ringback number.

Slimey bastards. Legislate all telemarketers and the companies that use them out of business. GRRRRRR!!! Them and the shopping center fly-by-night "hallway hasslers".

AnswerID: 168817

Follow Up By: Utemad - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 08:20

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 08:20

You mean voice message? SMS costs nothing to read but Telstra was in the poo a while back about leaving a voice message advertisement that cost people to retrieve.

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Follow Up By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 10:43

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 10:43

I beg you pardon, you are correct..... The princple is the same

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Reply By: Sparkiepete - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 05:52

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 05:52

Yeah I have had those types of calls. If I see a mobile number or a local number I will ring it back but when it looks like interstate or 03 I won't bother. I thougt it was just me but looks like it happens to others as well.

Thanks for the heads up anyway.

Regards
Sparkiepete

AnswerID: 168821

Reply By: Mike Harding - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 07:41

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 07:41

Just ignore it - if it's important whoever it is will call back and if it isn't important you don't care either way.

AnswerID: 168825

Reply By: Utemad - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 08:18

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 08:18

If people don't bother to leave a message then I don't call them back. If there is no message left then it couldn't have been important.

AnswerID: 168835

Reply By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 08:37

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 08:37

That's whu Message Bank was invented.... so that if the call is important the caller can say so!

I NEVER return missed calls, I don't even bother looking at the missed call number, I just delete it straight away.

No message, no return call!

AnswerID: 168839

Reply By: FZJ 80 - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 09:30

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 09:30

Joc 45.
Had a missed 03 number at 5.44 sun nt. Found it on mobile hours later and thought didn't even hear that ring! suspect it was that type of thing. Didn't return call.

Greg

AnswerID: 168853

Reply By: Wazza - (Vic) - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 11:15

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 11:15

I had a missed call last week. Same thing, it rang once and I did not get time to answer, so I called it back using the work phone when I got back to my desk. The recorded message you get goes something like:

"Hi, did you just get a missed call from me?
I am simon, and you have been selected a lucky winner of a $40 voucher.
Just hang on and we will give you details on how to claim your prize ...
...... yada yada yada ......
Call costs are $3 per minute, .........."

The number was 03 95405189, it is still in my missed calls register.

I could report it, but hey, that is only going to waste more of my time....

Cheers,

Wazza.

AnswerID: 168869

Follow Up By: GEG - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 15:52

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 15:52

Wazza,

My 12 year old son asked me if he could download a music tune for a ring tone...he answered an ad that was viewed during the kids programes after weekdays after school. (it was marketed to under 12's).

After sending an sms to a number, the company is jamster, he continued to receive sms's - up to 4 per day. Each time they sent an sms, they subtacted around $5.95 from his prepaid sim card. One downloaded music tune and you are in the club.

His friend did the same and ended up with a monthly bill of $90.

I and many other parents have tried unsuccessfully to stop the scam, but its still advertised and Jamster are making a heap of money from this.

Just be very careful downloading anything to a mobile...

FollowupID: 424272

Follow Up By: Utemad - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 17:11

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 17:11

I discovered that Telstra can block these charges. Mine is blocked after I accidentally signed up and copped a $15 charge on my bill.

I agree that it is a terribly deceitful way of signing you up.

FollowupID: 424292

Follow Up By: techie - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 20:07

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 20:07

Ditto Wazza
missed a call 9th April 4:53pm, same number (thought it rang a bell).
Did not recognise number - reckon if it is important they will ring back, never did.
Thanx for the info, now I know my suspicions were correct.
Regards
Techie.

FollowupID: 424315

Follow Up By: Jo and Mark - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 21:38

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 21:38

GEG... I hae seen those jamster ads on tele, I am pretty sure.. maybe look out yourself but I think to unsubscribe you just have to send the work stop to their number.
Jo

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Reply By: Muddies Doe(Trippn) - Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 16:43

Tuesday, Apr 25, 2006 at 16:43

Hi Joc

Yeap..just got hit this afternoon with 03 95405189 and Muddy remembered your post.
I missed the call and didn't recognize the number.
Muddy just Googled the number and came up with this.....enjoy!
Site Link

Funny thing is they are not doing anything wrong according to the ACC.
Yet this company can take legal action from anyone sullying their name.

Who is looking after who here?

Cya
:)

AnswerID: 168919