I have been a subscriber to Virgin Mobile for a while now. Last August, 2008, I started to have my top-up amount being reduced by third party text-messaging providers to which I did not subscribe. So, at this point we have theft involved. So, I did what any person would do and called customer service.
Virgin Mobile’s customer service is not very helpful. Talking to a representative of Virgin Mobile, I was told there was nothing they could do to stop the fraudulent billing. However, they would provide me with a phone number to call to stop the service and recover my money. I also had them LOCK my text messaging ability.
I called the number Virgin Mobile provide for the fraudulent billing. To my surprise the third party company did not have my cell phone number on record. I ask myself this, “How are they able to place charges on my account for services they claim not to be providing?” The matter gets worse.
Remember earlier in this post when I mention that Virgin Mobile LOCKED my text-messaging on the accounts. Just this week I was slammed for another $20 from two text-messaging services I did not request. December I had $10 stolen from me from another third party provider. I called the phone numbers that Virgin Mobile provided and to my surprise they also did not have my phone number listed in their database.
How is it that I have to be an employee of an organization in order to get paid, but these third party companies just reach into an account and steal? At this point I will be stopping payment on my last top-up amount and cancelling my service with Virgin Mobile. I do not have any of these issues with TracFone.
A word to the wise, “Check your cellular phone bill.” Also, stay with a provider that has a customer service center that will be of some assistance and not be a part of fraudulent billing. The economy is tough enough without having your money stolen through fraudulent billing practices. Many of these companies reside in other countries, so good luck trying to be reimbursed for the money stolen from you.
Mike Kniaziewicz, MIS
Tags: 3rd party billing, cell phone, fraud, Virgin Mobile
After 3 months Virgin Mobile billed my credit card again for fraudulent third parties. The FCC and Atorney General need to look into these business practices.
Virgin Mobile is a fraud. I would recommend purchasing a plane ticket and traveling to the other person’s location before purchasing a Virgin Mobile phone.
Hello Michael,
Virgin Mobile and others, through Premium Tex Messaging, is engaging in the same type of fraudulent activity you described. I’ve gone through the same type of motions with their cust. service. The only recourse is to change your phone number, which is free. Also, refuse to pay the charges for incoming text-messaging. Virgin has known about this text-messaging fraud for years, therefore are intentionally complicit. They are getting a bad reputation through continuing the practice, yet will continue as they make money from the practice. I’m even starting to suspect that it may be the wireless providers themselves who are orchestrating the whole thing. Australia is one of the few countries that have a ‘Scam Act’ that applies to text-messaging. Look it up through Google, then contact your senators and h.of reps. We both need a stronger Act that will address text-messaging fraud by wireless providers and the actual companies doing the fraud. Virgin is not the only company taking part, as most others do as well. Anyways, its time the issue was looked at by government with input from consumers. Anyone who wants to join in this project should look me up through google or facebook. I’m in Calgary, AB, Canada. Some important questions: why won’t providers give you, their customer, the name and proper phone number of the company they are sending your money to; why does government continue to allow charges for incoming text; you have call display, why doesn’t the provider give the name/number of the sender, as they have it. It is irrelevant that a cell user may have given their phone number in answering surveys and such, which is how they feel they are justified to charge you.Charging for incoming text for the pupose of games, surveys, and such myst be outlawed by governement. Consumers must be given the right to end their participation without replying to the text and/or being charged for doing so!
Regards,
Mike Krisko