Third-party value-added services on your cell phone bill usually turn out to be subscription traps

As our cooperation partner Watchlist Internet writes, a cell phone bill that is higher than usual usually doesn't mean anything good. You will often find charges from third-party providers, value-added or partner services on your bill. You have probably unknowingly taken out a subscription contract with a dubious provider. However, your money is most likely not lost: you can dispute the bill with the mobile phone provider!

The cell phone bill is usually always the same. Since most smartphone users have a cell phone contract with a flat rate of free minutes, SMS and data volume, a significantly higher cell phone bill is unlikely. There are usually value-added or partner services behind it. In this article you will learn how to get out of the value-added service subscription trap and how you can protect yourself from it in the future.

How did I fall into the value-added service trap?

Value-added or partner services (or third-party services) come about in different ways. Most of the time, your own telephone number was given for a supposed service (e.g. IQ tests, horoscopes, game subscriptions or cell phone tracking). Many smartphone users are currently falling into a value-added service subscription trap via the gaming platform gamesteka.com.

On this page, information about the subscription and costs is only provided in small print at the bottom of the page or in confusing graphics. In addition, consumers are only informed via a link why they are waiving their right of withdrawal when placing an order. Due to this non-legally compliant implementation of the site, no contract is concluded when you click the “Buy” button.

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However, your own mobile operator is informed by the value-added service provider that there is a valid contract. The mobile operator normally has this confirmed by the customer via an SMS in which a PIN/TAN is sent. If you enter this PIN/TAN on the value-added service provider's website, the mobile operator is authorized to deduct the money from your mobile phone bill.

What can I do?

  • Dispute the subscription contract, if possible in the service portal of your mobile phone provider or directly with the subscription provider.
  • You can claim the debited amounts   back from the mobile phone provider by calling customer service and explaining your situation. Service employees will discuss the next steps with you. As a rule, you will receive your money back, as there is usually no valid contract between the third-party provider and you.
  • In order to receive a refund, you must dispute the invoice within three months .
  • If the mobile phone provider does not respond or refuses to refund you, you can contact the arbitration board of Rundfunk und Telekom Regels-GmbH (RTR) .
  • Block value-added and partner services . Mobile phone providers sometimes have different names for blocking value-added services (e.g. value-added service blocking & third-party subscriptions, blocking downloads and subscriptions, partner services blocking...)

Prevention and blocking value-added services

You can have value-added or partner services (also called third-party services) blocked in just a few clicks. To do this, log into your mobile provider's customer portal or app and deactivate value-added services.

Please note that the name for the value-added service block can be different for different mobile phone providers (e.g. block downloads & subscriptions or value-added service block & third-party subscriptions).

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Alternatively, value-added services can also be blocked via the service hotline or in the mobile provider's shop. In general, check your cell phone bill regularly. Investigate discrepancies and don't just accept a higher bill.

Advice & help:

For specific advice requests, please contact the relevant offices that we have listed for you Advice & Help www.watchlist-internet.at/beratung-hilfe

Related to the topic: Beware of expensive ping calls! How to protect yourself!

Source: Watchlist Internet
Article image: Shutterstock / By ImYanis


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