F U ChalkboardIQ (Scam)

[LurkerPrime]

So I got 2 text this morning from the number 989-52. The first telling me why flamingos are pink, then the second telling me that I'm signed up for chalkboardIQ facts for $9.99 a month. For that great fee I'll recieve 3 fun facts a week. Well I logged on my wireless account, and sure enough there was a $9.99 charge.

The good news is at least after pressing a billions numbers to get to a real person on the ATT customer service line the person cancelled the subscription, creditted my account and blocked all other text purchases. I wonder how much cash these scammers are racking in from people who just ignore these texts and never check.

 

[Ryland]

Wouldnt you have to proactively do something to get charged or was it a "text stop to not purchase this" type of thing? Im tired of getting spam text's that I have to pay for with no way to block them.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I have had TONS of these issues lately. I have an account with ~50 people on it, and I would guess 4-5 are auto signed up for this crap every month. This started about 3 months ago..

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Wouldnt you have to proactively do something to get charged or was it a "text stop to not purchase this" type of thing? Im tired of getting spam text's that I have to pay for with no way to block them.

They've figured out some way to game the system, I'm guessing they sign you up and if only 90% of people cancel they still make a profit.


AT&T is terrible for allowing this, as well as allowing access to their email lists from 3rd party vendors. I get everything from email spam to people calling me and acting like they're from AT&T when they clearly are some other company.

 

[LurkerPrime]

Wouldnt you have to proactively do something to get charged or was it a "text stop to not purchase this" type of thing? Im tired of getting spam text's that I have to pay for with no way to block them.

It was along the lines of you are subscribed for 9.99 a month. text STOP to unsubscribe.

By the way ATT can put a block on all text app purchases if you call and ask customer service to block it on all your phone numbers. I didn't want this crap happening again, so I got them to block all text purchases.

 

[sonoma1993]

So I got 2 text this morning from the number 989-52. The first telling me why flamingos are pink, then the second telling me that I'm signed up for chalkboardIQ facts for $9.99 a month. For that great fee I'll recieve 3 fun facts a week. Well I logged on my wireless account, and sure enough there was a $9.99 charge.

The good news is at least after pressing a billions numbers to get to a real person on the ATT customer service line the person cancelled the subscription, creditted my account and blocked all other text purchases. I wonder how much cash these scammers are racking in from people who just ignore these texts and never check.

This happen to me a few weeks ago. I receive some random text about being signed up for some sms service and I was going to be charged $9.99 for it. i reply back with STOP to cancel that service. Checked my wireless account and I was charge $9.99

For these services to charge you. I thought you had to reply yes to them or some bs before they can subscribe you to their service?

 

[Viper GTS]

I got one on Sprint as well. I know damn good and well I never signed up for anything, and I called Sprint as soon as I got the first text. I turned off the premium texts, they swore up & down that I would never see a charge. What do you know, $9.99 on my next bill.

I was absolutely livid. It is absurd that this shit is turned on by default, who in their right mind would want that crap? Let people call and ask for it if they want it.

Viper GTS

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I got one on Sprint as well. I know damn good and well I never signed up for anything, and I called Sprint as soon as I got the first text. I turned off the premium texts, they swore up & down that I would never see a charge. What do you know, $9.99 on my next bill.

I was absolutely livid. It is absurd that this shit is turned on by default, who in their right mind would want that crap? Let people call and ask for it if they want it.

Viper GTS

My guess is AT&T must sell these people "advertising accounts" or something, and blocking these things would basically end that business segment.

 

[LurkerPrime]

My guess is AT&T must sell these people "advertising accounts" or something, and blocking these things would basically end that business segment.

From looking around the interwebs it looks like this issue isn't just on ATT network. Its still bogus that they can charge you even though you never signed up for anything. Hell I would have rathered catfacts since I believe those are free.

 

[Schfifty Five]

How is it legal for these companies to charge you something you never signed up for?

You can't just tell someone, I'm charging $$$ per month and if you don't say anything, that means you agree. Sounds illegal to me.

 

[ViRGE]

How is it legal for these companies to charge you something you never signed up for?

You can't just tell someone, I'm charging $$$ per month and if you don't say anything, that means you agree. Sounds illegal to me.

It is illegal, it's called cramming. However the telcos won't do anything about it until Congress starts breathing down their necks, just like last time when cramming POTS accounts was popular in the 90s.

 

[Gunbuster]

Yeah I thought the carrier got a cut of the cramming profit? No way they would block something making them tons of $$$

 

[Blackjack200]

I think they get half.