T-Mobile's Premium SMS Scam?

[richiehoward]

As we know typically it's individuals or rogue firms that operate premium rate scams but the below shows how T-Mobile appear to be short changing their telecoms partners who host legitimate premium text services. All three companies in this case are small companies who use premium text services all above board and in line with PhonePayPlus rules.

T-Mobile short change three SMS Suppliers
By over £45,000.00 claiming Fraud
But provide NO evidence to show any losses
T-Mobile UK one half of the UK’s largest Mobile Phone Network Everything Everywhere has been accused of “ripping off” three telecoms firms by tens of thousands of pounds by Richard Howard of Premium Rate SMS supplier Raptor SMS Ltd who’s small, one man band company along with two other firms have now suffered an under payment in excess of £45,000.00 in less than 6 months from T-Mobile UK who have yet to supply any contractual, regulatory or legal reason for the retention of funds due on premium text services that T-Mobile users have requested, received and been billed for.

“Because our popular text services have been running for some time without a single problem I emailed T-Mobile’s Billing & Settlement department on 27th April advising them that a mistake had surely been made as I found it unlikely that there were over 5,000 fraudulent messages to our services which made up the majority of the traffic received from T-Mobile users. Senior Fraud Consultant Eileen Canty emailed me back confirming that they would investigate and get back to me”. Says Richard Howard of Raptor SMS Ltd who’s telecoms firm has suffered a with-hold of £15,465.48 via its supplier Tanla Solutions (UK) who T-Mobile pay with Tanla then passing the revenue on”.

“Then on 12th May I was amazed to receive a reply from Eileen’s colleague Tracey Ebbitt stating that they were not going to share the outcome of their investigation and that my complaint lay with Tanla, even though Tanla cannot pay us unless they receive the revenue from T-Mobile. They failed again to give any contractual, legal or regulatory reason to me or Tanla for why they are continuing to retain the revenue nor has any proof of fraud in relation to their allegation that there were instances of credit card fraud on some of my, Xpress Telecom’s or the £31,780.24 of text revenue clawed back from Infinity Telecom Ltd. No proof of any fraud has been shown for 7 months now.”

Everything Everywhere has made no secret of it’s ambitious cost cutting plans to save £3.5 billion by 2014 and who’s first quarter results for showed that combined T-Mobile and Orange turnover was down 2.7% with its customer base declining 206,000 in the first quarter of 2011, the results were disappointing to many analysts.

“I believe I hit a nerve though, as Tracey’s email strongly advised me against making the issue public as she outlined that it was an issue between themselves and Tanla Solutions (UK) only. She also stated that they would vigorously defend the allegations I have made and reserve the right to take full legal action against me. I gave them the chance to put their side of the story forward against this release but they declined the opportunity.”

“I’m starting to think that our £47,245.72 has become revenue they’re trying to keep due to their bold cost cutting plans, some of which appear to be at the expense of their partners or perhaps it’s because their Fraud Department is operating in a rogue fashion and the more money they retain for T-Mobile UK the greater their personal bonuses”.

“If T-Mobile considers that I or my company has conducted any fraudulent activity then I would encourage them to contact the Police as I am adamant that there is nothing wrong with this revenue and that there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be released. Revenue from Orange, O2, Vodafone, Three, Virgin and Vodafone has been paid without a single problem, simply because there is nothing wrong with the traffic. All I am requesting is that T-Mobile show fraudulent use, prove they have suffered bad debts, show that they’ve received consumer complaints in relation to our services or payout to Tanla Solutions (UK) so that it can be forwarded onto us”. Richard Howard concludes.

Contact Details

For more information on this issue or to contact Richard Howard of Raptor SMS Ltd simply use the below details…

Tel: 02030 120 251 Alt: 07099 874 738
Fax: 0871 9188 207 Email: info@raptorsms.com