Me & a WASP

[R13...]

Ok, so last year I got billed about R145 by a wasp (Opera Telecoms or something) via my Vodacom data contract.

It took me a month to notice this discrepancy as the account started accumulating outside the subscription amount and getting locked at the R50 call limit. I queried this with Vodacom and they told me I was subscribed to a "content provider". I fought Vodacom for a refund and they refused to budge - so I lodged a complaint with WASPA instead.
1) Round one, the WASP sent some logs indicating I had in fact somehow managed to subscribe to this WASP by double opting in eve though the SIM is in a modem and I was browsing wireless on my iPad at the time
2) I refused to accept this detailing to WASPA that there is not way I could have double opted into the service given my set-up. I also googled said content provider site and realised I had never seen that landing page in my life. I stopped at "click here to enter if you are 18 or older, yada yada"

So WASPA escalated complaint and in the meantime I tried to ask the Vodacons how my data number was passed onto to a website I have never visited, and they ducked & dived and refused to provide me with a straight answer.

Fast forward to today, and I get a call from content provide that they will fully refund me all charges (as a gesture of goodwill on their part)

Can I just say **** Vodacon for somehow passing on my number even though it is set not to forward it's MSISDN.

 

[R13...]

What is rather odd is that the WASP contacted me on a number I use for outgoing calls only. I wonder how they got that number

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

The problem comes from finger trouble where the sites request your cell number. Usually a double opt in request is sent but being Opera, they don't care.

 

[Haldex]

What is rather odd is that the WASP contacted me on a number I use for outgoing calls only. I wonder how they got that number

Wasp b@stards bill recycled numbers, they billing the previous user of your number. They never stopped billing the number, now the numbers been recycled and possibly not in existence till it became yours, so they continue billing it.

 

[R13...]

They claim I double opted in, which is not possible. Vodacon claim that's why they forwarded my number to the WASP - it was when I double opted in.

 

[R13...]

Wasp b@stards bill recycled numbers, they billing the previous user of your number.

that's what I tried to put through to Vodacon, but they wouldn't hear it.

 

[LPCPT]

Why would Vodacon listen to you, they get a cut of your money. Same thing happened to me on EmtyN. That's why I go prepaid on cell C.

 

[ajax]

Did the WASP send you a "proof of subscription?" You mind posting it here?

In my case there was no double opt-in and I have been offered a refund, but I am not taking it yet until the WASP case has run its course.

When did Vodacom implement double opt-in for WASP services? Vodacom is supposed to send you a sms to ask confirmation from you for the subscription request.

 

[Haldex]

In this case i blame Opera Telecom, Google the name or even search through hello Peter, WASPA should remove them altogether.

 

[Napalm2880]

I had EXACTLY the same experience with Opera Telecoms through CellC. These sneaky bastards create fake logs that you've registered with them and then they send that to the service provider as "proof" you opted in.

I have no idea how they got my number but it was definitely without my permission

I managed to get Opera Telecoms's landline number through the CellC rep and after arguing with a Russian woman for about 45minutes, she also offered to refund me as a "gesture of goodwill". (I received a partial amount back from them and then gave up as it wasn't worth the stress)

I later found out that they pawned my number off to other WASPS as well. So make sure that you phone Vodacom and get them to terminate any WASPS registered to your account.

I hope these ****ers burn in a special part of hell one day - and the same goes to the CellC's and Vodacoms that allow this to happen.

 

[ajax]

Napalm, please post your "proof of subscription" too, thanks.

 

[Napalm2880]

228 complaints on Hello Peter. What's worse is that these guys have been fined by WASPA in the past and they continue to operate illegally. They must be making quite a profit.

 

[xrapidx]

If it was adult content, tell WASPA to persue, as they didn't verify your age.

 

[R13...]

Did the WASP send you a "proof of subscription?" You mind posting it here?

In my case there was no double opt-in and I have been offered a refund, but I am not taking it yet until the WASP case has run its course.

When did Vodacom implement double opt-in for WASP services? Vodacom is supposed to send you a sms to ask confirmation from you for the subscription request.

they sent a PDF file with some IP addresses and references to my iPad. the odd part is that Vodacon told me the subscription was from my Nokia 6300 while the WASP says it's from my iPad which is not true as I was using Wifi at the time.

I will screen grab the "proof" and post it in the evening or later.

 

[R13...]

I had EXACTLY the same experience with Opera Telecoms through CellC. These sneaky bastards create fake logs that you've registered with them and then they send that to the service provider as "proof" you opted in.

I have no idea how they got my number but it was definitely without my permission

I managed to get Opera Telecoms's landline number through the CellC rep and after arguing with a Russian woman for about 45minutes, she also offered to refund me as a "gesture of goodwill". (I received a partial amount back from them and then gave up as it wasn't worth the stress)

I later found out that they pawned my number off to other WASPS as well. So make sure that you phone Vodacom and get them to terminate any WASPS registered to your account.

I hope these ****ers burn in a special part of hell one day - and the same goes to the CellC's and Vodacoms that allow this to happen.

Vodacon is definitely culpable because my number is set not to forward to WASPs. Vodacon say the only way the number if forwarded is when you double opt in - which is a lie. But Vodacon are totally useless, first I asked them how the number got forwarded and they gave some irrelevant reply about the message meaning "caller line identity". I replied that they were talking nonsense (in those words), then they flipped and claimed it was how websites get your cell number from a modem.

 

[R13...]

Good day,
This response has no relationship whatsoever to my query which is was for an explanation for 'MSISDN Forwarding currently not active on this account'.


The response you typed does nothing to explain that message. You will notice that I said this is a data not voice contract! I emailed this address because it appears no one at Vodacom knows that that opt out option means!


PLEASE ADDRESS ONLY WHAT WAS ASKED!

This is one of my responses to Vodacon. The rep here couldn't help **** so I emailed their customer services number.

 

[Haldex]

Vodacon is definitely culpable because my number is set not to forward to WASPs. Vodacon say the only way the number if forwarded is when you double opt in - which is a lie. But Vodacon are totally useless, first I asked them how the number got forwarded and they gave some irrelevant reply about the message meaning "caller line identity". I replied that they were talking nonsense (in those words), then they flipped and claimed it was how websites get your cell number from a modem.

Thats also true, those adult sites have terms and conditions, some linked to the are you 18 disclaimer, by accepting can also mean you agree to the subscription service.

 

[R13...]

This is what they sent me,

 

[Napalm2880]

they flipped and claimed it was how websites get your cell number from a modem.

I've asked this in the forum before but I've never got an answer. Is it possible to harvest someones cell number from a website just by visiting it?

Here is what they sent to the service provider as proof of my opt in (Which Cellc agreed was proof:wtf. As you can see it's adult content and it doesn't show any proof that I opted in.
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=39788&d=1361287650

 

[ajax]

Here is what they sent to the service provider as proof of my opt in

That's no proof at all. It's shocking how these thieves get away with this.

They rob the poor of this country. There's no way a poor person can afford to "argue with a Russian" over the phone for 45 minutes. Their telephone numbers are never toll free and often unreachable.