Should you pay to stop SMS spam?

[McGuywer]

This annoys the crap out of me, having to sms STOP "to opt out". Then you pay R1.50 for that sms. That is how they make their money. If they spam 100,000 cell numbers and only 2000 people sms STOP that's a cool R30,000 earned for nothing. Fsckers.

Actually the revenue share on that is about 20-30c last time I checked, not R1.50 as the networks get the lions share.

Also, R1.50 x 2000 = R3000.... A lot less than Sensorei's R30k....

So: 20c x 2000 = R400. Doesn't seem very attractive now.

 

[supersunbird]

An advanced call and sms filtering system offered by the networks would be awesome. I'd even be willing to pay small monthly fee for such a service.

+1


ant_man, thanks for the offer. I seem to have deleted them from my phone because I can't find them. Anyway, the main culprit is the BB Group (http://www.bbgroup.co.za/) which own auto dealers hips like Global Nissan and Global Menlyn and such.

 

[abbott10k]

A zero rated opt-out would be open to abuse. If I hated a WASP I could just continuously send STOP messages to them knowing that they will be charged.

Why not? They're doing it to us anyway...

 

[ant_man]

Well that is the price you will have to pay for sending me stuff I did not ask for

When I talk about affinity I mean that the client has a prior history with the company, they have purchased something from them in the past.

Your business entails intruding on people's lives. It functions much like ambulance chasers and other bottom feeders.

This argument should be framed differently.

When you buy a phone/SIM card they should be an option on the form where you tick should volunteer to OPT-IN ; rather than making it a requirement to go to some under publicised website to opt-out!

It is really under-handed that the mafia-style cell phone companies sell your contact details to these spammers/bottom feeders without your permission. This should and will be challenged on constitutional grounds soon.

The networks do not sell your details

Its not up to the networks to get your permission to opt out As it has nothing to do with them.

As I have said in the past the list owners are the ones who have your details.

I fully understand that people get irate with "spam sms" but nobody realises that this business supports a huge call centre industry.

There are 1000's of agents employed country wide who rely on responses from sms's.

 

[supersunbird]

When I talk about affinity I mean that the client has a prior history with the company, they have purchased something from them in the past.



The networks do not sell your details

Its not up to the networks to get your permission to opt out As it has nothing to do with them.

As I have said in the past the list owners are the ones who have your details.

I fully understand that people get irate with "spam sms" but nobody realises that this business supports a huge call centre industry.

There are 1000's of agents employed country wide who rely on responses from sms's.

How does one get spam SMSs and phone marketing on totally new cellular number (not recycleds). It does happen. Someone at the cellular provider is selling information.

 

[ant_man]

How does one get spam SMSs and phone marketing on totally new cellular number (not recycleds). It does happen. Someone at the cellular provider is selling information.

If someone at the MNO is selling the data it is definitely not coming from legal sources.

It happens from time to time that we get offered lists that are not legal, but we turn them down as this is far from ethical.

 

[Stochos]

I fully understand that people get irate with "spam sms" but nobody realises that this business supports a huge call centre industry.

There are 1000's of agents employed country wide who rely on responses from sms's.

This is mainly unproductive activity.

Imagine adding up all those minutes lost in the day answering spam phone calls and reading (and deleting) spam SMS' across the country.

This activity is no different to hiring people make and break something. It adds nothing to the country's GDP!

 

[RGKCT]

NO - its extortion, plain & simple!

+1

 

[isie]

Not at all
Even if they don't send you messages you can still reply to that number with "STOP".
Each time a sms is sent the recipient will pay.

Fair is fair they dont stop smsing you, and it currently costs you money for them to stop,