WASP warns of abuses

"people who subscribe to the wide range of SMS services available, such as ring tones and dating clubs, are generating around 80% of e-mail spam."

Should this not be "80% of SMS spam"? Where does this statistic come from?

There is no doubt that there are many problems with WASP subscription services. Just look at the WASPA complaints log to get an idea of what is happening out there:
http://www.waspa.org.za/code/complaints.php
Notice the large number of repeat offenders, and the suspension recommendations within the adjudication reports, yet no one is being suspended by the networks.

There is a growing frustration within the WASP community about this issue, as most WASPs abide by the rules. This article illustrates this frustration. However, I don't think it accurately identifies the problems.

The problem I believe relates more to insufficient control at network level over WASP transactions.
 
Overseas networks have a simple thing to opt into value added services. If you turn extra services off, they can't charge you for it. No more unsolicited subscriptions or smsing 'stop 'to some number. Turning it on or off is easy. It sounds easy to implement. Why do the networks not do this for the customers? Guess they must make a lot of money out of it.
 
The networks here have implemented the same, it is simply not "switched on". I guess there is insufficient pressure by the public?
 
The networks make HUGE money off these scams, every byte move don their network = money for them . Now why would they want that to stop?
 
ProSMS said:
The networks here have implemented the same, it is simply not "switched on". I guess there is insufficient pressure by the public?
Click to expand...

Really and which networks? Considering I'm very active in assisting the public with subscription services and even sat with Vodacoms most senior callcenter I've yet to come accross this "feature".

Please tell us more.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Really and which networks? Considering I'm very active in assisting the public with subscription services and even sat with Vodacoms most senior callcenter I've yet to come accross this "feature".

Please tell us more.
Click to expand...

From my own experience, MTN has this feature and are busy testing it. If you push hard enough, they will lock your number from all content charges.
 
blocking third party billing

Nikon_ said:
From my own experience, MTN has this feature and are busy testing it. If you push hard enough, they will lock your number from all content charges.
Click to expand...

I have the same info from MTN. Vodacom has this as well - just ask the right people.
 
ProSMS said:
I have the same info from MTN. Vodacom has this as well - just ask the right people.
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I hear a lot of rumours and everything is in testing, but I can say such a service does not exist for the general public. The only new infrastructure coming into place is to prevent billing on recycled SIMS. I guess that is what you may be refering to but that does not protect the end user from billing.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
I hear a lot of rumours and everything is in testing, but I can say such a service does not exist for the general public.
Click to expand...

Vodacom has implemented a blocking mechanism for all OBS transactions and created an error code for this purpose. This was communicated to all WASPs on 21 October 2010. From 1 December 2010 any billing attempt that returns error code 41 will represent "subscriber locked for content billing". Don't expect this feature to be marketed widely.

This is now required by law - although it is badly worded: Gvt Gazette (Notice 546 of 2010) : "(3) A provider must, free of charge to an end-user, block the origination of premium rate communications from a number assigned to the end-user if the end-user has requested the blocking. "
 
If it does ever exist it should be enabled by default and only turned off if you ask for it. Why should the default be "please allow third party companies to rape my account with charges I know nothing about and then refuse to do something about it."
 
Ancalagon said:
If it does ever exist it should be enabled by default and only turned off if you ask for it. Why should the default be "please allow third party companies to rape my account with charges I know nothing about and then refuse to do something about it."
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+100
 
ProSMS said:
Vodacom has implemented a blocking mechanism for all OBS transactions and created an error code for this purpose. This was communicated to all WASPs on 21 October 2010. From 1 December 2010 any billing attempt that returns error code 41 will represent "subscriber locked for content billing". Don't expect this feature to be marketed widely.

This is now required by law - although it is badly worded: Gvt Gazette (Notice 546 of 2010) : "(3) A provider must, free of charge to an end-user, block the origination of premium rate communications from a number assigned to the end-user if the end-user has requested the blocking. "
Click to expand...
How do you activate this?
 
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