DTAC 'scam'

[Neeranam]

Beware of sms messages you get. I started getting 2 or 3 every day about 3 months ago. Some kind of new/entertainment messages. I blocked them using an application I got from Google playstore. However, when I went to pay my bill there was an additional 1000 baht per month added. 4819001/2 were the numbers.

I am refusing to pay and DTAC are investigating.

[wprime]

Apps can't block calls or messages, they can prevent them from appearing on your phone but your provider will still see them as going through. DTAC doesn't operate these scams, other companies do. If you genuinely believe you didn't subscribe to these services (think about who you lend your phone to) and you haven't paid your bill yet, DTAC will cancel the charges.

[lomatopo]

A quick search indicates that this is a "daily photo" subscription service unrelated to DTAC. Looks like it is 25 baht/day or per photo or per SMS. Also looks like something someone subscribed to from your phone. Most service providers here are quite accommodating re: cancelling these services and refunding/crediting.

There should be some multiple challenge/response/SMS/ pass-phrase before these things get activated. In the U.S. they are even sleazier, they use frequently dialed toll-free numbers, with one single digit changed, and then you've enrolled in some subscriptions service by accident.

[brewsterbudgen]

The title of this thread is rather inappropriate I think.

[aussiebebe]

This isn't a scam, it's user-error - you simply unintentionally subscribed to an sms service.

If you phone DTAC, they will unsubscribe you from sms services if you can't do it yourself. They can't stop you from signing up, though.

If you check your contract there might even be an 'act-of-idiocy' clause in the small print.

[Dancealot]

I still call it a scam. In other countries(Europe) there are laws against this.

My solution prepaid, no contract. Works like a charm.

You never know what they'll try next. Also keep the credit always to a minimum like any decent Thai always does.

Good luck with your case Neeraram. Take care.

Yours,

[Neeranam]

I still call it a scam. In other countries(Europe) there are laws against this.

My solution prepaid, no contract. Works like a charm.

You never know what they'll try next. Also keep the credit always to a minimum like any decent Thai always does.

Good luck with your case Neeraram. Take care.

Yours,

Thanks Dancelot,

I call it a scam too.

They've been charging me even though I am not even receiving the sms's. 3 a day.

Lucky I questioned the amount as I usually don't. I have a 7,000 baht credit with them so often pay it every 2/3 months

and it varies a lot. However, I just bought anew phone last week, Galaxy Mega, which has 2 SIms so keeping an eye out for costs.

I've been with DTAC since I got my first mobile many years ago and they've generally been pretty good service-wise.

[vtjforyou]

Dtac website is ridiculous and their service too...

[Dancealot]

Dtac website is ridiculous and their service too...

What's a proper alternative, according to you?

[richard_smith237]

I had a similar issue with AIS. I was overseas for a month, my phone was off the the majority of that time. When I turned my phone on (while still overseas) I received a months worth MCOT news updates as multimedia messages. The charge (direct debited from my account on the monthly phone bill) was an additional 6000 baht.

After a few calls AIS were good about it and refunded the amount at the subsequent billing cycle on the understanding that I had never subscribed to the service.

[wprime]

This isn't a scam, it's user-error - you simply unintentionally subscribed to an sms service.

If you phone DTAC, they will unsubscribe you from sms services if you can't do it yourself. They can't stop you from signing up, though.

If you check your contract there might even be an 'act-of-idiocy' clause in the small print.

The providers have the ability to subscribe you without your permission. It's not legal though and if you request a refund it will be granted (easily proven from phone records). They do it because the fines are less than the profit they make from the people don't notice.

[brewsterbudgen]

Dtac website is ridiculous and their service too...

I've had a contract with DTAC for 6 years and never had a problem or an issue with them. I guess some people are just unlucky!

[kriswillems]

We had a similar problem. My wife was driving, somebody called us and started to speak very quickly and said she's working together with DTAC and they offered some new service. She put down the phone even before my wife could answer. Since then we started to get SMS-es, up to 5 per days.

The messages we got were also news/entertainment, so it's possible we're talking about the same service.

After 2 days we went to the DTAC office, and we were angry, because we believed DTAC subscribed us for a service we never asked for. The employee explained that companies call to DTAC customers and use something like "we're operating on the DTAC network", making people picking up the telephone believe they talk to a DTAC person. They also talk very quickly and use confusing language, with the intention you'll misunderstand them.

Their trick is to put down the phone on the first ka or krub, and assume you've signed a contract or agreed by using this word. But Thai people also use this word on the telephone to confirm they understood what the other side is saying.

It's a large scale scam that has been going on for years and DTAC knowns about it, but can't do anything.

The company that organises the scam got the telephone numbers from DTAC, because they ever worked together with DTAC. And that time they were still offering legal/correct services.

DTAC was able to stop the service and we never had to pay for it.

As soon as you start to get unwanted SMS-es, go the your operator and let them find out what's going on.

Edited July 23, 2013 by kriswillems

[EBlair48]

I had AIS charging me for the the ADSL internet service after they had discontinued offering it four months prior and I myself had canceled the service. I went into the office myself to complain, no effect, every month, a 700 baht charge.

I took 15 phone calls to the giggling, hanging up and otherwise infuriating reps at the call center to finally get it stopped.

Inept... inept... inept

[Neeranam]

Dtac website is ridiculous and their service too...

Care to elaborate? I can't think why you find it 'ridiculous'.

[Neeranam]

This isn't a scam, it's user-error - you simply unintentionally subscribed to an sms service.

If you phone DTAC, they will unsubscribe you from sms services if you can't do it yourself. They can't stop you from signing up, though.

If you check your contract there might even be an 'act-of-idiocy' clause in the small print.

The providers have the ability to subscribe you without your permission. It's not legal though and if you request a refund it will be granted (easily proven from phone records). They do it because the fines are less than the profit they make from the people don't notice.

I agree 'wprime'. This isn't a user-error. It is a total scam. The fact that DTAC seem eager to fix/refund it proves this.

[Nana Cowboy]

I love dtac especially the website where u can send free sms's. op got scammed but not by dtac. scams like that dont just happen. someone induced it

[Dancealot]

I love dtac especially the website where u can send free sms's. op got scammed but not by dtac. scams like that dont just happen. someone induced it

I completely agree with you,.. this time NC. Good you brought this up.

[jaideeguy]

I just discovered that when you call a phone that is turned off or not in service and you hear that Thai blablabla [leave a message?] recording that you [the caller get charged. That's pure ripoff in my book, but what can you do??

As to the SMSs, I just delete them as soon as I see that I don't know the sender.

[skippybangkok]

A quick search indicates that this is a "daily photo" subscription service unrelated to DTAC. Looks like it is 25 baht/day or per photo or per SMS

Just contradicted yourself in one sentence. How can they been unrelated if sharing revenue ?