Updates / News

DESPITE the stop-spam circular issued last March by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), broadcast and cellular phone companies haven’t stopped sending unsolicited text messages.

And, judging by the number of complaints sent by consumers to this column, spam texts appear to have increased beyond control.

As some of the letter senders complained, the texts were annoying, especially when you receive messages that are in two or more parts. But, what was deplorable was the fact that cell phone companies charged them double or more for messages they did not ask for.

Some of these spams sneak in as advisories when, in fact, they are advertisements in disguise. Why the disguise? It’s simply because the NTC allows companies to send certain types of messages. To quote from the circular: “public service information messages, network advisories and consumer welfare and protection related advisories.”

PACSO Online

Cellphone SPAM is very common nowadays.

In the Philippines alone thousands of people had been victims of SPAM and even growing everyday. A very good example of this is the ADVERTISEMENTS of NEW TONES, PICTURE MESSAGES and EVEN PRAYER QUOTATION available for download by your own TELECOMMUNICATIONS company.

Another form of DIRTY business is when you are receiving Value-Added-Services Dowloads (VAS)

without even requesting to download them and the painful thing is that they charge you on that without notifying this to you!

Thats SPAM, we are here to get rid of that! We are all victim! Lets protect our self! Join us in our cruisade!

Philippine Anti-Cellphone Spam Organization (PACSO)

Let's Fight Cellphone Spam, don't be a victim. Be protected, Be inform! Spread the information!

User's Confession:

SHOUT BOX!

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John wrote, “I learned from Globe’s customer service rep that they charge you even if you didn’t download a ringtone. No wonder that, on previous instances, (for) a P100 load, I only got to make between 70-80 messages (without making any calls).

“I hope that you will sustain the effort or at least compile your readers’ letters/cases for submission to Congress or the Senate for a much-needed investigation (if no one has done this yet) as well as rally consumer groups to (protest) these abuses.”

From Joseph: “I wonder why Smart keeps sending ringtones that automatically cost us P15 each? We (do not ask for) any of these ringtones that are sent to us. If needed, we would request for them but don’t send us these advertisements and promotional alerts.”

A Globe subscriber comments: “The so-called value-added services may come in the form of a four digit code such as 2346 that keeps sending advertisements and other promo alerts.

“For instance, you will receive a promotional alert along with a free logo, icon, quote or picture message from 2346. The last line of the accompanying ad says, ‘Reply no to stop receiving... from 2346.’ Since this is just an ad, most people don’t bother to read it. They will just delete the message. However, if you don’t text NO, you are automatically enrolled in the service. From then on araw-araw ka nang makakatanggap ng quotes (P2.50/day), logos/icons (P10-15/day), picture messages (P5/day), ringtones, etc.

“And... you may not be aware of it yet, but there is a charge for every balance inquiry with 222. I don’t know if you received the notice about this.”

From Daryl Bincal: "My Mothers Globe SIM continue to receive weekly tones and it cost 15/ Week!, its very annoying!"

From a Student: "Pag-nag loload ako kainis, nag bababwas kinakain malaki na ang nauubos sa aking load"

Please e-mail us your view!

pacso@mymail.ph