1 February 2008 - 9:27The High Cost of Text-Message Spam For Cell Phone Users
Cell phone service providers are trying to block the millions of annoying spam text messages customers receive every single day. This form of spam is causing many more problems than traditional email spam. One of the main problems according to the Canadian Wireless Communications Association is that wireless spam can cost a cell phone customer hundreds or thousands of dollars.
One such customer, Chalsi Goetz, discovered this lesson the hard way. Her son began to receive hundreds of spam text messages to his cell phone from complete strangers. She reported to CTV that he was averaging 22 messages a day for a total of 689 texts that cost 50 cents each. The end result – a bill of $344.50 for premium message services!
Certain companies including TELUS have started to provide their customers with free spam control. Unfortunately, the spam messages Goetz’s son received were classified as information services which are considered billable. This is a common tactic used by individuals who send spam.
Goetz tried to stop the spam messages by pressing stop at the end of each text. The problem is that the next day’s messages would indicate to “press pause” or “press receive.” This made it impossible to stop the flood of unwanted messages.
A spokesperson from TELUS mobility, Shawn Hall, has declared the company’s commitment to protecting their customers from this growing problem. “It’s unethical business practices for sure and we’re doing what we can to shut them down.” He recommends that all cell phone users carefully protect their cell phone number. He warns against giving out your number online without taking proper precautions.
Unfortunately, customers such as Goetz believe TELUS should be providing its customers with effective methods to stop this costly and annoying text-message spam. Her sentiments reflect those of many current cell phone users: “There is no consumer information from them to protect their customers with regard to this matter and that’s what I think is wrong.” TELUS has since provider Goetz’s son with a new cell phone number and reversed the charges for the spam messages.
Recent changes have led to the increase of text-message spam. Cell phone carriers now enable users to send text and email messages to users on any network, not just their own.
The problem of costly text-message spam is becoming more prevalent with the increase of cellular phone users. 16.6 million cellular service subscribers were reported by late 2005. Approximately two-thirds of Canadian households currently have cellular service according to Statistics Canada.
