mangogrooveworkshop
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posted on 28/6/05 at 02:47 PM |
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Crazy Frog bites again and again and again
BEEB reports today
Last Updated: Monday, 27 June, 2005, 16:54 GMT 17:54 UK
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'Crazy Frog doubled my phone bill'
By Hannah Bayman
BBC News
Crazy Frog
Crazy Frog's Axel F became the first ringtone to reach number one
When I ordered the Crazy Frog Axel F ringtone, in an ironic mood, I expected a bit of derision from friends.
What I did not expect was to be hit with a hugely-inflated mobile bill after being sent a slew of junk texts.
After texting a number on a television advert to get the tone, I was bombarded with messages from Jamster inviting me to download more tones.
It wasn't until my next bill arrived from Orange that I discovered each junk text from Jamster had cost me £3.
When I called Orange, the call centre operator told me I was one of hundreds of people he had spoken to with the same complaint.
Instead of ordering Crazy Frog's Axel F as a one-off tone, we had unwittingly subscribed to an expensive ringtone account, with Jamster sending
premium rate reverse-charge texts every few days.
Darker side
The new version of Axel F, the theme to the Beverly Hills Cop films, became the first ringtone to make it into the UK singles charts - hanging on to
the top spot until last week.
It is the biggest success story so far in a booming ringtone market in the UK, valued at £1.6bn in 2003 and predicted to rise to £2.5bn by 2008.
But there may be a darker side to the Crazy Frog phenomenon.
While ringtone-maker Jamster and its telephone service provider mBlox made an estimated £10m from the craze by January alone, thousands of customers
may have lost out.
Watchdog inquiry
Icstis, the watchdog for premium rate services, is investigating mBlox after receiving 110 complaints from the public about the Jamster Crazy Frog
service.
London-based mBlox could have its lines closed down and be fined a maximum of £100,000 if it is found to have breached regulations.
In April, mBlox was formally reprimanded and fined £2,000 for another promotion involving unsolicited text messages.
Catherine Bell, Icstis spokeswoman, told the BBC News website: "We are investigating the promotion and content of the Crazy Frog service, run by
mBlox for Jamster.
"We are looking at whether people are aware they are signing up for a chargeable subscription service and if they know how much they will be
paying and how often."
Mobile phone sending text message
Operators can be fined up to £100,000 for breaching guidelines
Ms Bell said the watchdog was also investigating whether Crazy Frog products had been inappropriately aimed at children, particularly because of their
use of dancing cartoon characters.
Tones from the Crazy Frog character have been heavily promoted in prime-time television adverts, like the one to which I responded.
I did not spot the impossibly small print whizzing by on the bottom of the screen while a larger-than-a life Crazy Frog gyrated to his latest
tones.
Close examination
If I had, it would apparently have informed me that by ordering the ringtone I had also signed up to a subscription.
The watchdog's 2004 code says pricing information must be spoken on television adverts if maximum call costs can exceed £2.
The code also states that "textual pricing information must be easily legible, prominent... presented in a way that does not require close
examination".
When I visited the Jamster site to find out why I was receiving junk texts, I found nothing in their terms and conditions that mentioned either
charges or subscription.
Similarly, an email to Jamster customer service to ask if I was being charged got an automated response, again with no word of charges or
subscription.
It wasn't until I called Orange, after receiving my mobile bill, that I found out that I had a subscription and how to cancel it.
Andrew Bud, mBlox's executive chairman, said: "At mBlox, we look after the transmission and settlement of messages for many well-known
brands, and we impress on all our clients the obligations and standards they must adhere to under Icstis' and operators' codes of
practice."
Tinny tones
Jamster were unavailable for comment.
A panel of members from the Icstis committee is to rule on the case next month.
Unfortunately it is too late for me and many other mobile users.
Maybe I was in a minority to enjoy the Crazy Frog's tinny tones. I certainly find them annoying now I've been made to pay more than £40
for the privilege.
To stop reverse-charge texts to your mobile, text STOP or STOP ALL to the five-figure number they are being sent from. The number should start with an
8.
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James
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posted on 28/6/05 at 03:34 PM |
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If someone downloaded that piece of crap they deserve a 40quid bill!
Proves what a joke the British music scene really is right now.
I have no sympathy whatsoever I'm afraid.
James
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"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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andy d (rizla)
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posted on 28/6/05 at 03:52 PM |
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i guess we are in the minority,the british public made it number 1
ps. i own up i bought it![](/images//smilies/tongue.gif)
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Mix
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posted on 28/6/05 at 04:02 PM |
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James
You seem to condone 'worldly wise' corporations ripping off minors ![](/images//smilies/shocked.gif)
Mick
[Edited on 28/6/05 by Mix]
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James
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posted on 28/6/05 at 04:10 PM |
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quote: Originally posted by Mix
James
You seem to condone 'worldly wise' corporations ripping off minors ![](/images//smilies/shocked.gif)
Mick
[Edited on 28/6/05 by Mix]
That certainly wasn't my intention.
But frankly people shouldn't have downloaded on the principle that it was complete rubbish.
The amount of times I've read/heard about scams like that. They're always on about them on radio1 and the like.
Why in God's name would you pay £3 quid for that.
And yes, I realise my musical taste is completely subjective and the composer may become the new Mozart but somehow I doubt it!
Cheers,
James
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"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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Mix
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posted on 28/6/05 at 04:25 PM |
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But how do you explain that to kids in the playground ![](/images//smilies/sad.gif)
I don't believe for a minute you meant it how it sounded James but I do object to corporations ripping off kids ![](/images//smilies/mad.gif)
Mick
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RoadkillUK
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posted on 28/6/05 at 06:10 PM |
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The ads state that you must be 16 or over, I wonder how many people who 'joined' jamster were actually over that age?
If the people who 'joined' the 'Jamster Club' were under 16, wouldn't that mean that the contracts were void and the
money should be returned?
Roadkill - Lee
www.bradford7.co.uk
Latest Picture (14 Sept 2014)
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ned
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posted on 28/6/05 at 08:17 PM |
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[stir] this is obviously a situation where we need identity cards over mobile phones to prove the age of the customer to 'the corporation'
[/stir]
Ned
beware, I've got yellow skin
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Benzine
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posted on 28/6/05 at 08:59 PM |
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Crazy frog ringtones? Is that Jacque Chirac on your mobile?
The mental gymnastics a landlord will employ to justify immoral actions is clinically fascinating. Just because something is legal doesn't make
it moral.
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Jonr
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posted on 28/6/05 at 09:49 PM |
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What everyone wants
just watch the vid!! Best thing I've seen in a while![](/images//smilies/bigsmile.gif) ![](/images//smilies/bigsmile.gif)
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