Beat the hidden mobile slug

Have you received a text message on your smartphone saying you have been subscribed to a service and will be charged? These messages don’t come from your telco and may result in unexpected charges being added to your phone bill. The services you are buying can be phone apps, pay-per-view videos, games and other content.

A recent survey by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network reveals that 12% of respondents have found these unexpected charges on their bills. When applied to the mobile customer base of Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, this equates to almost 1.9 million people.

Over a third who had incurred unexpected charges said they weren’t informed, didn’t consent to or confirm the charge, or understand how or how much they would be charged.

If you find unexpected charges on your phone bill you should: •

Contact the third-party provider or your telco and ask for a refund. •

If you can’t get a refund, complain to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (tio.com.au). •

Ask your telco to bar these services from your account.