Seven key steps to take if you are a victim

1 SAVE texts as this will help your case when trying to get a refund. 2 TEXT ‘Stop All’ to the number that sent the messages – but only if you believe it is a real company. Do not reply to a scam message as this tells fraudsters they have been texting a genuine number. 3 CHECK which company is sending messages or making calls that appear on your bill using the Phone-paid Services Authority’s online ‘number checker’. This is the regulator overseeing services that charge customers’ phone bills. Visit psauthority.org.uk/ about-us/number-checker. 4 DEMAND a refund from your mobile network if you dispute that you signed up to receive the messages. It may refer you to the company responsible for sending them. In any conversation with that company refer to section 2.3.3 of the regulator’s code of practice, stipulating that service providers must have evidence that a customer consented to receive messages. Request the evidence. 5 REFER unresolved complaints to the Phone-paid Services Authority. Complain online at psauthority.org. uk or call 0300 3030020 during office hours. You can also ask complaints service Resolver for help – visit resolver.co.uk. 6 PUT a block on your phone. Contact your mobile network provider and ask for them to bar all premium rate calls and texts. 7 USE the small claims court if you have been charged a large sum. Court fees start at £25 using an online form, for claim amounts up to £300. You may have to pay more if the company fights back, resulting in a court hearing. But you can charge interest and you may be able to claim costs back if you win. Visit gov. uk/make-court-claim-for-money to find out more.