This article is from page 14 of the 2006-01-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
MOBILE phone users in Clare have been warned to beware of unsolicited text messages, after a Clare woman was billed an extra €64 for a series of messages received over two months.
The woman claims she unwittingly signed up to the service by replying to an unsolicited text in November inviting her to enter a competition.
She then received a series of texts, which she deleted instantly. The woman was not aware however, that these “spam texts” were costing her €2 each.
An 02 spokesperson subsequently warned that at the bottom of some of these text messages was “small print” saying that by entering, one was agreeing to enter a text draw costing €2 a time.
The Data Protection Commissioner has already investigated a number of companies for making unsolicited texts.
Fine Gael TD, Pat Breen, has warned of the danger of “spam text” to mobiles, after hearing of this constituent’s experience.
“I would call on mobile phone users to be extremely vigilant when it comes to text messages offering prizes, or draws and to ensure they read the entire text. They should also make a complaint to the Commission for Communications Regulation (Comreg) if they receive an unsolicited telemarketing call, or text message,” said the Clare TD.