Email chain letter I just recieved (at the end od this post) was not that accurate but, it appears there is some truth in it - looking at the regulators website:
http://www.icstis.org.uk/ Parcel Delivery Service – Chain Email It has come to our attention that a chain e-mail has been circulating the internet. It makes
reference to the Royal Mail, the City of London Police and Parcel Delivery Services. ICSTIS
appreciates that consumers want to find out more information about this alert and have issued the
following statement:
During the Christmas period 2005, a number of people across the UK received cards from Parcel
Delivery Services (a service run through a service provider called Studio Telecom). When ICSTIS
were informed of the content and promotion of this service we invoked our Emergency Procedure
- for details click this link -
www.icstis.org.uk/service_providers/complaints/default.asp) and
removed access to the service (operating on 20 numbers) on 29 December 2005.
We do not believe that this service is operating again and have issued a statement to the industry
to reiterate that they fulfill their responsibilities under our Code of Practice and ensure that any
premium rate service running on their network abides by our regulation.
If you are invited to call a premium rate number (starting with the dialling code ‘090’) and believe
there is a problem with the content, promotion or operation of the service then please call our
Contact Centre for free on 0800 500 212.
Our staff will be able to look up the number for you and
give you any information we have about it. Alternatively, you can check a number yourself at
www.icstis.org.uk/consumers/ncd/default.asp This particular case will be adjudicated on as soon as possible. Until then, all the revenue will
remain frozen and will not be passed on to the operator. Until then, we will not have details
posted on the website as we need to publish the exact facts and final outcome.
The email you received referred to a £15 charge. This is in fact an urban myth. It is not possible
for a £15 charge to be made on connection. We also have a number of measures in place in our
Code of Practice to ensure that consumers are protected from unexpectedly high charges. Calls
and texts cost a maximum of £1.50 per minute. The particular service referred to in the chain email
used a recorded message which lasted a maximum of 6 minutes - making the total cost £9.
Under the Code, all service providers must state clearly in promotional material the likely costs for
calls to each service (either per minute or total charge inclusive of VAT).
It is worth remembering that the vast majority of premium rate services operate within the ICSTIS
Code of Practice and cause no consumer harm. Sadly, a small number do and consumers should
always inform us as soon as possible about these companies so we can investigate them in full.
To ensure you are protecting yourself, make sure you can recognise which numbers will incur a
premium charge on your phone, always read the terms and conditions of promotions you are
taking part in and if an offer looks too good to be true then it probably is.
For further information, please visit the consumer section of the website where we aim to answer
your questions.
www.icstis.org.uk/consumers/default.asp.
For our leaflet ‘Are you protected against premium rate scams?’ please click:
http://www.icstis.org.uk/pdfs_news/p..._factsheet.pdf __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____
original Email:
Subject: Royal Mail Scam
Can you circulate this around especially as Christmas is fast approaching.
It has been confirmed by Royal Mail.
The Trading Standards Office are making people aware of the following
scam:-
A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0306 6611911 (a premium rate number).
DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scan originating from Belize.
If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you WILL already have been billed £15 for the phone call.
If you do receive a card with these details then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 02072396655 or ICSTIS (the premium rate service regulator)
at:-
www.icstis.org.uk or your local trading standards office.
This is a genuine scan and is under investigation by ICSTIS.
ENDS.
01-Nov-2006, 18:48 
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