Do it, do it, do it
From today’s Irish Times:
ONE OF Ireland’s best-known premium mobile phone text providers claims that its business would be “wiped out” if a 12-month suspension from sending messages is imposed by the independent regulator (RegTel).
Realm (Communications Ltd) was founded by businessman Tom Higgins and provides other services such as Irish Psychics Live, WebTarot, Century Psychics and Great Irish Breaks, as well as a live weather forecasting service. It argues that the findings made by RegTel following alleged complaints are unlawful.
Right, I have to be very careful here because Mr Higgins is notoriously litigious. I would also urge anyone commenting to bear that in mind as all comments are entirely your responsibility.
So I’ll go at this kind of thing very generally. There is a massive rip-off culture associated with mobile phones. This runs from the operators themselves (look at O2 offering Irish iPhone customers a small fraction of the texts, call times and data usage that they give UK customers, even though it’s the same network) to the bandits who bombard kids with ads for ringtones. Knowing kids never read the small print they continue to charge them for subsequent downloads, or often nothing at all, and trying to unsubscribe from these kinds of things is often a tremendous challenge, and that’s putting it mildly.
Realm Communications have a bit of previous, as you might imagine. A Google search for “Realm Communications” dataprotection provides you with some interesting reading – here you can see they were prosecuted in the past. You’ll also finds threads on boards.ie, such as:
Unwanted texts
I’ve been getting text messages from 57704 for the past month. I’m guessing this is a subscription service. I didn’t subscribe!!!! It’s from Fone Club offering free credit. The bastard texts cost almost a euro to receive and it’s eating my credit. Anyone know how to stop? Should I contact Vodafone? There is no number in any of the texts to unsubscribe to this. Help please.
Have a read of the thread and there are plenty of other others on Boards if you do a search. So I’m right behind anybody who takes a stand against these types of companies. They, and I’m speaking generally and not specifically about Realm, might operate within the law most of the time but what they do is morally abject and, in my opinion, no better than the Nigerian 419ers.
There should be a hardline policy taken with every single one of the premium rate phone line and text operators. They rake in so much money that they should be severely punished when found to flout the rules. A three strikes and you’re out system would work fine. First offence, €50,000 fine. Second offence, €100,00 fine. Third offence, €250,000 fine and you’re banned from operating any such service again.
The fact that it’s so easy for people to be fleeced of their money is disgraceful and unless there’s some kind of deterrent then it will continue to be easy. That it’s so difficult for people to get redress having found themselves on the wrong end of one of these ’services’ is shameful.
If people want to use premium SMS and phone lines then they’re more than welcome to do so. They’re fucking stupid, if you ask me, but if they’ve made the choice then all well and good. If they think that there’s a never-ending supply of genuine pyschics to man hotlines, or that getting your horoscope at €1.50 a minute is good value, then they’re perfectly within their rights to use those kinds of services.
But stealth charges and people finding themselves signed up to things when it is unclear how they got signed up, how much it’s costing them and how to unsubscribe is just scummy. The people who carry out these things should be treated accordingly.
I hope RegTel can uphold the ruling they’ve made against Realm and any other company they might have found fault with. The only way to hurt them is to hit them in their wallets. And we shouldn’t feel sorry that Realm would be ‘wiped out’ if RegTel’s ruling is upheld, Mr Higgins isn’t short of a few quid. He could just sell one of the 10 homes he owns around the world to keep things ticking over till the suspension is lifted.
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 am
Around 8 years ago I got rid of my mobile phone and have never regretted it. Hopefully more people will join me.
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:27 am
We knew you were going to do that post..
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:32 am
I predict that this thread will end up about poo and MH..
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:33 am
maggot, do what I did. Get a mobile, but don’t tell anyone. Put the ring-tone on ’silent’, and never ring anyone.
Trust me, it works!
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:34 am
Heh. I agree. It’s abject… I don’t know what, it’s just abject.
Irish phone psychics – as my husband said, ‘Irish Psychics> I’d be impressed if they phoned me.’
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:37 am
he’s going into space.
Ground control to Higgins Tom, this Banson, stay up there you Irish prick!
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:39 am
‘Irish Psychics> I’d be impressed if they phoned me.’
Tempting fate!
Mind you – all those “chat to/text/swap pictures with” lovely girls and glamorous older women in your area companies provide a valuable service in keeping the streets and pubs free from sex-mad weemin so that decent men and women can move about in safety.
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:40 am
‘You Irish prick’? What’s that got to do with it?
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:41 am
maggot, do what I did. Get a mobile, but don’t tell anyone. Put the ring-tone on ’silent’, and never ring anyone.
Trust me, it works!
a packet of cigarettes is cheaper and is autmatically on silent .
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:41 am
Have you been harrassed by hot nympho women recently, maggot? Poor you!
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:41 am
I dialled a wrong number once and got through to Irish Cyclists Live.
They charged me 1 euro a minute to listen to some cunt in lycra shorts complain about a puncture he got in Kimmage
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:44 am
Trust me, I own a ringtones web-site (and a number of homes across Ireland and the British Isles).. it does have a certain ring to it?
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 am
Trust Me (for €1.50 per minute/€2 per week) subscription service,Minimum 3 texts per week.
To unsubscribe please text 98436..
Over 16 years only
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:54 am
maggot, do what I did. Get a mobile, but don’t tell anyone
Cough..splutter…oxo…cough…
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:06 am
Nitpick – It’s a “419″ scam, not “401″. 401(k) is an American pension thingy.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:13 am
Oooops, so it is. Cheers, dawg.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:15 am
Our GP surgery has recently switched to a god awful premium rate type line, which no-one over 12 can remember so if you have a medical emergency,reach for your mobile,dial the old number, wait til they drone out the new one, ring again because you lost track about 4 digits in, ring again because you didn’t get the last bit, ring the new number, wait til they give you the options & if you aren’t dead by then you’ll be severely shocked when you get your phone bill.
Jo, where maggot lives the supply of ‘hot’women is limited, hence the historic demand for ether, homebrew etc which he has researched extensively. There are no ‘hot’ men. Chocolate sales are phenomenal.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:17 am
Irish Psychics Live!
“Will this call cost much?”
“Are you on a landline or mobile sweetheart?”
“You mean you dont know?”
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:02 am
Speaking of scams, just had a phone call from COSTA RICA telling me that there is a cheque for nearly £500,000 waiting for me in Heathrow, and it will only cost me £547 to get it.
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:11 am
where maggot lives the supply of ‘hot’women is limited, hence the historic demand for ether, homebrew etc which he has researched extensively. There are no ‘hot’ men. Chocolate sales are phenomenal.
-Heh he! Bet you wish you’d rang Irish Psychics before you told your sister about this blog, eh maggot?
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:29 am
Presumably Irish Sidekicks only go to law when they know they’re going to win…
IS: This fecker has impugned our rep on the interweb… I’m suing him in the High Court…
Senr Counsel: I see. Are we going to win?
IS: Yes. The case will be held before Judge O’Soandso on the 18th October, 2009.
SC: He’s a bit of a ‘just the facts’ man…
IP: Never mind, we’re going to win. Here’s the names of the jury…
SC: How do you…?
IP: How do you think? We’re getting €100k plus costs.
SC: Right, of course. Em.. how long will the case take?
IP: Three days, you can book your flight to Nice for the 22nd…
SC: Oh, yes, alright…
IP: But don’t forget to close the small window in your downstairs loo, there’s a severe storm due on the 24th.
SC: Really? Ok, thanks. Thanks for that.
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:35 am
Scammers and chancers everywhere.
I put my car up for sale on Carzone last night and just got a call from ‘Motorfind’, told her to piss off and hung up before the girl could start her spiel about having a database of interested purchasers and for just 100 quid, etc…
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:37 am
You should put your car up for sale on Twenty Major, SG, just to see what happens.
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:42 am
Is it true that Dave, Pete, Lucky, Splodge and Ron are members of Irish Sidekicks Live?
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:44 am
“You should put your car up for sale on Twenty Major, SG, just to see what happens.”
Thanks, Jo, but that’s an open invitation for practical japes of all sorts.
Anyone after an Audi A4?
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:49 am
I went after an Audi A4, the fucker ran over our cat! (I see what you mean about the japes SG)
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:49 am
Good luck SG! I’ve been selling hash on this site for the last few months. Business has definitely NOT been brisk, and that’s putting it mildly.
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:51 am
If I lived on you side of town, you’d be plagued by visits from me.
Unless ’twas soapbar.
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:52 am
Who the fuck wants cold stew MB?
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
I snuck out of a meeting earlier for a poo.
I think I’ll call Irish SlyGicks Live and tell them about it.
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
Hash is cold? Christ, a fate worse than stew exists!
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:55 am
Am I missing something?
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:55 am
MB, no one wants cakes either – I still think we could put out heads together and come up with an award winning product ;)
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:55 am
I’ll be over to pick up that Audi later on SG.
Unless it’s a car.
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:56 am
MB i did not mean to imply maggot was driven to sample ether,potato beer,poteen etc due to the shortage of suitable weemin (though he does occasionally hint at the lack of them in his posts). He has actually been researching it. Stll no ‘hot’ men here though.
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Not if you’re a cowboy hooronahonda.
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
A friend of mine gave me a lovely belated birthday present last Friday night…
I little lump of squidgy Black Morrocan hash..absolutly fantastic..
She’s a diamond for that..
It was all gone by sunrise on Sat..
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I daresay some poor moroccan fella was missing his stew last Friday Fill? No matter how small a portion it was. Glad to see it saw you thru the night though, what did you eat it with Tweezers?
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Hey Jo, Never mind the stew and cakes etc, how about a Twenty Major helpline? We could answer whoever who calls by telling them to fuck off and get a life for two euros a minute. I am prepared to have a go at it. The recorded spiel would go something like this:
“Thank you for calling The Twenty Major Hotline, all of our operatives are busy at the moment but one of them should be with you shortly…”
(two minutes later)
“We appreciate your patience in holding the line, please continue to do so as our skilled adviser will be with you shortly…”
(three minutes later)
“Are you still waiting you sad bastard? Will you ever fuck off? Other people are trying to get through!”
Mucho moohlah for minimal effort, ssswweeeettt!
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Hooronahonda:all i’ll say is by about 5am i couldnt even put skins together..
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
at least dick turpin wore a mask
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Bad news! Brian Cowen called me in yesterday and said “Maryyoubigfatwagonwhataryadoinwastinyourfeckintimeonthatblogthingstopitnoworyouareoutonyerbigfatarse”
So, that’s it, this is my last reply, sorry Batty it could have been beautiful but is not to be.
How come no-one has mentioned Irish Psychos live yet?
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
The horrible thing about these mobile scams are that they are targeted towards the terminally stupid- people who think that somewhere out there is free money, someone who can help you get rich because you are nice or if you vote for them they’ll try to make your country a better place to live.
Fianna Fuckin’ Mobail.
In other news a woman who worked with me admitted on Monday morning that she and her psychic had gone around to her ex-boyfriend’s house to knock on the door and ask some essential questions about the relationship which had broken up two years before.
Can you imagine waking up to that doorstep nightmare on a Sunday morning?
Slipped her psychic a tenner and subsequently had the Friday night of my life. Heh. Dind’t actually, but the idea occurred too late. Bastad.
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
‘How come no-one has mentioned Irish Psychos live yet?’
There’s been a lull in the psycho department since fatcocksacker was ‘emasculated’.
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Hooronahonda says: I went after an Audi A4, the fucker ran over our cat! (I see what you mean about the japes SG)
What was an Audi A4 doing in the cats basket?
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
No hot men sister ? Brian will be cross with you!
Jo – I have asked to sample your carrot cakes and cupcakes – your marketing needs work!
Classy story
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080923/tod-australia-pig-offbeat-37b0eca.html
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
…about forty kph Bats.
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
nine out of 10 cats say they reverse it.
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Twenty, I knew there was something I forgot to ask. You say in your piece that this Higgins guy is a bit litigious. Just how likely is he to find this thread? Has he got the Eye of Sauron bolted to the roof of his conservatory or something?
For example, if I called him a _______ useless, ____ eating, ____head will he find out and drag me into court to sue my ____ off?
I dont see why he should. I get called worse things all the time and, apart from a little emotional insecurity, I’m just fine with it.
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Has he got the Eye of Sauron bolted to the roof of his conservatory or something?
Yeah, I think so. Seriously*
* Any implication that Higgins actually has an evil eye or a conservatory is made for purposes of emphasis.
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Hooronahonda: There’s been a lull in the psycho department since fatcocksacker was ‘emasculated’.
There’s a vacancy?
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Its there for the taking Batty. Remember, at the interview just be yourself ok?
September 24th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Hooronahonda says: Its there for the taking Batty. Remember, at the interview just be yourself ok
Heh. And so say all of us.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:01 am
[...] some more (and infinitely more entertaining) commentary on Realm Communications see here. In the meantime, the same company, according to the Sunday Times of the weekend before last, wants [...]