ICSTIS Result - Umail Free Internet Dialler - GBP 20,000 Fine!

[Denis Mcmahon]

Received here from ICSTIS today:

Apologies in advance for the quote / comment ratio on this one. Note
that certain parts of the quoted text are x'ed out.

>Umail Free Internet Dialler - 0906 [xxx xxxx]
>
>Thank you for referring your complaint received on 7 February 2002 regarding
>the above service to ICSTIS.
>
>As a result of your complaint, access to this service was barred on 8
>February 2002 through an emergency procedure. The procedure was invoked on 7
>February 2002, but Tiscali UK the network responsible for this number, did
>not act on this procedure immediately.
>
>As you stated in your complaint, this service claimed to offer internet
>access using BT and cable free phone numbers, but actually charged dialed a
>premium rate number operating on a tariff of £1 a minute.
>
>The company responsible for this service stated that this number was used by
>their client, and they claimed that their client's computer had been hacked
>into and that this was simply just a 'prank'.
>
>This case was put before the ICSTIS Committee for consideration. The
>Committee upheld breaches of paragraphs 2.3.1, 3.4.1 , 3.3.1a, 3.8, 3.5 and
>5.2.3 of the Eighth Edition of the ICSTIS Code of Practice.
>
>The Committee decided that due to the seriousness of this case access to
>this service should be barred for a period of 6 months and a fine of £20,000
>was imposed. They also advised that complainants should be refunded.
>
>For your information, the Service Provider is:
>
>Solonet UK Ltd
>15 Lomeshaye Road
>Nelson
>BB9 7AS
>Contact: Mr [xxxxx xxxxxx]
>
>In order to prevent a similar occurrence in the future we would recommend
>that you install premium rate call barring. This would prevent any premium
>rate service from being dialled either by your telephone or PC. We would
>recommend that you contact your telephone company for further details.

I think this is a result, but a GBP 1.00 a minute PRS on a 30 line PRI
interface with 50% to the operator will make more than this in 24
hours of full use.

Incidentally, my ISPBX blocks 09<anything>, and his dialler was never
going to reconfigure my router, but that last paragraph is good advice
for modem and TA users.

Rgds
Denis
--
Denis McMahon / +44 7802 468949 / de...@pickaxe.demon.co.uk
sulfnbk is not a virus, see the symantec virus encyclopaedia!
Now restocking killfile, new entrants welcome: trolls, spam,
xpost cascades, OT ads, top posters & terminally clueless!

[Timothy & Maylene Lowe]

Dennis,

The Network withheld revenue from this service provider, so at the moment he
hasn't received any revenue.

We will find out in due course, how much money the Network are holding. The
company refused to sign a disclosure form so the Committee were blind when
picking a fine. There is also an administration charge he has to pay.

I am hoping that a lot of people did not fall for this, but I will see as
the phone bills come in.

Tim