Validas: Kill Your Bill

Are “premium” text messaging charges really what you want?

If you review your wireless bill and discover “premium” text messaging charges, be aware that these generally refer to either billing for services (like voting on American Idol through texting) or subscriptions to features like jokes or ringtones. Using often convoluted marketing and miniscule fine print, companies tend to target teens, leaving family plans particularly vulnerable to incurring these premium text fees. With that said, it is just an innocuous reflection of our world’s advanced wireless capabilities when, aware of the costs involved, you use your phone to vote on your favorite TV show (usually $1 per use) or intentionally purchase the latest Lady Gaga ringtone. The problems start, however, when we sign up for deals such as “free” ringtones without reading the fine print detailing that ordering the ringtones constitutes accepting the terms of a paid subscription to the ringtone service. In some cases, scammers have even gotten hold of wireless numbers and begun billing them through the wireless providers until the charges are halted. Your cell company will not do this automatically, either; close review of your wireless bills is essential. Audit your cell bill with Validas, where we generate savings for the average consumer of around $450 annually.

Websites to take notice of that are connected with premium text messaging include the following list. Watch for references to them on your wireless bill:

http://www.solow.com/how_to_play/play_mobile.html

http://www.personalpsychic.com/faq

http://www.lifecoachexperts.com/

http://www.predicto.com/index.cfm/fuse/faq

http://www.funmobile.com/catalog/ringtone

http://www.lovesoulmate.net/

http://mozoot.biz/