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The UK regulator for phone-paid services fines a Russian firm for offering a free games app with a hidden £10 charge.
Mobile users have been advised to take more care when downloading apps after a firm offering access to free games was found to be charging users £10 via a text message. Connect Ltd has been fined £50,000 and told to repay everyone who used the service after being investigated by UK regulator PhonepayPlus. The service offered by Connect enabled users to access popular games via the 7mobi.net game portal, but before the app was installed, consumers were presented with a screen titled "Downloader". On selecting "install", they were then presented with a screen which stated "Do you agree with the rules of downloading" which had two buttons, one marked "OK" and a second marked "Rules". Where a consumer selected "OK", a text message was automatically sent which prompted the service to charge the user £10 by sending another message. Where they selected "Rules", they were presented with eight pages of terms and conditions. Inaccurate pricing information for UK users was located on the sixth page. Consumers were given the opportunity to select buttons marked "Agree" or "Disagree", and where "Agree" was selected, a text message was again automatically sent, resulting in the £10 payment.....Read more here: Phone Users On Alert Over Hidden App Charges
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