Busting myths about content charges

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Explained Deon Odendaal, GM of Mira Networks: "Carrier billing, or premium SMS, is a convenient way for mobile subscribers to purchase digital content. Charges are deducted from a subscriber's airtime balance or added to his contract's monthly account. The subscriber does not need to have a credit card, or go through a lengthy process of creating an account with the content provider each time he wants to make a purchase. Only the MSISDN (the mobile number) is required to identify the subscriber."

Essentially this means your cellphone account is also an open credit facility to purchase digital content and services, often costing unwitting subscribers and provoking more questions than answers. This has also prompted the organisation to compile a list of some of the more frequent queries that it, and other call centres like it, handle on a daily basis.

The Call Centre Manager of Mira Networks, Annelize Breedt, said: "The conversation usually starts with: 'I thought I wouldn't/ couldn't be charged because:

1. I have BIS (Blackberry Internet Service);
   
2. It's a data-only account;
   
3. My SIM is in a dongle or a tablet;
   
4. I'm on prepaid;
   
5. My phone was off/in for repairs/I removed the SIM card;
   
6. I deleted the messages; or
   
7. I didn't sign any contract.
   

Busted

1. 
   I have a Blackberry with Blackberry Internet service: BIS gives 'free' email and browsing for a monthly fee, but this is a service from Blackberry and not the cellphone service provider. It does not cover premium content charges, which are charged via Premium SMS or carrier billing to your cellphone account or deducted from your airtime balance.

   It's a data-only account: With carrier billing, digital content services can be charged to most cellphone accounts, whether it be voice or data. If the device can access the internet through a browser, it is possible to conclude a transaction.

2. The SIM card is in a dongle or a tablet: The content charges are not device depended. As mentioned above, if the device can browse the internet on the mobile network, it is possible to make a purchase, which is charged to the cellphone account.

3. I'm on prepaid: Charges can be made to most types of cellphone accounts. On a monthly contract, the charges will be added to your monthly account, but on a prepaid account it's deducted from the airtime balance.

4. My phone was off/in for repairs/I removed the SIM card: If you subscribed to a content service, the SIM card does not have to be in the device for your account to be charged the recurring fee, since your account is not kept on the SIM card.

5. I deleted the messages: Deleting the service message will not remove the charge. These messages are simply informational and often reminders that there is a subscription service in place. These messages are also the means to stop the service - follow the instructions in the service messages or contact your service provider.

6. I didn't sign a contract: Not all agreements need to be reduced to pen and paper. The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act makes a transaction enforceable if it is concluded entirely through data messages and is therefore a valid and legal transaction between parties.
   

As the providers of the technological backbone over which these premium services are carried, both Odendaal and Breedt stress that in order for the Value Added Services (VAS) industry to indeed add value, transparency and adhering to the WASPA code of conduct is paramount. Likewise, they urge consumers to read their messages and be aware with the same vigilance of what is going on with their account, as if it were their credit card or bank account.