Problem

Mobile Phones -
Download services for mobile phones

Many people love new ringtones. Text message services are also very popular, and are used by millions of mobile phone customers every day.

However, ringtones and messaging services can be quite expensive if used regularly. Some of these services are sold on a subscription basis, with new ringtones or text messages provided at regular intervals in return for repeated payments on the customer’s bill.

Companies offering these subscription services must make it clear to their customers that in buying a ringtone or requesting a text message, they are agreeing to pay regular charges on their bills until the customer tells the company to stop. The company also has to make it clear how much these services will cost, and what the customer should do to stop the service. If a company doesn’t do this, it has broken important consumer protection rules.

Before downloading ringtones you should:

• Check your mobile phone service allows you to receive ringtones
• Check your handset can receive ringtones or specific types of ringtone
• Check whether you will be signing up for a single download or a subscription service where you will be billed on a regular basis

• What are reverse-billed SMS services?
• How do I unsubscribe from reverse-billed SMS services?