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Queja 106299 Detalles

I want to preface the following story with this fact, In no way did I sign up for or authorize this service. This is on a cellular service from Verizon Wireless that I pay for. On 04/25/2012 I received a text stating "IQ Power: Trivia Alerts 3xmsgs/wk at $9.99/mo Enter your PIN on the website: 9734 Msg&Data Rates May Apply info: tinyurl.com/(left out for security) REPLY HELP for help"

I did not reply or click on the link, then approx. 5 minutes later I received the next text message "IQ Power: Welcome to Trivia Alerts! 3xmsgs/wk Monthly charge billed @ $9.99/mo. Reply HELP of call 8888906150 for help, STOP to cancel Msg&Data Rates May Apply"

Again I didn't respond, thinking it was only spam. I started a Google search and found a couple of complaints by people saying they had actually been charged for this service without any authorization. About that time I received another text, it was some random fact pertaining horses. To this I replied STOP, and received a message saying my service had been stopped and that I'd no longer be billed.

This brings me to today. My phone bill arrives in my inbox and is $9.99 higher than usual (go figure). I was able to get the charges reversed after spending some time on the phone with a helpful Verizon employee. I was also able to block premium texting services on my account. Why are these not blocked by default? And why is somebody able to add $9.99/mo to my bill without my permission or any other information than my phone number?