Idiot Tax suffers a set back

[jrhnewark]

I think this is a great, great shame.

Argument A: "I couldn't see the subscription disclaimer at the bottom of the screen as it went too fast." - Er, don't sign up to these things if you can't see the small print. Idiot.

Argument B: "It was an under 16 who signed up. How were they to know?" - Er, if they didn't know about these 'complex' things, should they really be in possesion of a mobile phone. No, doufuss.

It's a great shame the ASA have sided with the idiots taken in by the Idiot Tax. Let's hope other forms of non-TV advertising can still mean these poor people can get their (horrid) ringtones, so we all know that they're idiots when they're walking down the street with their phones on.

Give them a wide berth - they might do something stupid!

(Apologies if this has offended you, friend. Jamster will still take your money, if you want them to? That's good - I'm glad you've got money to burn. I'll do a little dance once every week, just for you, if you forward £10 in cash to: [insert my address]. That's right, one little dance, every week - just send £10 in cash to: [insert my address].)

[marky]

Now you have got me confused, where do you get idiot tax from?
Oh and this isnt a dig at you its them flaming ringtone companies
It says this has been on watchdog

QUOTE Also, for some, texting 'STOP' to end the text messages simply didn't work.

Its a scam and nothing more

[jrhnewark]

Originally Posted by marky

Its a scam and nothing more

I must say, the 'STOP' thing is a bit bad.

But you've got to be a bit daft to want to buy these in the first place - hence the nickname 'Idiot Tax'.

[marky]

Originally Posted by jrhnewark

I must say, the 'STOP' thing is a bit bad.

But you've got to be a bit daft to want to buy these in the first place - hence the nickname 'Idiot Tax'.

Try telling that to the average 12yr old that needs that ringtone,

[jrhnewark]

Originally Posted by marky

Try telling that to the average 12yr old that needs that ringtone,

Referring to 'Argument B', I'd say once again - if anyone 'needs' a ringtone, I think it's safe to say they shouldn't really be in possession of a mobile phone.

[downquark1]

Originally Posted by jrhnewark

Referring to 'Argument B', I'd say once again - if anyone 'needs' a ringtone, I think it's safe to say they shouldn't really be in possession of a mobile phone.

Unfortunally if everyone had common sense, such adverts and marketing techniques wouldn't exist and I would be happy

[Stuart]

I personally think all these Ringtone companies are con artists. The one that sold a "mobile torch" for £3.99 and neglected to mention you can often light up your phone just by pushing a key springs to mind. Especially as they totally failed to mention the fact that for just over £1 you can pick up an actual torch, which will light the area far more efficiently.

I also think that kids and young teenagers should not be allowed to have mobiles (in fact I think the Department of Health recommend against it).

However, I can see that if a thing is seen as being the in thing to have (and a *lot* of people seem to consider them to be a good thing to have), it is very difficult to persuade a 12 year old not to have it. They also may ignore any small print (assuming they understand or even read it).

TBH. the sooner these Ringtone companies go out of business, the better.

[jrhnewark]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

I also think that kids and young teenagers should not be allowed to have mobiles (in fact I think the Department of Health recommend against it).

I think that's very unfair on those that want to use them for the designed purpose - making phone calls, especially in emergencies! Those that waste their money on this trash probably shouldn't.

However, I can see that if a thing is seen as being the in thing to have (and a *lot* of people seem to consider them to be a good thing to have), it is very difficult to persuade a 12 year old not to have it. They also may ignore any small print (assuming they understand or even read it).

"Persuade a 12 year old not to have it"? How is a 12 year old going to have their own money, earnt by them? They're not even teenagers!

It's only the consumer's problem if they don't read the small print, and that falls with these people's parents. If you don't understand or can't read small print, I doubt you're mature or bright enough to be in possession of a device such as a mobile phone.

TBH. the sooner these Ringtone companies go out of business, the better.

They're just doing business - making money. At the end of the day, 12 year olds aren't legally old enough to earn money - so the only people that get ripped off are their idiot parents.

As for 16/17/18 year olds and older, if they're so daft at that age, they deserve all they get!

[downquark1]

"Persuade a 12 year old not to have it"? How is a 12 year old going to have their own money, earnt by them? They're not even teenagers!

It's only the consumer's problem if they don't read the small print, and that falls with these people's parents. If you don't understand or can't read small print, I doubt you're mature or bright enough to be in possession of a device such as a mobile phone.

Some kids get pocket money, and even if the adult agrees there's no guarantee they read the fine print.

When I was a kid I had to justify everything I wanted, so I got trained not to buy on impulse. There was a time I asked for a nintendo for my birthday and when my dad immediately said "OK" I nearly died of shock.

Personally I wouldn't mind the company taking £100 is someone bought that annoying crazy frog song, but unfortunally if the stupid weren't protected the companies would make everything so complicated that noone would have time to read/understand the small print.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by jrhnewark

I think this is a great, great shame.

Argument A: "I couldn't see the subscription disclaimer at the bottom of the screen as it went too fast." - Er, don't sign up to these things if you can't see the small print. Idiot.

Argument B: "It was an under 16 who signed up. How were they to know?" - Er, if they didn't know about these 'complex' things, should they really be in possesion of a mobile phone. No, doufuss.

It's a great shame the ASA have sided with the idiots taken in by the Idiot Tax.

Whilst people should be more careful in their buying, it is equally beholden to the company doing the selling to make their contracts understandable and legal.

If you are signing up to an ongoing contract, that should be made clear. Also IIRC, legally an under 16 year old *cannot* sign up to a financial contract and this should also be made clear.

This is not an "idiot tax", it is not a "tax" at all, it is more like a scam by a company that doesn't want to stick to the rules.

[nffc]

Originally Posted by jrhnewark

Referring to 'Argument B', I'd say once again - if anyone 'needs' a ringtone, I think it's safe to say they shouldn't really be in possession of a mobile phone.

I keep mine on silent.

Crazy frog is lame, anyone wanting that deserves to get scammed

[MetaWraith]

Personally i've yet to see a ringtone, crazy frog included, that either I or my friends wanted that we couldnt get or make an "equivalent for free". I hope once the knowledge of how to do this spreads far enough that the dreaded ringtone scams will die a natural death.

No I won't go into methods of getting/making free mp3 quality ringtones, but it's not that hard if you think about it.

[Millay]

What shocked me was these 12 y/o kids saying it had cst them between £20-£50 in credit!!! where the heck did that credit come from... If kids have that much credit on there phones a question needs to be asked..

I find the attitude of some people here to be very poor & somewhat offensive. My daughters like these, and other ringtones, and have on occasions bought some. As it happens they did not get caught by one of these scams, but to label a 11/12/13 year old girl an "idiot" because see didn't see the small print just shows how small minded some adults are.

I think these ring tone companies should be shutdown. Especially jamster. When I am watching evening adult television, i.e documentaries at 10pm I DO NOT want to be hit with 2 double adverts form the same company in every advertisement break there is.

I would also like to note if they have the right to sell others music, after all MIDI files on the internet were mostly stopped for copyright reasons.