Recently the European Consumer Centre Finland has received complaints about bills for mobile services. Consumers say their phone bills have included charges for services they did not order.
One service provider that has been mentioned is Celldorado, a Dutch firm that offers ring tones and wallpapers.
If you notice that you have been charged for a mobile service you didn't order, this is what to do:
1) Send your mobile phone operator a written claim. Give details concerning the bill and how much you have been charged erroneously. Ask the operator to deduct this amount from the bill because you have not ordered the service. Ask for a reply by a certain date. Save a copy of this claim.
2) If the operator's response is not satisfactory, ask the operator in writing to explain how a contract on the basis of which you are being charged has supposedly been concluded between the mobile service provider and you. Save a copy for yourself.
3) Pay only the part of the bill that is undisputed.
4) If the mobile phone operator has sent the bill to a collection agency, send a written claim to the collection agency as well. The collection agency must interrupt collection measures until the matter is settled.
5) Also send a written claim to the service provider. Explain that you have not ordered the service for which the mobile phone operator has charged you. Ask for a reply by a certain date. Save a copy of this claim.
6) If the matter cannot be settled in this way, contact your local consumer adviser. Advisers' contact information is available on the European Consumer Centre's website at www.ecc.fi. An adviser will help you bring the matter to the attention of the Consumer Dispute Board or the European Consumer Centre if necessary.
Additional information: Director Leena Lindström, European Consumer Centre, tel. +358 9 7726 7826