Daily Mail tells how to fight back against spam
2/12/2009 at 08:38
Last week I wrote about spam and how I billed a company for sending me a spam text message, today the Daily Mail picked up the story in Money Mail. You can read the story in both the print and online editions.
If you’re sent a spam text message to your mobile phone you can read how I invoiced the company that sent the spam £35.00.
If you want to do the same you can also adapt the copy of the letter to use as a template so that you too can fight back against spam.
ebuyerfb says
9:05 am on 02/12/2009
Any chance you are knowledgeable enough of American law that you could draft one of those for US readers? I pay $0.05 for each spam text I receive.
I’m also curious how UK law accounts for cases where a service sends an SMS text to someone to verify that they own the number. That is typically done by legitimate SMS companies for opt-in purposes so they don’t spam. Is that type of message exempt?
Chris Dawson says
9:08 am on December 2nd, 2009
We don’t pay to receive texts (unless on a subscription service). As you’re outside the EU I wouldn’t know what laws apply.
Mike Matson says
10:00 am on 02/12/2009
For some time I have been fighting back when sent spam by UK companies.
In the majority of cases the spammers respond either with grovelling apologies or with attempts to justify their actions.
It is often the case that my email address has been provided by list sellers (who, I am quite sure, are all cowboys).
I also find that many senders of spam are quite ignorant of the law. For example, they are unaware of the fact that while they can send unsolicited marketing material to businesses, this does not include partnerships and sole traders who are afforded the same rights as individuals.
I have copied my general email response below. I edit and amend this as required.
I like the idea of sending an invoice. I think I’ll start attaching invoices to my emails of complaint.
======================================
Your email was unsolicited and breaches the Privacy and Electronic
Communications Regulations of 2003.
I have not asked you to send me marketing material nor have I been a
customer of yours. Therefore your action is illegal.
I require from you:
1. an apology
2. details of how you obtained my email address
3. details of all personal information about me held by you.
4. an undertaking that you will remove all my details from your records.
======================================
Derek Sissons says
11:53 am on 02/12/2009
I’ve been plagued with spam which appears to come from my own address and Yahoo seem unable to solve the problem but tell me that my security hasn’t been breached.
radams says
3:53 pm on December 2nd, 2009
Anyone can send mail which appears to come from your address.
Theres no way for yahoo or any other isp to solve the problem, and it doesn’t mean your security has been breached.
Derek Sissons says
9:10 pm on December 2nd, 2009
Hi and thanks for that, but it means I can’t send them a bill for wasting my time which is a pity.
katakitty says
6:11 pm on 02/12/2009
Chris, if you could only sort something out for cold callers to landlines I would keep you in cream cakes for ever.
I’ve just been screaming down the line at some damn bloke talking about wills and he had the cheek to say “if you would let me finish”, I didn’t want him to start let alone finish.
GolfTeeWarehouse says
6:20 pm on December 2nd, 2009
There is a product called TrueCall that can help, it featured on Dragon’s Den last year, although costs around £100
keith6646 says
8:28 pm on December 2nd, 2009
katakitty, try registering your landline number with the Telephone Preference Service. I did so several years ago and it really does stop 99.9%of unwanted marketing calls. If one does slip through I merely ask the the persons name and address and advise I am registered with TPS and intend to report them – they usually then pull the plug without replying.
Wayne says
10:00 pm on December 2nd, 2009
Yes, TPS has worked for me too.
I very rarely get cold calls on my landline any longer. When I do, I mention that my number is registered with TPS, which is usually followed by a grovelling apology and an assurance that my number will be removed from their list immediately.
katakitty says
9:44 am on December 3rd, 2009
Thank you, I like the sound of Truecall. I am regestered with TPS but it’s the overseas call centres that seem to get through. If they have an American or Irish accent I always listen to them just in case they are Paypal or eBay calling.
I listened to the Bob Mabe prank call on youtube again to calm me down, absolutely brilliant.
Bigpoppa says
6:41 pm on 02/12/2009
My golly gosh…
Colin Peck says
8:29 pm on 02/12/2009
Chris, I really enjoyed the article in the paper, at last a way of getting back at big business perhaps? Does this legislation cover annoying internet pop-ups I wonder? I am getting really fed up with a well known optician company making pop-ups appear on my screen I can’t seem to block at all; inviting me to enter their free competition for laser eye surgery.
Chris Dawson says
11:41 pm on December 2nd, 2009
Sadly it doesn’t cover pop ups… other wise I’d be complaining to eBay as they try and delivery one every time I log out!
Browser settings can help cure this though (tools>options>content in Firefox, tools>internet options>privacy in Internet Explorer)
Peter says
12:22 am on 03/12/2009
Chris
I’d rather get 100 times the amount of spam that I get, than appear in that disgusting homophobic and racist rag that calls itself a paper.
board_surfer says
9:18 am on December 3rd, 2009
I’m sure you could cancel your subscription to the Brighton Evening Pink any time you liked.
Yael says
9:41 am on 03/12/2009
The Daily Mail uses really simple language, it reads like a children’s book, I didn’t think Chris spoke like that! *is now scared he might “get me back” too! Lol!