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Sheepeth
new user
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 20
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Im hoping Web User may do something on my behalf to help as I'm out of ideas.
I have been using NTL's dial up service for some time now, but recently I got hit by a rogue dialer. I was already surfing and got disconnected to hear my modem dialing out again. Up popped the windows dialer to show me I was reconnecting to a number i did not recognise (08714718483) i immediatly pulled the plug, rebooted, reconnected. It reconnected fine to the normal ntl number i was used to. However since that point the rogue dialer was operating in the background. Somehow, even though the window stated i was dialing the usual ntl number, i was actually being rediected through this other 0871 number costing me approx 8p/min. So when the phone bill came in I was shocked to see the increased sum due to this dialer. NTL did not want to help or act on my behalf to find the culprit, just a "your problem" attitude was what i recieved. So i rang OFTEL who found the info i needed. A customer of Echo Tecnologies aka Medius Network ltd (who provide services such as chat lines to customers who resell). I phoned them to find out which customer to which I found that the company is based in Andorra! and are named Global Access SL. Echo said they cannot help because a popup would have emerged on-screen to warn me of my reconnection and they promptly sent me a letter to show how to remove the software. The letter was very unhelpful as it said to go into the "windows settings" and delete the "internet connection control" software. As far as im aware there is no simgle one "windows setting" but multiple settings within windows such as diplay settings, internet settings and so on. I could not find this connection control anywhere so i thought I'd format my machine to get rid of this dialler and any other adware/malware etc. After re-installing windows i set up my usual dialler and connected as normal. Then I rang NTL straight after asked what was the last call at the time i was connected, to which they replied "0871...." I couldn't believe it. After formatting this company was still managing to redirect my calls, but how? my machine was diplaying the usual ntl phone number when i dialled out! I rang the police who were baffled, who then told me they cannot act upon this matter as the company involved are based in Andorra and so its their policing issue. OFTEL cannot act upon this company nor will NTL or ECHO. NTL told me to phone tech support at 50p/min, and although i knew what they would say i phoned anyway. Rather than help to contact Global Access they simply told me how to re-establish my internet connection and format my machine (which i already did). I am now faced with a bill I refuse to pay. Where do i go from here. The police have told me it is a crime but cant do anything.
Iam running windows XP Pro NTL dial up set up through network connections p.s. the dialler did not set up and additional dialler in network connections like most other rogue diallers.
If anyone knows of any other companies that could help me please let me know. I was thinking also of conacting 'Which' would they help?
-------------------- You can't beat an egg!..............no wait!!1
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RichieP
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 4727
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You may have to write this opff and put it down to experience. I would suggest that you post a Hijack This log in that part of the forum to help remove the dialler. Start by reading AndrewC's post here
--------------------
OK OK I can't go any faster! aaaaaaaaaaaagh!
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garynewelluk
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 33
Loc: Aberdeen, Scotland
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I think its time customers took a stand to this sort of thing. The companies that hire out the lines that can charge premium rates should be liable if calls are made using those numbers that customers aren't aware of.
I had this a number of years ago with BT. They were selling the premium rate lines but didn't want to get involved when they were being used fraudulently.
I don't know if you ever watch BBC's watchdog but this sort of thing has been on there a number of times and its not actually OFTEL that regulate this behaviour but ICSTIS. NTL should have told you this when you complained but would probably be loathe to do so as you can get a hold put on the bill.
Here is a link to an article about this very subject: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/06/06/icstis_rogue/.
And here is a link to ICSTIS themselves:
http://www.icstis.org.uk/
I think as customers it is time we got the law changed on this sort of thing. I vote that we create a petition to send to the house of commons to make the telephone company liable for calls made using rogue diallers that way they would take more of an interest in clamping down on them.
I will set up a mini site in the next day where people can fill in their names and lets get the law changed.
-------------------- Gary Newell
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rattledrat
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 2
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Hi Sheepeth.
Run REGEDIT
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Microsoft\Windows\Run
Look at the listing for the rouge dialer and note where the EXE file is hidden, deleat the line in \Run and then rename the .exe file to include OLD.
Run FIND and enter what ever the EXE file is titled [Filename.*] and search for all files inc .dll
BTW if using IE Tools\InternetOptions\Connections\ use - Always dial my default connection and set firewall to ask permission.
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