Consumer Agency warns against illegal billings from Internet IQ tests

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Nearly 30 Finnish reports of offences filed against Danish Internet firm A Danish Internet firm, All Billing, which made money last year from on-line IQ tests, is trying to lure its former clients into sending more money with unfounded reminders of unpaid fees.
      The Finnish Consumer Agency has received dozens of phone calls regarding the matter, and the police have recorded nearly 30 reports of offences filed against the firm.
     
In July last year, the Consumer Agency warned the public about the "ÄÖ Foorumi" ("IQ Forum") website that hosted various IQ and love tests. The tests were advertised on the websites of the Finnish commercial television network MTV3, Microsoft, and Saunalahti.
      When taking a test, the unsuspecting consumer's modem connection was automatically disconnected by the website and then reconnected to a chargeable service number.
      If the user had a service number blocker to his or her phone line, the call was rerouted to the company maintaining the website. The phone line's owner was then billed for the call.
      According to the Consumer Agency the Danish firm's marketing tactics were illegal, as the consumers were unaware of the fact that they would be charged for the service.
      Today, ÄÖ Foorumi web pages clearly inform the users of the costs of the tests. Still, All Billing has sent reminder bills worth tens of euros to customers who did not pay for the previous calls. They have also been threatened with debt-collecting actions.
     
"Such reminder bills should not be paid under any circumstances", asserts Consumer Agency lawyer Mika Hapamäki.
      The Police and the Consumer Agency have contacted Danish authorities in hopes to clarify the Danish company's activities. This may prove difficult as the company's address details consist of a mere post office box number.
      As its Finnish contact information, the firm's Danish homepage gives a mobile phone number. When called, the number connects to an answering service where a recording states that the bills need not be paid.
     
Presently it would be impossible to pay the bills anyway. As a precaution, the Nordea bank has frozen the company's account.
      "Our principle is that we have to be aware of the nature of our clients' business activities. We have contacted the account holder but the matter has not been resolved yet", Nordea states.
      According to Hapamäki, Internet scams of this type are regrettably common. "Especially in sex-related swidles the consumers are often too embarrassed to contact the authorities", Hapamäki concludes.


Links:
  Consumer Agency Press Release 29.7.2004

Helsingin Sanomat