How do you stop getting silly advertising messages from your cell phone service provider?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Complained on Twitter to their id. They called and since then, the number of calls have gone down to almost 5% of the original. Previously they used to call atleast twice every effing day.
 
Blackend said:
I use - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.deepakj.smspam

One tap method to report spam messages to your operator. I've reported hundreds of numbers and Airtel creates a ticket automatically for each complaint. I've had Airtel reps call me and apologize for the amount of spam I get because of my reports.

Recently though, the amount of spam I receive has decreased substantially. Earlier where I would get at least 5-8 messages per day, I get about 2-3 now.
Click to expand...
This one really works. Though it is not a spam blocker in itself, but tells your operators of the companies breaking the DND rule and involved in spamming. I recently was receiving a lot of Spam from a company called OneAssist from those generic ids ex. VM-ASSIST or MD-ASSIST. Blocking via spam blockers dint help as these don't really have any number attached. There were days they were sending me 6 messages a day - each one of them addressing someone else. So I installed this app and sent all the messages to Vodafone.

I got a call from One Assist directly, first they addressed me by the name mentioned in the sms. Then they did a roundabout and told me a story about how their SMS agent had leftover test ids. "Accidentally, we inputted some numbers and one of them turned out to be yours". This has turned into a serious offense and their accessibility to Vodafone might get limited. So they have been calling me to withdraw the complain.

So anyone, bothered by spam use this app. This might take time, but you can get back to the companies spamming you unnecessarily.
 
sharktale1212 said:
This one really works. Though it is not a spam blocker in itself, but tells your operators of the companies breaking the DND rule and involved in spamming. I recently was receiving a lot of Spam from a company called OneAssist from those generic ids ex. VM-ASSIST or MD-ASSIST. Blocking via spam blockers dint help as these don't really have any number attached. There were days they were sending me 6 messages a day - each one of them addressing someone else. So I installed this app and sent all the messages to Vodafone.

I got a call from One Assist directly, first they addressed me by the name mentioned in the sms. Then they did a roundabout and told me a story about how their SMS agent had leftover test ids. "Accidentally, we inputted some numbers and one of them turned out to be yours". This has turned into a serious offense and their accessibility to Vodafone might get limited. So they have been calling me to withdraw the complain.

So anyone, bothered by spam use this app. This might take time, but you can get back to the companies spamming you unnecessarily.
Click to expand...

There is actually a monetary fine for spamming someone which is probably why OneAssist wants you to withdraw the complaint. The fine amount is Rs. 1 lac for every offense and in some cases, permanent disconnection for the company. I got a similar call from a company that was spamming me that said they will have to pay a fine if I don't withdraw my complaint and my answer was simple: Don't spam people if you don't want to get fined.
 
sharktale1212 said:
They are just a nuisance once you give them your number.
Click to expand...
This is one way to avoid spam, dont give your number out.

got a pre-paid connection a cpl of weeks ago. ticked the box on the form where it says no marketing. only recd. one sms in the last two weeks.

The other thing i disabled the app they install so that it does not send any messages.
 
blr_p said:
This is one way to avoid spam, dont give your number out.

got a pre-paid connection a cpl of weeks ago. ticked the box on the form where it says no marketing. only recd. one sms in the last two weeks.

The other thing i disabled the app they install so that it does not send any messages.
Click to expand...



What should we do, who have number 10+ years old...? Many people cannot change numbers so easily.
 
A friend of mine who has his pre-paid number as long said he registered on the DnD and has not got any messages.

There is a procedure to enroll on that dnd. have people followed it completely ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Criminal
blr_p said:
This is one way to avoid spam, dont give your number out.

got a pre-paid connection a cpl of weeks ago. ticked the box on the form where it says no marketing. only recd. one sms in the last two weeks.

The other thing i disabled the app they install so that it does not send any messages.
Click to expand...
I do get messages from Justeat too but they weren't spammy in nature. Tastykhana sent 5 messages each day, 1 was the number I am fine with. Even dominos when running their offers send out 1 msg a day which I think should be the limit.

blr_p said:
A friend of mine who has his pre-paid number as long said he registered on the DnD and has not got any messages.

There is a procedure to enroll on that dnd. have people followed it completely ?
Click to expand...
People do follow. You start with a "no" in all the areas but as and when you signup for stuff, the options get changed. And then there are cases like happened to me, where the company spammed but claims innocence saying they were testing out their systems.
 
Blackend said:
There is actually a monetary fine for spamming someone which is probably why OneAssist wants you to withdraw the complaint. The fine amount is Rs. 1 lac for every offense and in some cases, permanent disconnection for the company. I got a similar call from a company that was spamming me that said they will have to pay a fine if I don't withdraw my complaint and my answer was simple: Don't spam people if you don't want to get fined.
Click to expand...
Ok at least they were being upfront. OneAssist has been claiming their test systems causing the spam. What I found suspicious about their claim was that they were sending me messages for a fortnight and that too in bulk. Hence I refused. I hope they learn their lessons.
 
blr_p said:
A friend of mine who has his pre-paid number as long said he registered on the DnD and has not got any messages.

There is a procedure to enroll on that dnd. have people followed it completely ?
Click to expand...

I registered on that with the right method -it- is not that confusing. I still get the pesky calls and stupid SMS. I mentioned it in the beginning of this thread. There is no sure shot way around this. There are no ethics and respect for personal privacy in India.
 
From the TRAI handbook

How to Register

- A subscriber can register his preference or change of preference by making a call on toll free number 1909 and inform the customer care executive regarding preference of registration i.e. ‘Fully blocked” or “Partially blocked”, if “preference is for “partially blocked”, the choice of preference among the 7 categories or any change of choice. The customer care executive will confrm and register the preference of the customer in the Provider Customer Preference Register. The customer care executive informs about the preference exercised by him through SMS and also indicates the unique registration number.

- The subscriber can also register his preference or change of preference by making a call on short code 1909 and select preference to register or change preference as prompted by IVRS. The IVRS will confrm exercise of preference. The customer will be informed of his registration of preference and the unique registration number.

- The subscriber can also register preference by sending SMS to 1909. For example, if the customer wants to register under fully blocked category, he has to send msg. text “START<space>0” to 1909. For receiving only banking/insurance related information, he has to send msg. text “START<space>1”. To exercise option for Partially blocked and choose more than one options out of 7 categories he has to send msg. text “START<space>1, 2,….”

- The subscriber can stop/alter his preference by making voice call to 1909, or call IVRS (1909) or sending SMS to 1909. To stop the message from any partially blocked/opted preference, customer has to send SMS STOP<OPTION>, e.g. ‘STOP 1’ for stopping messages from opted banking category.

- The customer needs to make call/send SMS for registration of preference or change of preference or deregistration from telephone number which is to be registered or deregistered.

- Once the subscriber registers the preference, he would cease to receive commercial communications as per the preference(s) after a period of 7 days from the date of registration or change preference.
Click to expand...

What to do in case he gets commercial communications even after registration

In case a subscriber receives unsolicited commercial communication after registration he may make a complaint to the service provider through voice call or SMS to toll free short code 1909 within 3 days of receipt of such UCC.

For registering the complaint through SMS, the subscriber should send an SMS to 1909 in the following format:

COMP TEL NO XXXXXXXXXX; dd/mm/yy; Time in hh:mm; short description of UCC, where XXXXXXXXXX is the telephone number or header
of the UCC.

On registration of complaint, a unique complaint number will be communicated to the complainant by the operator and the action taken on the complaint will be informed within 7 days.

[Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010 dated 1st December, 2010]
Click to expand...

What happens after you complain ?
 
Last edited:
^Your carrier(mine is Airtel) will raise a Service Request and resolve in 48 hours. Airtel/Spammers will give you a call back to say sorry and they will remove your number from their call/sms list. Thats good enough for me. Now I rarely get promotional/spam messages. If I get one, I will complain immediately. So my solution is,

1. Get registered in DND, if not done already.
2. Raise the complaints using the above app.

Slowly but surely you will get less and less calls.

P.S. you can raise the complaint only within two days of receiving the spam call.
 
  • Like
Reactions: blr_p and Criminal
^So you never had people asking you to withdraw your complaints? For me, the company has been claiming innocence. Now their CIO searched my profile on Linkedin and has sent me a networking request.

@blr_p - Better to use the app, it formats the message automatically in the given format.
 
asingh said:
I registered on that with the right method -it- is not that confusing. I still get the pesky calls and stupid SMS. I mentioned it in the beginning of this thread. There is no sure shot way around this. There are no ethics and respect for personal privacy in India.
Click to expand...
After complaining what was the result ?
 
So we have two competing answers here, one says DnD works when complaints were raised, the other disputes it.
 
blr_p said:
So we have two competing answers here, one says DnD works when complaints were raised, the other disputes it.
Click to expand...
My complain has proven too effective. I refused to withdraw the complain in my first interaction but then received two more calls one from the company's Director. another from the manager working for the third party outsourced company building the SMS app (via a college-mate). There has even been a spike in the views my linkedin profile gets - up from 2 in a month to 8 in day :P So I guess it depends on the company's sincerity on not being a spammer. If they don't they will take extra steps.

After this experience, I can only say that people try that app - it really works.
 
This is from jan-14, my registration to DND.
Namaste! Update Ref.no. CDRGPXXXXXXXXX: Your airtel mobile was not registered under NCPR & has been registered today. Promotional SMS/call should stop after 7 days.

After that I really didn't get promotional calls except for a few. After reporting them too I got these..

Namaste! Update Ref.no. CDRGPXXXXXXXXXX: The defaulting unregistered telemarketer number has been disconnected on basis of repeat violations by the concerned Service Provider.

or

Ref. complaint no. CDRGPXXXXXXXX No action has been taken against the no. reported by you as the call records do not suggest any Telemarketing activities.

These are few examples of responses I received after raising the compliants. Most of them got resolved in 5 days.

It works. By reporting to TRAI, we not only save ourselves but others too from these spamming pests
 
  • Like
Reactions: blr_p and Criminal
blr_p said:
So we have two competing answers here, one says DnD works when complaints were raised, the other disputes it.
Click to expand...
i too agree with @haiprazzad's comments. registering on DnD and reporting spam to 1909 really work. tried it on old (14 years old) as well as relatively new (3 years old) number.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom