Complaint Review: SMSVW

On Friday June 26th 2009 I tried to call a toll free 800 number to the I.R.S,from my nextell cell phone
.

I misdialed, . A computer voice answered, with the following message:

'The number you have dialed has new information. Please press any touch star now from your cellular phone to receive a text message with access information on the number you are calling. You can press any touch tone now from your cellular phone. Brought to you by number info service. Standard message fees from your carrier may apply. Press any touch tone now.'

The message is repeated twice.

Thinking I was talking to the I.R.S, I pressed a touch tone after the first request, at which time a voice said 'please say yes after the beep'. I said 'yes', and then received the following text message
on my phone:

23333
Reply Y now to get info on
the # you are trying to
reach.Locator Svc
$9.99/month+other chgs
may apply for 20
lookups/month.
Support/Terms?
www.smsvw.com

I had to scroll down to read it all, and I am sure the bulk of this company's 'customers' simply see the first line, 'Reply Y now to get info on' and reply Y to the message, unknowingly agreeing to the $9.99/month recurring charges.

I immediately called nextellcustomer service and told them that I absolutely do not agree to receive any 'service' from this company, and would not pay any charges from them. I then went to www.smsvw.com, found and called their number, 800-741-5900, and told them that if there was a charge on my phone bill from them, I would sue them. I asked for their address and their registered agent
in the state of Florida, and they provided the following information:

Patrick Hines
SMSVW
200 Executive Way
Ponte Vedra Beach FL 32082

I do not know if the business practices of this company violate the laws of Florida, but they SHOULD be illegal. They are preying on people with cell phones who misdial popular numbers, similar to the way some scam artists register misspelled website names. You are unknowingly signing up for their service.

A google search of 'smsvw' turns up several discussions by other people who have been scammed by this company.

I believe a criminal investigation should be opened to determine what laws this 'company' may be violating.

Anonymous
Germantown, WI.
U.S.A.

Jim
Germantown, Wisconsin
U.S.A.