- Report: #701041
Complaint Review: Virgin Mobile - Internet
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Author Not Confirmed
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Virgin Mobile
Internet, United States of America
Phone:
1-888-322-1122
Web:
http://www.virginmobileusa.com
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Virgin Mobile Targets Kids With Porn Sites After Promising To Block All Internet Access Internet
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I purchased a Virgin Mobile LG Rumor 2 on the condition that I could have all internet access blocked and only allow text messaging and phone calls. This was because I was planning to give the phone to my son, who is a minor. I made it very clear to Virgin Mobile that I would not use their services, unless I could have the internet blocked. They promised me that they could block all internet access. I chose the $25 "Beyond Talk Plan" and made sure my account was setup to automatically deduct the $25 every month from my VISA credit card.
The internet access was indeed blocked for a month. However, when it came time for my next bill period, they unblocked the internet without my notice, thus exposing my son to internet porn.
But that's not all. After unblocking the internet without my notice, Virgin Mobile made sure to direct my son to sexually explicit material by providing links to the following web sites from the phone's web browser main page, which is run by Virgin Mobile.
The main page has a "For Him" section with the following links (see photos below of screenshots):
The internet access was indeed blocked for a month. However, when it came time for my next bill period, they unblocked the internet without my notice, thus exposing my son to internet porn.
But that's not all. After unblocking the internet without my notice, Virgin Mobile made sure to direct my son to sexually explicit material by providing links to the following web sites from the phone's web browser main page, which is run by Virgin Mobile.
The main page has a "For Him" section with the following links (see photos below of screenshots):
- The Sexy Ladies of SHOW
- Girls of Hooters!
- Girls of King Magazine
- King Mag
- BikiniCam
- Beach Bunnies!
- Complex Girls!
- Bikini
- Inked
- XXL Mag
To find out who published the web site, I clicked on the "Mark this page" option from "Options" and found that the URL showed as "wapcm.vmobl.com/wap/c_home.do?PID=2008&dpid=null&schannel=WAP". When I looked up vmobl.com on whois.net, I found out that the domain is owned by "Virgin Enterprises Ltd" (see http://www.whois.net/whois/vmobl.com). This shows that Virgin Mobile is targeting our kids with links to sexually explicit material.
The first time this happened I called up and complained. They reset the internet block and everything worked fine. They assured me it would remain blocked. However, when it became unblocked the 2nd month, they told me the truth that it becomes unblocked every billing cycle. I asked for a refund of the cost of the phone, since they had in essence lied to me, just to get my service. However, they refused to refund the phone, since by then it was beyond the 30 day refund policy.
To resolve this matter I would like Virgin Mobile to do the following:
I asked to file a complaint by phone. However, they told me they don't take complaints over the phone (is that legal?). They just gave me a fax number to send my complaint to (908-607-4205). On 2/15, I did have them open a ticket number (3-38366293873) as an "open issue". I have followed up on 2/19 and 2/28, but nobody has responded to the trouble ticket number and they refuse to refund my phone.
The first time this happened I called up and complained. They reset the internet block and everything worked fine. They assured me it would remain blocked. However, when it became unblocked the 2nd month, they told me the truth that it becomes unblocked every billing cycle. I asked for a refund of the cost of the phone, since they had in essence lied to me, just to get my service. However, they refused to refund the phone, since by then it was beyond the 30 day refund policy.
To resolve this matter I would like Virgin Mobile to do the following:
- Refund the cost of the phone I purchased in December 2010.
- Stop targeting children with porn. They need to remove the "For Him" section of their WAP landing page if they market their phones for children.
- Fix their system so that internet blocks are left in place until the customer request that the block be removed.
I asked to file a complaint by phone. However, they told me they don't take complaints over the phone (is that legal?). They just gave me a fax number to send my complaint to (908-607-4205). On 2/15, I did have them open a ticket number (3-38366293873) as an "open issue". I have followed up on 2/19 and 2/28, but nobody has responded to the trouble ticket number and they refuse to refund my phone.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Karl
Highlands Ranch,Colorado,
USA
"PORN POEM"....
#2Consumer Comment
Wed, March 09, 2011
is available at this website!
Just type in 514236 and it appears as 'Consumer Comment #4' at Ripoff Report #514236.
Thank You
