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bumbalee review: signed up without knowing 7

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Author of the review
3:55 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

My son has a blackberry and some how he got signed up with Bumbalee but he is under age and he doesn't know how. I stopped the contract as soon as I knew and have sent numerous emails for my refund after proving to them that my son is under age. But still have not rec'd a full refund

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brussels1
, BE
Nov 14, 2014 3:27 am EST

Got caught too or rather my 13teen year old daughter got caught. She cannot remember subscribing to anything but bumbalee have been charging 5€ a week for months … they should be stopped!

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Sick of low life Scammers
, AU
Mar 25, 2013 10:03 am EDT

I was caught out with Bumbalee as well. Late last year. Was on the App "stocks " on my iphone. Looked at news on a site called Minnyanvel and a message popped up similar looking to a facebook message. Said win an ipad click here . Enter your mobile number for your chance to win. I clicked and gave number and these messages started coming through about this ring tone subscription service. I text stop within 1 minute. My next bill came and I was charged about $13 even though i didn't receive any content. I contacted Telstra (Im in Australia) and made a complaint. I threatened to go to the Telecommunications Ombudsmen. I was contacted by a rep from Oxygen8. They put me through to the finance section. I gave my details and they said they would send me a cheque. 2 weeks later the check arrived. This mob are scammers and you should stay well clear. There must be a lot of people who get caught out and don't chase it. They would put it down to a life lesson and not be caught again. This is how these crooks make money

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Jadja
Salisbury North, AU
Jan 28, 2013 10:22 pm EST

I too got caught. Just found out it was a scam when I questioned unknown charges on my bill. Not sure if Optus will refund but would like to take this further.

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PISSED OFF WITH BUMBALEE
Brisbane Metro Area, AU
Jan 28, 2013 6:22 pm EST

BUMBALEE ...THEIVING ###. ...HOW DO THE STAFF WORKING THERE SLEEP AT NIGHT.
I WISH I COULD PUNCH THEM ALL IN THE HEAD

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Lock up Thieves
Safety Beach, AU
Jan 16, 2013 8:49 pm EST

I also was scammed by Bumbalee. They are thieves who deceive us into thinking we are in a short list to winning an iPad, hide behind fine print and send absolutely useless spam, for which they charge premium SMS rates. I deleted all their spam without opening it but still got charged $6.60 each time they sent me a text or email. When I spoke to their spokesperson today I was told they trade under various names - once Opera Telecom, also Oxygen 8 Communication. I got sucked in by checking my Weatherzone page. Bumbalee spam advised me that as a long standing Weatherzone customer I had been selected to win an iPad - all I had to do was answer questions - suprise suprise I got all correct, they congratulated me and asked for my mobile number and email (to notify me of delivery arrangements if I was selected). I foolishly replied to their email and gave them my mobile and the spam started along with the thieving. Telstra was brilliant with my compliant though. They have assisted me to ensure my account with Bumbalee was disabled, and have refunded my money. These thieves should be locked up and their money donated to deserving charities.

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annafangio
Brisbane Metro Area, AU
Oct 24, 2012 1:13 pm EDT

I also have been scammed with Bumbalee. I have no idea on how I got hooked up but I have tried to unsuccessfully opt out. I have tried replying "stop", I have send emails from my home computer and I have tried ringing the phone number provided on the web site, all to no avail. I have advised my phone provider of this and explained that I have tried every avenue available to me to stop. My phone company put a bar on premium phone numbers. That is the only way that i will not get charged for the call as I was up for $87 on my last invoice. We have been told to report scam, which I believe this is, but have had no success.

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Ashvajit
, Australian Ext. Territory
Sep 03, 2012 10:30 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Bumbalee got me too, and a few friends of mine that I told my woes to. I don't remember how I got hooked up with Bumbalee, but it had something to do with entering a competition to win an i-pad win I was configuring my new phone. Eleven times I got an sms text message from them - at least every day, and it cost me $6.00 each time I clicked on the message. The problem is that they have a script in the message that links to their website and it automatically opens up the phone's browser to their site each time the message is clicked on. The next part of the problem is that the message is automatically deleted when the browser opens, making it impossible to send "STOP" to them via the message, because it automatically re-opens the browser each time. I only worked how to stop this when I marked the message for deletion without opening it.
This is sales entrapment and is quite possibly illegal.
They try to cover themselves by saying they give the "customer" notice of what they are in for and how much, but this is disingenuous at best, because they know that the fine print will be overlooked by the big green WIN button. This how the strategy works on an electronic poker machine, it uses impulse psychology to draw you in to the next step and overlook the important, but unremarkable notice, that they give. Magicians use the same strategies to distract and attract us, but then, that it is for entertainment purposes - and you usually only pay the magician for the act once.
The name Bumbalee should be etched on the minds of all those who buy a new phone, as a warning not to proceed with anything to that has their name attached to it. A little printed warning card in the new mobile phone package would be a nice gesture by the phone company that supplies the phone.

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