All Singtel mobile users, be wary the next time you receive seemingly harmless SMSes from "SINGTEL SVC" and make sure you read the full message carefully!
You see, I just received a message that read:
"Dear customer, respective charges for your content subscription service(s) will be renewed next month. To unsubscribe, pls key *1626 then press the call button."
Wondering what services I had subscribed, I traced my SMSes back to about 1-2 WEEKS ago and found:
"Dear subscriber, yr FREE MP3 Music Pack 30 days subscription ends on 18/01/09 & a $5.35/mth charges applies till you unsub. To unsubscribe, key *1626."
I immediately unsubscribed and uncontented, called the customer service hotline to confirm my unsubscription (including whatever pro-rated charges I might have incurred, since I was already a week late in unsubscribing).
When I asked if I opt out of ALL such future promotions and free trials, I was told that it was stated in the service contract when I signed up with Singtel and there is no way I can "get rid" of it, though I totally did not want it.
He did advise me that the next time I recontract with Singtel, I should tell the service staff to specifically leave me out of such services, and when it's requested at the point of signing, it will be done.
I was flabbergasted, to say the least. Why should such a service be opt out and not opt in in the first place? If I had been busy and simply deleted or ignored such promotion 'junk' SMSes, I would unknowingly be billed for a service I never ask for, didn't need and will not use! I wonder how many subscribers had unknowingly "signed up" for that dumb service (I still don't know what it is and I'm now not interested at all to know!) and would be shocked to find extra charges in their next bill.
That's not the way to do business, Singtel...
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