Websites probed over ringtones sale
Updated on 17 July 2008
Dozens of British websites selling ringtones to children are under investigation following a Europe-wide inquiry into abuses of consumer protection laws.
An EU survey shows that more than 90% of 43 UK sites marketing mobile services - ringtones, "wallpaper", chat service subscriptions, phone games and logos - were misleading and confusing.
The Office of Fair Trading, involved in the inquiry, has chosen not to name the 39 of the 43 sites that Brussels says will now be pursued.
And most of the 27 EU countries which helped in a co-ordinated "sweep" of a total of 558 sites, have also decided not to identify specific companies which may face legal action.
The survey found youngsters were likely to download a ringtone thinking it was either free or just a one-off small payment - which then appears on their mobile phone bill.
But often they have unwittingly locked themselves into a long-term paid contract - or at least committed themselves to paying for a new ringtone download every day.
The "sweep" is a new kind of EU investigation which has already been used to weed out airline websites making misleading claims. Hundreds are still under investigation.
The mobile phone services sweep was carried out between June 2-6, revealing that 466 sites out of 558 checked - 80% - were potentially breaking the law.
National authorities are now following up the findings, warning websites to change their claims and marketing, and stop using the word "free" to dupe customers - particularly children - into signing up for services they do not want and cannot afford.
Failure to do so could lead to court cases.
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