Premium Rate Content
There are so many great downloads and apps for your mobile phone
– and best of all, so many of them are free!
But remember to be careful! Some apps require you to pay for new
features or levels later on , even if downloading the program
itself was free. This is called in-app purchasing, and even if
the amount seems small, you can run up a large bill before you
even realize. For example, some games will give you a certain
number of free lives but then charge you to top up with more if
you want to continue straight away – and if you’re desperate to
get past a particularly fiendish level, you might not want to
wait!
Did you know that many services that let you download ring tones
or videos don’t just charge you that one time, but actually
sign you up to a subscription? You could be paying out again and
again without even realizing.
Tips for avoiding unwanted charges
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Think before you click! It is important to know what the terms and conditions of the services that you are using are and what you are signing up to.
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Can you see a price? If you have to pay for a service, the price should always be stated before you take any action that will charge you. Don't forget your phone network may add their own cost on top, so be aware of this.
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Don’t type your number into a website unless you’re sure it’s trustworthy – your number could be used to pay for unwanted services. If the prize on offer seems too good to be true – it probably is!
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Make sure you check with the bill payer before buying anything or calling a premium-rate number.
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