South Dakota Warns About Unexpected Bills for Ringtone

Mobile phone users in the US state of South Dakota have been warned to watch out for unsolicited ringtones and other mobile content being sent to their handsets - for which they are then charged. South Dakota's Attorney General Larry Long says that the Consumer Protection Division has received complaints from consumers statewide who have received unwanted text-messages for ring tones, cellphone backgrounds, joke-a-day, horoscopes and much more.

These charges are showing up on monthly bills described as "download" with no further explanation. They often come with a recurring monthly fee and unless customers are looking closely they might not notice these types of charges on their bill.

The Consumer Protection Division also warned that if subscribers do not have text messaging as part of their monthly plan they will also receive an additional charge from their carrier for each text message received.

On the web: Office of the Attorney General

Posted to the site on 5th February 2008