Crackdown on ‘legal rip-off’ text messages

THE Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) has launched a crackdown on companies involved in sending people unsolicited premium text messages.

The Consumers’ Association of Ireland (CAI) has described the practice, in which people are charged for receiving text messages they never sought, as a “legal rip-off”.

Gary Davis, DPC deputy commissioner, said: “Last year we received 76 complaints from consumers. In the two months this year, and we’re not at the end of February, we’ve received 48 complaints.