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While telephone scams are proliferating despite technological advances, particularly in artificial intelligence, a new scandal is splashing the telecommunications sector. UFC-Que Choisir reveals a particularly vicious scheme: the abusive billing of telephone subscriptions, mainly affecting the elderly and necessarily more vulnerable. Yet another sad proof that this category of people is particularly targeted by all sorts of scams.
Ghost operators with very real methods
Far from the giants of the sector like SFR, which despite its recent setbacks, still maintains a certain ethics, it is often little-known companies that are singled out. Monatel, Resofix, E Télécom, One Two Tel… These names may not mean anything to you, and that is the problem. Operating from abroad, these shadowy companies excel in the art of making themselves elusive.
The story of Marie-Pierre is a glaring example of this Kafkaesque phenomenon. While settling her grandfather's estate, she discovered with horror a constellation of telephone subscriptions with Monatel. Result: monthly withdrawals ranging from 10 to 40 euros. Estimated loss over five years ? Several thousand euros! The bill is more than salty. A real financial hold-up, orchestrated in the greatest silence.
A trap that closes on the most fragile
These aggressive and deceptive commercial practices target with surgical precision the most vulnerable people in our society. Elderly people under guardianship, patients affected by Alzheimer's disease… So many easy prey for these predators of the combined without any honor. Their modus operandi ? Encourage these individuals to make excessive and unjustified financial commitments via completely useless telephone subscriptions, taking advantage of their limited capacity for reasoning and decision-making.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000The perversity of the system reaches its peak when the victims try to put an end to this nightmare. Terminations by telephone ? Dead letter. Registered letters ? No response. Meanwhile, the direct debits continue, unperturbed, to empty bank accounts.
Faced with the impasse, UFC-Que Choisir recommends blocking the direct debits directly with the banking establishment. A last resort measure that is not without risk. The association recommends checking in advance the existence of a contractual commitment to avoid potential legal complications. However, given the geographical location of the operators, outside France, French banking establishments are unlikely to take offense.
These scams highlight a major problem in the telecoms sector. Today, the market giants are under close surveillance, but these unscrupulous small operators take advantage of the loopholes in the system to perpetrate their misdeeds. A more than delicate situation that calls for increased vigilance on your part, for you and those around you. While waiting for the regulatory authorities to do their job, keep this maxim in mind: when in doubt, refrain from answering the call when faced with an unknown number. Your wallet will thank you.
- Little-known operators are overcharging elderly and vulnerable people.
- Cancellation is almost impossible, with direct debits continuing despite requests.
- UFC-Que Choisir therefore advises blocking direct debits as a last resort.
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