We've been inundated with complaints from outraged readers about MBS' billing practices, but has it actually broken any consumer law?
Internet-fee tactics 'dodgy, but not illegal'
When we see a spate of complaints in the PC Advisor forums, all about the same company, we know something isn't right and we need to investigate further. That's exactly what's happened over the past few weeks, with the company concerned – MBS (Micro Bill Systems) – cropping up in several threads.
More news: Readers' PCs crippled by MBS porn billing
It's all to do with the way that MBS tries to recover money, which it says is owed to its clients as a result of consumers accessing websites with monthly subscription fees.
MBS is a UK-based company, specialising in services to the internet industry. Among other things, the firm provides subscription management services to clients who operate sites that traditionally have problems collecting money – online gambling and sex sites, for instance.
How the system works
1: Someone visits a site that operates on a subscription basis. On the front page there are some images giving an indication of the site's content, and a prominent 'Get instant access now' button, above which are some lines of text stating that by clicking the button you are confirming you wish to receive a free three-day trial subscription to the website.
Unless you cancel within the trial period, you'll be billed quarterly, in advance, on a recurring subscription basis.
2: Click anywhere on those words and you'll see a full list of the terms and conditions. And they are worth a read, I assure you. Ignore the lot and click the button and you have a three-day trial membership to the site.
Bear in mind that you haven't been asked to provide any personal details,
credit card numbers, a billing address – nada. Yet you're accessing the content. Cancel your membership within three days and, according to MBS, that will be that.
3: Fail to cancel, however, and you might regret making that mouse click. Shortly after the three-day trial expires, a pop-up bill will appear on your desktop. You owe MBS £40 for your first quarter's membership.
If you do nothing, the bill will keep appearing at regular and decreasing intervals until eventually your PC will be virtually unusable. The bills are generated by software downloaded to your PC and there's nothing you can do about it – except pay up and cancel your subscription via MBS. They have identified your PC by its IP address.
Unfortunately, by clicking on that button you agreed to abide by a list of terms:
- You agreed to download the MBS software
- You agreed that MBS can use your hard drive and your bandwidth to "share out files and/or provide you with various files required to enable the company and/or MBS to administer the billing system"
- You agreed that MBS may offer you new features in the future and may update the software on your drive
- You agreed that to use the new features you may have to pay a fee
- You agreed that the MBS billing software could download and install supplemental software at any time
- You agreed that if you didn't pay your subscription, MBS could present you with so many pop-ups that, in its own words, you may lose the ability to use your computer until you have submitted payment
Comments
sparky midger said: I have recieved such a bill and whilst i understand that some sites may have dificulty in recieving payment the way that MBS and its clients operate is at the very least underhand immoral amp unethicalthats the very leastThe site was presented to me as completely free I did not download i simply went in to see what they had to offeranswer nothingI came out again
Cheesedoff said: Id be really worried if I had a website and people were connecting me to MBS as a result Im not surprised MBSnet and Dan are feeling pretty sore It might be worth a look at some of the other sites who are carrying this story to see if there are any links from others about this
Perplexed said: Dan - I hope youve taken this up not only with MBS but also with the police as it sounds like a case of fraud You certainly need to show your customers that youve done all you can to tackle things from your end But how worrying can this get Incidentally a Gogle will reveal lots about MBS which you might like to follow up And no doubt youll be in touch with West Yorks Trading Standards
dan said: i own a site and my users are saying they are being billed by mbs I have never instructed them to do this i have never even herd of them Wot on earth is going on how can msb be accessing my customers without my consent
david imrie said: i am dissgusted with mbs i have not cliked on any porn site at all and now there saying i ow them 40 quid its absolutly disgracefull
Michelle Gardner-MBS Systems said: I wish to point out that those people reading this our company MBS Systems wwwmbsnetcouk is nothing to do with Micro Bill Systems Whilst a search on the internet will bring up our website we have been inundated with threatening phone calls over something we have nothing to do with MBS Systems is an IT Consultancy and Web design company and DOES NOT bill customers online
scwidge said: Hi its me again Just want to say thanks to Phil who emailed PC Adivser on 26707 got STOPzilla and it worked its not free but its money well spent instead of giving it to the parasites at mbs dose that stand for Money Bagging Scum
SCWIDGE said: Ok silly men theywe might be the point is whats to be done Are these people at mbs going to be aloud to get away with this scam or is there some one out there who knows how to deal with themWho is mbs owned by whats there name How can we get rid permanaty of mbs if not possible whats the implications for internet People will stop accessing web sites because the terms to long so honest site owners will suffer If you dont pay up and CONTINUE to pay your pc will become little more than useless what are the implications for www and its sites If mbs get away with this scam when I replace my hardware which I mignt have to do as im not going to pay will I surf the web again We could have a situation where people only use there computers to calculate Silly men but to all you not so silly men out there ask yourselfs one question do you read all the terms and conditions before you go on web sites
Phil said: I have had this MBS attack my PC with help from a friend we managed to get rid of itGo to STOPzillacom look for and download Brute force uninstaller print intructions and install this will get rid of it for goodDisclaimer these intructions should NOT be used if you willingly installed the software and agreed to its terms
steve h said: This mbs billing system is sly very sly and doesnt explain or give any indication about the motives of obtaining money by highjacking your computer if not paidwhen it has totally misled people in a deliberate sneeky way and is holding people to ransam and creating family stress in the processThe sooner this is outlawed the better as no product advertised on tv could get away with this sort of misrepresentation which clearly misleads people into such robberey
mobius said: Quite a few people have had success in using system restore to before getting the pop ups which gets rid of it
omar said: i went on a site cuz it was a pop up and it said it was free but they still charged me 4000
Rodger Webb said: Use Adware Away to get rid of the pop ups and billing then forget about it There is no way that MBS are going to try and persue the money they make money out of frightening people
david walker said: i am a man of 77 my wife is 75 we are getting a bill from micro bill systems staing we owe 40 no way would we go on any of their sites but they say that they will take further action unless we pay
colm kerrigan said: i have been getting mbs billing for i week i contacted thier call centre no help but i have now got rid of them thanks to some software it cost me 39i treatened the guy ar phone centream going findadress of company and go there so they better look out i am irish will want money from for new software
colm kerrigan colmkerrigan@a said: mbs sent bill to my computer and it took me 1 weekto get rid of it at start it locks on screen 4 minutes then 10 minutes i do not owe mbs billing any moneyi had to buy software to get rid of itthey are crooks
Helping Hand said: Sammy - if you look on the Forums youll find theres lots to help you Just key in MBS and youll find thread with lots of useful advice And dont give in if you dont want to - there are alternatives
Pooooo said: The calls only cost 7-10p per minute
sammy said: someone used my computer to look at a sex site and i have to fit the billIt is compleatly outragus and think something should be done to rectify this mistake but nothing can MBS are sly and underhand pressuring u by locking your computer so u have no choice but to pay i am so annoyed by this i would love to put my thoughts into rude mords but am a lady so i wont sod it they are a bunch af SCAMMING BASTARDS
helping hand said: JohnWhat you are saying is most interesting They told you she hadnt accessed the site Yet they were billing youher for a subscription to it Would you be prepared to share this please with both Michael Pollitt a google search will find you the link and You and Yours this link to their contact page wwwbbccoukradio4youandyouAs you say this is sharp practice well I might consider using even stronger language but will restrain myself and there is a real consumer issue here which is why Im asking you to pass on your experiences to those who are investigating MBSThanks