can they find me?

[chewy]

ok, hold my hands up, I went on an adult site drunk 
I probably clicked that I'd read the ts & cs though didnt I guess or just ignored them thinking they didnt have any info about me other than email address. Which does contain my real name

I havent contacted them though am getting pops saying I owe 70 quid for 2 x different bits of software, it says they can get my address from my ISP.  Are they allowed to release that info?  I dont mind reinstalling the PC to get rid of the damn software but can they actually trace me I wonder?

Evil tactics!

thanks

[ForumFriend]

Chewy, can you get an image of that popup which says they can get your address from your ISP and post it on the forum?  Alternatively, you could send to me using the forum messaging service.

Your ISP should not release that information without a Court Order, or under exceptional circumstances.  It might be worth contacting your ISP to ask them what is their policy on this.

If you have phoned them (or have any other contact), did you give them anything else that could help them to ID you, e.g. your postcode?  These are the kinds of questions of which you need to be aware.

I must say that £70 sounds totally excessive for a drunken visit to a porn site.  Do you know how they are breaking down that charge? 

[chewy]

thanks for replying.  I will send you a screen shot of the message next time the damn thing pops up.  Theres a bill broken down into 2 payments, 1 I believe for £29.99, one for £39.99.  If I remember rightly the bit about getting my address from the ISP was on an FAQ link from the bill along the lines of "what if I dont pay"

I was unaware of any mention of payment until I started getting pop ups.  I think I put my real email address in and maybe I got my DOB right but I've made no contact with them whatsover.  I get this bill pop up every couple of days, will post back

all the best

[ForumFriend]

Sounds like you may have visited two of their sites.  They run a number of sites, including Getfilmsnow, DVD Shaker, Chart Unlimited, movierecall.com, and plattemedia.com.  There appear to be different subscription rates running for the different sites, and at least one of them now charges £49.99 (that's £50 to you and me!) for a three month subscription (no monthly charge available).  So, make a mistake (i.e. don't read the t's and c's and therefore don't realise that you have to actively cancel the Free Three Day Trial) and you'll be stung with a bill for £50 - even if you've only been online for a few seconds.

Sounds like a licence to print money, doesn't it?

[chewy]

yup, stitched up like a kipper. have some screen shots on your way mate

[chewy]

sorry, how do I send you a screen shot?  I've got the bill in a word doc as a screen print.  I thought I had the "we'll get your address from your ISP" shot as well though didnt save it (will do next time).  Its definitily in the FAQ section from "how did I get this bill" on the pop ups I'm getting

[ForumFriend]

I've sent you a pm, Chewy.

[matt_d]

Here are two relevant sections from "Get Films Now" terms and conditions:

"YOU CONSENT TO US RECORDING YOUR IP ADDRESS WHICH CAN BE USED TO IDENTIFY YOU IN THE EVENT THAT YOU BREACH ANY OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT."

"We can use your IP address to identify your residential address details and have the right to commence proceedings to recover the money owed to us in respect of an unpaid Bill."

Presumably, as Platte hopefully realises it's impossible to get a physical address or ID from the IP address, their definition of "commence proceedings" would mean trying to obtain a court order - which they don't seem to be doing because it's likely (a) expensive and (b) unlikely to be approved by the Court.

I think the company hopes that people will slip up and provide personal details when they try to obtain "uninstall software", as in:

"Please note that where payment of Your Subscription Fee is outstanding, the Software will only be uninstalled once you provide us with evidence of your identity and a correspondence address in order that we forward your uninstall code."

Of course we know of our own ways to get rid of the insidious software.

[chewy]

thanks for that