Consumers who called YouTube vlogger Snapking to be reimbursed

Consumers who called the premium-rate number of Dutch YouTube vlogger Snapking between March 21 and April 14, 2017 will have their call charges reimbursed by their telecom providers. These consumers do not need to do anything themselves. The total call charges for all affected consumers amounted to over EUR 13,000.

Even though the telecom providers did not commit the abuse, the law says that they are responsible for refunding the unlawfully collected charges.

Henk Don, Member of the Board of ACM, explains: “We are glad that the callers who have been affected will get their money back. Callers of premium-rate numbers should know in advance how much they will pay and what the terms and conditions of the call are. This information needs to be clear before the call starts. The owner should offer a service, and callers cannot be kept on hold unnecessarily.”

Abuse by Snapking

This summer, ACM took down the premium-rate number 0909-0400528 of Dutch YouTube vlogger Snapking. Snapking is the trade name of Snapentertainment. Snapking urged callers to call this number without being clear about the terms and conditions of getting in touch with him. Callers were then put on hold for a long time without getting anyone on the phone. 

ACM received several complaints about the premium-rate number via Twitter and consumer information portal ConsuWijzer. Consumers particularly complained because especially minors were misled.