10 -16August 2000

Free telephone barring facilities for Internet users

by David Kelleher

To prevent unwary Internet users from being billed for international calls that they had no intention of making online, Maltacom is providing free code-controlled barring facilities. This will help Internet users to avoid direct calling to sites bypassing local Internet Services Providers (ISPs).

Maltacom is taking action after the company received a number of complaints from clients saying that they were being charged for international calls which they did not make or rather, they were not aware of.

However, Maltacom yesterday issued a lengthy statement to explain why and how Internet users were being duped into making the calls.

"These calls are actually being made since it has been ascertained that Internet users, while browsing the world wide web are clicking on banner headlines which download a dialler (executable file - .exe) to the machine connected to the Maltacom line," Maltacom said.

Certain sites, which are more often than not of an adult or commercial nature, do not require users to pay online by credit cards. However, they simply ask the user to download a small programme that brings up a dialler similar to a telephone numberpad. When the user clicks OK, the local telephone connection is automatically cut off and a long distance call is made to a private server.

Most of the time, the Internet user is not aware that his connection has been changed and that he or she is making a very long international phone call.

"It should be observed that foreign telecom operators require that, before the Internet user can activate the dialler, he is asked to agree to the terms of access, that is, to give consent to the connection in full knowledge of the service being accessed.

"He should also be made aware that the telephone line being used is to be disconnected from the local Internet Service Provider and that the customer will incur international phone charges for connection time to the Private Server. In general the user is asked to click a button or a number of buttons agreeing to the terms and conditions before the dialler is activated. Unfortunately, what generally happens is that users do not read thoroughly the terms and conditions imposed since the information is normally found in a scrollable window," Maltacom said.

These occurrences can be minimised through code-controlled barring facilities. This means that the user may bar or debar one's telephone line at one's convenience by activating the code-controlled barring/debarring star service.

It is therefore being recommended that prior to logging onto the Internet the telephone line to be used for connection should be barred for international calls if the user does not intend to effect such calls.

Moreover it is also advisable not to access and URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) received from unknown origins. Maltacom however added that its clients are ultimately responsible for the calls made from their telephone.

Those interested in using the code-controlled barring service may do so through the website www.maltacom.com. ISPs are also informing their clients of this facility. The applicant must be the person on whose name the telephone is registered.

Once the application is received and processed, the registered telephone subscriber will receive confirmation by mail that the code-controlled barring service has been activated. The letter will also contain instructions how to activate and de-activate the service.

Internet users may phone freecall 150 for further help.