Michael Pollitt | freelance technology journalist

A point from your article which I wanted to take up. Ashley Bateup is quoted as saying: “Over 35% of consumers pay by postal order – this in itself says something about the consumer and their wish to remain anonymous”. Mr. Bateup has missed, or chooses to misrepresent, the point here. People pay by postal order because they don’t want Platte, MBS, or whoever, having access to their credit card details. I know this because it is precisely for this reason that my husband paid them in this way when he was ‘trapped’ by them and their pop ups.

Platte/MBS is, through its own fault, regarded as untrustworthy by consumers. You only have to look at the postings on the different forums where discussions about them is still very active.

Unbelievable!! My 12year old son is devastated to find this outrageous software and aggressive demand on his laptop. I’m doing the recommended IE history check but entirely believe him that he has not signed on through ‘7 screens’ to a dodgy site. PM tell me they will cancel on supply of the ‘under age’ certificate they ‘will send tomorrow’ – but demand a copy birth certificate (after I gave all our address details before my searches revealed all the background to this).

If IE history backs up son’s version of events are you still interested in pursuing this outfit? A

[The IE history should show exactly what happened. Please see these instructions. Please e-mail me (address top right of sidebar) asap if you think that the history confirms what your son has said (I can then check the history for you). -Michael.]

I am outraged by this company who seem to make their money scamming people.
I recieved one of their wretched invoices through by post – addressed to ‘The Customer’ at my address (with an incorrect postcode).
Leaving aside the fact that I’m a middle aged woman who lives on her own with no interest in cheap, badly produced, exploitative pornography (sorry, I don’t mean to gender or age stereotype), I actually don’t know how to download films. Added to which, on one of the days that they claim I was downloading, I was on holiday with friends (computer isn’t wireless).
I contacted Trading Standards and sent a detailed letter back to Platte Media, but they have now sent me a further letter that looks like a summons from Northampton Court. I then phoned the court, who said that because there was no claim number attached, it wasn’t valid, but asked me to send the information in so they could have sight of it. It’s bad that the legal system, funded by my taxes, is being used in this intimidating and fraudulent manner. I have already informed the two local MP’s of this, but will be recontacting them.
Any further correspondance will be sent back to them unopened.
Michele

the pop up came onto my screen at the begining of august. I had never heard of them before this. I have been in contact with them and they say I set up with them on 15/07/08 @ 18:53pm. I have written to them at their appeals dept asking them to remove the subscription charge and also to uninstall their software, they replied to me telling me how to uninstall but when I tried it I could not do it. I now think that something legally should be done about this, but do not know who to contact to do this. I would be gratefull if you could let me have any ideas that you may have.

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[If there are issues with the way Platte is operating including removal difficulties, then you might contact your local Trading Standards office or see Consumer Direct. There have been hundreds of enquiries and complaints about Platte to Trading Standards offices. The office collating all the consumer contacts nationally is West Yorkshire Trading Standards. In addition, Platte gave an undertaking to the Office of Fair Trading.

If you are stuck over the Platte removal process, please try to follow the company's instructions again because I'm told this process does work. For legal reasons, I cannot assist with removing this software. But I would like to know whether you manage to do so using the Platte instructions. - Michael.]

This morning a letter arrived addressed to The Computer Owner and then my home address demanding £29.99 for something, no idea what, and as I do not have internet access at home I am somewhat concerned. I am sending their demand back to them stating that they must have incorrect address – I wonder if they will take any notice!
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[Please keep a copy, Chris. -Michael]

Chris: Are you saying that you do not have broadband and/or dial up access at home? Do you have a computer at home?

For the record, there are no known cases that I (or, I think, Michael) am aware of, in which an ISP has released details relating to IP addresses that could identify where a computer is based, and indeed it is extremely unlikely that an ISP would do so. A court order would be required, as might happen in cases relating to serious offences involving the use of a computer.

It is, of course, possible that another party has given your address as a cover for their own activities. Other than that, it is difficult to imagine how Platte have picked up on your address.

Michael may be able to comment further on this, but the above is what I understand to be the case, and I’ve been lookng at the stories of MBS/Platte victims for nearly eighteen months now.

Keith: If you wish to discuss this further, and look at similar cases, please do visit the MBS/Platte Victims website, which is there for anyone who has a grievance against Platte.

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[My first piece on Micro Bill Systems was in March 2007. Since then, I've written several more stories in the Guardian newspaper on MBS and most recently Platte. The IP address is recorded by Platte when people sign-up to their service and quoted in the bills/letters they provide.

In all that time, I've not come across any cases where an address or individual has been identified from the IP address alone. But I've had several worried e-mails recently asking me if this was possible - the answer is no (in respect of Platte). However, technically it is possible but that would take a request/warrant from law enforcement or a court order to achieve it. ISPs are bound by data protection law and simply will not release this information without such a request. If you are worried, please e-mail me more details of Platte's letter including the IP address quoted. -Michael]

I too hvae been caught,although i possibly did sign something but nor sure what is was. I RANG PLATTE , THEY SAY I DOWNLODED 2 FILMS /I might have but were only seconds ,and they wouldnt play any way.I HAVE A FAULT WITH MY COMPUTER AT THE MOMENT.I just forgot all about it . until the bill appeared on my computer.I think the way they presented this was absutley disgusting and very threatening. I HAVE NOT PAYED A PENNY .Can they take me to curt ??

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[People have been receiving letters mentioning the possibility of court. I have yet to hear from anyone who has been taken to court. -Michael]

ptomey: While I know, like Michael, of letters that have threatened court action, I also have not heard of any going beyond the threat stage. In fact, I know of one person who received such a letter about 3 months ago, and has yet to hear of it going any further.

I am another of the Platte Media scammed!
My son was on the laptop and wanted to watch a film back at the begining of September,but could not access the film he wanted and so got out of the site. A few days later pop ups started, and despite e.mail letters, and following their recomendations on how to uninstall their programmes, I was still recieving their unwanted popups, so I called their help number, explained that it was my under aged son who accesed their site and was told that a letter would be sent out, with a certificate for me to sign and return, along with a copy of his birth certificate. Whilst this letter was being delivered, they gave me a code number to type into the system which stopped their popups.
Needless to say this letter never arrived, and the popups soon returned. Another telephone call, another code and the popups are delayed untill the 2nd October, but I have now been e.mailed a copy of the certificate, (all 2 lines of it!) along with an address in British Virgin Islands!
I do not want to send a copy of his birth certificate and do not want to be intimidated by these people. What can I do?

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[Why not express your concerns to your local Trading Standards office? Many people have done just that and there is a large (and growing) file of complaints nationally. I know that Platte is also reading these comments (I've heard from them today) so they might like to suggest a solution. -Michael]

I bought a new laptop at the end of August and within 4 days the pop ups started. They have my name and address and a pin number that i usually use. It was the first time i had broadband and i remember looking at some media sites but not porn but did not realise waht i was doing. The time stated was 11.45 pm. As soon as i got the pop ups i contacted them and said i was liable. They posted me out codes to remove the sofware which worked, and today i received the court letter and a demand for £29.99. I called their customer service dept and went mental, but i was just speaking to the preverbial robot who just kept saying it was my fault. I then wrote a letter to their managing director, but decided before had to do a bit of research on Platte and have now found that im just another of their statistics. Lets see them sue me. Its not the £29.99 now its the principle. I hope they rot in hell.

23 October 2008
I used my laptop this morning for the first time in ages and a pop-up appeared from Platte International. It was an invoice for £49.99 but didn’t say what it was for. I phoned Platte and automatically became suspicious when I spoke to the girl on the other end of the phone. She asked for my house details and my surname, when I asked her what surname was on the invoice she told me something complete different to my surname. I then asked what sort of company she worked for and she told me it was a pornsite and I had subscribed to it and the outstanding amount was for 2 months subscription. I told her I knew nothing of this site and as a rule do not subscribe to any sites on the internet, I was told I had to pay the outstanding amount in a very aggressive manner, I told her I wouldn’t be paying for anything and left it at that. After reading all these comments I will contact the “company” tomorrow to let them know how disgusting they are and I do not want them invading my privacy again. I shall keep you posted…………

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[Just a reminder, there are 228 comments about Platte on this post. You may prefer to leave your next comment there. -Michael]

Take a close look at the following website: – http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?NewsAreaID=2&ReleaseID=363175 And read the commitments given but Micro Billing Systems CAREFULLY.

Do a search and you will find that MBS were “taken over” by Platte Media, so any commitments given by MBS were to be honoured by Platte.

Apparently they fell foul of the Office of Fair Trading and have had to commit to not [copied and pasted]….

“* fail to make it clear in the sign-up process that the consumer is entering into a contract, and …….”

etc. Follow the link and read it for yourself. Then you might want to complain to the OFT and send them a copy of your letters.

If ever there was a case that they had NOT made it clear, surely this would include NOT taking the customer’s name, provable that the letters always come out addressed to ‘customer’

Better news is in the notes:

“1. Undertakings were also given to the OFT by Platte International Limited, which the OFT understands will be taking over Micro Bill Systems Ltd’ operations.”

Furthermore, “If Micro Bill Systems Ltd, Mr Bateup or Mr Webb breach the undertakings, the OFT could seek a court injunction against them. ”

and THAT’s why they won’t take you to court, because if they did, it would be thrown out as they are clearly in breach of their commitments, so open to having an injunction served against them by the OFT.

Good luck guys. Tell them to go to hell.

[NB: All double-quoted quotations were copied and pasted directly from the OFT noticeboard]

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[Nobody has told me that Platte is taking them to court...but a lot of people are receiving letters mentioning the possibility. The sign-up process does not require the customer to give any personal details (name, address, e-mail, or even payment details). Platte relies on the customer giving name and address details when they phone so that letters can be sent out. Nevertheless, letters have been sent addressed to 'the computer owner'. It's also interesting to read what I wrote in the Guardian in January (Porn bill firm opens new front). A lot has happened since. -Michael]

[Just a reminder, there are 231 comments about Platte on this post. You may prefer to leave your next comment there. -Michael]

[link deleted]

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[For legal reasons, I will remove any links to Platte removal solutions. -Michael]

Ive been receiving pop ups for a while now, intially ignoring them,given that i’ve never heard of them. But when they come up over and over again you start to get a tad brassed off. As others have clearly found out, contacting them by phone and emailing them is a complete and utter waste of time. I too have gone down the appeals route and have sought the advice and input of the local police computer fraud dept now. They are not getting a penny off us!

This is scary. The pop ups kept coming up, I did not read it and just assumed it’s an advertisement. Never heard of Platte Media until today I saw the outstanding demand of £29. What registration? What subsciption? What films? I have no idea what it’s about. I only just bought my computer this year and learning to use it. There is a number to call for help and to uninstall Platte Media. Is it safe to call Platte Media? Can I trust it?

Please help to tell me what is the right things to do to get out of it.

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[Read what I've written in the Guardian about Platte. Look at the 250+ comments here. Then you'll be able to form an opinion.-Michael]

today i also recieved a bill for 49.99 just after it popped up my computer was hit by 19 different viruses the bill says on the 12/11/08 i subscribed to them well this is not possible as my computer crashed on wednes so all emails were sent to a forwardin email
address i cudnt have possibly subsribed it with my email address

the thing that puzzles me is the bill says i booked the films through persons.com date site and they released my details to them and like the other reader there is a number on the bill 4 the virgin isles i tried 2 ring as i was fuming about this bill i donteven watch films never mind buy them i av phoned twice and each time directed to another line

The comments on this post are now CLOSED.

You may leave comments on this other post (MBS – popups for porn, Platte Media (Platte International Ltd) – popup bills for films) where, at the time of writing, there are over 270 comments. It also contains useful information for investigating how Platte got onto your PC.

The closure here is to ensure that comments about Platte International are left in one convenient place for everyone’s benefit.

Thank you.