Before you go online to find that latest song in ringtone format, you may want to think twice. Listen to how many people are getting stuck with recurring charges on the cell phone bills once they visit one of the popular cell phone ringtone sites.
It really is a much better idea to first check with your cell phone service provider to see if they have a song that you’d like for your next cell phone ringtone. This is really the only way to ensure that you won’t end up paying more than the buck or two for your new ringtone.
Many of the independent download ringtones websites offer tunes to all kinds of cell phone provider customers. In addition these large ringtone downloading websites tend to have a huge variety of songs from which to choose. This makes them very attractive to many people.
If you simply must download a ringtone from one of the popular download sites be sure to read ALL of the fine print. At many such sites this means actually following the little link to the real agreement terms and conditions. Too many of these sites have clauses for membership and recurring charges built into the agreement.
Before you can download a ringtone you’ll be asked to provide your cell phone number at which point the website will text you with a code number. When users insert the code number on the website they are then taken through the agreement page (or past the tiny link to the agreement) at which point they may or may not receive the ringtone. There is no uncertainty that they will receive a hefty and recurring charge on their cell phone bill however.
If you fall prey to this type of scam, be forewarned that your cell phone company will try to put the burden on you and ask you to track down the company and have the membership and charges discontinued. The problem is that most of these shady companies may have an 800 number, but there’s nothing to listen to except a recording.
The download ringtones website that got me had a text code I could text to the site to discontinue their ‘service’, but it never worked and I received a couple months’ worth of bogus charges, not to mention the fact that I never did receive the ringtone that had originally brought me to the website. Do what you can to discontinue service, but be prepared to be firm with your cell phone provider in order to get the charges removed the first time you call rather than the third or fourth time.