News

Actions

Unwanted call or text? You may be owed money

Posted at 6:49 PM, Jun 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-03 11:16:51-04

If you ever got an unwanted text message on your cell phone, you may be eligible for some money.

Some popular radio shows may have to pay listeners who received marketing messages on their phones.

And even if you didn't get those, you may want to know the  newest ways to block robocalls and spam texts to your smartphone.

Marketers Call Every Day

Afua Nantwi was out on this beautiful day enjoying a game of giant checkers at Cincinnati's Smale Riverfront Park.
 
But she hates the game telemarketers play, bothering her on her smartphone. "I get them every single day," she said.
 
First it was unwanted calls, which she says "are really invasive." Now she even receives unwanted texts. "You ignore  the texts and hope they don't text again," she said.

Radio Listeners Could Get Cash

Now a class action settlement with the nation's biggest radio chain --over spam text messages -- could mean some money in your pocket.

The suit claims that iHeart Media started sending unwanted texts to people's phones, when all they had done was request a song on the radio or enter some contests they had heard about.

iHeart Media has agreed to pay consumers $8.5 million to settle charges it violated the "Telephone Consumer Protection Act," or TCPA.

The company is charged with sending out unwanted texts to listeners of its syndicated Elvis Duran show, and some other programs on the populariHeart Radioapp.

If you received one of their texts, look for a postcard in the mail, or follow the link to sign up to join the class.

Apps to Block Robocalls
     
Meantime, what about those unwanted calls to your smartphone? It's so frustrating.

"I get the same call over and over again, probably at least 15 times a day," one frustrated woman told us.

She may want to try"Mr. Number," recently named by Time Magazine as the best app for stopping phone spam.

Another highly rated app is called "TrueCaller," which has a basic free version, and a paid advanced version.

No Cincinnati Stations Listed

The attorney who filed the iHeart Media class action case says there is no set amount of money for listeners yet, as the court has not issued final approval.

As for iHeart Media, the company is not commenting. And there are no local Cincinnati iHeart Media stations listed in the suit as sending out unwanted texts.
    
Now that many people don't have land lines, marketers of all stripes are paying a game with our smartphones.

But you may be able to say "checkmate" with some spam call and text blocking apps. That way you don't waste your money.

___________________

Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.

"Like" John Matarese on Facebook

Follow John on Twitter (@JohnMatarese )

Sign up for John's free Newsletter delivered weekly to your inbox

Click here formore DWYM reports and to contact John

_______________________

You can save an average of $275.00* on local dining, travel and attractions with WCPO Insider Rewards. Search, sort and filter through 300,000+ deals, everyday just for being an Insider.

Click here to try us out for FREE for a month.
*Average annual savings