Globe files 2nd complaint against text spammer

MANILA, Philippines - Globe Telecom on Wednesday said that it filed before the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) its second complaint against a company sending unsolicited promotional text messages to Globe customers.

Globe said that it lodged a complaint against the Center for Global Best Practices (CGBP), a company offering educational seminars and training. The company previously filed a case against Caritas Health Shield, Inc., a health insurance provider, for sending text spams.

"Globe specifically asked the regulatory body to order CGBP the payment of appropriate fines and penalties for sending annoying text spam to Globe subscribers. Globe also asked the NTC to permanently bar CGBP, its agents and employees from sending spam texts to Globe customers. Pending the resolution of a case, a cease and desist order should be issued against CGBP," Globe said.

Globe General Counsel Froilan Castelo said complaint Globe filed against CGBP should serve as a warning to other companies whose agents send irritating spam messages to our customers. 

"Globe Telecom will not tolerate the use of our network for activities that serve as a nuisance to our subscribers especially if they are unsolicited and unwanted," he said.

Castelo added that CGBP's spam texts led numerous subscribers to complain in their customer service department.

Subscribers may report via the Globe website through Talk2Globe Chat (http://chat.globe.com.ph); send a message through Globe Contact Form (http://globe.com.ph/talk2Globenow) and by tweeting @Talk2GLOBE on Twitter, Globe said.

Subscribers can put in the number, the exact message, and the time and date the text spam was received. Numbers that are reported to be source of text spams are first sent warnings and those that are persistent source of text spams are deactivated from the service, it added.

"Customers can also keep themselves from getting text spams through their own devices. iOS users may block unwanted numbers by opening the message, clicking the Contact button at the right hand corner, clicking the “i” next to the number they wish to block. They can then scroll down to the bottom of the page where they will see the option “Block this caller” and then click to confirm," Globe said.

For Android users, subscribers may block spam through their gadget’s filtering settings: Go to Settings, press the Spam Message Settings, click “Add to Spam Numbers” and add spammers’ numbers. They may also choose to actively block by inputting commonly used spam phrases and adding it to the “Add to Spam Phrases” list, it added.