Telecom Cramming Charges on Phone Bills
How unauthorised third-party charges for subscriptions and services are added to phone bills without the customer's genuine consent.
Part of: Telecom Cramming Charges Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Cramming is the practice of placing unauthorised or misleading charges on telephone bills for services the customer did not knowingly order. Third-party service providers — ringtone services, horoscope subscriptions, premium SMS clubs — place charges on phone bills through carrier billing arrangements, and many customers never notice because phone bills are not scrutinised line by line.
The charges typically range from a few pounds or dollars per month, and the service names on the bill are often obscure. Customers who signed up for a free trial through an SMS keyword, clicked an ad, or entered a competition may have inadvertently authorised a recurring charge buried in the terms.
How this scam works on phone bills
A consumer sends an SMS keyword in response to an ad, enters a competition, or clicks a banner for a free ringtone or horoscope. The terms, in small print, authorise recurring charges to their phone bill. Monthly charges of a few pounds or dollars appear under an unfamiliar service name on subsequent bills.
When the consumer attempts to cancel, they must contact the third-party service — whose contact details may be difficult to find. Some carriers allow customers to block third-party billing entirely, but many consumers are unaware this option exists.
Common red flags
- Phone bill includes line items from service names you do not recognise
- Small recurring charges appear after sending an SMS keyword or entering a competition
- Charges are labelled as third-party services rather than your carrier's own products
- The amount charged increases gradually across multiple months
- You cannot identify the service associated with a charge despite investigating
How to protect yourself
- Review your phone bill in detail each month and query any line you cannot identify
- Ask your carrier to block all third-party billing on your account
- Avoid sending SMS keywords to shortcode numbers in unsolicited ads
- Screenshot all competition entries and free-trial sign-ups that involve your phone number
- Contact the third-party service directly to cancel and ask your carrier to reverse the charges
How to report it
- Report to your national telecom regulator (Ofcom UK, FCC US)
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov (US) for cramming violations
- Ask your carrier to raise a billing dispute and refund the unauthorised charges
Frequently asked questions
Can my carrier remove third-party billing charges from my account?
Yes. Most major carriers will investigate and credit clearly unauthorised third-party charges upon request. You can also ask for a permanent block on all third-party billing to prevent future cramming.