Beta Mum's Blog Beta Mum on 22 Apr 2008 09:33 pm
Platte Media Mania
Nearly a year ago, my beloved son caused me a small financial loss, when he used Amazon’s one-click service to order a book - about quilting.
It was the subject of the book, when it arrived unexpectedly, that alerted me to the possibility that someone had been clicking where they shouldn’t have.
He fessed up, I sent it back and was refunded the cash - minus postage and packing.
I disabled one-click to avoid future mishaps.
Now though, with the wisdom of age, his wanton clicking has managed to sign us up for a service which installed insidiously misleading software on my computer.
A menacing little mole now pops up all the time telling me I owe them £29.99.
A bargain.
Nearly thirty quid for a few ill-advised clicks of the mouse by a nine year old who is too young to have legally signed up for the service in the first place.
When I first noticed the nasty little unremovable icon, I asked him if he’d signed up for something.
“No,” he said, looking a little too innocent for comfort.
As the days passed and the uninstall progamme didn’t work, I asked again.
In the end I made my way, via Platte’s indestructible icon, to a website, and found a phone number.
Before calling what I assumed would be a premium rate service, I asked him again to just tell me if he’d signed up for a film service.
He denied it and denied it and then left the room and shut himself away upstairs while I argued with a man in the British Virgin Islands about his insistent pop-ups.
After I’d spent 12 minutes on the phone - at a cost described by the unflappable Abdul as national rates, although whose national rates he omitted to mention - Ben came into the room crying…
“I did sign up for something Mummy. I just wanted to watch some DVDs. I didn’t say yes to any downloads.”
We’d already had the download discussion. Unfortunately I hadn’t broached the no signing up for things rule.
“And anyway,” he continued, “I couldn’t watch any films. It wouldn’t let me.”
So now he’s said he’s very sorry and I should take the money out of his bank account, which is far healthier than mine.
But I’m loathe to give money to this bunch who’ve been the subject of numerous discussion threads and reports to the OFT and Trading Standards.
I’m not techno-savvy enough to remove the bloody thing, so if my computer is destroyed by the Trojan Horse, I may be away some time…
on 24 Apr 2008 at 12:41 pm 1.Expatmum said …
If they’re that far away, at least they can’t come knocking on your door. I would look into some very strong parental controls to keep the little imp out in future.
on 26 Apr 2008 at 11:33 am 2.Andy Merrett said …
Hi Cathy,
I run the MBS Victims’ Forum (MBS were the company that Platte Media took this evil software from) and we’ve heard so many stories like yours that we’ve lost count.
For standing up to this joke of a company, we’ve now been threatened with legal action. If I don’t remove info and links about how to remove Platte Media’s software, I will be taken to court and probably sued.
At the risk of shameless self-promotion (this is all completely non-profit by the way) could I draw you and your readers to the following link, which briefly outlines our “plight” and a course of action.
CALL TO ACTION! DISTRIBUTE PLATTE MEDIA / MBS REMOVAL METHODS ACROSS THE WEB!
Time is of the essence, as we’ve been given until Friday 2nd May to remove the material that is so offensive to Platte, despite their software being so offensive to us, and being under close scrutiny of the OFT.
Thanks for your time, and I do hope that you never have cause to fall victim to this menace again (the company, that is, not your son!
Andy
on 27 Apr 2008 at 6:26 pm 3.Beta Mum said …
expat - i’m not sure there is anything I can do to stop him signing up for stuff without realising he’s incurring charges. Reputable companies ask for credit card numbers, which would obviously have stopped him - for now.
Andy - good luck. They seem a ruthless bunch. Michael Pollitt obviously took legal advice before writing about them. The OFT are being particularly toothless about the whole thing.
on 29 Apr 2008 at 12:52 am 4.PC Repair Birmingham said …
I have found a removal guide on this website. please feel free to use the removal guide
http://www.theeasypc.co.uk/wordpress/?p=31
on 30 Apr 2008 at 4:29 pm 5.Platte Public Relations said …
Platte Media’s websites and pages are content rated and as such can be blocked simply by parental controls readily available as part of Internet Explorer and Firefox. We do offer advice to parents/guardians on the protection of minors at our website see http://www.plattemedia.com/links/contentrating
We would like to highlight that Platte has a well defined policy towards minor access and request that parents / guardians who discover a minor has assessed our site to contact us in order that we cancel the account, uninstall the software and at the parents discretion, block the computer from being able to access any Platte Media site in the future. Our customer service team can be contacted on 0845 017 8386, 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday.
We do not feel the use of credit card age verification is fool proof, primarily due to the proliferation of pre-paid cards which are available to individuals under the age of 18. We therefore continue to advocate parents/guardians taking steps by employing parental control solutions readily available to prevent minor access to any website that could be considered harmful to minors.
on 30 Apr 2008 at 5:17 pm 6.Platte Customer Services said …
Dear Mrs Keir
We have been alerted by our Public Relations team about your case highlighted on this forum.
Our website provides visitors, who wish to subscribe for immediate access to our film download library but are concerned about providing credit card details and personal information online, with a means of subscribing to our site by downloading our access software.
Before an individual can download our software they must first click through 7 separate screens and click to accept our terms of subscription. Despite this process we do see cases where individuals click through the screens without first reading the information on them. The postings of individuals who have done this are the reason that you have read the negative postings that you refer to above.
Where a minor has been responsible for downloading our software our policy is to remove our software and cancel the account. No charge is due as a minor cannot enter a subscription contract. Please contact our customer services team in order that we cancel the account. Please call 0845 017 8386. Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and 11am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday.
Platte Customer Service Team
on 30 Apr 2008 at 8:49 pm 7.Nigel Thompson said …
In response to the comments left by Platte customer service team, I my self have contacted the number and told the operator that my 12 year old must have signed up to the site. This was met with that’s ok after I pointed out his age the operator said if I give him my name and address he will send out a form and to complete this and return it with a copy of my sons birth certificate.
This I will not do.
With people like this operating a scam on such a level as this is so wrong.
If people require the service that this company is offering then they should have a credit card check.
I will be contacting the OFT and seeking advise.
This is also a thing that watchdog would help with.
So please email or write to them.
on 02 May 2008 at 3:38 pm 8.Sussex said …
Nigel: You and Yours have been following this story since last year and will, I’m pretty confident, welcome contact about it. Because they have been running it, I don’t think Watchdog will become involved.
For contact details of the You and Yours, go to the BBC Radio 4 website and look for You and Yours where there is an email facility.
I find it extremely disturbing that Platte are using these websites to insist that all is completely above board and, by implication, those who say otherwise are lying. I think they need to consider for themselves the implications of libelling individuals when they are themselves so keen to litigate against forums who are helping victims.
on 03 May 2008 at 12:13 pm 9.Beta Mum said …
Thanks for all the advice.
I don’t want to contact Platte again, as they didn’t offer to remove the software when I called the first time and I don’t want to give them any details about my son or anything else.
All I can say is, my technical know-how has increased exponentially since that icon popped up.
on 05 May 2008 at 6:50 pm 10.Seedfut said …
HI all, Have contacted Watch dog but we all need to contact them. If my 6 year old can sign up through (allged) 7 screens then something needs to be done.
MA
on 07 May 2008 at 7:44 am 11.Sussex said …
Seedfut: If you had read my earlier comment you will see that the story is already being covered by You and Yours on Radio 4. They are always looking for further follow ups on this story.
Because of the Radio 4 involvement, Watchdog are very unlikely to want to take up the story, and have been approached by a number of others in the past years. I suggest you contact You and Yours via the Radio 4 website. You can also ‘listen again’ to earlier reports. This links to the original story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/items/01/2007_28_wed.shtml
This links to their latest follow up:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/items/01/2008_14_fri.shtml
(I hope those links will work)
As the person who originally took the story to You and Yours, I can assure you that they are still extremely interested in the matter, and will be very interested to hear from people who still have complaints about them in spite of the undertakings made by Platte/MBS to the Office of Fair Trading.
By the way, anyone who feels they have been unfairly treated in this matter should also complain to the OFT. Remember to refer to the undertakings which Platte have made since they are liable to be prosecuted if they fail to keep them.
The OFT link is here:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?NewsAreaID=2&ReleaseID=363175
on 07 May 2008 at 3:31 pm 12.Sussex said …
This may come through double - not sure why it didn’t appear first time round.
Watchdog won’t take this up as it has been followed on a regular basis by You and Yours on Radio 4. If you visit their website and look under ‘Beware’ you can find the most recent update in April 2008, with the original programme still available back in July 2007.
Do contact them if you have more to say - they remain interested in the story. Also, do contact the Office of Fair Trading and let them know what happened to you and why you feel this company’s activities are not desirable. Platte (and their predecessor, MBS) made undertaking to the OFT about their trading methods which, if broke, will result in criminal prosecution.
on 10 May 2008 at 8:02 pm 13.Ravings from the Shell said …
<strong>Executive Action…</strong>
A couple of weeks ago BritInCalifornia was passing through, and apart from the excellent activities he mentioned on his blog post, we also, for old times sake, got geeky and assisted a friend who had fallen foul of one of the more pernicious and possib…
on 30 May 2008 at 8:15 am 14.linda cousins said …
i had platte media on my screen rang them and they knew my address where did they get it from
on 31 May 2008 at 8:47 pm 15.jonesy said …
These bunch of idiots have made me so angry with infesting my machine with this! i am the only one that uses this computer and i assure that i haven’t signed up to this rubbish! I checked the ip registration with my own ip which don’t match! which makes me believe that this had come with some virus that self installed on this computer. i tracked the ip that was registered to platte media and its somewhere near harrogate, skipton.
I have decided not to waste my money calling them, i know what these people are like, they will just send me back and fourth. i will gather all the infomation i have on them and send it off to OFT, hopefully this billing system will be thrown out the window and i am sure it will! now i will have to find a way to remove this s**te, then publish it! and i would love to see them take me court over it!! B******ds!!!
on 31 May 2008 at 8:51 pm 16.jonesy said …
oh, and thanks all for the useful links.
on 31 May 2008 at 10:29 pm 17.jonesy said …
finally removed platte media from my machine! took me a good hour! you need to delete it from the registry using regedit. using regedit find anything using the name platte, theres loads! go to edit, keep pressing ‘find next’ in regedit until there is know trace of it, also in system32 folder do a search for pm, delete pm_proc1, pmproc2 and also delete the pm_setup, hope this helps. this is the first time i have ever posted any advice, but they p****ed me off! so i will p**s them off! email me if you need a more detailed explaination. chrisjonesjunkmail@yahoo.co.uk good luck, hope you all get rid of this rubbish and don’t pay them a penny! they maliciously installed this without my knowledge.
on 25 Jun 2008 at 4:29 pm 18.David said …
platte media are crooks.
I read article saying free downloads I downloaded software as soon as I did I seen it wanted nearly 30 pound a month which Is disgraceful amount.
I uninstalled software and did not download anything.
I got no cancel page or was asked if wished to cancel. I got no onscreen messages before they demanded payment for a service I was not using.
After 3 days got requests for the money.
I deleted and did search and removed all platte items.
but kept getting them. I emailed company. only then I found a cancel page this took 4 days.
and told them I had not used service but they still wanted 30 pound for the month even though service cancelled which means if I paid I would be paying for time after which I had cancelled. from day one.
all they want is your money wether you use the service or not.
on 30 Jun 2008 at 3:09 pm 19.Platte_Victim said …
If you still need to get rid of Platte from your computer, use the procedures at the Easy PC site, these work for XP (don’t know about Vista).
http://www.theeasypc.co.uk/wordpress/?tag=platte-media
Hope this helps.
Best Regards
on 01 Jul 2008 at 8:31 am 20.Platte_Victim said …
Use the manual procedures published by Easy PC to remove Platte from your PC (see below), it works for XP, don’t know about Vista.
1 First of all open My Computer > C:\ > Windows > System32
2 Scroll down to PM_proc1…. (in alphabetical order).
3 Open ‘Task Manager’ by press Alt,Ctrl,Del in order at same time.
4 Click on the Processes tab at the top of the window
5 Find and ‘End process Tree’ the following two files PM_PROC1 & PM_PROC2 so they dissapear from task manager (some times you need to do this in safe mode)
6 Close task manager
7 Click Start, Run, and type regsvr32 -u pm_dll.dll
8 In the windows thats browsing c:\windows\system32 delete the files known as PM_PROC1 & PM_PROC2 along with any other file called PM_######
9 click Start, Run, and type in Regedit
10 Press F3 and type PM_PROC and click the find next button. When it finds a result delete it
11 repeat step 10 again until you find 0/zero results.
12 Close all screens, and delete the icon off the desktop.
13 Reboot.
On no account give any information to Platte regarding yourself, they try to drag you into calling their so-called ‘help’ desk’.
This company are an absolute disgrace.
on 07 Jul 2008 at 7:04 pm 21.Pixel Kid said …
My dad just got this on his PC, makes me really happy to have a Mac instead. Thanks to everyone for the pointers to removing this malware!
on 11 Jul 2008 at 12:26 pm 22.Matt H said …
You cannot be sued for putting details of how to remove Platte Media from your computer on a web site. That is nonsense, also, Platte Media cannot bill you through your Internet Service Provider - that is also nonsense. No ISP in the country is going to hand over customer details to anyone apart from the police upon a court order.
on 11 Jul 2008 at 12:31 pm 23.Matt H said …
Also, i phoned Platte media and told them the computers that were infected with their malware, were used in the financial sector of a large city bank, and valuable time had been wasted removing this crap. I also informed them that they would be charged for all this wasted time or have to deal with our large legal department. The best way of dealing with bullshit is with bullshit !
on 11 Jul 2008 at 4:09 pm 24.Andrew Hutchinson said …
I was looking at a social networking site and a pop up from http://www.getfilmsnow.com appeared. It said it was free in some way and I thought, ok,have a peek. Then it asked for a pin so I put in some numbers. Then I was asked for more information. At this point I thought NO! I don’t want this, so I clicked to get off it. Little did I know that I was now liable to £30. The next day I opened up Internet Explorer and discovered a new desk top icon called Platte Media. Who the…. I thought and deleted it. Later I saw in back there so thought I’d have a look through folders. On C drive I found 3 folders belonging to Platte Media. One was the full contract that now had me by the throat. In there it tells me the cool off period is 3 days rather than 7, not that I had expected to be under contract in the first place, it also teld me there was no way of getting all this stuff off my computer without speaking to customer services and only they can take it off the computer. NB, there is an 0800 number in there, so save your money and don’t use the 0845 given elsewhere.
I rang,it went to South Africa, I paid the £30 and he talked me through the delete process which was surprisingly lengthy. If like me, you fear their threat to write to your home address gained from your ISP No, you pay the money and feel sick at your own stupidity and disgust at their con. I never went into their site but banging in 4 digits is all it took to get into this headlock. Don’t go there!
on 13 Jul 2008 at 6:25 am 25.Stephen said …
I have put several posts about this software on my own blog that will probably be of interest as they show that the Platte uninstaller removes only a fraction of its software, and since the majority of the files are hidden within the system the publicised do-it-yourself methods suffer from the same problem. I have put up a full list of the files and their location and those with the requisite skills will be able to remove them easily, but I would advise most victims to use a professional to achieve a full removal.
One of the files left behind enabled Platte to continue to access your computer although following a complaint from me they have now modified their uninstaller so that it does indeed get removed. But even now 37 of the 44 files remain, and it is impossible to determine the capabilities of one of those without decompiling it. The OFT are aware of the work I have done on this, and hopefully will be taking some sort of action as a result.
Cathy, Windows offers two different sorts of user account - administrator accounts and limited accounts (you set these up through the control panel). Your son should have his own account which should be a limited one; your account should be password protected and you should try and ensure that he never obtains your password. This would have prevented both the problems you have had as he would neither have been able to access your Amazon account nor install software.
I hope you won’t consider me unduly critical if I say that I think you need to reconsider your general computing arrangements anyway; a nine year old child should not be enjoying unsupervised access to the internet regardless of how sensible you like to think him. Aside from the more general risks, young boys circulate links to sites such as the Platte one among themselves, and then there is a certain peer pressure to say you’ve been and had a look.
on 22 Jul 2008 at 5:30 pm 26.mike said …
I have been a victim of this platte media con and totally refused to pay £29-99p I visited a site called CRN and foud dozens of other people had fallen for the same con, one chap gave me a site to visit called AD AWARE by LAVASOFT they supply a FREE download which I used 48 hours ago and it worked instantly. they also informed me that the debt would be to small to use a debt collector so they are relying on people to fall for thier threats just ignore the morons hope this will be of help to you
good luck mike
on 23 Jul 2008 at 4:14 pm 27.kay said …
has anyone actually paid the amount they have asked for? as i have had the same problem, with my little brother downloading this rubbish onto my laptop- i rang them and they sent me an uninstall code but told me i still had to pay the outstanding amount of £29.99 because its the owner of the laptops responsibility??? why should i have to pay for something i never even heard of before? should i pay, or has anyone got out of it before?
on 23 Jul 2008 at 11:51 pm 28.Jane Louis said …
Hi I have the same problem as everyone else! Similarly to Kay I’m worried that if I delete the software and not pay then I will rack up a huge debt that will come bite me in the backside in the future. If this is the case should I pay the 30 pounds and avoid a massive debt? Did everyone who deleted it themselves and pay something as well?
I really have 100% no idea how this came on my computer, I would never ever agree to such a thing.
Linda Cousins (post 14) said they knew her address (presumably from her IP). I’ll be honest I am as scared as hell. 30 pounds is not the kind of money I can throw around lightly I can’t tell my mum because she is stressed about other things. Sorry to get personal but if any one could answer the above questions (about deleting and not paying)I would be deeply grateful.
It’s completely put a downer on my summer.
on 24 Jul 2008 at 4:13 pm 29.alfie said …
Hi Jane Louis, the same problem happened to me and this icon suddenly appeared on my desktop and a pop-up saying I owed them £30. I certainly did not sign up to this rubbish( apparently it takes 7 steps/clicks to do so-or so they say )
I phoned them to complain, but they said I had definately signed up and owed them £30. They also said I would need a special code to remove the software. I told them I would not pay and hung up as the number is a premium rate number.
I managed to remove the software using removal instructions given by the Easy PC Company UK.
http://www.theeasypc.co.uk/remove.bat
However even though the software has been removed, somehow they managed to get my home address and I received a letter giving me a code to remove the software( not needed already removed myself) and what I consider to be a threatening letter stating’my account remains in arrears to the value of £29.99. This balance is due for immediate payment’. It then goes on to say’ In accordance to our terms and conditions, failure to contact us to settle your account within seven days from the date of this letter may result in us, or our appointed agents, initiating legal preceedings against you without further notice. We remind you that uninstalation of our software does not remove contractual obligation regarding your outstanding balance’.
Well I certainly am not going to contact them or pay their threatening demand for what is essentially a scam.
They will never get money off me.
on 28 Jul 2008 at 10:22 pm 30.Dani said …
Hi Everyone!! Do not pay this scam artist!! I had the exact same problem as all of you, and I followed the removal instructions that Platte_Victim wrote, and it worked perfectly! There is not a trace of it left on my computer! I had called Platte earlier today, not sure of what to do. They were incredibly rude, and continued to insist I owed them 29.99. My friend helped me find this site and we were victorious!! Good luck to you all!
on 03 Aug 2008 at 1:44 pm 31.wem said …
Install Ad-aware 2008 free. solves your problem regards popup bill
on 05 Aug 2008 at 10:45 pm 32.kay said …
ITS NOT THE UNINSTALLATION THAT BOTHERS ME, ITS THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE MY HOME ADDRESS AND SAY I OWE THEM MONEY- HOW DO I GET OUT OF IT!
on 08 Aug 2008 at 5:54 pm 33.laura said …
Im soooo glad im not the only one struggling with these cowboys! I dont have a clue how i managed to get the icon on my desk top as i dont watch films or anythingof the sort but i called the customer service line tonight and the guy asked me to confirm my post code and personal details to which irefused. Glad i did now it turns out they dont have any of our personal details such as post code, address, phone number or DOB so PLEASE do not give this to them if you call. They could not tell me who signed up or any email addresses or anything but the worrying thing is they have my IP address for my computer and he could see what i was looking at when i was talking to him.. Im pretty worried now as i need ti uninstall the software but cant seem to get the above mentioned site to work, any ideas anyine? Your help would bemuch apreciated. Laura
on 09 Aug 2008 at 8:16 am 34.Sussex said …
Laura: What do you mean when you say that he could see what you were looking at while you were talking to him? Do you mean that he could see the pop up from Platte Media, or that he ‘knew’ what front page was displaying on your screen? It would be helpful if you could illuminate on this.
Have you visited the MBS Victims Forum yet? It is there as a support group. I’m certain that they’d like to hear your story there and it may well be that somebody can help you with your problem.
on 11 Aug 2008 at 9:35 am 35.matt spring said …
Sounds famillar! one of my m8s did the same thing on his GIRLRIEND’S MUMS pc! It took me a day to remove the retched thing and the mass of malware it brought on to her pc! something like over 100 spyware and trojans! I could understand a 9 year old not knowing better but my mate should-hes an adult! lol. And as for platte media there ‘proffit-Hungry’ scam artists and should be avoided by all at all costs!
on 11 Aug 2008 at 9:44 am 36.matt spring said …
Laura: please contact me for details and a program to remove Platte media i have done it before so no it works
dj_sprinkles@yahoo.co.uk please do not send any attachmeants for obvious reasons! lol.
on 13 Aug 2008 at 6:02 pm 37.paul shearwood said …
good news for you all l now have access directly into plattes systems,it seems they have employees who hate them to enough to download a virus directly onto their system
on 16 Aug 2008 at 5:12 pm 38.oliver said …
i have used the removal program also . how these people pretend to be a ligitimet opperating business defise believe DO NOT PAY THESE SCUM !
on 26 Aug 2008 at 2:35 pm 39.yonne said …
I have the same problem we came back
from holiday and it was on our computer.
No one has signed up for this and now they say that I can cancel but i have to pay £29.99 or face legal action.
I am not prepared to pay for something I didnt sign up for.
Does any one know how to remove this from vista?
Has any one reported this to watchdog or trading standards?
on 29 Aug 2008 at 9:26 am 40.richard savage said …
I have contacted the uk office of fair trading
who are looking into platte media, their advice
is not to pay anything to this company at any time (this is an obvious scam).
on 01 Sep 2008 at 5:28 pm 41.James said …
hi, ive had this problem came back from work today and a popup poped up saying i own them £29.99 well i aint paying for something i never signed up for.
can someone please tell me how to remove this peace of crap from vista i tryed the website everyone said but there is a problem with the sight :S lol
cheers james
on 01 Sep 2008 at 6:34 pm 42.richard savage said …
if everybody affected by this scam were to contact the office of fair trading either by telephone or their website or you, local trading standards office it will give them more ammunition to close them down. I contacted platte originally as asked them to remove their rubbish from my computer with a raised voice they by return sent me the data to do this and a bill for £29.99 and have been emailing their terms ever since (all ignored)
i have no intention of paying them,I have blocked
their emails from platteservices.com naturally they found another way to send emails (just wasting their time). We all realise when eventually these scammers are closed they will only
find another name and way to scam once again.
on 02 Sep 2008 at 12:59 pm 43.Daffy said …
I’m following the instructions in post 20 but when I try to carry out point 7 I’m being told access is denied. Can anybody help please?
on 03 Sep 2008 at 10:01 pm 44.Sussex said …
Daffy: Do you have administrator rights?
on 24 Sep 2008 at 8:50 pm 45.Gavin said …
i am also having problems with point 7 can anybody help!!!!
on 26 Sep 2008 at 1:51 pm 46.ger said …
no fool like an old fool somehow got roped with free films that didnt exist. novice to computers and had no idea how to remove platte. rang them and was immediately threatened with legal action if 30 pounds was not paid and since had letter saying that they have started legal proceedings asking me for 25 pounds extra for this. sorry but glad others are out there.now not going to pay but dont fancy prison food.
on 26 Sep 2008 at 10:15 pm 47.gavin said …
RE point 7!!!!!
1 google “platte media scam”
2 find easy pc blog archive new platte media removal!!! site and go to the bottom of their page (above the box with blue lines in it and follow the intructions)
3 download “itty bitty process manager” from their page!!
4 once downloaded and you have the box onscreen find the pm_proc 1 and pm_proc 2 files and press ctrl and left click on both files to highlight them together and then click “kill process” then go back into system 32 and now delete both files together!!!
think it has worked for me i will let you all know tomorrow!!!!
on 27 Sep 2008 at 2:00 pm 48.gavin said …
no platte popups!!!!!!!!! follow post 20 and if problems occur at point 7 then follow post 47!!!
can “daffy” or anyone else let me know if they are successful!!!
on 27 Sep 2008 at 5:25 pm 49.gavin said …
also be aware of a scam email i have just received regarding illegal activities and copywrited material and they say they are going to suspend or cancel your internet connection do not open just delete!!!!! are they related?????? makes you wonder!!!
on 01 Oct 2008 at 2:28 pm 50.geoffers essex said …
Am another unfortunate sufferer of the “Platte” syndrome. Have decided to bombard their email address with a the same repeated note of complaint(send one email to them then keep forwarding it).Have done this each day and intend to continue– this way they get some of the trouble honest web users receive from them. Come on lets all do it and realy foul up their email.Have also done the same thing with the OFT- one letter plus a copy of their pop-up screen demanding money with menacing overtones - sent 10 letters so far-costly tho! g 1/10/2008
on 03 Oct 2008 at 7:20 pm 51.Platte's_worst_nightmare said …
I am a software engineer, and specialise in the removal of malware/viruses. I have no reservations in sharing my opinion, and feel the way in which the software works is virtualy identical to the way a lot of malware functions. You have the right to remove software from your PC if it is tranmitting data about your usage and you feel it is in breach of your privacy. Platte’s software falls into this catagory. The OFT have said that Platte’s T&C’s are above board, but they must have been drunk when they agreed to it! :-).
Legal or not, I have removed this from dozons of PC’s, and before Platte moan that it is illegal to do, hear this, ‘I DON’T CARE!’. This software is designed to mislead, and the fact it does not require any age check shows you are actively seeking people who are underage. If you are going to use immoral tactics, I will correct your wrongs.
I must also say DO NOT give any personal info to these people, and if you receive a demand for payment in the post addressed to ‘computer owner’ or something as ridiculous, return to sender saying, ‘No one of that name at this address’. You cannot have entered into a contract if they don’t know your name, that is an outrageous claim on their behalf.
By the way, I just installed it on my own machine for a bit of fun. I’m coming to get ya Platte!! Bring it on!
on 04 Oct 2008 at 1:41 pm 52.samsav said …
I read nightmares blog, I have been in contact with office of fair trading who informed under no circumstances should I Pay Platte Media any monies as they consider they are a SCAM site.I have also contacted the local trading standards office to their mailing address in Dunmow Essex they seem to agree with Platte regarding their operation, why God Knows. All seems to hinge on the word ”PORN” and the fact that you can pay with cash or postal order and a four figure pin number. I have pointed out to essex trading standards that get films nows front page does no mention PORN in fact they give the impression they are selling ordinary films.
I also pointed out any child could give false information and pay by cash or postal order. I have since had no reply from them. Today I received a letter from platte informing myself that they intend to take me to court for the £29.99 Which I refuse to pay as their information stated that I was on the site for seconds, (they have not provided me with a service) nor could they I await their summons from Northampton County Court, and shall place a counter claim through the court for £42 for damages to my sons computer. Perhaps everybody affected by their scam should do likewise.
on 21 Oct 2008 at 5:38 am 53.John Harrison said …
I too have been suffering from Platte pop ups and demans for 29.99 or else will be summoned to Northampton County Court.
It is comforting and at the same time disturbing to find so many people affected.
I have not paid, and do not intend to do so. I cannot trace any one who has signed up for this service.
Has anyone ever actually been taken to court and had a judgement against them?
I am a somewhat worried OAP.
on 21 Oct 2008 at 7:15 am 54.samsav said …
re john harrison.
don’t be taken in by their threats regarding Northampton County Court and above all dont Pay
these scammers I would doubt they will take anybody to court {just another way to frighten people) .
on 03 Nov 2008 at 2:05 pm 55.peter said …
I HAD THE SAME TROUBLE,EASY,JUST REINSTALL TO THE DATE BEFORE THE DAMN THING CAME ON TO YOUR COMPUTER,JUST MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN SAFE MODE.
on 10 Nov 2008 at 5:53 pm 56.Julie said …
Apparently the paperwork from Northampton County Court are fakes, this is being investigated as we speak. I have removed the malware from my computer and suggest to anyone to look on the net for a solution to this as the longer it is installed the worse your computer will perform. I have informed OFT, Trading Standards, Consumer Direct, Norton anti-virus, My computer provider, My local MP and I will report it to the Local Police this week. We all need to to the same. WHAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER HERE IS EASY ACCESS FOR CHILDREN TO A PORN SITE. THIS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TRADING. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. We are adults and although their practice is a violation we can look after ourselves but we need to protect the kids. FOR THIS REASON ALONE OFT SHOULD NOT ALLOW THIS COMPANY TO TRADE WITH MBS.
Good luck everyone in their quest.
HAPPY TO BE PLATTE FREE
on 10 Nov 2008 at 5:56 pm 57.Julie said …
Just a curiosity, I went to my local library to test Plattes registration proccess and the Local Authorities had banned entry to this site? do they know something they are not saying?
Just a thought
on 16 Nov 2008 at 9:43 pm 58.Platte_making_me_ill said …
I did not sign up or try any 3-days trial. I am the only adult user of my computer with a 5 year old. We do not know how to download as we are only learning to use our new computer.
Last week, I clicked the red pop-up to view so called “my overdue subscription fee £29.99 ” when it blocked my whole screen. That was how I first learned or heard about Platte Media or any so called “downloading/registration”.
I am willing to present my “infected computer” as evidence to take this Platte Media to court. As this is making me ill and I am going to prove this is a scam.
Please advise me what I need to do as I am sure I shall not be the last one to suffer such disgusting behavior from Platte Media. We need to put it to an end.