I’ve been charged for a large number of calls in a short time to a 099 number. How is it possible to make so many calls in such a short time?

Mass calling is a service designed to handle a large number of calls to the same number in a short period of time. It is used, among other things, in voting, for example in the Melodifestivalen, or in various types of competitions. Technically, the service works so that when you call these numbers, which have the prefix 099, the call is registered immediately and since the connection time is very short, there is an opportunity to make many calls in a short time.

Many competition programs on TV have included some form of random number generator in their systems. In this way, the call that is allowed through to the actual program is selected. All other calls reach an answering machine whose message usually reads something like: “Unfortunately, you did not reach program x this time, but please try again!” Even if you only reach the answering machine, the call is connected and charging occurs. There are examples of when consumers have made a very large number of calls to one and the same program. They seem to have dialed the number and as soon as they heard the recorded voice, realized that they had not reached the program, then hung up and immediately pressed the redial button. In this way, you can make a large number of calls in a short time.

The mission of the Telecom Advisors only includes questions concerning the content and marketing of premium rate services. If you question whether the charged calls have been made at all, it is a purely technical issue that falls outside our mission. Then you must dispute the invoice directly with your operator. The type of service is called mass calling and the operator should be able to provide the basis that these calls have been connected from your subscription.