This site is to provide information and answer any questions you may have about a charge you have on your telephone bill.

More than likely you have received a charge on your telephone account relating to a call to an 0900 number or you have been referred to this site to answer your queries.

To receive a charge on your phone bill of this nature either you, or someone using your phone service, has accessed what is known as 'Premium Content' on the interent, using what is known as an Internet dialer.

An "Internet dialer" allows a consumer to access premium content on the Internet and pay for such access via an 0900 number charged to your telephone bill.

Many people regard this as a convenient, discreet and, compared to credit card usage, a safe mode of paying for access to content of this nature. Please read the following information to fully understand the whole nature of dialers.

Please note that Oneseek NZ Ltd. does not operate or host these premium content websites. We only provide the connectivity and billing solution so users can access these websites via a premium rate number. To learn more about about what we do click here.

Most telephones have access to 0900 information services. These services are wide-ranging and can include adult services, chat lines, online games, weather reports, astrology readings, competitions and voting lines, lottery results and so on.

Anyone can have their telephone service(s) blocked from accessing 0900 numbers. The account holder may simply contact their telephone company to arrange for the blocking of access to the 0900 platform.

You, as the telephone account holder, are responsible for security to Internet and telephone services, as you are the legal account holder. Please refer to Section 11 of the Telecom 'Standard Terms for Residential Custhomers' for more details.

Adult Internet services are generally accessed and paid for via a credit card subscription or pay-per-view via premium rate numbers, the charges for which you receive on your normal telephone bill. This is achieved using a small piece of software called a dialer. A dialer is downloaded to your computer following access to an adult website over the Internet and opting to pay via your telephone bill on the "join" or "enter" page.

The dialer takes just a few seconds to download and will usually appear as an icon on your desktop (refer to example on left) and in your start up menu on the bottom left of your desktop. The icon will be representative of the web site you have accessed.

The purpose of a dialer is to disconnect you from your normal Internet service provider and instruct your modem to dial out on a premium rate (0900) number.

Premium rate numbers can also be used to access non-adult services like music download and online gaming sites. In these cases the dialer works exactly the same as for accessing adult content. The dialer is downloaded to your computer and will usually appear as an icon on your desktop and start menu.

The dialer will then disconnect from your normal Internet service provider and then tell your modem to dial a premium rate (0900) number.

As long as your Internet browser has the default security settings, the dialer software cannnot be downloaded to your computer without user interaction.

In the case illustrated below, the steps from downloading the dialler software to connecting to the premium rate number, to authenticating the user are shown. Please note that the example shown is using Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 with the default security options.

STEP 1A: Dialer software download window

This is the first screen which appears when downloading a dialer for the first time. The download will not start automatically - the user must initiate it either by clicking on the link as shown above, or by allowing Internet Explorer to download the file (see STEP 1B below).

STEP 1B: Allowing the browser to download the dialer install file

Following this the browser will ask if you want to Run, Save, or Cancel the download.

STEP 2: Broswer download warning.

If the save button is now clicked then the dialer software will be now installed on the computer.

As with downloading the dialer software, a connection to a premium rate number cannot be establish without the interaction of the user. The connection steps are detailed below. Note that this is an illustrative case and that there may be some slight differences between diallers.

STEP 1: Dialer start screen

This is the screen that appears when the dialer is started. Note the over 18 age warning, and the $3.36 incl GST price warning. The dialer software will not attempt to connect until the "Let Me In Now" buttonis clicked.

STEP 2: Connection authentication

Next is the connection authentication screen. In order to continue, the user must enter the digits displayed (in this case they are JXDR). This screen will appear not matter what dialer software you are using. After the correct characters are enters then the user will be allowed to continue.

This step ensures that the user is fully aware that the dialler is operating and is dialling the premium rate number.

STEP 3: Redirection to the website

Once the correct characters are entered then the dialler is able to access the premium content website.

Our most common questions / inquiries fall into the following categories:

'Why has Oneseek put this program on my computer'

Oneseek has not put any programs onto your computer - it was downloaded from the website accessed via your computer. Oneseek NZ Ltd does not operate any premium content websites - we provide the 0900 number and connectivity as an alternative billing solution to credit cards.

‘Which web site did the number access’

A large number of web sites use the same premium rate numbers so it is not possible to say which one you accessed. Check the history file in your web browser for the exact site. Alternately, check your start up menu on the bottom left of your desktop.

‘I have not made these calls’

Quite possibly, but someone with access to your computer has. It is not possible to access the Internet without initiating the call from your PC. It is not possible to initiate a call from the dialer without first opening the dialer via the desktop icon or downloading it fresh from a website and then clicking on the accept button to initiate the call. In such cases we recommend you password protect access to your PC and ring your telephone provider to block access to premium rate numbers from your telephone line.

‘There was nobody in my house when these calls were made’

It is not possible to initiate calls without positive action from the user of the PC. Your PC also has to be plugged in of course ( most people use their normal telephone socket for Internet access and will therefore plug or unplug the modem cable when required ). Therefore, somebody must have had access to your PC while you were away – friends, relatives, house watcher, a neighbour feeding your cat/dog/budgie etc. It is usually the case that the calls were made by someone with keys to your house (NOTE: Burglars don't tend to break into peoples houses just to use their PC and not take anything ! ). By checking either your Internet usage log (usually available from your ISP's web site or helpline) or your telephone local call report, Internet usage can be established. If this is the first time the site was accessed, it is consistent that there is a period of Internet activity with your ISP then a disconnection just prior to the levying of 0900 number charges. If the call was made after the initial then it will not be displayed on your ISP call log. This indicates that a user has accessed the web site linked to the 0900 dialer and carried out the set up procedures (as stated in the diagrams above).

‘We don’t look at adult sites’

Sorry, but if you have Internet call to an 0900 number on your telephone bill there is a possibility somebody has. There is no easy way to answer this. We would always suggest you password protect access to your PC and block access to premium rate numbers to prevent further access.

‘There was no indication of the cost of these calls’

The dialer warning box has a clear indication of the cost of the call, the call is initiated by clicking the ‘accept’ button. Please see the dialer warning box above.

‘How do I remove the dialer from my PC?’

We will use the Breastcentral.com dialer to illustrate. Firstly click on the start menu on the bottom left corner of your desktop. Go to "settings" and then select "control panel", then select Add/Remove programs. A pop up window appears, and it lists a whole list of installed software and programs. Look for "Breastcentral", when you've found it, select it and then click on remove button.

Most dialers do have an uninstall option, either on the tool tray (right click on the icon), or from the 'Start/programs' menu.

This should remove the program from your computer.

If it has not then you can download a program 'Ad-aware' here.

It is free and will scan your computer for a range of advertising type programs which may be installed on your PC. Please note that Oneseek NZ Ltd does not offer any support or guarantee with this software.

Simply deleting the icon or moving it to the 'recycle bin' from your desk top will not uninstall a program.

'I thought I had unlimited time and downloads on my Internet plan?'

Not all sites on the Internet are free. For example; Games, music download and movie sites.

'Can minors access these adult sites?'

Unless you have installed Parental Control Software, then yes, any user can access these sites. The onus is on the parent to monitor and restrict the areas their child visits on the Internet, in the same way as you would restrict the kind of movies you allow your children to watch for example, or the type of video games you purchase for your children.

‘What do I do if I need further information’

Please contact us on 0-9-367 8448 (9am to 4pm Monday to Friday, or leave a message outside these hours) or write to us at:

Oneseek NZ Ltd
Private Bag MBE N331
Auckland
email: oneseek@xtra.co.nz
Fax: 0-9-367 8449

When writing please enclose a copy of your telephone bill including the front page showing your name & address & the page showing the premium rate (0900) calls, a copy of your interent local call dial up report plus a covering letter with your address & signature.