EE fixes spam Orange "Magic Numbers" text message glitch

Mobile operator EE has confirmed a scripting fault is to blame for the deluge of marketing-related text messages customers have received over the past several days, and has assured them it has now been fixed.

The company, which operates T-Mobile and Orange network brands in the UK, has been criticised on social media sites and user forums in recent days for sending out multiple promotional SMS text alerts to its customers.

In most cases, the texts refer to Orange's Magic Numbers service, which allows the firm's customers to call certain numbers they nominate in advance for free.

According to numerous posts on the social networking site Twitter, Orange customers have been repeatedly receiving the same message, notifying them that they can now add "another" Magic Number to their frequent callers list since the weekend.

Many users have reported receiving between 18 to 50 text messages a day, and EE has now moved to assure customers the issue has been fixed.

In a statement to IT Pro this afternoon, the company said: "The text issue that was affecting some Orange customers has now been fixed. The duplicate texts were caused by a script issue with one of our database suppliers, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused."

In a post on the EE Community web forum, the company apologised for inundating users with Magic Numbers-related text message reminders and confirmed users will not be charged for receiving them.

As of this morning, EE and Orange customers were still waiting on the issue to be rectified, prompting the following statement. "We're sorry that some Orange customers are receiving duplicate reminder texts about Orange Magic Numbers. This is being caused by a technical error which we're working hard to fix," it explained.