Gadget Show competition spews text spam

At £1.50 a pop

By Chris Williams • Get more from this author

Posted in Bootnotes, 7th November 2008 11:36 GMT

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Gadget Show viewers were bombarded with text messages costing £1.50 each this week as the Five show's competition system went berserk.

One Reg reader received 39 replies after entering the competiton, at a total cost of £58.50.

A Five spokeswoman said prize draw entrants affected by the snafu would get their money back and will get another text telling them how refunds will be processed. She blamed the problem on a contractor.

The channel's switchboards were jammed on Tuesday morning with viewers worried about another TV competition rip-off, but we're assured it was just an innocent cockup. ®

Bootnote

Some weary Reg hacks once met the bald one off the Gadget Show on a packed train leaving the German technology jamboree/nightmare CeBit. He needed Valium and was wearing a T-shirt far too young for his age. Good to know it's not just an act.

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