The company who created the chart-topping Crazy Frog ringtone have been fined GBP40,000 ($72,000) and told to refund clients who were duped into joining a costly subscription service.

The animated character's annoying take on HAROLD FALTERMEYER's AXEL F theme tune from Beverly Hills Cop became the first ringtone to top the UK singles chart in June (05).

But disgruntled British fans who downloaded the song to their mobile phone soon discovered they had automatically been signed up for a GBP5 ($9)-a-week subscription service.

Icstis, the UK watchdog for premium rate phone services, criticised parent company mBlox for its misleading terms and conditions agreement.