Registration FAQs
Contents
Exemptions
How does the £5,000 exemption work in practice?
How does the £5,000 exemption work in the first year of trading?
I am an 087 provider, what should I do?
Will PhonepayPlus carry out any checks if I claim I am exempt from paying the registration fee?
Fees
Why is the fee level different in June and August?
I paid the registration fee but no longer provide PRS. Am I eligible for a refund?
I am a network. Do I have to pay the registration fee?
What do all these reference numbers mean?
Why are government bodies not exempt from paying the registration fee?
Organisation registration
I already have an SP number can I re-use this or do I need to re-register?
Will registration be refused to any organisation, and can it be revoked?
Do I need to register if all I do is promote other organisations’ ‘white-label’ services?
How do I know if I've been pre-registered?
I represent a large network. Paying by credit/debit card is not possible. Can I pay by invoice instead?
Do I need to register each year?
Do foreign companies and their directors have to register?
Can I just register my holding company?
When organisations register, do they have to say whether they are a Network, Level 1 or a Level 2?
How do I know when it's time to re-register?
Why do I need to provide a Director's date of birth and e-mail address?
Responsibilities
Is there any penalty for providing inaccurate information?
Timelines and next steps
When can I register my services?
When can I do a due diligence search?
What is the last date I can register before the Code comes into force?
Will there be a grace period after 1 September?
Registration account management
Can I be a user for more than one company?
I didn't receive the invoice or confirmation emails. What should I do?
I'm a sole trader. Will my address be visible on the website?
I've forgotten my security answer. What do I do?
I've left the PRS industry. What happens to my data?
Exemptions
If you claim an exemption from the fee then you will skip the payment process and go straight to the account pages.
The £5,000 exemption applies to TOTAL gross outpayments from PRS, excluding VAT. For example, If you have two suppliers and each pays you £2600 per year gross (excluding VAT) then you will earn more than £5,000 from PRS in total and should pay the fee.
Back to top
At the outset you should make an assessment of your likely revenue, perhaps using your business plan – or advice from your PRS supplier and if this exceeds £5,000 then you should pay the fee. For example, if you are claiming an exemption and your gross revenue from PRS reaches and exceeds £416 per month you should contact us for advice about your relevant fee.
Back to top
In the first year you do not need to register at all. We will continue to populate information on our number checker about the most popular 087 numbers on your behalf.
However if you wish to enjoy the benefits of the scheme then please register. If you earn more than £5,000 gross per year (excluding VAT), and are not a registered charity, then you will need to pay the fee.
Back to top
After registration, PhonepayPlus will verify the information of organisations who claim exemption from the registration fee by checking with the organisation’s PRS suppliers or the Charity Commission website.
Back to top
Fees
We are offering discounted rates leading up to the 1 September to encourage people to register early
The fee structure is as follows:
£50 + VAT for registration up until 30 June
£80 + VAT for registration between 1 July and 31 August
£100 +VAT for registration on or after 1 September
The fee applied will correspond with the date that your organisation pays for registration. So if you were pre-registered in June but don't verify registration and make a payment until August, you will be charged £80 +VAT.
Back to top
The registration fee is non-refundable except for payments made in error. You can find our refund policy here which explains more about the situations in which a refund would be considered.
Back to top
Networks are not exempt from the Scheme. So yes, you do have to pay.
Back to top
The Sage Pay Transaction reference is your payment reference, you should use this in any direct contact with Sage Pay.
The Registration Number is your commercial reference, you should use this in any direct contact with PhonepayPlus or when dealing with other members of the industry.
The invoice number is your correspondence reference for any queries relating to finance.
Back to top
Government bodies operating in the premium rate market will be enjoying all the benefits of the Scheme and so will need to pay the registration fee. PhonepayPlus has not received any representations or requests to make these organisations exempt from the fee.
Back to top
Organisation registration
The Registration Scheme is brand new and so your current SP number will no longer be valid. You will be required to register under the new Scheme and will be given a new unique number during the process.
Back to top
Registration will not be refused or revoked, but organisations that are prohibited or barred from operating within PRS will be marked as such.
Back to top
No, affiliate marketers are not required to register as they are not considered to be part of the PRS value-chain under the new Code of Practice.
Back to top
If you have been pre-registered by another organisation you will have received an e-mail informing you of your unique login details which you can use to complete registration. Follow the Pre-registration links on the website to guide you through completing your registration. If you think you have been pre-registered but have not received an e-mail from PhonepayPlus then please contact the provider you believe to have pre-registered you.
Back to top
You can only pay for the registration fee by credit/debit card. The Registration Scheme is using the Sage Pay secure payment facility and so we cannot accept payment by any other means.
Back to top
Each year you will need to renew your registration by paying the annual fee or re-claiming your exemption. Throughout registration you should always keep your information accurate and up to date, but there won't be a need to fill in the intial registration forms on a yearly basis.
Back to top
If foreign companies are providing UK PRS then they have to submit all of the information we require, including directors.
Back to top
Each company that is obligated to register under the Code of Practice must register. This means it is not sufficient just to register a holding company.
Back to top
It is not necessary to classify your organisation in this way, but Network status is applied for as usual by contacting PhonepayPlus. We will need to see evidence of your interconnect agreement with a lead network, e.g. BT.
Back to top
Registration dates are displayed on your ‘My Account’ screen and reminder emails from PhonepayPlus are sent one month and then again two weeks before the expiry date.
Back to top
In order to avoid duplicate records being created, the system needs unique information to differentiate between responsible person's records. Currently to do this we are using a date of birth and e-mail address.
Back to top
Responsibilities
If you provide inaccurate information – or information becomes inaccurate because it is not kept up to date - then this is a breach of the Code of Practice and appropriate regulatory action may be taken against you.
Back to top
Timelines and next steps
You can register your services at any time using the "My Numbers" page in your account. For more details on how to register services please see the Services FAQs.
Back to top
You can undertake a due diligence search at any time using your "Due Diligence" page in your account. For more information about undertaking due diligence searches please see the Due Diligence FAQs.
Back to top
31 August 2011 is the last date you can register as the new Code of Practice comes into force on the 1 September. There are, however, benefits of registering early, including a discount and the ability to carry out due diligence checks.
Back to top
PhonepayPlus expect you to be registered by the 1 September as the Code comes into force on that date. Appropriate regulatory action will be taken against those organisations not registered by this date.
Back to top
Registration account management
Yes, you can. If another organisation has created a user account in your name you will be e-mailed with login details. You can use the same e-mail address and password for all organisations you are associated with.
Back to top
If you haven't received any e-mails within 24 hours from registering then firstly check your spam folder, particularly if you have a Yahoo, Hotmail, Google or Orange email account. If they are not in that folder, please contact us.
Back to top
Your organisation address will only appear to those organisations who carry out a due diligence check and to users that you have created for your account. It will not be publicly available.
Back to top
Call PhonepayPlus to reset your security question and security answer. Contact us here.
Back to top
Under the Data Protection Act, PhonepayPlus will keep your data for a reasonable period of time and your status will become unregistered. This information will be visible to other organisations carrying out due diligence searches.
Back to top