A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z number
ACE (Automated Calling Equipment)
ACE is the system used to send automated messages to landlines promting premium rate services.
Adjudication
This is the event when the evidence we have gained during an investigation of a possible breach or breaches in our Code of Practice is assessed.
Adjudication Panel
On the basis of the evidence presented during Adjudication, the Adjudication Panel decides whether there has been a breach of our Code of Practice.
Aggregator
Anonymous SMS
A text message sent to a recipient's mobile phone that withholds either the identity of the sender or the identity of the content provider or author.
Barred
When a service is barred it is blocked from consumer use. This may occur as a result of a breach of the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice.
Breach
A violation of any part of the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice.
Chatline (multi-party chat) Services
A service through which users can talk to each other in a non-sexual nature. Chatline services must not be promoted or operate as sexual entertainment services.
Code of Practice
PhonepayPlus publishes and enforces a Code of Practice which contains the rules governing the content and promotion of premium rate services.
Compensation Scheme
All service providers offering live services are required to have compensation arrangements in place before the service is started. Compensation must be available to any person whose connection to the electronic network has been the subject of unauthorised use. When claims are received by PhonepayPlus, the relevant Service Provider will be given an opportunity to settle them. This is due to the high risk nature of these services.
Consumer Credit Service
At PhonepayPlus' we define "consumer credit services" as services which appear to offer one or more of the following facilities:
1. consumer credit business
2. consumer hire business
3. credit brokerage
4. debt adjusting and debt counselling
5. credit repair services, giving advice on amending credit records.
Copy Advice
We can provide you with advice on scripts or promotional material for your premium rate service and check for any possible breaches to the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice. Get in touch for more help and information
Dialler Services
A Dialler Service disconnects a customer from their usual internet connection and then dials a new premium rate number to enable access to a website. The Dialler Service then charges the premium rate cost to the consumer's telephone account.
Dialler Services usually mean your customer has to download software to enable you to charge a premium rate for their access to a particular website service. Good examples are websites that charge for sports results, charity contributions, music or downloads and ‘adult' (sexually explicit) material.
Due Diligence
This refers to the responsibility Network Operators have to obtain all of the required information when contracting with Service Providers. By carrying out due diligence, Network Operators make it harder for Service Providers to cause consumer harm.
DQ
A directory enquiry (DQ) service provides callers with the telephone numbers of telephone subscribers.
Emergency Procedure
An Emergency Procedure is the immediate investigation we can begin if a service and/or its promotion appears to be causing serious consumer harm. The procedure often results in the instant barring of access to the service in question.
ICSTIS
This is the former name of PhonepayPlus: The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services. PhonepayPlus is the industry-funded regulatory body for all premium rate charged telecommunication services.
Independent Appeals Body (IAB)
The IAB consisits of five members, all independent from PhonepayPlus, whose role is to hear appeals by service providers.
Informal Procedure
When apparent breach(es) of our Code of Practice appear to be minor and of little consumer harm, we will telephone the service provider concerned and outline the nature of the apparent breach(es). If the service provider agrees to take corrective action, no further action may be taken.
Information Provider
An information provider is any person or organisation on whose behalf a service provider may provide a service.
Live Counselling Service
Live Counselling Services fall into two categories. The first is ‘One-off' Counselling Service. Calls to this type of service are made for advice in relation, for example, to marital, emotional, relationship and other personal problems. Callers may be referred by services of this type to a body or organisation specialising in a particular area. The second type of service is ‘Traditional' Ongoing Counselling Services. Services in this category offer a programme of therapy over a given period of time with an individual counsellor.
Live Entertainment Service
Relates specifically to live one to one chat, live psychic and tarot and multi party chat.
MO SMS
Stands for Mobile Originating Short Messaging Service. This is a text sent to a shortcode (for example to vote on a TV competition or to download a ringtone) from an electronic communications device such as a mobile phone..
MT SMS
Stands for Mobile Terminating Short Messaging Service. This is when the Service Operator sends a text from a shortcode to a customer's electronic communications device.
Network Operator
The provider of the premium rate number that the Service Provider has a direct contract with.
Ofcom (Office of Communication)
Ofcom is the independent regulator for the UK communications industries.
Permission Certificate
You may need to get written permission from PhonepayPlus to set up a service.You'll get a permission certificate and your Network Operator will need to see this certificate before activating your premium rate number(s).
PhonepayPlus Board
The Board consists of up to twelve members, all appointed in their individual capacities. Up to three members of the Board have contemporary industry knowledge but play no role in making adjudications.
Premium Rate Service
Premium rate services offer some form of information or entertainment that is charged to the consumer's phone bill. Premium rate calls are the most expensive and will cost between 10p and £1.50 from a BT landline (charges from other networks may vary). Premium rate numbers begin with 090 or 091 or use mobile shortcodes that are 4, 5 or 6 digits long.
Prior Permission
Certain services that have been found to pose a greater risk of causing consumer harm may not be provided unless PhonepayPlus has first granted permission.
Professional Advice Service
Relates specifically to services which require a qualification in order to provide this advice. For example legal, medical, accountancy, tax advice etc.
Promotional Material
Any materials that are used to promote a service. For example websites, brochures, posters, magazines etc.
Reverse Billing
Many text services (for example, football goal alerts) work on a ‘reverse billed' basis. This means that the consumer will be charged for receiving these texts rather then paying to send their own. The cost of these services will vary depending on which network is being used and if the service is sold as a subscription service.
Service Provider
You are a Service Provider if, as an individual, company or organisation, you provide the content (like a quiz, competition or a telephone service) that's given through a premium rate telephone number. You'll contract directly with a Network Operator but will be responsible for ensuring that the content, delivery and promotion of your service comply with the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice.
Service Provider Registration Number (SPN)
After you've completed our online service provider registration form, we'll email you your SPN. You will need this SPN when you register your premium rate number(s) and service(s) and to apply for prior permission, if required, or amend your details.
Shortcode
A 4, 5 or 6 digit code that your consumer can text to order a service (like goal alerts, horoscopes or jokes).
SMS
SMS stands for Short Message Service - another way of saying text message.
SMSus
A consumer can text a premium rate number or shortcode to SMSus (76787 on a phone keypad) and receive a text back with information on how much they will pay for the service, the company behind it and how to complain if there is a problem. SMSus is charged at the standard network rate so it won't cost a consumer more than 12p to send.
Standard Procedure
If there's a complaint about your service, we'll write to you as a service provider, and outline the alleged breach(es) of our Code of Practice. We'll also set a time limit for you to respond. Once we've your response, or if the time limit for you to respond has expired, your case will be presented to the PhonepayPlus Board for adjudication.
STOP command
If a consumer has subscribed to a service that charges for receiving texts (not sending them) they can stop these texts by texting the word STOP to the SMS or shortcode number.
Subscription
An on-going service that provides a consumer with content on a regular basis. They may subscribe to receive magazine content once a month or to receive a number of goal alerts every weekend.
T&C's
Terms & Conditions. It tells the consumer what they are buying, how much it will cost, how often they will be billed and how to stop a service if they no longer want it.
VAT
Value Added Tax - an extra charge of 17.5% on top of the normal price. For example, a product costing £3 + vat will end up costing a consumer £3.53 in total.
VOIP
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that allows you to send and receive calls over the internet. This often provides significant cost-savings over other technologies.
WAP
The technology that brings internet sites to mobile phones.
WAP Push
A text with a link to a website in it. The consumer will often be charged each time they access the website.
0800
This is the prefix of a freephone number. Freephone is free to call from a landline (fixed line phone) but if you call from a mobile call costs will vary and you will be charged.
0800REVERSE
This is a reverse charge service. Although this starts with 0800 and is free to dial (from landlines only, it will be charged if using your mobile), the person receiving the call will have to pay.
084
084 numbers cost up to 5p per minute from a landline (fixed line phone) but if you call from your mobile call costs will vary and you may be charged more.
087
087 numbers cost up to 10p per minute from a landline (fixed line phone) but if you call from your mobile call costs will vary and you may be charged more.
0871
0871 numbers cost up to 10p per minute from a landline (fixed line phone) but if you call from your mobile call costs will vary and you may be charged more. PhonepayPlus currently regulates some services operating on 0871 numbers.
09 numbers
0900/0901
Calls cost up to 60p per minute with a maximum call cost of £5.00; or fixed cost up to £1.00 per call
0904
Open-ended at any cost per minute; or fixed cost per call at any rate
0905
Open-ended at any cost per minute; or fixed cost per call at any rate
09059
Live multi-party chat services costing up to 60p per minute
0906
Open-ended at any cost per minute; or fixed cost per call at any rate
0907
Pay-for-product services costing more than £1.00
0908/0909/098
Adult services at any rate, ranging from 10p to £1.50
091
Open-ended at any cost per minute; or fixed cost per call at any rate.
NB: Costs are based on a BT landline.
NB: The codes 0902 and 0903 have not been allocated at present and will be reserved for increased demand or new services.