PhonepayPlus Publications - General Notices

general notices

(All downloads are available in pdf format, viewable with Adobe Acrobat, which can be downloaded free).

PHONEPAYPLUS NETWORK AUDIT 2007
(19 September)

In October 2007, PhonepayPlus directed its auditors, Mazars LLP, to conduct an audit of 15 networks to understand how all parties can work together more effectively in the future.

Following the completion of the audit, PhonepayPlus drafted proposals around how the ‘efficiency and user-friendliness of future audits could be enhanced.' The 15 audited networks were each invited to provide a formal response by 29 August 2008.

The four network responses can be viewed here.

NOTICE TO INDUSTRY - THE PROMOTION OF PHONE-PAID SERVICES ON THE VIRTUAL CHAT / CHAT & DATING SERVICES OF COMPETITORS (VOICE BASED SERVICES, ONLY)
(18 June)

PhonepayPlus has recently written to all service providers operating live 1-2-1 chat services and virtual chat / chat & dating services. The PhonepayPlus Executive expresses concerns surrounding employees and / or operators of service providers calling the services of their competitors and leaving promotional messages where a consumer would normally leave a genuine description of themselves. Such promotions do not comply with the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice, and this Notice sets out the regulator's expectations and the steps it will take to ensure compliance.

Click here to read the Notice.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GAMBLING COMMISSION AND PHONEPAYPLUS
(5 June 2008)

PhonepayPlus today published a memorandum of understanding with the Gambling Commission. It provides a framework for the adoption of a common approach to resolving certain issues related to gambling and premium rate services (PRS) that might result in consumer harm.

CONSUMER PROTECTION FROM UNFAIR TRADING REGULATIONS
(22 April 2008)

PhonepayPlus today published a Fact Sheet to assist service providers and others in understanding the key implications arising from the implementation on 26 May 2008 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations.

A REMINDER: RESPONSIBILITIES FOR NETWORK OPERATORS UNDER CODE
(9 April 2008)

PhonepayPlus today reminded all network operators involved in the provision of premium rate services that they are bound by the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice. It urges any network operator that is unsure of its responsibilities to contact the PhonepayPlus Compliance Team for advice and help.

In the Adjudication Panel meeting of 13 March, a network operator was issued with a formal reprimand and a Ł15,000 fine. On top of this, it was told to pay the unpaid fines which had been handed down to service providers to whom it had issued premium rate numbers, resulting in a demand for a further Ł11,500. This is the latest in a number of breaches upheld against network operators for non-compliance since the 11th Code introduced new responsibilities.

A relevant Help Note has recently been updated to further assist the industry on complying with due diligence requirements: www.phonepayplus.org.uk/pdfs_helpnotes_code11/net_duediligence.pdf.

A REMINDER: DEFINITION OF PROMOTION UNDER THE PHONEPAYPLUS CODE OF PRACTICE
(6 March)

PhonepayPlus has today reminded providers of phone-paid services that the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice covers the promotion of the service as well as the content promoted. Because of the variety of marketing tools now available, PhonepayPlus urges any provider in any doubt about the compliance of their marketing campaigns, particularly when this involves the creation of meta tags in online marketing activity, to contact the PhonepayPlus Executive for compliance advice.

PHONEPAYPLUS 2008/09 LEVY ANNOUCEMENT
(5 March)
PhonepayPlus has today announced that its levy for 2008/09 will be 0.39%. The levy, which applies to all outpayments to service providers, has been set following extensive consultation with the industry and other stakeholders.

NOTICE ON ADMINISTRATION CHARGES
(5 March)
PhonepayPlus has today published a Notice to the Industry informing it of Administrative Charges from 1 April 2008.

OPERATION OF VOICE-BASED, TEXT-CHARGED SERVICES
(5 February)
PhonepayPlus has today issued a notice to the industry advising that, with immediate effect, no voice-based, text-charged service may be provided unless prior permission in writing has been given by PhonepayPlus for the operation of that service.

DEMAND FOR COMPLIANCE ADVICE SOARS
(23 January)
PhonepayPlus has today issued a notice to the industry outlining the success and benefits of the PhonepayPlus Compliance Team.

ADMINISTRATVE CHARGES FROM 1 JANUARY 2008
(12 December)
PhonepayPlus has today published a notice to the industry on changes to the way in which administrative charges will be applied to service providers, information providers (where a case has proceeded against an information provider) and networks found in breach of the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice (Eleventh Edition). The new charges will apply to cases that are opened on or after 1 January 2008.

The new charges system is evidence of PhonepayPlus' ongoing commitment to provide effective and proportionate regulation to the industry, and represents a further shift towards the ‘polluter pays' principle under which those whose misconduct causes a cost to the regulator bear that cost.
________________________________________________________________

NEW FRAMEWORK FOR REGULATION AGREED BY OFCOM AND PHONEPAYPLUS
(5 December)
PhonepayPlus has today welcomed the publication of a new framework for regulation agreed by Ofcom and PhonepayPlus.
________________________________________________________________

PHONEPAYPLUS' RESPONSE TO ITS CONSULTATION ON ANONYMOUS SMS SERVICES
(26 October)
PhonepayPlus has today issued a statement in response to its Anonymous SMS Consultation, as well as published a notice to the industry on Anonymous SMS Prior Permission. Please click here to view the Prior Permission guidelines.
________________________________________________________________

SEXUAL ENTERTAINMENT SERVICE (SES) NUMBER MIGRATION
(16 October)
PhonepayPlus has today issued a notice to the industry reminding it that, as of 8 November 2007, all "controlled" sexual entertainment services (SES) are required only to operate on designated number ranges.
________________________________________________________________

CUSTOMER SERVICE PHONE NUMBERS
(19 September)
icstis has today issued a notice to the industry reminding it of its obligation to provide customer service phone numbers in promotional material.
________________________________________________________________

INFORMAL PROCEDURES
(14 September)
icstis has today issued a notice to the industry informing that it will publish details of all informal procedures from 15 October 2007.
________________________________________________________________

ICSTIS BECOMES PHONEPAYPLUS
(6 September)
icstis has today issued a notice advising that it will become PhonepayPlus on 15 October 2007.
________________________________________________________________

PARTICIPATION TV SERVICES
(21 August)
icstis has today issued a notice to the industry informing it that all investigations into participation TV services will be conducted using the standard procedure.
________________________________________________________________

ICSTIS PUBLISHES ITS 2007/8 ANNUAL STATEMENT
(5 April)
The Statement sets out our priorities for the coming year, and our commitment to being transparent and accountable in all that we do. The Statement is a further demonstration of our commitment to understanding the market in a way that allows us to work with the industry and other partners to prevent problems by designing compliance into products and by providing a regulatory framework in anticipation of new services.
____________________________________________________________________

PREMIUM RATE SERVICES OPERATING ON 070 NUMBERS
(14 December)
Following an increase in complaints about premium rate services operating on 070 personal numbers, icstis has issued the following notice to service providers and network operators.
____________________________________________________________________

THE REGULATORS' JOINT SUBMISSION TO CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT COMMITTEE
(29 November)
icstis and Ofcom have submitted their interim evidence to the Culture Media and Sport Committee inquiry into Call TV Quiz shows.
____________________________________________________________________

ICSTIS PUBLISHES HALF-YEAR STATEMENT
(24 October)
icstis has today published its half-year statement covering April to September 2006. The statement highlights, among other things, the ongoing success of our contact centre in providing a high-quality service, reduced levels of complaint about premium rate services and a significant improvement in fine recovery levels.

It also sets out key goals for the next six months, including the launch of a website specifically targeted to meet the needs of children, ongoing consultation with stakeholders over our forthcoming regulation of 0871 services, and the completion of our re-branding exercise.
____________________________________________________________________

ICSTIS LAUNCHES REVIEW OF QUIZ TV SECTOR
(12 October 2006)
icstis has announced that it is to carry out a review of the quiz TV sector following concerns over the clarity of call cost information and a lack of transparency about how services work.
____________________________________________________________________

ICSTIS PUBLISHES STATEMENT ON CONSUMER REFUNDS
(3 October 2006)
icstis has today published the criteria it will use when awarding consumer refunds as part of a sanction when its Code of Practice is breached. The accompanying press release outlines possible circumstances which are likely to trigger an order to pay refunds.
____________________________________________________________________

PRS CONDITION AMENDMENT 2006
(8 June 2006)
Today Ofcom has extended the definition of controlled premium rate services (CPRS) to include 'internet dialler software' (diallers) irrespective of the call cost or number. In proposing to extend the definition of CPRS to capture diallers, Ofcom set out that it did not want to unintentionally capture pay-as-you-go dial up and unmetered dial up internet services. These services by internet service providers providing narrowband access to the internet to end-users using a dial-up connection are specifically excluded.

To coincide with the extension of the definition of CPRS, icstis has today issued a Notice setting out that all service providers using diallers, regardless of number or cost must ensure that they apply for prior permission before 30th June 2006. Diallers found operating without prior permission after this time will be in breach of the ICSTIS Code of Practice.
____________________________________________________________________

ICSTIS PUBLISHES HALF-YEAR STATEMENT

(8 May 2006)

icstis has published its half-year statement covering October 2005 to March 2006. The accompanying press release highlights, among other things, a 53% fall in the total number of complaints compared with the first six months of the year, a significant tail-off in complaints about quiz TV services since we issued our Statement of Expectations for these services, a major improvement in the level of service offered by our Contact Centre with nine out of every 10 calls now answered within 30 seconds, and a real terms reduction in the cost of regulation.
____________________________________________________________________

ICSTIS ANNOUNCES LEVY FOR 2006/7
(1 March 2006)
icstis has announced the levy that will apply to all outpayments to service providers from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007. Click here to see the original Activity Plan & Budget 2006/7 consultation, which has subsequently been approved by Ofcom. Click here to see our response to comments received during the consultation.
____________________________________________________________________

ICSTIS BARS PREMIUM RATE TEXT CHARGING TO ALL NON-PREMIUM RATE NUMBERS
(1 February 2006)
icstis has issued a notice announcing its intention to bar premium rate text charging to all non-premium rate numbers. The bar takes effect on Friday 3 February 2006.
____________________________________________________________________

ICSTIS PUBLISHES ITS FINAL STATEMENT ON CALL TV QUIZ SERVICES
(27 January 2006)
This includes a Statement of Expectations that providers of Call TV Services will need to consider alongside the Code of Practice. Providers of Call TV Quiz Services which contain a Live element require permission to operate. An application form is provided and must be returned to icstis by no later than Friday 24th February 2006.

previous notices

2005

	check a number search site adv search for the public for service providers for phone networks latest news publications & alerts
the code of practice help notes guidelines consultations PhonepayPlus quarterly consumer publications phonebrain for kids consumer publications PhonepayPlus Three-Year Strategic Plan (2008/10) PhonepayPlus annual report external annual reports research documents 20th anniversary media releases general notices e-mail alerts	general notices (All downloads are available in pdf format, viewable with Adobe Acrobat, which can be downloaded free). PHONEPAYPLUS NETWORK AUDIT 2007 (19 September) In October 2007, PhonepayPlus directed its auditors, Mazars LLP, to conduct an audit of 15 networks to understand how all parties can work together more effectively in the future. Following the completion of the audit, PhonepayPlus drafted proposals around how the ‘efficiency and user-friendliness of future audits could be enhanced.' The 15 audited networks were each invited to provide a formal response by 29 August 2008. The four network responses can be viewed here. NOTICE TO INDUSTRY - THE PROMOTION OF PHONE-PAID SERVICES ON THE VIRTUAL CHAT / CHAT & DATING SERVICES OF COMPETITORS (VOICE BASED SERVICES, ONLY) (18 June) PhonepayPlus has recently written to all service providers operating live 1-2-1 chat services and virtual chat / chat & dating services. The PhonepayPlus Executive expresses concerns surrounding employees and / or operators of service providers calling the services of their competitors and leaving promotional messages where a consumer would normally leave a genuine description of themselves. Such promotions do not comply with the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice, and this Notice sets out the regulator's expectations and the steps it will take to ensure compliance. Click here to read the Notice. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GAMBLING COMMISSION AND PHONEPAYPLUS (5 June 2008) PhonepayPlus today published a memorandum of understanding with the Gambling Commission. It provides a framework for the adoption of a common approach to resolving certain issues related to gambling and premium rate services (PRS) that might result in consumer harm. CONSUMER PROTECTION FROM UNFAIR TRADING REGULATIONS (22 April 2008) PhonepayPlus today published a Fact Sheet to assist service providers and others in understanding the key implications arising from the implementation on 26 May 2008 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations. A REMINDER: RESPONSIBILITIES FOR NETWORK OPERATORS UNDER CODE (9 April 2008) PhonepayPlus today reminded all network operators involved in the provision of premium rate services that they are bound by the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice. It urges any network operator that is unsure of its responsibilities to contact the PhonepayPlus Compliance Team for advice and help. In the Adjudication Panel meeting of 13 March, a network operator was issued with a formal reprimand and a Ł15,000 fine. On top of this, it was told to pay the unpaid fines which had been handed down to service providers to whom it had issued premium rate numbers, resulting in a demand for a further Ł11,500. This is the latest in a number of breaches upheld against network operators for non-compliance since the 11th Code introduced new responsibilities. A relevant Help Note has recently been updated to further assist the industry on complying with due diligence requirements: www.phonepayplus.org.uk/pdfs_helpnotes_code11/net_duediligence.pdf. A REMINDER: DEFINITION OF PROMOTION UNDER THE PHONEPAYPLUS CODE OF PRACTICE (6 March) PhonepayPlus has today reminded providers of phone-paid services that the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice covers the promotion of the service as well as the content promoted. Because of the variety of marketing tools now available, PhonepayPlus urges any provider in any doubt about the compliance of their marketing campaigns, particularly when this involves the creation of meta tags in online marketing activity, to contact the PhonepayPlus Executive for compliance advice. PHONEPAYPLUS 2008/09 LEVY ANNOUCEMENT (5 March) PhonepayPlus has today announced that its levy for 2008/09 will be 0.39%. The levy, which applies to all outpayments to service providers, has been set following extensive consultation with the industry and other stakeholders. NOTICE ON ADMINISTRATION CHARGES (5 March) PhonepayPlus has today published a Notice to the Industry informing it of Administrative Charges from 1 April 2008. OPERATION OF VOICE-BASED, TEXT-CHARGED SERVICES (5 February) PhonepayPlus has today issued a notice to the industry advising that, with immediate effect, no voice-based, text-charged service may be provided unless prior permission in writing has been given by PhonepayPlus for the operation of that service. DEMAND FOR COMPLIANCE ADVICE SOARS (23 January) PhonepayPlus has today issued a notice to the industry outlining the success and benefits of the PhonepayPlus Compliance Team. ADMINISTRATVE CHARGES FROM 1 JANUARY 2008 (12 December) PhonepayPlus has today published a notice to the industry on changes to the way in which administrative charges will be applied to service providers, information providers (where a case has proceeded against an information provider) and networks found in breach of the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice (Eleventh Edition). The new charges will apply to cases that are opened on or after 1 January 2008. The new charges system is evidence of PhonepayPlus' ongoing commitment to provide effective and proportionate regulation to the industry, and represents a further shift towards the ‘polluter pays' principle under which those whose misconduct causes a cost to the regulator bear that cost. ________________________________________________________________ NEW FRAMEWORK FOR REGULATION AGREED BY OFCOM AND PHONEPAYPLUS (5 December) PhonepayPlus has today welcomed the publication of a new framework for regulation agreed by Ofcom and PhonepayPlus. ________________________________________________________________ PHONEPAYPLUS' RESPONSE TO ITS CONSULTATION ON ANONYMOUS SMS SERVICES (26 October) PhonepayPlus has today issued a statement in response to its Anonymous SMS Consultation, as well as published a notice to the industry on Anonymous SMS Prior Permission. Please click here to view the Prior Permission guidelines. ________________________________________________________________ SEXUAL ENTERTAINMENT SERVICE (SES) NUMBER MIGRATION (16 October) PhonepayPlus has today issued a notice to the industry reminding it that, as of 8 November 2007, all "controlled" sexual entertainment services (SES) are required only to operate on designated number ranges. ________________________________________________________________ CUSTOMER SERVICE PHONE NUMBERS (19 September) icstis has today issued a notice to the industry reminding it of its obligation to provide customer service phone numbers in promotional material. ________________________________________________________________ INFORMAL PROCEDURES (14 September) icstis has today issued a notice to the industry informing that it will publish details of all informal procedures from 15 October 2007. ________________________________________________________________ ICSTIS BECOMES PHONEPAYPLUS (6 September) icstis has today issued a notice advising that it will become PhonepayPlus on 15 October 2007. ________________________________________________________________ PARTICIPATION TV SERVICES (21 August) icstis has today issued a notice to the industry informing it that all investigations into participation TV services will be conducted using the standard procedure. ________________________________________________________________ ICSTIS PUBLISHES ITS 2007/8 ANNUAL STATEMENT (5 April) The Statement sets out our priorities for the coming year, and our commitment to being transparent and accountable in all that we do. The Statement is a further demonstration of our commitment to understanding the market in a way that allows us to work with the industry and other partners to prevent problems by designing compliance into products and by providing a regulatory framework in anticipation of new services. ____________________________________________________________________ PREMIUM RATE SERVICES OPERATING ON 070 NUMBERS (14 December) Following an increase in complaints about premium rate services operating on 070 personal numbers, icstis has issued the following notice to service providers and network operators. ____________________________________________________________________ THE REGULATORS' JOINT SUBMISSION TO CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT COMMITTEE (29 November) icstis and Ofcom have submitted their interim evidence to the Culture Media and Sport Committee inquiry into Call TV Quiz shows. ____________________________________________________________________ ICSTIS PUBLISHES HALF-YEAR STATEMENT (24 October) icstis has today published its half-year statement covering April to September 2006. The statement highlights, among other things, the ongoing success of our contact centre in providing a high-quality service, reduced levels of complaint about premium rate services and a significant improvement in fine recovery levels. It also sets out key goals for the next six months, including the launch of a website specifically targeted to meet the needs of children, ongoing consultation with stakeholders over our forthcoming regulation of 0871 services, and the completion of our re-branding exercise. ____________________________________________________________________ ICSTIS LAUNCHES REVIEW OF QUIZ TV SECTOR (12 October 2006) icstis has announced that it is to carry out a review of the quiz TV sector following concerns over the clarity of call cost information and a lack of transparency about how services work. ____________________________________________________________________ ICSTIS PUBLISHES STATEMENT ON CONSUMER REFUNDS (3 October 2006) icstis has today published the criteria it will use when awarding consumer refunds as part of a sanction when its Code of Practice is breached. The accompanying press release outlines possible circumstances which are likely to trigger an order to pay refunds. ____________________________________________________________________ PRS CONDITION AMENDMENT 2006 (8 June 2006) Today Ofcom has extended the definition of controlled premium rate services (CPRS) to include 'internet dialler software' (diallers) irrespective of the call cost or number. In proposing to extend the definition of CPRS to capture diallers, Ofcom set out that it did not want to unintentionally capture pay-as-you-go dial up and unmetered dial up internet services. These services by internet service providers providing narrowband access to the internet to end-users using a dial-up connection are specifically excluded. To coincide with the extension of the definition of CPRS, icstis has today issued a Notice setting out that all service providers using diallers, regardless of number or cost must ensure that they apply for prior permission before 30th June 2006. Diallers found operating without prior permission after this time will be in breach of the ICSTIS Code of Practice. ____________________________________________________________________ ICSTIS PUBLISHES HALF-YEAR STATEMENT (8 May 2006) icstis has published its half-year statement covering October 2005 to March 2006. The accompanying press release highlights, among other things, a 53% fall in the total number of complaints compared with the first six months of the year, a significant tail-off in complaints about quiz TV services since we issued our Statement of Expectations for these services, a major improvement in the level of service offered by our Contact Centre with nine out of every 10 calls now answered within 30 seconds, and a real terms reduction in the cost of regulation. ____________________________________________________________________ ICSTIS ANNOUNCES LEVY FOR 2006/7 (1 March 2006) icstis has announced the levy that will apply to all outpayments to service providers from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007. Click here to see the original Activity Plan & Budget 2006/7 consultation, which has subsequently been approved by Ofcom. Click here to see our response to comments received during the consultation. ____________________________________________________________________ ICSTIS BARS PREMIUM RATE TEXT CHARGING TO ALL NON-PREMIUM RATE NUMBERS (1 February 2006) icstis has issued a notice announcing its intention to bar premium rate text charging to all non-premium rate numbers. The bar takes effect on Friday 3 February 2006. ____________________________________________________________________ ICSTIS PUBLISHES ITS FINAL STATEMENT ON CALL TV QUIZ SERVICES (27 January 2006) This includes a Statement of Expectations that providers of Call TV Services will need to consider alongside the Code of Practice. Providers of Call TV Quiz Services which contain a Live element require permission to operate. An application form is provided and must be returned to icstis by no later than Friday 24th February 2006. previous notices 2005
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