EMERGENCY PROCEDURE INVESTIGATION

22/12/2009 00:00:00

PhonepayPlus, the phone-paid services regulator, has launched an emergency procedure investigation under paragraph 8.6.1 of its Code of Practice (11th Edition amended April 2008), following in-house monitoring of a virtual chat service called ‘Sms Chat With Just Legal Babes’.

PhonepayPlus has collected evidence suggesting that, amongst other issues, the service was being promoted using an inappropriate image, lacked effective mechanisms to prevent underage use, and did not include clear pricing and opt-out information.

Oxygen8 Communications Limited is the Service Provider as defined by the Code. A Tribunal will decide whether the service is in breach of the Code approximately 10 days after PhonepayPlus has received a response from the Service Provider to its emergency procedure notice.  In the meantime, the service will be suspended and revenue withheld pending conclusion of the investigation and a decision by the Tribunal. 

Other service providers are reminded that enabling this service, or any other services that operate in a similar way, may result in breaches being raised against them.