welcome to our section for service providers

PhonepayPlus regulates premium rate services in the UK. It publishes and enforces a
Code of Practice which contains the rules governing the content and promotion of premium rate services. The Code is supplemented by a set of helpnotes and Statement of Expectations.

Premium rate services offer information and entertainment via phone, fax, PC (e-mail, Internet, bulletin board), mobile (SMS/WAP) or interactive digital TV. Services range from sports, voting and sex lines to competition, chat, directory enquiry and business information services, and currently vary in cost from 10 pence per call to £1.50 per minute. The money paid for the call is shared between the telephone company carrying the service and the service provider providing the content.

A service provider is an individual, company or organisation that contracts directly with a network operator for premium rate numbers. The service provider is responsible for ensuring that the content and promotion of a service comply with the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice. This is the case even where the service provider is acting as an 'aggregator', ‘reseller’ or ‘bureau’ providing the service on behalf of a client (‘information provider’).

news
Industry Notice: Introductory Messages used in Sexual Entertainment Services
(20 July 2007)
Service providers, involved in the operation of sexual entertainment services (SES), are reminded that they have until 31 August 2007 to ensure that the introductory messages comply with the contents of this Notice and with the ICSTIS Code of Practice.

compliance advice
The Executive offers FREE advice on matters relating to compliance with the Code of Practice and can also give advice on setting up services and applying for permission.

Click here to view the Compliance advice section

registration
In accordance with the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice (Eleventh Edition), service providers must register with PhonepayPlus before providing any premium rate service(s).

Click here to register as a service provider

prior permission
Most services can be set up without PhonepayPlus' prior permission. However, 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.

Click here for details on how to apply for prior permission