If you are involved in the provision of a premium rate service, you need to check if you are a regulated PRS provider carrying out a regulated activity within the meaning of The Regulation of Premium Rate Services Order 2024 (‘the PRS Order’).
If you are, you need to comply with the requirements imposed by the PRS Order. The PRS Order sets out the rules that regulated PRS providers need to comply with and the powers Ofcom has to deal with non-compliance with the rules.
Check the regulatory requirements. Remember that it is your responsibility to comply with all applicable requirements which are set out in the PRS Order. Make sure you know what they are and how they will affect your business.
Registering a PRS
All providers carrying out regulated activities need to be registered with Ofcom. You must make sure you register at least 5 working days before carrying out any regulated activity. All registration information provided will be published on Ofcom’s PRS Register.
To register for the first time:
- Download the ‘premium rate services first time registrations’ form. This is a Microsoft Word document, which can be edited.
- Complete the form with the required information about your organisation. If you are a merchant, you also need to provide additional specific information such as a description of your controlled PRS and which number you will be using to operate the service.
- Submit the form by email to PRSRegistration@ofcom.org.uk
To update your registration details:
- Access the ‘premium rate services - update to existing registrations’ form via the unique link emailed to your primary contact by Ofcom. Copy and paste the link into your internet browser, this will take you to a webform which is unique to your organisation. If you have not received the email containing the link to the webform, please contact PRSRegistration@ofcom.org.uk.
- Update the webform with the required information.
- Submit the webform for processing, you will receive an email confirming receipt.
Registration updates outside of the ‘premium rate services - update to existing registrations’ form – contact us:
There are some registration updates which are not covered by the ‘premium rate services - update to existing registrations’ form. These are listed in table 1 below. To action such updates you will need to email PRSRegistration@ofcom.org.uk and request that Ofcom updates the register.
Table 1: registration updates not covered by the 'premium rate services - update to existing registrations' form – contact us
|
Category |
Type of registration update |
|
Contact information |
Update existing contact details for a generally authorised person, director or senior manager Remove existing contact details for a generally authorised person, director or senior manager |
|
Service updates |
Update the service name of an existing service Remove the name of any other PRS provider involved in the provision of a service Edit or remove the name of any other person contracted with respect to a service Deactivate a service |
|
Numbers |
Update existing numbers/number ranges related to a service Remove numbers/number ranges from a service Adding 11 or more numbers/number ranges to a service in one webform |
|
Exemptions |
An exemption notification from an intermediary for a service provider |
|
Deactivation |
Deactivate a PRS provider account |
Review of scope of regulation for premium rate services
In 2009 Ofcom carried out a review of the way in which PRS are regulated in light of market developments, in particular the rapid growth in number and range of PRS. This led to the publication of the PRS Scope Review statement , which set out, amongst other things:
- An analytical framework that can be used to analyse a particular phone-paid service to assess whether it should be subject to PRS regulation; and
- A number of initiatives aimed at improving the current regulatory framework. Although we found that the current regulatory regime is working well overall, we recommended a number of refinements to further improve protection for consumers.
Non-geographic services review
In December 2013, Ofcom published a statement on “Simplifying non-geographic numbers”, in which we set out our decisions on changes to the regulation of non-geographic call services – specifically the 080, 084, 087, 09, 116 and 118 number ranges. These changes included several decisions that affect the regulation of PR and, in particular, the following decisions:
- to separate out the Communications Providers’ Access Charge (which is the charge paid to the phone company originating the call) from the Service Charge (which is the charge paid to the phone company which terminates the call and may be shared with the PRS provider);
- to set a maximum per minute Service Charge for calls to 09 numbers of £3 per minute plus VAT which represents an increase in the current price point; and
- to set a maximum per call Service Charge for calls to 09 numbers of £5 per call plus VAT, which also represents an increase in the current price point.
These changes were implemented on 1 July 2015.
Further details setting out Ofcom’s decisions on Simplifying non-geographic numbers.
PRS Bad Debt Surcharge
We consulted in July 2009 about the proposed form & level of a price cap on BT for its PRS Bad Debt Surcharge. This is a wholesale charge that BT levies on terminating communication providers (TCPs). The charge relates to the retail bad debt on PRS calls which BT retails in excess of the level of bad debt recovered in the NTS Retail Uplift. The NTS Retail Uplift is the wholesale charge applicable to all NTS calls that recovers costs which BT incurs when retailing NTS calls on behalf of TCPs.
Further details about the nature of these proposed controls can be found in the July 2009 consultation.
Numbering policy
Number Availability: Supplying numbers for 09 premium rate services
Ofcom has made it possible for telecoms operators to apply for newly available numbers within the 09 premium rate services range.
Consumer protection test for telephone numbering
Information on Ofcom's proposed consumer protection test for allocating telephone numbers, including PRS numbers.