Consultation: The future regulation of phone-paid services

Consumers can access a range of interactive services via their landline and mobile phones, computers and digital TV. Where these services are charged for via the customer's telephone bill, they are known as phone-paid services. They include charity donations by text, music streaming, broadcast competitions, directory enquiries, voting on TV talent shows and in-app purchases. Those services are also commonly referred to as premium rate services (PRS).

This consultation sets out our proposals in effect to transfer the regulatory functions of the PSA to Ofcom, including associated proposed changes to the regulation of controlled PRS (CPRS). Under these proposals, we intend to withdraw our approval for Code 15 and replace it with our own set of rules in an order that we propose to make under section 122 of the Act (draft PRS Order). When the PRS Order comes into force, Ofcom will assume day-to-day responsibility as regulator and enforcer of PRS regulation.

Responding to the consultation

Please submit responses using the consultation response form (ODT, 50.7 KB).