Premium rate telephone services
- Introduction
- Cost of premium rate phone services
- Block and unsubscribe from premium rate phone services
- Rules to be followed by premium rate service providers
- How to make a complaint
- Further information
Introduction
Premium rate phone services are services you can pay for using your phone credit or phone bill. Premium rate means the numbers cost more to call or text than other numbers. Examples of premium rate phone services include:
- TV voting
- Charity donations
- Quizzes and competitions
- Advice and Entertainment services
- Ringtones and wallpapers
Premium rate phone services (sometimes called Information Services) have a unique ‘15’ prefix, for example, 1530 or 1515.
There are also Premium Rate SMS Services (known as PSMS) and these are recognised by a 5-digit Short Code beginning with the number 5.
Non-geographic numbers (such as 1800 numbers)
A non-geographic number (NGN) is a phone number that is not linked to a specific geographic region or ‘area code’. An NGN is any phone number beginning with 1800 and 0818.
NGNs are not premium rate phone services. Calls to 1800 numbers are free, and calls to 0818 numbers cost the same as calling a landline number.
Previously, many people avoided calling 1850, 1890 and 076 numbers because they thought they were confusing and expensive. These numbers have now been withdrawn from service. Read about how ComReg simplified calls to NGNs.
Cost of premium rate phone services
You can access premium rate services through:
- Fixed-line phones (landlines)
- Mobile phones
- The Internet
- Auto-diallers on personal computers
- Interactive digital TV
- Fax
The services are advertised in print media and on TV, radio and the Internet.
Calls to premium rate services cost more than ordinary phone calls and each prefix has a specific call cost. Call charges from mobile phones are generally higher and the cost varies according to your mobile network operator.
Premium rate call charges will be on your phone bill and are generally listed separately.
The overall charge to the consumer is shared between the network operator, the service provider or anyone else who contributes to the provision of the service.
Block and unsubscribe from premium rate phone services
If you would like to block premium rate services from your phone, you should contact your telephone service provider. Some phone service providers provide this service free of charge.
Unsubscribing from a text service
If you want to unsubscribe from a Premium Rate SMS Service you should:
- Reply by text to the last message you received on your mobile
- Send the word STOP
If you do not have a 5-digit number to send it to, ask your mobile phone network operator for the number attached to the last message you received. You should be unsubscribed within 48 hours of texting the word STOP.
ComReg has more information on unsubscibing from a text service, as well as help in finding the service provider's contact details.
Rules to be followed by premium rate service providers
Personal data
Service Providers must comply fully with the provisions of the Data Protection Act, 2018, (and any amendment or replacement legislation) for the collection, processing, keeping, use and disposal of personal data.
Services that collect your personal information, such as names, addresses and phone numbers (including calling line identification or caller display information) must tell you why they need this information. You must be notified if your information is used for any other reason and given the opportunity to stop this.
Advertising of premium rate phone services
The advertisement of premium rate phone services in Ireland on TV, print media and radio and online must comply with standards to protect consumers. For example:
- No premium rate service may be promoted as being "free"
- No product or service may be described as "free" if you can only get it by using a premium rate service
Providing services
Premium rate services must be authorised by ComReg. Network operators must not issue a Premium Rate Number or a SMS Short Code until they get the ComReg letter of authorisation.
If a service is not aimed at children, it must have an age warning. This applies especially to competitions, all chat or dating services, ringtones and logos, games and all subscription services.
If a service requires you to receive a price warning when you spend a certain amount, you must be notified when you spend that amount.
Service providers must provide a consumer helpline with a live operator to handle consumer queries and complaints. This helpline must operate during normal office hours
How to make a complaint
If you have a complaint or concern, first contact the premium rate service provider with your complaint. If you are not satisfied with their response you can make a complaint to ComReg. Complaints must be made within 9 months of use of the service, however, exceptions to this rule are at the discretion of the Regulator. All complaints are dealt with in confidence.
Disputes about the call cost of a premium rate service cannot be dealt with by ComReg. You will need to get in touch directly with the service provider to make your complaint.
You can read more about premium rate services and complaining to ComReg.
Further information
Premium rate phone services in Ireland are regulated by ComReg (Commission for Communications Regulation). ComReg operates through a strict Code of Practice (pdf), which all service providers in Ireland must comply with.
ComReg is also required to assure consumer protection when using national or international premium rate services, and to have procedures to deal with consumer complaints that arise from using these services.