Posted on: 4th December 2024, by Magrathea
As you may be aware, the regulatory responsibility for Premium Rate services (PRS) will formally pass from the Pre-Paid Services Authority (PSA) to Ofcom on the 1st February 2025.
Ofcom published a consultation in January 2024, where they introduced their draft PRS Order.
Ofcom has since published its consultation statement, the key points to be aware of are:
- Ofcom have decided NOT to include 084x in the premium rate number definition, except where the 084x number is being used for Information, Connection and/or Signposting Services (known as ICSS)
- As with the PSA, there will be a mandatory registration scheme
- PRS providers who were previously registered with the PSA may follow a different registration process requiring less initial information, instead partially relying on information transferred from the PSA to Ofcom
- Existing providers must review the information in Ofcom’s register no later than four months after commencement of the PRS Order (by 2nd May 2025), and up-date accordingly within five working days
- The exemption for merchants operating PRS numbers starting with 087 will be removed
- Merchants are exempt from registration ONLY when working with a qualifying intermediary that has given a general undertaking that they meet the conditions
- PRS providers are unable to engage in any regulated activity unless they comply with the requirements in relation to vulnerable consumers
The full Order can be found here and we recommend that you review this Order and take all necessary steps required to ensure compliance.
In the meantime, the PSA has published its process to support the transfer of responsibility to Ofcom.
From 29th November 2024, the PSA will:
- Take all consumer contacts on-line and close consumer phone lines.
- Operate a “slimmed down” registration scheme, consisting of a basic web form to register organisation and services only. The registration portal will be shut, so service checker will only serve results for services registered prior to 29th. E-mails to registration@psauthority.org.uk will not be responded to.
- Not provide DDRAC ( Due Diligence, Risk Assessment and Control ) through registration. Please note that the obligation for providers to carry out due diligence checks and risk assessment remains.
- Stop providing compliance advise on the 15th Code of Practice. E-mails to compliance@psauthority.org.uk will not be responded to.
- End regular supervision meetings.
From the 10th January 2025, the PSA will:
- No longer respond to e-mails to enquiries@psauthority.org.uk
- No longer deal with Freedom of Information requests.
- No longer accept industry “whistle-blower” complaints. These should be directed to Ofcom.
- No longer accept or log complaints about the PSA.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at support@magrathea-telecom.co.uk