Posted on: 12th September 2023, by Magrathea
Welcome to the latest edition of the Magrathea Newsletter, combining news from Magrathea and around the industry.
Responding to Comreg’s plans
Comreg, like Ofcom, are looking carefully at what changes can be made to reduce scam calls. You can read about the latest consultation and how we have responded here:
https://www.magrathea-telecom.co.uk/comreg-prioritise-scam-call-initiatives
Contacting Magrathea
We’ve discovered recently that quite a few of our clients don’t know we have a separate number you can call to speak directly to the porting team. Please dial 0345 004 0090 to reach them during office hours. If the team are all on other calls, don’t worry, the call will be answered by one of our wider support team who will be able to help or have the porting specialist call you back.
Gaining Provider Led Switching & Porting
The One Touch Switching Company (TOTSCO) have now announced the official ‘go-live’ date – Thursday 14th March 2024.
Retailers are being onboarded now and, if this impacts you, you really do need to start following the updates if you don’t already. Details can be found on the TOTSCO website.
The process for business providers is not yet quite so clear, if you serve this market you should keep an eye on here for updates: https://www.fcs.org.uk/gaining-provider-led-business-switching/
Meanwhile, Ofcom have written to the OTA asking them to lead on the work needed to improve number porting so the aims of OTS can be met. To have an “easy, quick and reliable process” means numbers as well as broadband must be simple to migrate, something that we can’t really offer assurances on today!
Work in this area is already underway as part of the Number Porting Executive Steering Group (NPESG) and currently the favourite option is to introduce a process known as ‘Express Porting’. This would essentially pre-authorise a number port where a ‘switch’ order has already gone through the authorisation process for that user.
The letter can be viewed here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/267013/Letter-to-OTA-on-number-porting-for-OTS.pdf
We are represented at the NPESG and will share more details on ‘Express Porting’ in due course.
Government consultation and call for evidence for a ban on cold calling for ALL consumer financial services and products
Why is a total ban being proposed? In the financial year 22/23 £750m was reported as lost in investment scams alone and the most common tactic of fraudsters is cold calling. Existing powers and regulation are clearly not sufficient to deter this activity and as part of the Government’s fraud strategy the plan is to widen the definition of financial services and products and then ban ALL cold / unsolicited calls to consumers, including in live time.
The government is keen not to unfairly restrict consumer access to legitimate services which are helpful but a blanket approach appears the only way of ensuring greater protection.
This consultation seeks the views and evidence of those operating in this market place on the definitions and implications of this ban. The ban will impact on-going due diligence and on-boarding of clients, if only in having awareness. We recommend if you or any of your customers operate in any way in this market place, including crypto currencies, investments and debt management, then you and they need to be aware of this consultation and if appropriate respond. You have until the 27th September 2023. The consultation can be found here:
PSTN Shutdown
Reminders are everywhere you look on social media right now that WLR ‘stop sell’ is here! As of 5th September you can no longer order or modify a copper PSTN line. We can only hope that, now this milestone is reached, everyone will get on board with consistent messaging to make sure residents and businesses in the UK understand the changes and how they might impact them.
Through our work with CCUK we continue to lobby for improved communications and are taking steps ourselves to do more in this area on behalf of members.
BT plan to withdraw the BT Phonebook from April 2024
As you will know, CPs have an obligation to provide a directory to their end-users if requested, in a format agreed between you and your subscriber. For end-users who wish to have a printed copy CPs will no longer have the option be able to discharge this condition by directing end-users to the BT Phonebook as this will be withdrawn from print in April 2024. We have updated our guidance accordingly.
Anecdotally we don’t believe the demise of the BT Phonebook will impact hugely to the majority of subscribers; however if you currently refer your customers to BT for this service then you will need to review how you will fill the gap.
What’s on our minds…
Our focus for August was producing our new Numbering Portal, something many clients have asked for and it’s very nearly ready! The team are putting it through thorough testing right now and we should be releasing it well before the next newsletter.
And finally, we will be at the CCUK Awards this month. We have sponsored this event every year for the last 15 years and find it to be one of the most friendly and useful networking events of the year. We hope to see lots of you there!
Kind regards
Magrathea
The information contained in this guidance is for your information only and is not intended to be relied on. It does not constitute legal professional advice, nor is it a substitute for you obtaining your own legal professional advice. Magrathea accepts no liability whatsoever for any errors, omissions or statements in this guidance or for any loss which may arise from your use of this guidance.