New law to regulate premium phone services

30/06/2009 - 13:32:23
The Government is drafting new legislation designed to crack down on premium-rate phone services that trick consumers into paying excessive fees.

The new law is aimed at tackling the situation whereby customers are often tricked into signing up to subscription services for ringtones, wallpapers or competition offers on their mobile phones.

It will require providers to apply for a licence that can be revoked for malpractice.

Last year, Irish people received 76 million chargeable premium texts at an average cost of 82 cent each.

RegTel - which oversees the premium-rate sector - received more than 6,000 complaints from consumers, 98% of which related to subscription services.