Directory Enquiries and Call Connection Services explained. Don't get caught out.

Ian011

PSA issues £700 000 penalty to another ICSS operator operating on 087 numbers:

- https://psauthority.org.uk/for-business/adjudications/2018/9/tobaji-ltd-13046-track-2-8f5d55bd-1ab8-e811-80de-00155d0519e3
- https://psauthority.org.uk/-/media/Files/PSA/00NEW-website/Tribunal-adjudications/2018/Tobaji-Limited-130464-f.ashx

Ian011

Ofcom has published their Statement on changes to the regulations surrounding ICSS.

In summary, all ICSS irrespective of prefix or price will be defined as Controlled Premium Rate Services from 16 January 2019. This means that all such services must comply with PSA regulations.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-2/review-premium-rate-services-condition?showall=1
and https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/131046/Statement-Review-of-the-premium-rate-services-condition.pdf


In parallel, PSA has published a news release and a compliance update.

These documents remind existing and newly covered ICSS operators of their obligations under the general PSA Code as well as ICSS operating on 087 and 09 numbers of their need to comply with the additional Special Conditions for ICSS. PSA has also signalled their intention to consult on adding further Special Conditions for ICSS as well as extending those special conditions to cover services on 084 numbers.

See https://psauthority.org.uk/news/news/2018/december/all-icss-to-be-subject-to-psa-regulation-from-16-january-2019
and https://psauthority.org.uk/news/compliance-updates/2018/december/information-connection-and-signposting-services

Ian011

PSA has published proposals to update their ICSS regulations and extend them to cover all ICSS irrespective of number range used.

https://psauthority.org.uk/news/news/2019/april/psa-proposes-extension-of-regulatory-requirements-to-all-call-connection-services

https://psauthority.org.uk/research-and-consultations/consultations/2019/april/consultation-on-changes-to-regulatory-framework-for-icss

Ian011

PSA has published their consultation statement and the revised and updated Special Conditions for ICSS which will take effect on 20 December 2019.

https://psauthority.org.uk/news/news/2019/october/iccs-statement

https://psauthority.org.uk/research-and-consultations/consultations/2019/april/consultation-on-changes-to-regulatory-framework-for-icss

The document also includes a further consultation on one specific point, with a closing date of 26 November 2019 for responses.

Ian011

The revised and updated Special Conditions for ICSS published by PSA came into effect today, 20 December 2019. The new rules apply to all such services irrespective of price point or prefix used. This means the new rules apply to services operating on premium rate numbers starting 084, 087 or 09, or on mobile shortcodes or other prefixes.

https://psauthority.org.uk/news/news/2019/december/psa-strengthens-regulation-of-icss

Services operating in breach of the new rules should be reported to PSA for further action.

Ian011

PSA issues £200 000 penalty to another ICSS operator operating on 09 numbers:

https://psauthority.org.uk/news/news/2019/december/psa-bans-two-companies-from-market-for-a-total-of-ten-years

https://psauthority.org.uk/for-business/adjudications/2019/12/premier-ventures-ltd-14195-track-2-f9137d6d-3806-ea11-80e6-00155d05137e

https://psauthority.org.uk/-/media/Files/PSA/00NEW-website/Tribunal-adjudications/2019/Umbrella-Support-Limited-141951.pdf

Ian011

PSA issues £250 000 penalty to another ICSS operator operating on 087 numbers:

https://psauthority.org.uk/news/news/2020/january/regulator-fines-icss-provider-250000-after-it-misled-consumers

https://psauthority.org.uk/for-business/adjudications/2020/1/ecn-digital-ltd-15802-track-2-7fc0a481-7c21-ea11-80e6-00155d05137e

https://psauthority.org.uk/-/media/Files/PSA/00NEW-website/Tribunal-adjudications/2020/ECN-Digital-Ltd-158026.pdf


PSA also banned a different ICSS provider from operating premium rate services for five years.

https://psauthority.org.uk/for-business/adjudications/2020/1/tobaji-ltd-17829-track-2-cd3ba20f-9d21-ea11-80e6-00155d05137e

https://psauthority.org.uk/-/media/Files/PSA/00NEW-website/Tribunal-adjudications/2020/Tobaji-Ltd-178293.pdf