mikeinnc wrote on Jul 8^th, 2007 at 12:01am:

Yes of course it is.

But instead of this covert trade Associations ICSTIS and Ofcom plan to give us more of the same more expensivley on 0871 instead of 0870...............

mikeinnc wrote on Jul 8^th, 2007 at 12:01am:

I believe readers of Private Eye will know this character as 'Benjy the Binman'

According to its web site, the service provider is, in very faint small text atthe bottom of the page, StealthNET Ltd.

What an appropriate name.

Content and/or promotion provided by Asigrati Consultants Ltd 
Service provider responsible for
compliance under the Code of Practice Stealthnet Ltd
Telephone network(s) Thus Plc
Service type Information line
Source of complaint(s) Intra-industry

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Background
The PhonepayPlus Executive (‘the Executive’) received a complaint from the Home Office Identity and Passport Service regarding the website www.ukpi.org. Complaints were also received from three members of the public. The website promotes a 0871 number which in turn promotes a premium rate UK passport information service at a cost of £1.50 per minute. On calling the service, the Executive found that information was provided on a topic by topic basis about UK passports, including such things as how to renew adult and child passports, how to apply for a replacement passport that has been lost, stolen or damaged, etc. The service lasted for seven minutes 22 seconds.

The complaint from the Home Office stated that it had received continuous customer complaints about the website, which customers erroneously believe is an official website operated by the Identity and Passport Service. The complaint stated that distress was caused to its customers due to the call durations and charges, and also believed that the services were misleading and potentially inaccurate. The letter also pointed out that the Home Office Identity and Passport Service operates a call centre which provides a comprehensive service and is charged at national rate. Another complainant stated that he believed that on calling the premium rate number he would be able to speak to a person and that he did not find the recorded information useful as he had a specific enquiry.

Having monitored the promotional material and the service, breaches of paragraphs 5.4.1a and 5.7.2 of the 11th Edition of the Code of Practice (“the Code”) were raised by the Executive in a letter dated 22 October 2007, along with a request for information under paragraph 8.1.3 of the Code. The service provider was given an opportunity to respond. The service provider responded and also attached further information from the information provider.

A decision on the breaches raised was made by the Adjudication Panel (‘the Panel’) on 22 November 2007.

Sanction

In determining the sanctions appropriate for the case the Panel took into account the mitigating factors that the service provider had fully co-operated with PhonepayPlus when notified of the breaches.

There were no aggravating factors for the Panel to consider.

Taking into account the mitigating factor, the Panel concluded that the seriousness of the case should be regarded overall as moderate.

The Panel therefore decided to impose the following sanctions against Stealthnet Ltd:

A formal reprimand; 
A £15,000 fine; and
A bar on the service, or any other service offering advice on UK passports, until the PhonepayPlus compliance team is satisfied that the service is compliant with the Code.

Full adjudication at http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/consumers/adjudications/default.asp?cmd=3&id=692

Content and/or promotion provided by N/A
Service provider responsible for
compliance under the Code of Practice A2B Telecom Ltd
Telephone network(s) PNC Telecom
Service type Information line
Source of complaint(s) Intra-industry

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Background

The PhonepayPlus Executive (‘the Executive’) received a complainant from a member of the public about the website www.ukpassportadvice.com. The website promotes a premium rate UK passport information service at a cost of £1.50 per minute. On calling the service, the Executive found that information was provided on a topic by topic basis about UK passports, including such things as how to renew adult and child passports, how to apply for a replacement passport that has been lost, stolen or damaged, etc. The call to the service lasted 6 minutes 3 seconds.

The complainant stated that she believed it was the official website run by the Home Office and that she would get through to a person.

Having monitored the promotional material and the service, breaches of paragraphs 5.4.1a and 5.7.2 of the 11th Edition of the Code of Practice (“the Code”) were raised by the Executive in a letter dated 22 October 2007, along with a request for information under paragraph 8.1.3 of the Code. The service provider was given an opportunity to respond. The service provider responded. It made the point that the service and website had previously been considered by ICSTIS (as PhonepayPlus was then known) under the informal procedure. Recommendations for compliance were made and the service provider carried them out. Since things had not changed since that time, the service provider saw no reason for PhonepayPlus to commence the current investigation.

A decision on the breaches raised was made by the Adjudication Panel (‘the Panel’) on 22 November 2007.

Sanction

In determining the sanctions appropriate for the case the Panel took into account the mitigating factors that the service provided co-operated with PhonepayPlus when notified of the breaches.

The Panel also took into account the aggravating factor of the service provider’s breach history.

Taking into account the aggravating and mitigating factors, the Panel concluded that the seriousness of the case should be regarded overall as significant.

The Panel therefore decided to impose the following sanctions against A2B Telecom Ltd:

A formal reprimand;
A £25,000 fine; and
A bar on the service, or any other service offering advice on UK passports, until the PhonepayPlus compliance team is satisfied that the service is compliant with the Code.

Full adjudication at http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/consumers/adjudications/default.asp?cmd=3&id=691