Premium rate watchdog relaunches website

Phonepayplus has relaunched its website in an effort to protect consumers from phone-paid services.

Last year, the premium rate regulator saw a huge rise in the number of complaints it was receiving about mobile phone-paid services.

These included downloading ringtones, pictures and games as well as participating in television programmes, receiving news alerts, finding contact details and entering competitions.

According to Phonepayplus’s annual report, complaints in the first six weeks in 2009 also grew.

A representative for the regulator said: "When we rebranded from ICSTIS in 2007, we didn't completely overhaul the website, but simply made aesthetic changes to incorporate the new brand. It was always in the long-term plan to create a fresh, new site with improved functionality and content."

The site, which has around 54,000 visitors a month, will now aim to educate consumers and bring down complaints through tools such as the Number Checker facility.

This lets users type in a text code or premium rate number to find out about the service operating on that number. They can also find out how much they are being charged for using the service.

Consumers can see whether a service is breaking rules through video clips that help explain Phonepayplus's code of practice and show consumers how to complain about any services they feel are unfair.

Simon Bates, director of standards and communications at Phonepayplus, said: "We are constantly improving the ways we help companies comply with our code with minimum disruption to their business while, at the same time, making sure consumers avoid potential pitfalls and enjoy the benefits of phone-paid services.

"The website and digital technology is central to this. It will make sure consumers are better protected from harm, and ultimately help reduce the cost of regulation."