What Will Come Of The Ofcom Review Of 0871 Numbers?

In Feb 2009, Ofcom published its review of the 0871 number range

. The review aimed at improving customer protection and increasing transparency in pricing. As a result, Ofcom has decided that all 087 numbers other than the 0870 range will be formally recognised as premium rate numbers. This also puts them under the remit of PhonepayPlus, the premium rate regulator.

To ensure that the transition to premium rate regulation of all 0871 numbers could be done in a smooth manner, PhonepayPlus announced a six month implementation plan. This provided ample time for the 0871 service providers to comply with the new PhonepayPlus code of practice. It was required that all service providers ensure complete compliance by the date 1 August 2009.

The Ofcom review has achieved its objective of protection customers and providing transparency on pricing. According to the pricing information compliance advice of PhonepayPlus, it is required by companies to provide thorough information on all costs associated with a call before the customer actually incurs any charges. Pricing information must be provided in a written format and verbally. Written pricing information must be legible, prominent and the wording must also be unambiguous, clear and straightforward. Wherever you have an 0871 number listed in your promotional material, the written pricing information must be provided along with it. All companies using 0871 numbers now submit their promotional material to PhonepayPlus for review before they are published. The material can be published only after the approval from the regulator.

When a customer calls the 0871 number, he should also be played the pricing information before the call is connected. The pricing information message should be clear, easily audible and discernible.

There are many call management features that telecommunication service providers such as Numberstore provide along with the service plans. The custom announcement messages feature is especially helpful to record custom pricing information and play it to the customers who are calling in. This fulfils the PhonepayPlus requirement of verbal pricing information.

The custom announcement messages feature allows you to upload custom audio files. These files are played before the call is connected. The feature is available in 0800 numbers, 0844 numbers, 0845 numbers as well. To ensure compliance to PhonepayPlus, companies follow a script that clearly spells out the fact that calls from BT land lines, other networks and mobile phone are significantly different.

by: Kieron James

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