Common Questions
- What are phone paid/ premium rate services?
- I've seen a charge on my phone bill that I don't recognise - can you help?
- What are the charges for premium rate services?
- What if I receive a text message and don't know who it's from?
- What are SMS/text short codes?
- How do I stop an SMS/text service?
- Can I be charged for receiving a text?
- Can I get a refund?
- I tried voting/interacting on a popular TV show, but couldn't get through. Why?
- Will my ability to vote depend on where I live in Ireland?
- Do age limits apply to premium rate services?
- Are you a child who has received a call or text meant for someone over 18?
- Are you getting calls you don't want?
- Are you getting texts you don't want?
- Are premium rate services good?
- Are premium rate services a scam?
- Should I worry about using premium rate services?
- I didn't get what I ordered from a premium rate service…..
- Why do premium rate services exist?
- Entering Competitions
- Advert Says it's Free
- Can I see a list of premium rate service providers?
What are phone-paid/premium rate services?
Premium rate services (PRS) are goods and services that you can buy by charging the cost to your phone bill. You can charge these costs whether you have a landline or a mobile phone, and whether you pre-pay your phone bill by buying credit or pay a regular, monthly bill.
Premium rate services typically offer information and entertainment services, which can be accessed through landline phones, mobile phones, fax, interactive digital TV, the Internet or an auto-dialler on a computer. Premium rate services are promoted in newspapers and magazines and on television, radio and the Internet.
Examples include:
- Chatline services
- Services advertised as being for the benefit of charity or any not for profit body or organisation
- Services offered by means of subscription services and/or internet dialler services
- Quiz television services
- Ringtones and wallpapers
- Games
- TV voting (for example, The X Factor)
- Horoscopes
- Psychics or other entertainment services
- Sports alerts (for example, goal alerts)
- Competitions
- Weather forecasts
- Sexual entertainment services
- Business information
You should check the cost of calling or texting phone-paid / premium rate services from your phone with your own phone company (landline, mobile or cable) as they may also add an additional charge to the advertised rate.
I've seen a charge on my phone bill that I don't recognise - can you help?
If this number starts with 15XX or is a mobile text short code (five digits beginning with 5), then ComReg can help. If you have received a text from a short code number, you can use our online Number Checker to find out the name of the company, their contact telephone number and their contact details. You need firstly to contact the company (premium rate service provider) and raise the issue directly with them. If the issue does not get resolved, contact ComReg.
What are the charges for premium rate services?
Charges for premium rate services vary depending on what service you are using.
Some services are much more expensive than others so you need to know the cost of any call or text which you might make. You should check the cost of calling a phone-paid/premium rate number from your phone with your own phone company (landline, mobile or cable) as they may also add an additional charge to the advertised rate.
Phone calls
Calls to premium rate services from landlines and mobile phones cost more than ordinary telephone calls. Network charges may vary, so contact your landline telephone service provider or mobile network operator to check these charges.
Outlined below are a set of charges which you can expect to incur when you call certain premium rate services from an Eircom landline. Note that some services are charged per call and some per minute. Network charges may vary, so contact your landline telephone service provider or mobile network operator to check the charges.
| 1512 numbers | Not exceeding €0.50 per call |
| 1513 numbers | Not exceeding €0.70 per call |
| 1514 numbers | Not exceeding €0.90 per call |
| 1515 numbers | Not exceeding €1.20 per call |
| 1516 numbers | Not exceeding €1.80 per call |
| 1517 numbers | Not exceeding €2.50 per call |
| 1518 numbers | Not exceeding €3.50 per call |
| 1520 numbers | Not exceeding €0.30 per minute |
| 1530 numbers | Not exceeding €0.50 per minute |
| 1540 numbers | Not exceeding €0.70 per minute |
| 1550 numbers | Not exceeding €1.20 per minute |
| 1560 numbers | Not exceeding €1.80 per minute |
| 1570 numbers | Not exceeding €2.40 per minute |
| 1580 numbers | Not exceeding €2.95 per minute |
| 1590 numbers | Not exceeding €3.50 per minute |
Texts
Sending or receiving a text from a premium rate service (for example, to enter a competition or cast a vote) may cost more than the normal cost of a text message.
The costs also vary depending on the prefix of the five-digit short code number (for example, texts to or from 53XXX could cost up to 80 cent, while there is no limit on the cost of a text to or from 57XXX.
Outlined below are a set of charges which you can expect to receive when you text certain premium rate text services:
50XXX - Free
51XXX - Not exceeding €0.16
53XXX - Not exceeding €0.80
57XXX - €0.80 or above
58XXX - Variable price
59XXX - Variable price
What if I receive a text message and don't know who it's from?
If you receive a text message and don't know who it's from, don't delete it. Read it carefully as it may contain important information (such as a helpline number for the company who have sent the message). If the message does not help you to identify the sender, and there is no identifiable short code, call your mobile phone company to see if they can give you any information on the sender and whether it cost you anything to receive the message. Check with your mobile phone company to see if you were charged for the text. If you were charged for it and don't think you agreed to receive it, then contact the premium rate service provider to raise the issue with them. If the issue is not resolved by the premium rate service provider, contact ComReg here. You will need the number that the text message came from and its content when you make your complaint.
What are SMS/text short codes?
SMS/text short codes are usually five-digit numbers beginning with 5 i.e. 5XXXX.Please be aware that before you sign up to an SMS/text service, you should check that your handset is able to receive the service (not all handsets can receive all services offered e.g. video).
It is also important to check whether you're signing up for a one-off service (where you're billed once) or whether you‟re signing up for a subscription service (where you're billed on a regular basis).
Phone-paid/premium rate SMS/text short codes are allocated to service providers in accordance with a Code of Practice, administered by ComReg.
As part of this Code of Practice, companies providing subscription services must make it clear to you that you're signing up for a subscription service and must supply you with the following details:
- how many texts you will receive as part of the service
- how much each text received will cost, and
- how you can stop the subscription
How do I stop an SMS/text service?
To unsubscribe from a premium rate subscription service (a service where there is a recurring charge), you can send a text to the short code number for the service. Text just the word STOP. Do not text any other words as this could cause your request to be ignored and may result in you receiving even more texts. Please note that a standard network charge may apply for this text. Once you have texted the word STOP to the sender, you should be unsubscribed within 24 to 48 hours.
If you have deleted the number from whom you have received the text, please contact your mobile network operator to get further information on the number and the premium rate service provider associated with that number.
Can I be charged for receiving a PRS text?
You can be charged for receiving a text from a premium rate service provider. If you wish to cease the charges and unsubscribe from the service, type the word STOP and text it to the mobile five-digit, short code number associated with the service (note that a standard network charge will apply for this text).
Can I get a refund?
Firstly, you need to contact the premium rate service provider directly and discuss the matter with them. If you do not get a satisfactory resolution, ComReg will need to investigate whether the company has breached the Code of Practice. If ComReg finds that there has indeed been a breach, we will request a refund on your behalf from the service provider and will advise you of this.
I tried voting/interacting on a popular TV show, but couldn't get through. Why?
Sometimes, congestion does occur on some TV voting lines as there could be a high volume of viewers voting at one time (this is most likely to occur just after an on-screen announcement). As a result, this may lead to some voters getting an engaged tone. It is worth noting, however, that this congestion tends to clear quickly, so you should try voting/interacting again after a short period of time.
Will my ability to vote depend on where I live in Ireland?
Wherever you live in Ireland, if you have a phone, you have the ability to vote.
Do age limits apply to premium rate services?
Some premium rate services are not intended for children. If you try to order a service that is not intended for children (i.e. for those who are over 18 years of age) you will be asked to confirm your age or to provide proof that you are over 18 years of age in order to receive the service. If you win a prize in a competition or quiz for over 18s, then you will not be able to claim your prize if you are under 18.
Are you a child who has received a call or text meant for someone over 18?
If you have received a call or text containing language or images that made you feel uneasy, DO NOT REPLY.
Tell someone that you received the call or text and that it made you feel uneasy. Speak to one of your friends or a parent/guardian or even one of the teachers at school.
If the sender/caller was a premium rate company, report them to ComReg by calling us on 01 804 9668 or *1890 229668 (*calls to 1890 numbers from landlines are charged at a local call rate, charges from mobile phones may vary depending on your operator).
If the sender/caller was an individual then speak to your phone company to find out if they can help by blocking the number from your phone.
Are you getting calls you don’t want?
Fixed-line users
If you have a fixed-line (landline) phone and you do not want direct marketing companies to call you, you should contact the company from whom you rent the line and request that your details are added to the National Directory Database (NDD). For further information on the NDD, If your telephone line is ex-directory you do not need to contact your phone company your number will be automatically recorded as not wanting to receive direct marketing calls. For more information on opting out of direct marketing calls, please visit the relevant section of our website http://www.askcomreg.ie/.
Mobile phone users
Mobile phone numbers are automatically opted-out of direct marketing calls by your mobile phone provider.
If you want to allow direct marketers to contact you in this way, you can call your mobile service provider and ask that your number be made available to direct marketers.
To avoid getting further calls, try not to give out your phone number to any companies, just give it to friends you know and trust.
Are you getting texts you don’t want?
If you are receiving texts that invite you to enter a competition or call a number to win, it is likely that these are free promotional messages which will contain instructions on how to opt-out. Follow these instructions to remove your details from the promotional database. It is important that you keep these messages in case you need to make a complaint to ComReg or the Data Protection Commissioner.
To unsubscribe from a premium rate subscription service (a service where there is a recurring charge), you can send a text to the short code number for the service. Text just the word STOP. Do not text any other words as this could cause your request to be ignored and may result in you receiving even more texts. Please note that a standard network charge may apply for this text. Once you have texted the word STOP to the sender, you should be unsubscribed within 24 to 48 hours.
If you have deleted the number from whom you have received the text, please contact your mobile network operator to get further information on the number and the premium rate service provider associated with that number.
To avoid getting more unwanted texts, try not to give out your phone number to any companies, just give it to friends you know and trust.
Please be careful of text messages with links to WAP sites, as you may be charged for going into WAP and it is very likely that you will be charged for making downloads from the WAP site. Be aware of the costs involved to avoid big bills or unwanted charges.
Are premium rate services any good?
If you get what you want from a premium rate service, then premium rate services are good. If the premium rate service tells you the costs involved in using the service and what you can expect from the purchase, then premium rate services are good.
Premium rate services all need to abide by the Code of Practice which is administered by ComReg. If premium rate services are in breach of the Code of Practice, then ComReg will address the issues directly with the Service Providers.
As a consumer, you must remember that the key to your own protection is in your own hands. Know what you are signing up to, keep an eye on your bills and complain if you are treated unfairly.
Are premium rate services a scam?
Just because premium rate services cost more doesn’t mean that they are a scam or that they are bad. Most premium rate services operate without causing consumer harm.
Should I worry about using premium rate services?
The vast majority of premium rate services are run responsibly and don't cause problems. However, if you don’t understand how the premium rate service works or if you are a victim of a premium rate scam, it can be very upsetting and result in high bills. It is important to stay in control by making sure you know exactly how the premium rate service works, how much you will pay and what you will get.
I didn't get what I ordered from a premium rate service…..
Always look closely at the price and description of a premium rate service to check what you are paying and what you are getting. Make sure you understand the terms and conditions you have agreed to. Also, check that your mobile handset is compatible with the premium rate service.
If you order something and you don’t receive it, or you receive something else, then the company may not be treating you fairly.
Why do premium rate services exist?
Premium rate services provide companies with an easy and instant way for consumers to pay for a service or product through their phone lines. Services can work through calls or texts, it’s easy to use and it doesn’t involve lots of paperwork.
Entering Competitions
Always check carefully to see if the competition you are entering has a free route of entry (postal, internet or similar), age or other restrictions, or any limitations that may make you ineligible to win a prize.
The Advert Says it's Free
Be careful. Sometimes you get the first in a series for free or you get one for free if you buy something else. Know what you are signing up to and read the terms and conditions carefully. If you have asked for something that claimed to be free, keep the advert. If it turns out that it isn’t free then contact ComReg to report your complaint.
Can I see a list of premium rate service providers?
Yes. View our list of premium rate service providers.
