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Broughan welcomes ending of self-regulation of premium rate phone services

Issued : Thursday 6 November, 2008

Labour Dublin North East T.D. Tommy Broughan has welcomed news from Communications Minister Eamon Ryan that he is to end the self-regulation of the premium rate phone services and mobile phone content sector. Minister Ryan has informed Deputy Broughan that he is to "transfer the function of the regulation of the content and promotion of premium rate services to the Commission for Communication - ComReg."

"I have urged Minister Ryan and his predecessors many times to end the ludicrous situation where ComReg issues the telephone number ranges for premium rate calls but has no power to regulate the content, promotion or pricing information of these premium rate services. The current regulator, RegTel, did bring forward some valuable initiatives. But as a self-regulatory body it had a limited mandate and powers. Given the scope within this sector for unscrupulous operators to exploit young and other vulnerable people, there was a clear need to greatly strengthen its regulation.

"Over the past number of years I have received a large volume of complaints from constituents who allege that they have been signed up without their explicit consent for expensive subscriptions for mobile phone ringtones, logos, wallpapers or information services. There have also been serious questions raised about misleading promotions and astronomical charges for psychic and other telephone information services.

"On foot of a recent complaint I received from a constituent who was added to an expensive text subscription service without her knowledge or consent, I again contacted Minister Ryan on this matter. He has now informed me that he will transfer the regulation of the content and promotion of premium rate services to ComReg. Minister Ryan should now bring forward the necessary legislation to facilitate this transfer of regulatory powers as a matter of urgency."