Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps he has taken to protect vulnerable customers from exploitation by premium rate text services.

In the UK, the Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA) regulates Premium Rate Services (PRS), which include premium rate text services. Providers of PRS must comply with the PSA Code of Practice which is approved by Ofcom, which includes specific protections for vulnerable consumers.

The PSA has the power to take robust enforcement action against companies that breach their Code. In serious cases, the PSA Code Adjudication Tribunal may impose sanctions which can include ordering refunds to be paid to affected consumers, prohibition of the provider from providing services and fines of up to £250,000 for each breach of the Code.

The PSA has recently consulted on draft proposals to strengthen the regulation of phone-paid services offered on a subscription basis. The PSA considered risks to consumers as part of the consultation including the specific risk of harm to vulnerable consumers. The consultation closed in May and the PSA will publish its response later this year.