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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at interventions have been made across Government Departments to protect computer systems against the unwitting triggering of premium rate numbers through the internet. [203209] Mr. Mike O'Brien: Premium Rate Services (PRS) are regulated by the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS). Their Code of Practice is set in accordance with condition 120 of the Communications Act 2003, which stipulates that Ofcom can set conditions to control the activities of PRS providers by means of such a Code of Practice. The Government have discussed the issue of PRS dialler scams with ICSTIS and other stakeholders on several occasions over the summer and autumn. We have encouraged ICSTIS to take urgent action to deal with the problem. We have noticed some reduction in the number of complaints in the most recent months compared with the summer, although the problem remains significant. In the summer we asked Ofcom to review PRS regulation, and Ofcom published a report on 9 December. The main recommendations for changes fall into the following three areas. 1. Improved Enforcement Faster and more effective ICSTIS sanctions, including the power to impose sanctions directly on telecoms companies who breach the rules, with enforceable fines to deter fraudsters. 2. Consumer Redress More effective mechanisms for ensuring that defrauded customers can get their money back, preferably from the person or company that breached the ICSTIS Code of Practice. 3. Consumer Information Consumers need to be better informed about the ways they can protect themselves against PRS scams. All the telecoms companies in the PRS industry should play a more proactive role in informing and educating their customers. ICSTIS should continue to play a role in advising and educating consumers about PRS scams and its budget should reflect the increased resources it will need in order to continue to perform such a role effectively.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

203209; 428 c1123W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Codes of practice Computer networks Fraud Fees and charges Government departments Internet Protection Telephone services

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk