About the site
Who made phonebrain?
The brains behind www.phonebrain.org.uk belong to premium rate services regulator, PhonepayPlus.
Any company providing a premium rate service needs to comply with PhonepayPlus’ rules. For example, pricing must be crystal clear, advertising must be honest and promotions must be appropriate. If the rules are broken, PhonepayPlus will investigate the company providing the service. PhonepayPlus has the power to cut off services, bar individuals from operating and can fine companies up to £250,000.
Make sure you can recognise premium rate services. They are offered on numbers starting with ‘09’ or on four or five-digit mobile shortcodes. These services will cost you between 10p and £1.50 a minute/text (plus any network charges). Always check the price to make sure you are happy to pay it before you dial or text. If there is no price, report it to PhonepayPlus immediately.
Remember, PhonepayPlus does not investigate why companies use premium rate numbers rather than other telephone numbers. Nor does PhonepayPlus investigate how the money from services is shared between the service providers and telephone companies.
PhonepayPlus believes that all consumers should be able to use premium rate services with confidence. If you have a problem with the content, promotion or operation of a premium rate service, PhonepayPlus wants to hear about it.
For full details about PhonepayPlus, follow this link to the PhonepayPlus website: www.phonepayplus.org.uk.
Why did PhonepayPlus make phonebrain?
People have more exposure and more access to premium rate services than ever before which is why
PhonepayPlus launched the phonebrain website on 4 December 2006. The premium rate industry in the UK is now worth £1.2 billion a year. Services can be seen across TV channels, magazines, newspapers, radio shows and the Internet.
PhonepayPlus wants you to be able to recognise premium rate services, understand the potential costs involved and know how to solve any problems you might encounter.
The vast majority of premium rate services are run responsibly and don’t cause problems. However, some people do have problems or find it difficult to understand how premium rate services work. That’s where PhonepayPlus can help.
PhonepayPlus wants to give you information to help you make educated decisions about using premium rate services and to enable you to report problems so they can be stamped out quickly.
Copyright
The phonebrain name and logo are the copyright of PhonepayPlus Ltd, and must not be reproduced without PhonepayPlus' permission. PhonepayPlus' name and logo are the copyright of PhonepayPlus Ltd, and must not be reproduced without PhonepayPlus' permission. Other content on this site may be reproduced, subject to it being accurate and not being used in a misleading manner.
Thank you!
PhonepayPlus would like to thank the children and teachers at:
And a special thank you to Charlotte Cocks at Myland Primary School in Colchester for preparing the lesson aids.
PhonepayPlus would also like to thank Contrapositive for their design, Childnet International for their consultations, and all the other organisations that welcomed this initiative and gave their input and enthusiasm.