Premium-rate phone numbers are phone numbers for phone calls where certain services are provided, and for prices higher than normal are charged. Unlike normal calls, some of the call costs are paid to the service provider, allowing businesses to be funded through calls. Although billing is different, calls are typically diverted in the same way as calls for toll-free numbers, everywhere even when the area code is used. These phone numbers are usually allocated from the national telephone numbering plan in such a way that they are easily distinguishable from other numbers. Phone companies typically offer blocking services to allow phone subscribers to prevent access to this number range from their phones. In some jurisdictions, telephone companies are required by law to offer such blocking.
Adult chat channels (phone sex) and technical support is the use of very generic premium rate figures. Other services include directory questions, weather forecasts, competition and voting (especially with regard to television shows). Diplomatic services, such as the US Embassy in London or the British Embassy in Washington, have also charged premium rates for calls from the general public.
In many European countries, for example France, Germany, and the UK, it is common for organizations to operate customer service channels at premium rate numbers using prefixes that are beyond the scope of the country's premium tariff rules. Therefore, unlike North America where customer service numbers are usually free for callers, consumers in Europe often pay premiums above the cost of regular phone calls. EU Consumer Rights Directive 2011/EU/83 entered into force on 13 June 2014. Should remove this practice. The implementation details, and therefore the success rate in achieving this goal, vary from country to country.
Computer criminals have used premium rate figures to deceive unsuspecting Internet users. One scheme involves encouraging users to download a program known as a dialer that secretly plays a premium-rate number, collecting charges on a user's phone bill without their knowledge. Another unusual premium-rate fraud involves television programs that encourage young people to dial the numbers, banking with the assumption that they will not be aware of the costs to be incurred. One variant, aimed at children who are too young to dial a number, persuade children to hold the phone to a television while the DTMF tone of that number is playing. This type of scam was very popular in the late '80s to early' 90s in the United States before strict regulations about business number 900 forced many of these businesses to shut down.
Video Premium-rate telephone number
North America
United States and Canada
1-900 phone numbers, in the North American Numbering Plan, have forms 1-900 - ### - ####, and are often called 900 numbers or 1 -900 numbers ("one-nine-hundred"). The 900 area code came into use on January 1, 1971, but the first was known to have been used in the United States for "Ask Carter's Ask" program in March 1977, for an incoming call to a national radio talk show featuring the newly elected President Jimmy. Carter, hosted by Walter Cronkite broadcaster. At that point, the intent for area code 900 was as a choke exchange - a code that blocked a large number of simultaneous callers from remote network interference. Figures with the 900 area code are expected to have many potential callers, and area code 900 is filtered at the local level to allow only a limited number of callers in each area to access the national remote network to reach the destination number. Also, the initial incarnation of 900 was not billed at the premium tariff rate, but rather on regular long distance charges based on the time of day and day of the week that the call was placed. The number used for radio programs is specially regulated by AT & T Corporation, CBS Radio, and the White House, to be free to the calling party. However, in 1980, the 900 area code was fully restructured by AT & amp; T be a special premium rate area code that still exists today. At that time, many nightly news agencies conducted a "poll" of $ 0.50 per call fee and displayed results on television. One of the earliest uses was by producers Saturday Night Live to sketch "Larry the Lobster", featuring Eddie Murphy. Comedy sketches attract nearly 500,000 calls. AT & amp; T and the manufacturer SNL split a profit of almost $ 250,000.
Previously, 976 numbers used 976 as local prefix (970 or 540 in some markets like New York state), though not specified for certain phone exchanges like other prefixes. These numbers are dialed as other numbers, such as 976-1234.
Calls to any of these numbers may cause high per-minute or per-call charges. For example, the type "psychical hotline" number 1-900 can charge $ 2.99 for the first minute and 99 cents for each additional minute.
Initially, consumers had no choice regarding access to 900/976 numbers on their phones. However, in 1987, after a child collected a $ 17,000 bill, the California Public Utilities Commission then required the telephone company to give customers the option to prevent dialing from 900/976.
From the early 1980s to the early 1990s, it was common to see ads promoting 1-900 numbers to children featuring things like the famous characters from Saturday morning cartoons to Santa Claus. Due to complaints from parents groups about children unaware of the dangers and high fees for such calls, the FTC imposed new rules and such advertisements stopped in the air in the mid-1990s.
Using 900 numbers for adult entertainment channels is a common practice in the early years of industry. This practice continues, along with the use of these numbers for things like software technical support, banking access, and stock tips. Adult entertainment of 900 numbers has been absent from AT & amp; T and MCI since 1991. In 1992, the Supreme Court permitted legislation passed by Congress creating blocks on all 900 numbers that provided adult content, except for consumers who requested access to certain figures in writing. The law kills the business of 900 adult numbers, which moves to 800 numbers, where billing must be done by credit card.
The Hulk Hogan Hotline was a lucrative 900 number in the 90s. Other early leaders in collecting lots of income were The New Kids on the Block and Psychic Friends Network Dionne Warwick.
Consumers in the US have special privileges regarding 900 number calls, as determined by the Federal Trade Commission, such as the right to a disclaimer at the start of a call and a subsequent grace period of 3 seconds, the ability to compete billing errors, a marketing ban for children, and the requirement that the company telecommunications must allow consumers to block calls to 900 numbers. US phone companies are prohibited from disconnecting local services as a means to force payments for 1-900 calls. Furthermore, in 2002, AT & T withdrew from billing their customers for a fee structure. This was followed by other companies throughout the decade until 2012, when Verizon, the last shareholder, also resigned from the allegations.
Various attempts have been made by the vendor to avoid this protection by using Caribbean or other international numbers outside the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission to collect US telephone subscribers; former 1-809 countries are very popular because their North American Exchange Format format numbers look domestic but they are not. The 101-x 100X prefix 101XXXX also briefly became the target of harassment by a premium number provider acting as an inter-exchange operator, a practice that has now been discontinued. A gap that allows US (but not Canadian) providers in the 800 toll-free area code to charge calls by claiming approved customers for a fee is also largely covered by more stringent regulations.
SMS also features for premium rate service. They generally do not use the 900 number, but use the five digit and six digit numbers, shorter than the phone number.
Mexico
Premium rate numbers in Mexico are served by Telmex and start with call prefix 01-900, where 01 is the domestic long-distance prefix and 900 is the area code with premium rate. These numbers are usually used for the same purpose as in the United States.
Maps Premium-rate telephone number
South America
ArgentinaThe phone number of the form 0600-xxx-xxxx and 0609-xxx-xxxx is the premium rate number. The 0609 series is for entertainment (fixed rate), while 0600 for service (the rate depends on a certain number).
Brazil
In Brazil, there is only one premium prefix: 0500, and this number is used by Brazil Internal Revenue Service (Federal Receita) to apply for Federal Federal Tax Exemption, or by organizations receiving donations (premium rate per call and not per minute).
It used to be available 0900, but it is no longer allowed. Since there is no longer a premium number, TV shows now use mobile numbers to receive calls and generate revenue to their programs.
There is also a 0300 prefix, which is for companies that do not offer 0800 numbers. These calls are charged roughly as long distance calls, but without the benefits of super tariffs being deducted outside of business hours.
For the same purpose, it is used for numbers destined for mobile phones with unusual operator choice codes. Ex: 0 91 41 98401-0101.
Europe
Austria
The 0900 prefix is ​​used for the premium rate filling per minute and the 0901 prefix is ​​used for the premium call rate charged. For adult content, the prefix is ​​0930 for the rate per minute and 0931 for an event-based rate.
Belgium
The premium rate in Belgium has a 090x area code.
- 0900, 0902, 0903, 0904 (per minute - from 0.25 to 2.00 EUR)
- 0906, 0907 (adult service - per minute - from 0.25 to 2.00 EUR)
- 0905, 0909 (per call - from 0.25 to 31.00 EUR)
Limited calls up to 10 minutes.
Croatian
The 060 prefix is ​​used for premium rate rates in Croatia for non-erotic prefixes and 064 is used for erotic services.
Czech Republic
Figures beginning with the numbers 900, 906, 909, and 976 are the premium rate figures. Other numbers beginning with "9" are allocated to certain organizations, such as 972 (Czech Railway), 973 (Ministry of Defense), 974 (Ministry of Interior), 95x (Other ministries, government organizations, certain commercial subjects).
Denmark
Premium rates in Denmark have area code 9013, 9050 and 9055/9056. The 9013 is for help and chat services, of which 9050 (paid per call) is for TV Call-Event and 9055/9056 code for charity organizations.
However, the rules are very strict. TDC is the only operator that offers these numbers, with MCXess and Telecom kwak offering international numbers. Regulators can be found at http://www.itst.dk/, a short English rule available here: Short Danish Rules.
Finnish
Figures beginning with 0100, 0200, 0202, 0209, 0300, 0600, 0202, 0209, 0751, 0752, 0753, 0757, 0759, 100, 106, and 107 are the premium rate figures. The 0700 series is for entertainment, while 0600 for service. Some other premium codes exist, sometimes confusing consumers, who may not know whether they are calling a premium number or not.
The Finnish Consumer Association has repeatedly denounced the use of premium tariff rates.
French
Figures beginning with 08xx (International: 33 8 (...)) are special rate figures. Starting from the toll free number (080x) to the premium number (089x) (called Audiotel by France Telecom). There are also various numbers with moderate prices (from about 0.03 to 0.15 EUR/min) in the range of 081x and 082x. Most of these numbers can not be reached from outside France.
There is also a special 4 digit number in 3xxx form, whose billing rules can be from 08xx number, to provider's choice.
The sharing rules between different premium rate numbers are not clearly defined (premium rate information numbers and premium entertainment numbers).
The regulator (ARCEP, formerly ART) has issued a range for Telephony over xDSL in the 087x range, which may be confusing to consumers, since calls to these numbers are billed as national local calls. Starting December 20, 2005, this has been converted to 09xx number, dedicated to VoIP. All 087x numbers have been converted to 09xx numbers on 15 December 2008.
German
The current premium rate line starts with the 0900 prefix, the famous 0190 prefix has been discontinued on December 31, 2005. However, some premium services also use lines with 0137 prefix, which should be provided for planned live calling events, such as televoting.
Greek
The premium figures in Greece begin with 901 (general purpose) and 909 (adult services), followed by seven digits.
Hungarian
In Hungary, 06-81, 06-90 and 06-91 followed by six digits are common premium-rate figures. SMS-based services can also use short numbers such as 1781 and 17632.
ireland
The premium rate number begins with a prefix of 15. These numbers provide services ranging from weather forecasts to adult dating. Adult services will only be provided using access codes 1598 or 1599, with adult services that are sexually restricted to the latter. Adult authentication is required from your network operator to access these numbers.
All 15x numbers have prices officially quoted, fixed by the prefix, although telecom providers may charge extra to make calls. 151x numbers are charged on a per call basis, all others based on per minute. In general, the price increases as the prefix number increases, within the range of call types.
Comreg is the body that monitors the industry of premium tariff services in Ireland. Although an independent body, it can impose sanctions, prohibit advertising and prohibit services offered by the provider. This is funded by levies on providers.
Italy
There are many premium rate figures, including 144 (disabled by default), 166, 892, 899, using different rates. 0878 is also a premium-rate number, provided for polls run over the phone.
Latvian
Premium number with prefix (371) 90
Dutch
Premium numbers in the Netherlands begin with 0900 (general purpose), 0906 (erotic entertainment) and 0909 (games and lotteries) followed by four or seven digits. When someone calls like nulnegenhonderd nummer it is enforced by law that the caller gets information about the rate per minute. Opta is the governing body that regulates premium tariff services in the Netherlands. Beginning June 2014, the 0900 number used for customer service purposes is set at a maximum additional cost per call of EUR1 above the normal rate for calls.
Norwegian
Any phone number starting with 82 (mostly 820/829) is subject to a premium rate (82x xx xxx).
Portugal
- 607 - Interesting Opinion, 9 tariffs up to 3.28 Eur per minute (premium rate)
- 707 - Entertainment and some businesses (EUR0.25 VAT/min)
- 760 - Fixed rate for all calls (EUR0, 60 VAT per call)
- 808 - Business and marketing (local call charges)
In Portugal, VAT for calls is 23%, except in Madeira, where it is 22%, and in the Azores, where it is 18%.
Polish
Figures beginning with 70, 30, and 40 are reserved for premium rate services. 700, 701, 707 and 300 are "general" premium rate services (usually charged per minute), 707 and 400 are assigned for tele-voting, mass-calling and so forth (usually charged per call). Other numbers (702-706, 709, 301-309, 401-409) are reserved for upcoming assignments. There are some other numbers in "sharing fees" or "dial-up services", which are charged a fairly high rate (comparable to the low cost premium rate): 8015, 8016, 207, 208.
Effective on December 1, 2008, 300 and 400 changed to 703 and 704 respectively, freeing the entire range of 30x and 40x for future assignments (non-premium rates). This change will make it possible to collect all premium rate services in the 700-709 range.
Romanian
Premium numbers are in the range 090xxxxxx-098xxxxxx. Currently, only 0900 blocks are used. [1]. Prior to 2002, all figures beginning with 89 were premium rate figures. Some of these numbers remain as local premium numbers, and block 02xx89xxxxx remains provided.
Russian
809 is probably the only premium prefix. Note that usually in Russia one needs to press 8 before the area code, so the premium number is usually written as 8-809-xxx-xxxx
Slovakia
The 0900 prefix is ​​used in Slovakia for premium rate numbers.
Slovenia
The 090 prefix is ​​used for premium rate rates in Slovenia.
Spanish
In Spain, the amount charged to premium starts with 80 or 90 (excluding 800, 900 and 909, which is free, 901 which is a shared cost, 902 which is like a provincial call and 908 which is like a metropolitan call). The most popular prefixes are 803 (porn hot-lines) and 806 (service), also used 807 and 905. Earlier all figures starting with 90x (except 900, 901 and 902) were subject to premium rates but 906 had moved to 803, 806 and 807 and 908 and 909 prefixes are made for Internet dialup service. All of those numbers have 9 digits. In Spain, pay-per-minute and pay-per-call billing options are available in the range of 8 and 9 series numbers.
There are also other ranges for information services (weather, white pages, etc...), there are all numbers starting with 118, they can have 5 or 6 digits at variable cost per number. 11818 is free from TelefÃÆ'³nica cabin phone. The previous 11818 was 1003.
Swedish
Figures beginning with 0900, 0939 and 0944 are premium rate figures. Also the number starting at 118 is the premium rate for companies that provide phonebook search services.
Switzerland
Figures beginning with 0900, 0901, and 0906 are premium rate figures.
- 0900 - Business & amp; Marketing
- 0901 - Entertainment
- 0906 - Erotic services
Dialers (computer programs) are banned from these lines.
See also Federal Communications Office
Ukraine
Figures beginning with 0703 and 0900 are premium rate figures.
United Kingdom
The premium rate number in the UK has a two-part call cost, following the regulatory reform in July 2015. The cost to call the number is always total from the following elements:
- An "Access Charge" which is set up by the caller's own telephone company. It varies greatly according to the company, from 2p-12p per minute from home phone or 5p-55p per minute from mobile phone.
- A 'Service Charge' which benefits the calling organization and/or its telecom supplier. The same fee applies from all subscriber home and cellular phones, with the organization in question responsible for notifying the caller about applicable rates.
The number is officially designated as a 'service number' and falls within the following range:
- 084x xxx xxxx - Service Fee up to 7p per call and/or up to 7p per minute
- 087x xxx xxxx - Service Fee up to 13p per call and/or up to 13p per minute
- 09xx xxx xxxx - Service Fee up to Ã, Â £ 6.00 per call and/or up to Ã, Â £ 3.60 per minute
Figures starting at 098, along with inheritance numbers from 0908 and 0909 are reserved for 'adult' services with sexual content.
The Pay-Service Authority Service supervisory body monitors and enforces certain community standards in terms of content and pricing for the Controlled Premium Rate Service (CPRS). These include:
- 087, 09 and 118 numbers with Service Charge greater than 7p per minute or per call
- all chats, sexual entertainment services, and services using an internet dialer regardless of call or prefix fees
- the 070 number and the mobile shortcode where the benefits are forwarded more than 10p per call or per minute.
Various 08 and 09 ranged from telephone numbering reforms in the late 1990s. Initially 09 numbers are designated as premium rates, with 0845 and 0870 numbers being charged from landlines at rates that reflect the cost of standard local and national phone calls respectively. Prior to this, various prefixes were being used, from the well-known prefix 0891 and 0898 to others such as 0331 and 0660.
Asia
Armenia
In Armenia, the premium figure starts with 900, followed by six digits.
Japanese
In Japan, the premium rate phone number service is known as "DIAL Q 2 " and starts with the 0990 prefix followed by six digits. The following digits specify the service class. The 0990-3 prefix is ​​for adult services. Prefix 0990-5 and 0990-6 are used for other services. To prevent unintended costs, customers can optionally register a four-digit password which is then required when accessing premium rate services. DIAL Service Q 2 ends in early 2013.
Korea, South
Premium rate starts with 060 prefix followed by 7 or 8 digits. Some consumers do not know that numbers starting with 060 are premium rate figures because 060 is thought to be one of the long distance area codes in Korea (there are 062, 061 and 063). They called back when they found out that they lost a call to their cell phone from the 060 number that ended up paying just by making a call.
1588 - #### and 1577 - #### not the premium rate rate per se. They are used by banks, insurance companies, national restaurant chains, consumer electronics companies, online shopping malls and others for customer service and shipping orders. In many cases, customers who call them are charged at long distance rates without knowing that they are making long distance calls.
Vietnamese
Premium rate numbers begin with 1900, they usually serve call customers but in some cases they will also receive premium SMS rates.
Taiwan
Premium rate number starting with 0203, 0204 & amp; 0209
Oceania
Australia
In Australia, premium rates generally start with the 19 prefix, with premium rate voice service using the 190x prefix. From 1900 this was the initial prefix and was the most common; since 1901 and 1902 have also been allocated. The 1901 prefix is ​​specifically reserved for "restricted services", where users must register with the service provider on that number - this may include services that are sexual, although this is not the only "limited" definition. Prefix 1906 is reserved for premium rate paging service.
Other numbers starting with 19 are generally used for premium SMS (premium message rate) services on mobile phones. It was originally tested using the 188 prefix.
Previously (before the introduction of eight-digit numbering), the prefix 0055 was used for this purpose, and as a result the 190x numbers were sometimes referred to everyday language as 0055 numbers pronounced double-oh, double-five).
The first digit of the 1900 number is primarily 9 ; the number is changed from the prefix 0055 (for example, 0055 55 123 will be 1900 955 123.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, premium phone numbers start with 0900. These services are used by sex phone companies, telephone support services and for donations to charitable organizations.
Africa
Egypt
In Egypt, the premium rate starts with the 0900 prefix, and for mobile services use a short number to call or text (4 digits only).
South Africa
In South Africa, short codes for SMS premium rates are four or five digits long, starting with '3' or '4'. The premium rate phone service is regulated by the South African Independent Communication Authority (ICASA)
Middle East
Iran
In Iran, the premium rate starts with a prefix of 909 followed by 7 digits. (909 xxx xxxx)
Israel
Figures beginning with 1-900, 1-901, 1-919, 1-956, and 1-957 are premium rate figures.
- 1-900 - Regular landline tariff 50 Agorot (0.5 Shekel) (? $ 0.14) per minute
- 1-901 - Regular landline rate 250 Agorot (2.5 Shekels) (? $ 0.7) per call
- 1-919 - erotic services
- 1-956 - Entertainment services: up to 40 Agorot more than regular landline destination service provider fees
- 1-957 - Information services: regular landline destination service provider fees
The prefix of 1-900 belongs to the service with an additional cost of 0.5 NIS for minutes. Usually, used in radio stations and service dates. the next two digits tell the company: 2X for Bezeq, 50 for Pelephone, 52 for Cellcom (052-999XXXX at home), 54 for Partners (054-400XXXX on origin) and 72 for Smile.
Other optional premium call prefixes:
- 012-409 or 018-XXX: Used by Smile and Xphone. Cost 9.90 NIS for minutes, usually for mysticism service.
- 013-44: Used by Netvision. Cost 6 NIS for minutes, usually for TV games.
Lebanon
A four-digit number is a premium rate. These numbers can only be reached by mobile phones and are mainly used for contests and sweepstakes.
Saudi Arabia
The numbers start with 700. They are mostly for competition and win prizes - adult entertainment businesses are considered rude and thus illegal in Saudi Arabia.
As an alternative to official premium tariff rates, service operators have been known to use bribes from high-end international call rates to charge fees for their services. In this case, the call may never leave the country of origin, even if the number has a country calling code (or a NANP area code) that specifies a country with high incoming call rates.
A recent practice known as traffic pumping involves service operators who partner with small phone companies that are permitted to charge high termination call charges for incoming long-distance calls, according to government regulations that mark the service area of ​​a small phone company as a rural/high. Since most if not all long distances in the United States is a single tariff regardless of terminating the exchange for the customer (but not for the remote company, because each interconnection agreement is different), the service is "free" for the calling customer.
Because these numbers have confused international jurisdictions, they are also sometimes used for fraud.
See also
- Telecommunication rates
- Premium SMS
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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