Ofcom and the Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA) are responsible for the regulation of directory enquiry services delivered over the 118 number range (118 services). 118 services have to comply with the PSA\u2019s Code of Practice which is approved by Ofcom and regulates the promotion and operation of Premium Rate Services (PRS) including 118 services. The Code of Practice includes a requirement that consumers of PRS should be fully and clearly informed of all information likely to influence their decision to purchase including cost, before any purchase is made. Companies that breach the Code of Practice can be sanctioned, including in serious cases through fines of up to £250,000 per breach of the Code. Ofcom is responsible for the allocation of 118 numbers and for regulating the tariffs that providers of 118 services may charge.<\/p>
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Following concerns about the rising cost of 118 services, Ofcom launched a review of the cost of calling directory enquiry services in May 2017. Ofcom expects to publish a consultation about the findings of their review and any proposed remedies in spring 2018. In parallel, PSA intends to consult on potential additional consumer protection measures that could be taken under its Code of Practice.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Margot James"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stourbridge"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Margot James"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "132073"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-20T16:23:03.277Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Telephone Operator Services: Fees and Charges"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to (a) regulate the cost of calling 118 directory enquiries and (b) set a maximum price cap for each such call.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3973", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grahame Morris"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Easington"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Grahame Morris"} ], "uin" : "132074"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 1, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }