Following the announcement in 2022 that the UK’s premium rate services regulator, the Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA), is to be folded into the regulatory mandate of the UK’s communications regulator Ofcom, the organisation has started to wind down its operations – with many elements immediately impacting the telemedia sector.
Following the laying of the Regulation of Premium Rate Service Order 2024 (the Order) in Parliament on 24 October, the UK’s Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA) is in the process of transferring operational responsibility for regulation to Ofcom. From 1 February 2025, the PSA will cease to operate.
To make this process as smooth as possible, the PSA is now winding down some of its operational activity, which means there are changes around PRS regulation now in force.
From 29 November 2024, the PSA will:
- Take all consumer contacts online and close its consumer phone lines. Consumer contacts will be stored and passed onto Ofcom for its consideration under the Order.
- Operate a slimmed-down Registration Scheme consisting of a basic web form to register organisations and services only. The registration portal will be shut and so service checker will only serve results for services registered prior to 29 November. Emails to registration@psauthority.org.uk will not be responded to.
- No longer be able to provide Due Diligence, Risk Assessment and Control (DDRAC) reports through registration. However, please note that the obligation for providers to carry out due diligence checks and risk assessment on the parties they contract with remains.
- Stop providing compliance advice on the 15th Code of Practice. Emails to compliance@psauthority.org.uk will not be responded to after this point.
- End regular supervision meetings.
From 10 January 2025, the PSA will:
- No longer respond to emails to enquiries@psauthority.org.uk
- No longer deal with Freedom of Information requests. However, PSA may direct requestors to Ofcom or pass on the request – where permission has been provided – where PSA believes that Ofcom holds the information sought.
- No longer accept industry whistleblower complaints. These should be directed to Ofcom.
- No longer log or respond to complaints about the PSA itself.
For the avoidance of doubt, says PSA in a statement, its core regulatory functions will continue to operate and providers are required to meet their Code obligations up until the point of transfer. If you require support complying with the Code, you can contact the compliance team before 29 November.
The PSA will continue enforcement work in this period. Leading up to the transfer all remaining open enforcement matters will be transferred to Ofcom who will have the power under the Order to continue them. Relevant providers will be contacted with further details in due course.
The move was first mooted in 2022 and was scheduled to originally take place in late 2023.
