- Publication Date
- 7 January 2021
- Case Reference
- 150301
- Procedure
- Oral Hearing
- Adjudicated Party
- TCS Combined Solutions Limited
- Service Type
- Virtual Gifts
- Tribunal's final assessment
- Very Serious
- Sanctions
- 4.8.3 (b) Sanctions
4.8.3 (d) Sanctions
4.8.3 (g) Sanctions
4.8.3 (i) Sanctions - Breaches raised
- Code 14 2.3.3 Fairness
Code 14 2.2.7 Rules relating to pricing
Code 14 3.12.5 Special Conditions
Code 14 4.2.2 Obligations of Providers of premium rate services
Code 14 4.2.2 Obligations of Providers of premium rate services
Code 14 4.2.3 Obligations of Providers of premium rate services
Code 14 3.4.8 Registration
Code 14 3.4.14 (a) Numbers - Summary
TCS Combined Solutions Ltd ran a subscription service called ‘DiscountMeDirect’ which operated at two different price points: a maximum of two £2.50 messages per week on one shortcode, or a maximum of three £1.50 messages per week on other shortcodes.
Following an oral hearing, the Tribunal found the breaches to be very serious. These breaches included failing to get consent to charge some consumers and failing to send spend reminders.
The Tribunal reprimanded TCS, issued a fine of £885,000 and banned the company from the market for three years. It also ordered TCS to refund all customers who claim a refund.