Assistance services
Directory enquiries
- voice service used to find out a specific phone number and/or address of a residence, business or public entity
- accessed and paid for via a premium rated six-digit number beginning with 118.
Customer services
- voice service to contact the customer service of an organisation
- accessed and paid for via a premium-rated number beginning with 087 or 09, or presented as a voice short code.
Information, connection and/or signposting services (ICSS)
- voice service to contact a specific business or service (for example, a lawyer or solicitor)
- accessed and paid for via a premium-rated number beginning with 087 or 09.
Betting, gambling and lotteries
Betting
- entry to a sport-related competition to win prizes (for example, via an event, bookmaker or online)
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Gambling
- entry to a game of chance to win prizes (for example, mobile casino, arcade or bingo). Excludes bets and lotteries
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Lotteries
- entry to a lottery/tombola typically organised by a business, charity or society to raise money
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Charity donations
Charity donations
- text-based donation to a charity (as part of a televised event, regular donations collected by charities, or specific appeals during humanitarian crises)
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode.
Competitions and quizzes
Online competitions
- entry to competitions advertised online (for example, on a website or through email marketing). Excludes competitions run by TV or radio broadcasters
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Offline competitions
- entry to competitions advertised offline (for example, on TV, in newspapers, or on public billboards). Excludes competitions run by TV or radio broadcasters.
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or using a premium-rated number beginning with 09.
Device personalisation and security
Ringtones, ring-back tones, wallpapers
- purchase and download of ringtones, ring-back tones and wallpapers for device personalisation
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Security
- purchase and download of a software to protect a mobile device (for example, from viruses, hackers or other malware)
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Digital payments
Vouchers
- purchase of discount codes (for example, that can be used at a retailer or supermarket)
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing,
Virtual gifts
- purchase of virtual gifts on social media websites (such as virtual flowers)
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Gift cards
- purchase of gift cards (for example, to use at a retailer or supermarket)
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Low-cost international or reverse charge calls
- alternate call services typically with a charge per minute
- accessed and paid for via a premium-rated number beginning with 087 or 09, or presented as a voice short code.
Entertainment
Music
- subscription to music streaming services or one-off download of songs or music albums
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
TV
- subscription to niche TV channels or one-off download of TV shows
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Video
- subscription to video streaming services or one-off download of short videos
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Film
- subscription to film bundles/channels or one-off download of individual films
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Books
- subscriptions to, or one-off downloads of, books and magazines
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Games
Games downloaded from app store
- purchase and download of games from an online store (including app stores such as Apple App Store or Google Play, large online games stores such as PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store, as well as other small independent online games portals)
- paid for via operator billing.
Games played on social media
- access to games playable on social media websites
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Games bundled as part of monthly subscription
- subscription service for games downloads (unlimited or limited to a certain number of games per time period) from online games portals
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
In-game purchases
- purchase of in-game items or rewards (for example, boosters, lives or customisable content), or the premium version of a free-to-play game (for example, with no ads or with expanded game content available)
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
In-game credit top-ups
- purchase of in-game credit, such as in-game currency (such as gold or gems), that can be used to purchase in-game items or rewards
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Information, news and education
Weather
- voice service used to access weather information
- accessed and paid for via a premium rated number beginning with 087, 09, or presented as a voice short code.
News
- voice service used to access news information
- accessed and paid for via a premium rated number beginning with 087, 09 or presented as a voice short code.
Travel
- voice service used to access travel information
- accessed and paid for via a premium rated number beginning with 087, 09, or presented as a voice short code.
Sport
- voice service used to access information on sports results
- accessed and paid for via a premium rated number beginning with 087, 09, or presented as a voice short code.
Stocks and shares
- voice service used to access information on stocks / shares
- accessed and paid for via a premium rated number beginning with 087, 09, or presented as a voice short code.
Alerts
- service used to set up alerts at specific times
- accessed and paid for via a premium rated number beginning with 087, 09, or presented as a voice short code, via premium SMS shortcode, or through operator billing.
Educational services
- service used to access information on educational services
- accessed and paid for via a premium rated number beginning with 087, 09, or presented as a voice short code, or accessed online and paid for through operator billing.
Lifestyle
Fitness, health and wellbeing
- service used to access information, tips, advice or reminders on nutrition, dieting and exercise
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Food and recipes
- subscription to, or one-off downloads of, information on foods and recipes
- paid for via operator billing.
Personal and relationship services
Dating
- access to dating services or in-app purchases (for example, credit or premium messaging) in free-to-use dating services
- accessed and paid for via a premium rated number beginning with 087, 09, or presented as a voice short code, via premium SMS shortcode, or through operator billing.
Flirting chat services
- voice- or message-based (non-explicit) flirting chat with a service operator
- accessed and paid for via a premium rated number (beginning with 087, 09, or presented as a voice short code), via premium SMS shortcode, or through operator billing.
Chat services
- voice- or message-based chat with a helpline or friendship service. Excludes flirting chat services.
- accessed and paid for via a premium rated number beginning with 087, 09, or presented as a voice short code, via premium SMS shortcode , or through operator billing.
Tarot/astrology services
- service used to access services such as horoscopes and, tarot card readings
- accessed and paid for via a premium rated number beginning with 087, 09, or presented as a voice short code, via premium SMS shortcode, or through operator billing.
Sexual entertainment
Glamour pics
- access to and/or download of revealing or nude photos
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Adults pics
- access to and/or download of hardcore and explicit photos
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Adults videos
- access to and/or download of hardcore and explicit videos
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Adults cams
- purchase of tokens to access online video streams
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Adults chat (messaging)
- message-based (explicit) chat service
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing.
Adult talk services (voice)
- voice-based (explicit) chat service
- accessed and paid for via a premium rated number (beginning with 087, 09, or presented as a voice short code).
TV and radio engagement
Broadcaster competitions
- entry to an (online or offline) competition run by a TV or radio broadcaster
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or operator billing, or using a premium-rated number beginning with 09, or presented as a voice short code.
Voting on a TV/radio show
- voting in the context of a TV or radio show (for example, voting for a favourite candidate)
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode or using a premium-rated number presented as a voice short code.
Texting in to show host
- text-based engagement with the presenter of a TV or radio show
- paid for via premium SMS shortcode.