What are phone-paid services and how do they charge you?

Adverts for quizzes and competitions can be found everywhere (such as on Facebook, websites and print media). Phone-paid service competitions charge you for entry and may involve ongoing charges if you subscribe. You should ensure that you understand the pricing by reading the terms and conditions before entering. All subscription services require an interaction from the consumer in order to join, whether by sending a text, by entering a PIN received on the mobile phone into the completion website or by touching a button.

Phone-paid service is often used as a way to vote on interactive television shows and websites. This could involve a call to a telephone number beginning with 09 or via a call or text to a short code from a mobile phone. Each of these interactions will result in a separate one-off charge to your bill.

Making a charity donation by text is a quick, simple method of making a one-off or ongoing contribution to a charity of your choice. These services will typically use five digit short codes prefixed 70xxx – You should ensure that you are happy with the amount you are donating before proceeding. You can terminate a donation subscription in the normal way by texting STOP ALL back to the short code you are receiving the charges from. Alternatively if you want to skip a month's donation you can do this by texting SKIP back to the short code.

Digital content is anything that you can purchase that is not a solid item such as music or games. Purchases can be made on a per use basis or via subscriptions that are charged periodically. Often free games downloaded to your mobile device will allow you to purchase additional content (such as coins or extra lives) which can be charged to your telephone bill instead of a credit or debit card.

Directory Enquiry Services are typically provided by calling a six digit number which starts with 118xxx. These services can be expensive, therefore you should check the pricing on the promotion for the service before calling. Directory Enquiry Services are not required to provide pricing on connection, however must warn you of the ongoing cost if you wish to connect directly to the telephone number you have requested. It is often better to make a note of the number you have requested and call it separately.

These are services intended for use by those over the age of 18 and can occur via telephone calls to phone-paid service numbers starting 09 or by text shortcodes.

Phone-paid service numbers can be used for gambling services, most typically using text shortcodes or Payforit charging to your bill. Gambling services are subject to strict rules and limitations. Most gambling services will require you to set up an account and provide your personal details in order to use the service. Occasionally these charges will be presented as an 'in-app purchase', for example within an application for a Fruit/Slot machine. Remember that you are playing with real money.