Phone-paid Services Authority administrative charges

A key component of this ‘polluter pays’ principle is ensuring the comprehensive and accurate recovery of costs incurred during investigations which result in a breach of the Code being upheld. A time recording system captures the work conducted by investigators involved in a case. These costs can then be accurately passed on to providers found to be in breach of the PSA Code of Practice.

A simplified methodology for setting administrative charges rates is now in place. The number of individual staff rates has been reduced following a review of team structures and the personnel involved in bringing a case to a conclusion. A revised set of Code Adjudication Panel charges also apply, as a consequence of procedures introduced by the 14th Code of Practice.

The current administrative charge rates and the staff roles to which they relate are set out below:

*^{Hourly rates include an element of organisational overhead plus support staff, and are not staff pay rates.}                                                               

*^{Fixed rates are per case per item (not per sitting).}

*^{Panel rates are per case per item (not per sitting)}

Additional administrative fees in respect of legal representation may also be incurred upon an oral hearing being initiated. Providers should refer to the FAQs accompanying any Warning Notice for further information.

Where a settlement is agreed before any formal hearing listed above takes place, there will be no charge for the cost of that hearing.

Disbursements
Examples of actual costs incurred that will be directly passed on are:

• Courier costs
• Postage costs
• Telecommunications costs
• Research monitoring
• Debt collection

This is not an exhaustive list.

Administrative charges can be imposed after Tribunal adjudications, and upon any applications for Reviews.

Where prohibition proceedings brought against associated individuals arise as part of the imposition of sanctions against a provider found to be in breach of the Code, administrative charges related to such proceedings will be imposed on the relevant provider, rather than the associated individual, unless the individual is also the relevant provider (acting as a sole-trader).