Richard and Judy premium rate phone scam firm fined

AMAZING. THE body responsible for policing premium rate phone calls in the UK, ICSTIS, is to acquire a sensible name, PhonePayPlus.

Perhaps its 'remit' to cover any telephone call charged above normal rates will be extended next?

The name change is due to be announced by ICSTIS Chairman, Sir Alistair Graham, later this month [July] and become official in Q4 2007.

The revelation follows the news that ICSTIS has imposed its highest ever fine - £150,000.

The fine was imposed on phone line firm Eckoh UK Ltd for the way the game You Say, We Pay on the Richard & Judy show was operated. The enforcer found that virtually half (47 per cent) of the five million viewers charged £1 a punt, entered the competition after the winners had been chosen.

ICSTIS is now referring the case to Ofcom, who may wish to investigate the actions of the parties involved under the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.

Sir Graham stated, "Consumer protection should be at the heart of television rather than a broadcasting philosophy of 'the show must go on'."

The ripped-off 2.5 million will be offered refunds but - reading between the lines - attempting to do so will prove a logistical nightmare.

Hence the comment that "the sanction is suspended whilst consideration is given to whether or not the Channel 4/Eckoh refund scheme operates in accordance with ICSTIS code requirements."

The fine and refund are a step in the right direction. But for a competition which brings in millions, is £150,000 much of a penalty? Forty per cent of all the money bet is retained as profit. µ

L'INQ
PhonePayPlus