Q & A About Premium Rate Telephone Services

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions to give you as much information as possible before ordering a premium rate telephone service.

1. What premium rate services do you offer?
Answer: There are two main types of services available:

• Live service - this is where the call is routed through to a human being
• Message services - this is where the call is routed to our large telephone answering machines, which then plays a message to the caller.

2. When I order the Premium Rate Number Package, how long do the lines belong to me, and are there any additional monthly or hidden fees?
Answer: The lines will belong to you for as long as you wish to keep using them - you will never have to pay any renewal fees to keep your lines. There are absolutely NO MONTHLY FEES or HIDDEN COSTS - guaranteed!

3. What is the cost per call, and how much will I earn per minute on every call? Do you have minimum payouts?
Answer: You can operate a premium rate phone service on a tariff anywhere between 5p/min to £1.50/min which is billed directly to the callers phone bill. If you opt for the top tariff, you will receive £1.10p per minute on every call to your premium rate numbers. 

4. Do I have to answer the line/s and can I change the content of the line? Do I need expensive equipment to update and maintain?
Answer: It is not necessary for you to buy any equipment or answer any phone calls (unless you want to set up your ownlive service). If you deceide to set up a message service - all calls will be routed through to large telephone answering machines. These call handling systems operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

5. I am interested in setting up a premium rate service with my own ideas and content, will you be able to handle that?
Answer: If you have your own idea for a service - that is great. We have set up thousands of services for customers who want to do their own services. All you need to do is just choose whether you require a message service or a live service.

6. How do people find out about my premium rate phone lines?
Answer: You have complete control over the success and profitability of your premium rate services. By promoting your premium rate services effectively, and using different methods you will be able to attract people to call you numbers. See our Premium Rate services promotional page for further tips and help.

7. What is the average length of a call?
Answer: A typical call lasts for approximately 6-10 minutes. Our premium rate services are very effective at getting callers to stay on the line as long as possible. The longer your callers stay on the phone, the more you will earn per day.

The maximum length of your call should be no more than a charge of £30 to the caller. Shown below is a guide as to how long your call can be, based upon the tariff you use.

• £1.50/min tariff - 20 minutes maximum
• £1.00/min tariff - 20 minutes maximum
• 50p/min tariff - 60 minutes maximum
• 10p/min tariff - 300 minutes maximum

8. What Is The Maximum Amount Of Phone Calls That Can Be Handled?
Answer: This depends on whether you choose a live service (where you asnwer the phone calls) or if you choose a message service (where the calls come through to large answering machines).

• Live service - if you are answering the phone calls and you only have one phone line, then the maximum amount of calls that can be handled is one. If you have two phones lines, then you can handle two phone calls - etc etc.
• Message service - your message will be loaded onto a telephone computer system that can handled up to 30 phone calls simultaneously.

9. When and How do I get paid? What kind of reporting do you offer, and How do I keep track of all my calls?
Answer: Payment is made on a 45 day pay cycle by cheque or bank transfer, on the 45th day after month end . You will be able to keep track of every call to your services with the FREE call reports available online.

You will also receive a monthly statement will be included with each cheque / bank transfer which gives you a complete breakdown of your premium phone numbers activity.

10. Do These Premium Rate Phone Numbers Work Abroad?
Answer: NO, these premium rate phone numbers only work within the United Kingdom only. However, we have many clients that live outside the UK and promote their lines in the United Kingdom successfully. With the joys of the internet you don't have to be based inside the United Kingdom to run a premium rate telephone service.

11. How do I get started?
Answer: For fastest turnaround just go and order online right now your service will be set up for you immediately. Your order for your Premium Rate Service will be handled straight away so you be up and running within a matter of days.

12. Can anything go wrong?
Answer: The only thing to remember is chargebacks (when people dispute a charge on their phone bill). For example, you may receive a complaint that a call was made from a house number without the permission of the person who pays the phone bill. If they can prove their phone was used without their permission they can ask for a chargeback.  British Telecom have the right to deduct this money from your payment.

Chargebacks normally occur if people have been ringing your premium rate number without the permission of the phone bill payer. Also British Telecom won't payout if they find calls to your premium rate numbers have been coming from stolen mobile phones or landlines where the bill has not been paid.

13. What Rules Do I Have To Comply With?
Answer: You must always comply with the rules laid down by Phone Pay Plus. They have the power to shut down your service, plus withhold payment if they can prove you have broken their rules. So please download a copy of the Phone Pay Plus rule book from their website and ensure you comply with it at all times.

Phone Pay Plus have the power to shut down your service and fine you if you break their rules.

14. I Understand I Have To Place A Trading Address On My Adverts?
Answer: This is correct. You can either place an abbreviated version of your address on your advertising material - or you can use a PO BOX number.

15. When Do I Get Paid My Money?
Answer: You receive payment 45 days after month end - for example:

• July revenue is paid on 15th September

• August revenue is paid on 15th October

• etc etc etc

Payment is made to you via cheque or bank transfer - the choice is yours.

16. Is There Anything To Sign?
Yes, you will be sent a final agreement in the post. You simply need to do sign this and return it. everyone who operates a premium rate telephone service are required by the regulators Phone Pay Plus to sign an agreement confirming they will abide by the rules and regulationsof the industry.

17. Am I Classified As a Service Provider?
Yes, Phone Pay Plus (the regulators) classify you as a "service provider". Phone Pay Plus will keep on file details of the services you operate and also contact details, incase they have any queries about how you are running a particular type of service and wish to contact you directly.

18. Can I Select My Own 09 or 08 Premium Rate Phone Number?
Sorry this can't be done. The premium rate number you are allocated is the next one "off the pile". The aim is to allocate you as memorable a number as possible, but we cannot obtain for a specific premium rate phone number.