USE OF PREMIUM RATE TELEPHONE SERVICES

Early day motion 272, tabled 17 January 2000 by Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 41 members.

That this House notes that companies such as the Allocation Group of Rotterdam using the telecommunications services of Core Communications Ltd (Manchester) are exploiting vulnerable as well as gullible members of the public through unsolicited offers of prizes for which applicants must apply by telephone, requiring long calls at high rates, advertised in very small print; notes that this is one of a number of abuses of premium rate services including many by the sex industry; and calls on the Government to initiatiate action through the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Services acting in consent with OFTEL and the main telecoms companies, local trading standards officers and the competition authorities to protect consumers from such abuses.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 13, Labour/Co-operative 3, Conservative 1, Independent Labour 1, Scottish National Party 1.