Type: General
Action: Contact Copy Advice
Sector: Computers and telecommunications

The ASA has received a number of complaints against advertisements quoting numbers for telephone lines which are charged above standard national rates. The advertisements do not state this. Ad Alert No.104 drew attention to this problem in respect of 07000 prefix numbers and the recent editorial in Monthly Report 81, 11 February 1998, gives more details on the whole issue.

Advertisements giving telephone numbers for lines that are charged at higher than standard national rates (eg. mobile phone lines) should state that a higher charge applies; they need not state the higher charge. Advertisements featuring premium rate numbers, however, are covered by rules enforced by ICSTIS. ICSTIS can be contacted at the 3rd Floor, Alton House, 177 High Holborn, London WC1V 7AA or by telephone on 0171-240 5511.

If your members are asked to publish advertisements quoting numbers for telephone lines which are charged above standard national rates with no appropriate qualification, they should contact the Copy Advice team.