Crackdown on premium phone promotions

The Director of Consumer Affairs is set to seek legislation to crack down on postal competitions and promotions that encourage people to ring premium-rate phone-lines.

Reports today said Carmel Foley was set to ask the Government to introduce a new law because the companies behind such promotions are currently not covered by consumer legislation.

Regtel, the regulator of premium-rate phone-lines, can order lines to be shut if they breach a code of practice, but the companies involved cannot be barred from starting similar promotions again.

Ms Foley's move to change this situation is believed to have followed a string of complaints last week from consumers who were sent cheques accompanied by a letter telling them to call four separate phone lines at rates from €2.40 per minute to claim an "award".