Wednesday 30 January 2008
Various private websites have appeared offering ‘passport advice’ to the public. The problem for the public is that these websites have been asking customers to call an 0871 number – which then transfers to an 0906 number – at a premium rate of £1.50 per minute. Callers are then forwarded to a recorded message giving basic passport information – something which is easily available from our official website.
So what has the Identity & Passport Service been doing about this?
These websites are not breaking the law, so we have been restricted in what we can do. However, IPS Chief Executive James Hall wrote to PhonepayPlus, which is the regulatory body for all premium rate phone services.
PhonepayPlus conducted an investigation that has resulted in three companies being fined and receiving a formal reprimand.
Our complaint was that the websites did not clearly show that they were not an official part of IPS, that their rates were extortionate and poorly advertised and that their operation was causing distress to IPS customers, as well as causing damage to our own reputation.
