REMINDER: PSA Consultation – Guidance on the retention of data

The PSA have put forward proposals to clarify expectations on how long providers retain data, in the event of an investigation where such data will be required. The PSA are now consulting on Guidance which sets out new expectations for the retention of data relevant to their investigatory processes, and are calling for responses.

The full consultation details can be found here.

We would like to invite members to provide their feedback to aimm in order for us to prepare a response. This will be in the form of calls, or where appropriate, conference calls, over the next few weeks.

Please let the aimm Executive know if you would like to contribute by Wednesday 20th February.

PSA priorities for first quarter of 2017

PSA logo

 

PSA have just released their set priorities for the next 3 months.

Among them are implementing and monitoring Special conditions for online competition and online adult services, undertaking research into consumer complaint journeys, looking at market trends and assessing the effectiveness of sanctions.

For the full article please read:  7 PRIORITIES

PhonepayPlus releases three updated Guidance documents

In February, PhonepayPlus launched a public consultation on five pieces of Premium Rate Guidance that had been amended or developed afresh AIME executive and board members participated in this consultation resulting in significantly improved documents with the appropriate tone and usability.

Today PhonepayPlus publishes three out of the five pieces of Guidance and a statement following this consultation.

The Guidance documents are:

  1. Advice services
  2. Enabling consumer spend control
  3. Digital marketing and promotion

Yellow highlights in the documents indicate the changed areas.

The remaining guidance; Subscription Services and Method of Exit and still in review following the consultation.

 

New PhonepayPlus Guidance on Vulnerability

Today PhonepayPlus launch their new Vulnerability guidance to help PRS providers avoid consumer harm before launching and while running a service. They designed this guidance to help you take steps in making sure your premium rate service stays compliant with the Code of Practice and maintains the reputation of the PRS industry. PPP have developed the guidance in collaboration with industry members, consumer groups and digital content providers.

To read the guidance please visit: Vulnerability Guidance

Ordanduu & Optimus Mobile v PhonepayPlus: Judgement goes against PhonepayPlus

In light of  today’s ruling in the High Court between Ordanduu and Optimus vs PhonepayPlus AIME’s intial response is as follows:

As a result of the Emergency Procedures that PhonepayPlus deployed in 2013 and prior to the instigation of this legal challenge,  AIME Executive and Board worked extensively with PhonepayPlus to develop guidance for the premium rate industry that utilise digital marketing, particularly with affiliates.

AIME also collaboratively developed an early warning system for reporting instances of mobile malware, misleading affiliate practices and other tactics that would damage advertisers and create risk for consumers. This enabled responsible advertisers to investigate and deal with affiliate and other digital marketing fraud aimed at themselves, but affecting consumers in process. This tool is being actively used by industry.

The area of affiliate marketing as a promotion tool for connecting with mobile consumers exploded in 2012/13 and the risks to advertisers from affiliates who set out to mislead consumers or create malware was little understood by all parties. AIMEs role in assembling industry collaboration has resulted in a marked reduction in rogue affiliate issues affecting premium rate service marketing and we continue to monitor and react to the issue.

AIME also engaged extensively with senior representatives of PhonepayPlus to encourage and support a  review of their enforcement procedures, the skill and independence of the code compliance panel and the robustness of adjudication case preparation in light of new technology and new ways for consumers to utilise premium rate services via the burgeoning growth in smartphones.

PhonepayPlus has demonstrated willingness to engage with industry on these matters while still prioritising its consumer protection remit and remaining independent.

AIMEs Chairman Edward Boddington said “It is vital for the premium rate industry that we have an effective regulator to ensure a stable operating environment for the companies that wish to provide consumers with great products, transparent pricing and honest marketing and the regulator should keep at bay the miscreants who are determined to wreck the industry and remove consumer confidence. AIMEs objective for its members is to ensure that PhonepayPlus has robust mechanisms to remove harmful products while applying efficient and precise procedures that will survive any legal challenge. Maintaining that balance is a tough role to play and AIME has encouraged and will continue to support PhonepayPlus.