PSA adopts new Case Prioritisation Principles

The Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA) has established a Case Prioritisation Policy and Principles, in order to best focus its resources and efforts in enforcement cases.

“We need to make decisions about the best use of our resources in order to deliver the best outcomes for consumers. This involves making appropriate decisions about which cases to pursue through formal procedures, and which of those cases to prioritise.”

These Principles are outcomes-focussed and aim to ensure that their resources and enforcement approach is targeted to have the greatest regulatory effect.

You can find out more about what this involves by reading the full Principles

AIME supports PhonepayPlus Statement on the 14th Code of Practice

PhonepayPlus today announced their 14th Code of Practice, accompanied by a statement and draft procedures. In AIME’s response to the consultation AIME identified, on behalf of membership, over 30 areas of concern or observations on the proposed operation of the Investigations and Sanctions part (part 4) of the 14th Code of Practice.

 

A majority of AIME input has been accepted and has resulted in either changes to the Code or the supporting procedures. The changes that were not accepted are accompanied by responses from PhonepayPlus that will serve as reference material for any future review of processes.

 

We are confident that PhonepayPlus has set out to ensure a fair and pragmatic process exists and our observations were mainly in the event that the process went wrong. AIME expects PhonepayPlus  to have at its disposal a robust investigation and sanction procedure that targets the individuals and companies that seek to cause damage to consumers at the expense of the well behaved providers that make up AIME’s membership.

 

Our concerns for members who fund the operation of PhonepayPlus are that the process is economical, legally sound and fair.

 

In the unlikely event that a member will have a case raised against them, that there is an opportunity for an early settlement akin to the “on the spot” fine for a minor traffic offence.

 

If the process has gone wrong for a provider, we want to ensure that there is an appeals process to allow for economical review of a case without the need for a judicial review. AIME has successfully won this change amongst others.

 

We expect the 14th Code to go live in July 2016 after Ofcom and EU consultation. The full PhonepayPlus statement can be read here:

http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/news-and-events/news/2016/march/statement-following-consultation-on-the-14th-code-of-practice