November 7, 2016

PhonepayPlus, the UK’s regulator for content goods and services charged to a phone bill, is now called the Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA).

The idea behind the name change, which took effect on 1 November, is to make it clearer what the organisation is and does, and to reflect the changing market for content goods and services charged to a phone bill.

As part of the rebrand, the regulator has adopted a new statement of purpose: “The UK regulator for content, goods and services charged to a phone bill”.  Its role and regulatory remit remain the same, however.

Findings from the PSA’s Annual Market Review showed that the market is increasingly mobile.  Revenues for operator billing, i.e. charges for content, goods and services made to a phone bill, continue to grow, whilst revenues for more traditional voice-based services are in decline.

As a result, premium rate services, was seen as an out-dated term that does not encompass the various services that now make up the phone-paid services market.

The regulator’s new web address is www.psauthority.org.uk, but all existing contact numbers will remain the same.

David Edmonds CBE, Chairman of the Phone-paid Services Authority, said: “Our new name makes it clearer to consumers our role as the regulator for content, goods and services charged to a phone bill.  We have worked closely with industry stakeholders, consumers and our staff, listening to them on how we can explain our role clearly.  As the Phone-paid Services Authority, we will continue to put consumers and the industry at the heart of our work in supporting a healthy and innovative market”.