ICSTIS is "the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services" and calls itself the Telephone Services Watchdog. It was set up by the major telephone operators, such as BT, Mercury and Vodata, to supervise phone services charged at premium rates. It deals with complaints, provides information and monitors services and advertisements to make sure they are honest, decent and legal.
They publish a neat leaflet which points out that phone numbers starting with 08, 09 and some others are by no means free numbers. Dialling codes such as 0891/4/7/8*, 0660, 0839, 09911, 09919, 0331 0336, 0338* 08364, 09301 and 09910 provide services such as competitions, dating, financial information, business to business (mainly the 099 series), racing tips, TV vote lines, children’s games, weather forecasts, horoscopes and Tarot services, medical advice, classified adverts, sports results, sex services (those marked * accessible only by a PIN number) and employment. If you call one of these numbers you are making a premium rate phone call . They cost a lot more than ordinary calls. If you would like to know more about services and the cost of using them then phone ICSTIS FREE on 0800 500 212.
Some services advertised in this country come from abroad and cost the same as a call to that country. These overseas services start with the normal international prefix "00", followed by the country code. For instance a service provided from Guyana, South America, starts with 00592 and costs the same as a normal call to Guyana.
ICSTIS wants to know if you have a problem when using any of these premium rate services. Perhaps you feel misled or were required to listen to five minutes of music before getting any information. If so phone their complaints line using the same FREEPHONE number 0800 500 212 (open Monday to Friday 8.30am - 6pm).
You can stop calls to premium rate numbers by barring their use. The BT premium rate services call barring facility will prevent access to all premium rate services. BT customers should call 150, Mercury customers 0500 500 194, for more information.
There will be big changes to many phone numbers in about two years time when new dialling codes for Premium Rate services and charges are to be introduced. One of the proposed changes is that all Premium Rate services will start with an 09 prefix. This will certainly reduce the present uncertainty for the inexperienced about which numbers are those where a high charge will be incurred. In the meanwhile study the ICSTIS leaflet.
Both NfCG and BT are concerned that with the change in Premium Rate numbers customers should not lose the level of consumer protection that they currently enjoy.
NfCG Chairman, Bob Gale, says:
"The Federation welcomes the proposed 09 code for the higher priced premium line. The Federation also continues to support strongly the continuation of BT’s free service to restrict access to expensive information and entertainment services on their lines and, more importantly, to provide a free PIN number opt-in facility for access to adult services lines. Customers should not be expected to have to opt-out as some commercial users of the system would prefer".
Each year the English Tourist Board (ETB) gives awards in a whole series of categories for best examples of tourist attractions, holidays, hotels, bed and breakfasts and many more. Perhaps the most prestigious award is that for: The most outstanding contribution to English Tourism. The winner of this category is Whitbread plc, one of NfCG’s Corporate Associates.
One connects Whitbread with beer and pubs but they are also the owners and developers of some of the biggest brands in the restaurant and hotel sector. Their restaurants include Costa Coffee, Cafe Rouge, Pizza Hut, Beafeater and TGI Friday. The Marriott hotel chain and the David Lloyd leisure centres are Whitbread franchises while its Travel Inns are a leading chain of budget hotels in the UK.
This prestigious ETB award, now in its tenth year and sponsored by Canon Hygiene, has been won by the Manor Hotel, St. Albans. Call in and try it out.
Looking down the list of other awards it is noticeable that Cumbria appears frequently. No less than five silver awards went to Cumbrian establishments starting with the Gilpin Lodge in Windermere, in the Hotel of the Year category, where the winner was the Grosvenor Hotel in Chester. Silver awards denote a runner up in the category.
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