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That was the year of its previous review, which found "little evidence" of people paying more than expected. The numbers were introduced in when the directory inquiry market was opened up by the regulator.

In recent years there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of people using the services. Ofcom said that in the third quarter of , about 7. Almost two thirds of those calling a service had no idea of its cost and about a quarter of them had no internet connection, Ofcom found. Responding the price cap, Digital Minister Margot James said: "It's about time that this horrendous ripping off of customers was brought to an end. The new price cap will go a long way in protecting consumers from astronomical fees.

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Top links Making a small claim Help for victims of rape and sexual violence. One customer who thought she was calling optician Specsavers was greeted with a recorded message saying the number was out of service — and that she should call Believing this to be a message recorded by the high street optician, she dialled the premium rate number — hanging up after realising her mistake.

She says: 'I was not advised of any charges when I listened to the message and was shocked to see the charge on my bill.

I am extremely unhappy that people are getting away with scams like this. He had originally called a Northampton-based landline and was told to dial When he rang and the operator found the number he was looking for, he was automatically connected.

This meant he was also charged the premium rate for the duration of the connected call — not just the initial contact with the service.

A year-old man who was recently discharged from hospital mistakenly dialled a number he believed was for an MOT centre based in Staffordshire. He was informed that the number was out of service and to call Information about this number's premium rate was not supplied until 26 seconds into the recorded message, but the victim had already hung up.

The fine was levied because the service's cost was not clear, the tactic misleading, and the company had not renewed its registration with the regulator. Complaints resolution service Resolver has heard from many people ripped off by numbers. Spokesman Martyn James says: 'It is a sad fact that we cannot trust businesses to be honest about the pricing of telephone calls.

Since PowerTel's fine, the Phone-paid Services Authority has said it will ban companies from advertising directory enquiry services via 'unused number squatting'. Promotions advertising numbers will only be allowed to exist on active numbers already in use for other legitimate purposes.

Providers must also reveal the cost of onward call connections to numbers that customers request, giving them time to consider and decline. These changes take effect from early next February.

There are 86 providers offering more than directory enquiry service numbers beginning with prefix David Hickson, of the Fair Telecoms Campaign, says: 'A major hope is that the price cap will drive some of the scammers away. He is also awaiting a final statement from the regulators on plans to tackle rip-off call connection services that trick people who search on the internet for numbers of well-established brands into making a premium rate call — when what they should be given is an 01, 02, 03 or free number.

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