There were 66% fewer public complaints about premium-rate services in 2005 than in the previous year, but more than double the number of investigations, premium-rate services regulator ICSTIS announced on Friday.

The watchdog reckons that the fall in complaints is due to its more stringent licensing policy, tackling rogue internet dialler activity. It also credits the introduction of 30-day payment restrictions on phone companies, which has been effective in preventing some ‘spam and scam’ firms getting their hands on their ill-gotten gains before action can be taken.

ICSTIS also believes that tough enforcement action has reduced the harm caused by spam marketing abuses, especially those involving automatic calling equipment.

In all, ICSTIS received almost 27,000 complaints about premium rate services last year and opened 880 investigations. The ICSTIS Contact Centre handled over 200,000 enquiries in the course of 2005, while the newly-launched website and improved automated call handling systems dealt with over 500,000 general enquiries.

ICSTIS acknowledges that there are still problems in the sector, but suggests that the number of investigations being initiated shows that it is identifying problems faster, and tackling them before they get out of hand.

“We know there’s still work to be done to tackle those who deliberately set out to rip off the public,” said ICSTIS Director George Kidd, “However, we’re confident that our continued robust enforcement action, together with our greater collaboration with industry players and fellow regulators, will allow us to prevent consumer harm more effectively, better educate and inform the public, and enable market growth and diversity.”

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