Premium rate services are any calls or texts from private companies which cost more than the standard rate. Examples of premium services include TV voting (e.g. The X Factor), text charity donations, competitions (e.g. The Late Late Show) and other entertainment services.
Calls
Premium rate phone lines generally operate on 15XX numbers. Calls to premium rate services cost more than standard calls.
Texts
Premium rate text services are texts to and from five-digit short code numbers (e.g. 53XXX or 57XXX). Sending a text to a premium rate service will cost more than a standard text. It’s important to note that you will be charged for receiving these texts as well, and some of these services are subscription services that send texts regularly.
What are the charges for premium rate services?
Charges for these services vary depending on what service you are using, and what number you are calling/texting. For example, calling a 1513 number costs 70c per minute and 1590 number costs €3.50 per minute.
For a full breakdown of charges for premium rate services, view Three’s Price Guide by clicking here.
Receiving premium texts – how do I stop them?
If you are receiving premium service texts, text STOP to the five digit number that you are receiving texts from. It may take 24 to 48 hours for the company to unsubscribe your number, after which you should no longer receive any messages from them.
Are the charges refundable?
To receive a refund, you must contact the premium service provider directly.
How can to check if a number is a premium rate service?
ComReg has a handy tool on its website that allows you to look up unknown names or numbers on your bill and check if they are a premium rate service. You can also find more info about premium rate services at comreg.ie/premium-rate.
How to avoid these charges in the future?
To avoid being charged for premium rate services in the future, we recommend:
- Carefully read the terms and conditions before texting to enter a competition, voting in a TV show or using a chatline or any other type of entertainment service.
- Be wary of anything advertised as free that requires you to call or text to claim.
- Keep an eye on your credit or allowances via your My3 account by clicking here, to ensure that you are not being charged more than expected for your calls and texts.
How can I remove Premium Services from my number?
Three customers now have the option to request blocking of receiving premium texts. Please note that this does not block premium calls.
Examples Include:
- TV Voting (e.g. Dancing with the Stars, The X Factor)
- Quizzes and competitions (e.g. The Late Late Show, local or national radio competitions)
- Charity Donations
- Digital content (e.g. music, videos, wallpapers, games)
- Psychic or other entertainment services
