Dear All - I have been infuriated recently at the blatant and underhand way in which members of the public are required to contact premium rate numbers merely to make enquiries about a product or a guarantee on a product or a query about an insurance claim, etc.  Very rarely is the cost of these calls shown to us (or it is in very small print) and we are being ripped off because we should be given the option of using these numbers by knowing how much we are going to be paying in the first place.  These companies don't appear to be obliged currently to disclose the costs of these calls.  My petition has been accepted by the No 10 web team and I aim to make it a legal requirement for any company to clearly state the costs of 0870, 0871 and, indeed, any non-geographical or local call, including on the television and in all documentation.  It may well be a step towards ending this stupidity. Please join me in this.  My very heartfelt thanks to you in anticipation.  
Here is the link:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Premiums

Strictly speaking this is up to Ofcom, which already has statutory powers to designate certain numbers as being used for "premium rate services" and to ensure that appropriate regulation covering their use is in place and is enforced. This work is sub-contracted to "Phonepay Plus", a self-regulatory body.

As Ofcom is independent (at least formally) the Prime Minister cannot direct how it uses the statutory powers which it has been given by parliament.

There is no question that when one calls a number that generates revenue for the person called, one is entering into a contract with that person. The terms should therefore be clearly explained in advance.

As you are perhaps aware, Ofcom has taken modest steps in this direction, but then bottled out of putting them into effect.

Notwithstanding my comments about its relevance, as the petition has been accepted, I have signed and encourage others to do the same.