NTS Retail Uplift and PRS Bad Debt Surcharge

This statement concerns the wholesale pricing of Number Translation Services (NTS) and Premium Rate Services (PRS). Broadly speaking, NTS calls are calls made to 08 and 09 numbers, while PRS calls are calls made to 09 numbers. These numbers provide individuals and organisations with access to a wide range of organisations and services, including sales lines, customer service/enquiries, information and entertainment services. A significant proportion of the retail price which consumers pay for calling these services is passed to the operator which terminates the call, who may then pay a share to the call recipient, or "service provider". Such payments may then be used to fund the provision of services, or for example to offset the costs of running a call centre.