Billing

Premium text services start with 6, 7 or 8 and are usually a five or six digit number. The services include entering competitions, downloading ebooks, donating to charity and voting on TV talent shows. You'll pay for the service through your mobile bill or from your Pay As You Go credit. 

Services that use premium texts include:

• Sending messages to radio stations
• Chat services
• Accessing low cost calls to international numbers
• Entering TV competitions 
• Voting in TV reality shows
• Charity donations

Some premium rate services run as a subscription. If you want to query a charge you’ll need to contact your O2 Account Manager or get in touch with the provider directly. They’ll automatically send a welcome text when you sign up, explaining how to cancel.

Here are a few steps you can take to unsubscribe or query charges:

The most common way to unsubscribe is to text STOP or STOP ALL to the number given in the premium message. This might be different to the number used to send you the message. It’ll be a five digit number. Within 24 hours, you’ll get a free text confirming that the subscription has been stopped.

If you’re still being charged for unwanted premium messages or want to query charges, it’s best to contact the provider directly.

Need more information about premium rate numbers? The Phone-paid Services Authority can help, as they’re the regulator for UK premium rate services.

You can also find useful videos on the Phone-paid Services Authority YouTube channel.

The Phone-paid Services Authority runs PhoneBrain, a child-friendly version of their main site to help kids understand premium rate services. It can be helpful for teachers and parents too.