ANCOM has adopted a Code of conduct governing the use of national numbers of the short the short codes, SMS/MMS messages used in games, competitions, and various services through their mobile phones.
By calling and sending SMS to a short number consists of 3-5 digits, or by replying to a received SMS message to the users requests, or subscribe to the services, the content of which, in general, are charged extra.These phone numbers are provided by providers in their networks, the provision of value-added is, as a rule, be provided by a third party who is using the network to ensure the access of the user to the content provided and the collection cost.
Call or send a text to which users require the support of the technical, pictures, and special sounds for your cell phone (read / write) information to the payment of your services or products, horoscopes, quizzes and games, or even certain applications that can be downloaded to the mobile phone, they are not deducted from the minutes or texts included in the subscription/extra, and most of the time, at a rate higher than that charged for the call/SMS in the network. In addition to that, there are times when the users subscribe to such a service by sending a single SMS to a short number, and was later charged on a recurring basis.
The code is applicable to providers of public electronic communications networks and providers of value-added services and, among other things, additional measures for the protection of users in order to prevent abuse and fraud associated with the access to the services with value-added tax.
The code of conduct to be adopted for its owner, has been developed through a process of collaboration and consultation with the representatives of the telecom industry, and the details of the information which the phone service providers are obliged to provide the user with regard to the characteristics of, and the fees charged for the services provided to you by the numbers of the national short-interior, so that users have the information they need to access these services, in order to avoid being charged the wrong kind.
For example, the users need to be given clear information about the fare and the method of charging a call or a SMS/MMS messages each time when you shall be notified of the number or short code for the service by value-added tax, as well as at the time of the initiation of the service. In the case of services supplied to you through your SMS/MMS messages from recurring, the user will be informed on the fact that the subsequent charging will be carried out without the need for any further action on their part, but also on the mechanism to opt-out. Details on the use of value-added services provided to you by the numbers and short codes you will find in the itemised invoice issued by the supplier.
The code of conduct has been adopted by the Authority in the Decision. 1131/2014 on the adoption of a Code of conduct for the use of the national short the short codes, SMS/MMS as a result of the public consultation process, its requirements are mandatory for all providers of public electronic communications network which is used by assigning numbers to the national short of the internal or short code SMS/MMS messages. The decision will be submitted for publication in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force on the 3rd day from the day of its publication, with the exception of the provisions of the Code which requires some time to be implemented by the vendors, as well as those related to the information of the user, which shall enter into force within a period of 12 months from the date of the time, it being necessary to modify the existing contract between the telecom operators and service providers of value-added services.
the information published on the website of ANCOM on 20.08.2014
