Premium Rate Service Checker

Unexpected text message or charge on your phone bill? ComReg’s Premium Rate Service Checker facility may assist you

Have you received an unexpected text message or is there an unexpected charge on your phone bill? If you are unsure about a phone number that is in a text message or on your phone bill, it may be a premium rate service (“PRS”) number and you’ll need to find out who the owner, or service provider, of the number is.

Which numbers are PRS Numbers?

• For premium rate voice services – the numbers start with a 15 prefix (for example 1590)
• For premium rate text message (“SMS”) services – the numbers are five-digit short codes beginning with the number 5 (for example 57976 and 57977).

How do I know who the PRS provider is?

There should be a name or number in the text message you’ve received, or listed on your phone bill, which you can enter into ComReg’s Service Checker to check the details of any premium rate service. Here you will also find information on the different types of PRS numbers. ComReg’s Service Checker Facility may assist you to find out who the PRS provider is and how to contact them:

• If you have received a text message:- 
  • Don’t delete it. Read it carefully as it may contain important information (such as a helpline number for the company who has sent the message).
    If the message is from a short code number or mentions the name of the service, please use ComReg’s premium rate Service Checker to find out who the PRS provider is and to get their contact details.
    If the message does not help you to identify the sender, and there is no identifiable short code or service name, call your mobile phone company to see if they can give you any information on the sender and whether it has cost you anything to receive the message.

• If you receive a phone bill listing a call(s) to a premium rate number(s) and don’t recognise the number(s):- 
  • You can use the Service Checker on the homepage of this website to find out who the PRS provider is and to get their contact details.
  • If you have deleted the number from whom you have received the text, please contact your mobile network operator to get further information on the number and the PRS provider associated with that number.

If you were charged for receiving a text message, and don’t think you agreed to receive it, then contact the PRS provider to raise the issue with them.

Can I stop a PRS and bar all premium rate services?

Yes, you can text the short code number for the service with the word STOP (please note that a standard network charge may apply for this text).

You can also block premium rate text messages from your mobile if you are a customer of eir Mobile, Three or Vodafone. Contact your mobile service provider’s customer care to avail of the barring option.

Check out our website page solutions to common problems consumers have with PRS.

Finally, to check the details of any premium rate service, visit the Service Checker and our Consumer Care team is also available to offer advice and support.