(Reuters) - Telecoms regulator Ofcom has unveiled plans to protect consumers from unwittingly racking up huge telephone bills by using premium rate numbers.

Premium rate calls, which usually start with prefix 09, cost up to 150 pence a minute on the network of dominant telecoms firm BT Group and are typically used by TV vote lines, competitions, chat lines and adult services.

The government has become increasingly concerned about their fraudulent or misleading use, including rogue Internet diallers which re-route dial-up Internet connections onto premium rate numbers without customers’ knowledge or consent.

Ofcom said on Thursday that network providers should delay passing on revenues to companies offering premium rate services for at least 30 days to allow customers time to complain.
The government should also consider raising the maximum fine for the fraudulent use of premium call services from the current �100,000, the regulator said in a statement.

Ofcom said it would form a steering committee with ICSTIS, the premium rate service regulator, and Britain’s Department of Trade and Industry, to oversee the implementation of its proposals, some of which will require public consultation.