What changes?
Are you a provider of telephone call forwarding and information services? From 16 December 2022, there will be stricter rules against misleading information numbers and call forwarding services:
- forwarding to free 0800 telephone numbers is prohibited
- forwarding to paid 0900, 0906, 0909 numbers us also always prohibited
- the maximum rates for still permitted information numbers are limited
Limited rates and extended duty to inform
Besides banning misleading call forwarding services, the rates of information numbers that are still allowed will be limited. These are 4 digit telephone numbers starting with the digit 18. Users must also be better informed.
From 16 December 2022, providers will have to use maximum rates that they will mention both prior to the caller’s call and also prior to the call-forwarding itself. From December 2024, the maximum call charge will be €10. New transparency requirements also apply. For example, a notification prior to a call being forwarded, after which the caller must also explicitly consent to the call being forwarded (opt-in).
The Consumer & Market Authority (Autoriteit Consument & Markt, ACM) will enforce these new rules from 16 December 2022.
For whom?
- call forwarding and information services providers
When?
This change in the 'Regulation on universal service and end-user interests' will take effect on 16 December 2022 (in Dutch).
