CONSUMERS WHO have been overcharged by premium rate telephone service providers will be able to claim refunds, under changes made to new legislation by Minister for Communications Éamon Ryan.

Mr Ryan tabled an amendment to the legislation at the Oireachtas Communications Committee yesterday, which he said gave explicit recognition to a consumer’s right to a refund where overcharging occurred.

Telecoms regulator Comreg will be given powers to include the terms under which refunds can be made in the licences awarded to the providers of premium rate services such as ringtones, competitions and chat lines.

Opposition TDs welcomed the Minister’s addition of provisions allowing refunds to the Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services) Bill but claimed the wording was too weak. They also claimed that, because the Bill excludes broadcasters from its remit, rip-offs involving television gameshows and contests decided by phone-in votes would flourish.

Labour communications spokeswoman Liz McManus said it was completely unacceptable to let broadcasters “off the hook”.