£150,000 fine for TV phone-in quiz scam company

Published on Saturday 7 July 2007 00:57

THE telephone company behind the Richard and Judy quiz scandal was hit with a record fine yesterday.

Premium rate services regulator Icstis slapped a 150,000 penalty on Eckoh UK Ltd, and ordered a sanction to provide refunds to all those affected.

The company was punished after an inquiry into allegations that the You Say, We Pay telephone quiz on Channel 4's Richard and Judy show urged viewers to call in even though potential winners had already been chosen.

Icstis ruled that the competition seriously misled viewers.

Media watchdog Ofcom will now look at Channel 4's role in the scandal and investigate whether it broke the broadcasting code.

If found to have breached the broadcasting code, Ofcom could fine Channel 4.

Icstis said that almost five million viewers entered the competition at a cost of 1 per call, but 47 per cent of calls were received after the shortlist of winners had already been chosen.

Announcing the fine, Icstis chairman Sir Alistair Graham said: "The size of the fine reflects the serious nature of the breach of our code of practice. Winners were being chosen before the closing deadline, whilst millions of additional viewers were still encouraged to phone in and pay to enter the competition but were denied the opportunity of fair consideration. Such reckless disregard for viewers is unacceptable."

A Channel 4 spokesman said: "We engaged Eckoh in good faith and we are very disappointed by their failure. As soon as Channel 4 became aware of problems we suspended the competition."

Nik Philpot, chief executive of Eckoh, said: "We accept that Eckoh made mistakes with You Say We Pay."