How does it work ?

The easiest and safest way for you as a consumer to pay for digital services and content in Luxembourg

Premium SMS

Sending a Premium SMS

One-off Payments - Premium SMS

One-off Payments flow

2 easy steps for the mobile phone subscriber

Step 01 - Sending SMS

A mobile subscriber is watching a singing competition on television and wants to vote for his favourite singer. On TV, a keyword for voting is given for each candidate and the corresponding short number to which the messages are to be sent. In this case, the user sends a text message with the keyword “candidate 2” to the specified premium SMS short code “12345”.

Step 02 - SMS Confirmation

A SMS text message confirming the payment is sent in return. The amount paid will be charged to the mobile phone bill. This message may also contain a link or code providing access to a content or service.

The vote is registered for the corresponding singer..

Technical and operational setup

01

A mobile phone subscriber sends a Premium SMS text message containing a specific code/keyword to a the short code that is used for this service.

02

The message is received by the mobile operator’s SMS center, and is forwarded to a Premium SMS Service aggregator. In parallel, the mobile operator creates the billing record to be charged on the subscriber’s phone bill.

03

The aggregator receives messages (from all mobile operators), creates related billing and revenue records and forwards the message to the Premium SMS service provider.

04

The Premium SMS service provider receives the message and triggers the service to be provided such as activating the access to a specific content/service, registering a donation or a payment for a service (e.g. car parking) or providing information in return. Also, a (free) confirmation SMS text message is sent to the mobile phone subscriber.

Recurrent payments & subscriptions: receiving Premium SMS texts

Mobile phone subscribers have the ability to register for value-adding services that will be charged to them at regular intervals (e.g. weekly or monthly) at a specific price point. Subscribers always have to agree explicitly to these subscriptions through a process that involves a validation of their phone number before any Premium SMS billing/charging can take place, for example by sending a (nonpremium) SMS text message with a code or keyword, expressing their consent.

Subscription & payment flow

Subscription-based recurring payments have to be authorised explicitly by mobile phone subscribers with transparent pricing information and an easy-to-use subscription termination process. The subscription and the charging processes work as follows:

Many services that are subject to subscription charges on a weekly or monthly bases are advertised on TV, on the internet or can be subscribed to through Apps or the service or content provider’s website (e.g. video streaming services or gaming services).

Subscription process

After entering the phone number, a code or keyword is displayed on a website or in an App, and this code has to be sent in a SMS text message by the subscriber to a short code to trigger the subscription process.

To confirm the subscription, the subscriber sends the SMS text message from his phone to a specific short code. This message is routed by the mobile operator to an aggregator, who ultimately transmits it to a service/content provider. The latter initiates the provision of the service and sends a confirmation SMS text message back to the subscriber.

The mobile subscriber always receives a confirmation of the purchase by SMS text message.

This typically also triggers the availability/access to the purchased service or content.Manage your Premium SMS Services subscriptions – stopsms.lu -check which services by which content providers are active on your mobile phone number

Recurring payments and charging on phone bills

After successfully completing the subscription steps, the content/services provider will start the billing cycle according to the service/content pricing scheme agreed to by the subscriber. Recurring charging is done through Premium MT SMS messages, each Premium SMS text message triggering a charge of a specific amount that will be reflected on the subscriber’s mobile phone bill.

Managing your Premium SMS subscription

Premium SMS subscriptions are subject to special consumer protection rules and are always consent-based.

The quality framework for Premium SMS services guarantees transparent registration/service termination processes, pricing information and thorough monitoring mechanisms, thus bothempowering and protecting consumers.

Mobile operators and service providers have established and adhere to a thorough set of rules of conduct and rely on an efficient technical and operational setup to address any issues that may arise in the context of consumer/content provider relations.

Find more information in our FAQs

Manage your Premium SMS Services subscriptions

Direct Billing

What is Direct Billing?

A direct Direct (Carrier) Billing (DCB) process enables content and service providers to charge amounts directly to mobile subscribers’ phone bills in a secure setup that is fully transparent to the subscriber. Every Direct Billing process requires the subscriber’s explicit consent.

How does Direct Carrier Billing work?

Very similar to bank card payments, Direct Billing payments are triggered on web pages (on smartphones) by agreeing to the conditions and expressing consent by clicking on a button. The process is highly secure, as the specific web pages used to gather the mobile subscriber’s consent are operated by specific companies (aggregators) authorised by mobile operators that have access to mobile operator’s billing infrastructure and provide the required security and transparency guarantees.

The mobile subscriber’s phone number is validated with the mobile operator’s network infrastructure: there is no need for mobile subscribers to insert their phone number into a form and validate it through an SMS text message they would receive. This kind of validation through a direct interconnection also substantially lowers fraud risks: it is not possible to agree to a payment processed over direct billing without having access to the phone/SIM card that the phone number that is charged with the amount is linked to.

Finally, Direct Carrier Billing provides very high levels of transparency: the full identity of the content or service provider, the amount to be paid, recurring intervals for payments (if any) are all displayed in a standardised and easy-to-read format on the mobile web screens, before mobile subscribers finally confirm the payment/purchase by the click of a button.

3G/4G/5G mobile web connection is mandatory for mobile phone direct billing, payment consent can only be given from the smartphone or tablet that the phone number to be charged is linked to (i.e. where the SIM card with that phone number is used)

The Direct Billing process

Single payment direct billing

Subscription-based direct-billing

Direct Carrier Billing is the most convenient and secure digital remote payment method available to consumers. Payments are completed in a few easy steps, while guaranteeing full transparency and highest levels of security.

Step 01

A mobile phone subscriber chooses the digital item, service, subscription he wants to purchase – or donation he wants to make or a vote he wants to cast – on a content/service provider’s mobile web page

Step 02

Mobile phone subscriber chooses the option “Pay by mobile operator bill” on the product page

Step 03

Then he is redirected to the Mobile Operator/Aggregator payment process, a similar process as with popular online payment tools or with card payment authorisations. On this screen, all relevant information regarding the purchase he wants to make: the content/service provider’s identity and contact data, the amount to be paid, the recurrence/frequency of payments (if any – only in case the item/service purchases is a subscription model). At the bottom of that page, the mobile subscriber confirms the purchase by pressing the “Pay” button.

How do Mobile Operators/Aggregators make sure that they charge the right mobile phone subscription?

Aggregators and Mobile Operators have set up an advanced interconnection system where Mobile Operators guarantee that payments made by a specific mobile phone/tablet connecting over the operator’s network that goes through the payment confirmation screens are charged to that particular mobile phone subscription. In other words, the payment confirmation needs to be given on the phone linked to the mobile phone subscription that will be charged at the end of the month via the mobile phone bill, i.e. users cannot request charging to another mobile phone number/subscription. This system provides a very high security level, since your identity and the accuracy of the routing to the right mobile subscription is implicitly guaranteed by the mobile operator.

Step 04

In the next screen, the payment is confirmed and contact data and other relevant information provided. In parallel, a SMS text message is sent, confirming the payment.

Invoicing

Invoicing at the end of the month

Premium SMS and Direct Billing payments are reflected on mobile phone subscription bills send to mobile phone subscribers by Mobile Operators. Labels slightly differ, from operator to operator