A few years ago in the UK, there was a somewhat unconventional way for people to make money simply by calling certain phone numbers. Known as “call cash back” schemes, these programs allowed individuals to earn cash by spending hours on the phone with premium-rate numbers. It sounds almost too good to be true, right? Here’s how it worked and why it’s no longer as common as it once was.
What Were Call Cash Back Schemes?
“Call cash back” schemes revolved around premium-rate numbers—those phone lines that charge you higher fees than a regular call. These numbers are typically associated with services like voting lines for TV shows or technical support hotlines. However, in the case of call cash back, these numbers were used specifically to generate revenue.
When a person called one of these premium-rate numbers, they would be charged significantly more per minute than a standard call. Part of the revenue generated from these charges would then go to the company that owned the premium-rate number.
How Did People Make Money?
The core of the scheme relied on revenue sharing. The company that owned the premium-rate number would share a percentage of the income generated by the calls with the caller. So, the longer you stayed on the line, the more money both the company and you, the caller, would make.
Some services even had automated systems in place so that once you called in, you could remain on the line without actively engaging. This meant you could effectively set your phone down and continue earning money passively.
How Much Could You Earn?
While earnings varied depending on the specific scheme, it was generally based on how long you stayed on the call. For instance, if you called for an hour, you could earn a small percentage of the premium-rate revenue. The longer you stayed on the line, the more you earned.
Why Did These Schemes Disappear?
While the idea of earning money from phone calls may seem harmless, there were serious concerns about abuse and fraud. Many of these schemes exploited loopholes in billing systems, often leading to high charges for service providers and phone carriers. Some users even found themselves unknowingly making costly calls, leading to customer complaints.
Due to these concerns, the UK’s regulator for premium-rate services, the Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA), stepped in. Regulations were tightened, and many of these services were either shut down or forced to comply with stricter rules. The crackdown made it much harder for people to participate in these schemes, and many disappeared altogether.
Conclusion
Call cash back schemes were a clever way to make some extra cash, but they also operated in a legal grey area. While they were lucrative for a time, increasing regulations have made it much harder to take part in these schemes. Today, the concept is mostly a thing of the past in the UK, thanks to efforts to prevent fraud and protect consumers from excessive phone charges.
Were you ever involved in one of these schemes, or do you remember hearing about them? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!