A premium rate dial up connection is used for businesses to collect "micro-payments" directly from their customers' telephone bill. The customer visits a website, where the service offered is clearly displayed, with the option to visit a further page or pages at a charge per minute. An example of this is the completion of an entry form for a competition, the funds from which go to pay the overall running costs.

The website needs to clearly inform customers that by clicking on a button or link will actually disconnect them from their current connection and dial up a premium rate number for a given period, of which a maximum length of time is specified. The customer can obviously disconnect at any time, prompting reconnection to their original dial up. Premium dial up services must obtain prior permission from the ICSTIS Committee before commencing operation.

Available rates include 60p, £1 and £1.50 per minute, of which 30p, 50p and 75p per minute respectively are paid directly to your bank, once a margin of £200 has been earned.