900 numbers
Premium phone lines
900 numbers are premium-rate telephone numbers in North America that charge callers per-minute or per-call fees beyond standard rates.
The charges appear on phone bills.
In the 1980s and 1990s, 900 numbers were associated with phone sex lines, psychic hotlines, and other adult services, though they also served legitimate purposes like voting lines and technical support: I called a 900 number for tech help and got charged five dollars a minute.
Long-form television advertisements
- late-night TVBroadcasting after midnight
- print adsPromotional content in publications
- radio spotsBrief broadcast advertisements
- call nowUrgent contact request
dial-in · targeted advertising · celebrity endorsements · testimonials · direct response · promotional campaigns
Claimed supernatural insight services
- horoscopesAstrological personality forecasts
- tarotDivination card set
- astrologyDivination by celestial positions
- fortune tellingPredicting someone's future
chat lines · adult entertainment · technical support · voting lines · celebrity gossip · jokes · legal advice · stock quotes
Selfish use of others
- consumer protectionLaws defending purchasers' interests
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- deceptive advertisingDishonest product claims
- class actionLawsuit filed for many
settlements · complaints · parental controls · advertising restrictions · opt-out · refunds · predatory practices · fine print
Additional fees imposed
- phone billCarrier payment notice
- service feesCharges for rendered work
- flat-rateSingle unchanging charge
- crammingIntensive last-minute study
infomercials
Long-form television advertisements
- late-night TVBroadcasting after midnight
- print adsPromotional content in publications
- radio spotsBrief broadcast advertisements
call now · dial-in · targeted advertising · celebrity endorsements · testimonials · direct response · promotional campaigns
psychic readings
Claimed supernatural insight services
- horoscopesAstrological personality forecasts
- tarotDivination card set
- astrologyDivination by celestial positions
fortune telling · chat lines · adult entertainment · technical support · voting lines · celebrity gossip · jokes · legal advice · stock quotes · wake-up calls
exploitation
Selfish use of others
- consumer protectionLaws defending purchasers' interests
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- deceptive advertisingDishonest product claims
class action · settlements · complaints · parental controls · advertising restrictions · opt-out · refunds · predatory practices · fine print
surcharges
Additional fees imposed
- phone billCarrier payment notice
- service feesCharges for rendered work
- flat-rateSingle unchanging charge
- phone servicesvoicemail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, call blocking
- location codesarea codes, country codes, postal codes, zip codes, country code