A subscriber is entitled, on request, to receive bills that are not itemised. This recognises the fact that itemised bills may put at risk the privacy of users even though they are also useful for subscribers to verify the amount of the bill.
In exercising functions under Chapter 1 Part 2 of the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom has a duty to reconcile the rights of subscribers receiving itemised bills with the rights to privacy of calling users and called subscribers. It may do this, for example, by making sure that sufficient alternative ways to make calls or pay for calls are available to such users and subscribers, to facilitate anonymous calls in particular. The Telecoms Directive suggests this may be achieved by providing anonymous pre-paid telephone cards. Pre-paid phones and cash payphones are also relevant in this context.