Britain's Got Talent 2024 Voting FAQs
Britain’s Got Talent 2024 Vote
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I vote on the website?
You can vote by visiting itv.com/vote. You can type this web address in, or, if a QR code is displayed in the show, you can use this to go straight there. For the best experience we advise doing this on your mobile phone but you can also use a tablet or computer.
The first time you want to place a vote, you will need to verify your mobile number (even if you are using a tablet or computer). To do this, click/tap ‘verify your mobile’, and enter your UK mobile number. Once you receive the passcode (you will receive this via a free text message), enter it on the website. When a vote is open it will automatically appear on the website.
2. Can I vote using a screen reader?
Yes you can use a screen reader on all devices. In order to vote, go straight to the voting website at itv.com/vote.
3. I haven’t received my passcode?
Please ensure you have typed your UK mobile number in correctly. It may take a few minutes to receive your passcode. Your passcode comes as a free text message so check you have a good network signal.
4. I can’t get the QR code to work?
If a QR code is displayed in the show, using your smartphone, you should open your camera and hover over the QR code that’s on your TV screen for a couple of seconds. This should take you straight through to the online vote. If you cannot get it to work, open your usual web browser and type in itv.com/vote.
5. I can’t see any votes / I have votes but cannot cast them. Why?
There are 5 main reasons why you may be unable to cast your vote:
a. The vote is closed. Full details of when you may cast your vote will be announced in-show. You will only be able to vote whilst the voting period is open. It is not possible to cast your vote at any other time.
b. You do not have a strong enough wifi or 3G/4G/5G signal
You will need a strong, constant wifi or 3G/4G/5G signal to go through the voting process, otherwise you may experience error messages. We don’t recommend voting whilst on the move as your signal strength may vary.
c. There has been a technical error
In the unlikely case that a technical error occurs then an information message should appear. If there is no obvious reason for the error, email itvihelp@itv.com.
d. You have used up your votes
Each mobile number will receive 5 votes per voting event (at the discretion of the producers - final number to be indicated in the Programmes). If, for example, you cast all five votes after voting opens, you will not be able to cast another vote for that same voting event.
e. There is a high demand on the website
At the start of a vote, lots of people will be trying to vote at once so you may get an error message such as ‘Vote error - Due to high demand, your vote could not be processed at this time. Please wait a few seconds and try again.' You should be able to vote if you wait a moment. Note that this is a general message and it is impossible for votes for different acts to be treated differently.
6. How many free votes will I get?
Each mobile number that you verify with will receive five votes per voting event. A voting event is classed as one complete vote.
7. Can I use my votes in other ITV programmes?
No. Votes can only be used for the 2024 series of Britain's Got Talent.
8. Can I ‘rollover’ votes during the series?
No. You can only use votes for that particular voting event. After each vote has closed, shortly afterwards any unused votes will be removed. Votes for a new voting event will appear on the website the next time voting opens.
9. Can I move my votes between devices/onto a new device?
You can cast up to 5 votes per mobile phone number for each voting event. These votes can be cast on different devices but you will only be able to cast a maximum of 5 votes for each mobile number.
10. Why are vote images and text display distorted or misshapen on my mobile device?
You may need to adjust your font size or screen size.
To adjust this on Android, go to Settings > Display > Font and screen zoom, and lower the screen zoom and font size. This will allow more of the images and text to be displayed on screen.
To adjust this on iOS, click on the ‘AA’ symbol, which should appear in the URL address bar. Lower the screen zoom by tapping on the smaller A on the left hand side.
11. How much does it cost to vote on the website?
Voting via the website is free but data charges may apply.
12. Why can’t I unlock my votes?
You may be required to view an advert to unlock further votes. Some ad blockers will prevent this from being displayed. If you are having trouble viewing the advert, please check you have paused or disabled your ad blocker on your device.
MOBILE SHORT DIAL CODE VOTING
1. What are Mobile Short Dial Codes (MSDCs)?
Mobile Short Dial Codes (MSDCs) (also known as Voice Short Codes) are shorter than a normal telephone number, typically between 5 and 7 digits long. MSDCs are numbers to call (not text) from UK mobile phones where callers are charged a guaranteed fixed price for the call regardless of their UK mobile network provider. ITV is asking UK mobile users to vote via their mobile by dialling the MSDC promoted in Britain’s Got Talent. UK mobile users will be charged a fixed cost of 50p per vote.
2. Why does ITV use MSDCs?
MSDCs help our viewers better understand the costs involved with voting. There are no network access charges when voting in this way.
When calling premium rate ‘09’ numbers from mobiles, calls usually cost considerably more than if calling from a landline and the cost can vary from mobile network to network. Access charges are generally higher from mobile network operators, than landline network operators. To find out the access charge your network operator makes, we suggest you visit their website or contact your network operator. The network operators set their own access charges and no revenues are received by ITV for this charge.
More information about the Ofcom pricing changes can be found here.
3. How do I vote by MSDC?
It is very simple. When the vote is open, simply dial the short number shown on screen for your chosen act using your UK mobile phone. There is one 7 digit MSDC allocated to each act.. Please make sure you check the numbers promoted in-show and dial carefully to make sure you are voting for your chosen act. If you call while the vote is open you will hear a message confirming your vote. If you try to call when the vote is closed you will hear a non-chargeable message informing you that the vote is closed.
4. Can I vote by SMS/texting the MSDC?
No. You can’t text/SMS to the Mobile Short Dial Code number so please make sure you dial carefully. If you try to text the MSDC, this will not work and your vote will not be counted.
5. Why can’t I vote by text?
We can’t include text voting on Britain's Got Talent because there is the risk of potential delays within the mobile text networks at busy times and this could result in text votes not being received within the period when the vote is open and so they would not be counted but you would still be charged.
6. How is voting by MSDC different to text?
With text/SMS, there could be network delays and you do not always know if your vote has been counted but you may still be charged even if your vote arrives too late to be counted.
A phone call to a Mobile Short Dial Code works like a phone call to a ‘09’ premium rate number. The advantage of using Mobile Short Dial Code telephone calls for voting rather than text voting is that you know at the time of the call that your vote has been counted and that you have been charged for your vote.
This means that if the exchange is busy (for example because of a high volume of calls) you will hear an engaged tone so you will know you have not got through and your vote has not counted. If this happens to you, we recommend waiting a moment and then trying again.
Also, unlike text, you should not be charged if you try to call a Mobile Short Dial Code outside of the vote open period, or make a call to a MSDC which is no longer in use.
7. How much will it cost to vote on Britain's Got Talent by Mobile Short Dial Code?
Voting on Britain's Got Talent via a Mobile Short Dial Code from UK mobile networks will cost 50p per vote, 15p from each phone vote goes to the Royal Variety Charity.
8. Will I be charged if I try to vote using a MSDC when the vote is closed?
Calls outside the vote open period and those made to any of Britain's Got Talent vote numbers not currently in use should not be charged.
9. Why can’t I vote by Mobile Short Dial Codes from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man?
The Channel Islands and Isle of Man are covered by separate mobile network operators who do not currently support voting by MSDCs.
10. Why can’t I vote by Mobile Short Dial Codes from outside the UK?
The MSDCs are provided by the UK mobile network operators (Vodafone, O2, EE, and Three) and are only accessible via these operators. It is also unlikely that calls can be made to MSDCs from UK mobiles when these are outside of the UK, as this would be subject to mobile network operator international roaming arrangements with foreign network operators and calls to MSDCs are unlikely to be possible under such roaming arrangements. Please check with your network operator.
11. Can I call a Mobile Short Dial Code from my landline?
No. Mobile Short Dial Code voting is only available from mobile phones. If you try to call a Mobile Short Dial Code from your landline you will not be connected to the voting service and your vote will not be counted. In a very small number of cases, the landline network operator may route the call to a local destination as it may match a “local” telephone number which may result in a ‘wrong number’ call being made. Such calls would be chargeable if they are answered.
12. Will I receive ‘spam’ / unwanted marketing texts if I vote by Mobile Short Dial Code?
No, you should not receive any text messages from ITV or any other organisation as a result of voting using the MSDCs. ITV does not sell on mobile telephone numbers to any third party. Text spamming is caused by companies sending unsolicited text messages to mobile telephone numbers. ITV in no way supports this practice and takes great care to guard numbers from any unauthorised use. If you receive unwanted text messages from other companies that you are being charged for, you can contact Phone-paid Services Authority, the premium services regulator on freephone 0300 30 300 20 between 9.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) or via www.psauthority.org.uk to report this.
13. Why can’t I call the MSDC number from my “Voice over IP” (VOIP) connection?
Not all UK telephone network operators, including some VOIP operators, allow voting by premium rate numbers. MSDC numbers are intended only for voting via the UK mobile network operators and so will almost certainly not be supported by the fixed line and VoIP network operators.
14. Why isn’t it working when I try to call the MSDC number from my mobile?
There are a small number of UK mobile phone users who are unable to call MSDCs. It may be that there is a calling bar in place for premium rate services so we recommend checking with your mobile network operator to see if you can lift the calling bar. If you still cannot get through via the MSDC number then you can still vote by going to itv.com/vote and voting online.
PHONE VOTING
1. Why have I been charged more than 50p?
From July 2015, OFCOM introduced “UK Calling” which is designed to make call costs clearer for consumers. Call charges to “09” numbers are now in two parts: the service charge (the charge advertised on screen) and the Network Access Charge which is the operator charge. Each network operator has set their own access charge. Please check charges with your network operator.
You may find the below link helpful for checking call costs. Ofcom is the UK’s communications regulator.
If you are using a mobile phone, we suggest you call the Mobile Short Dial Code (MSDC), this will charge a flat fee of 50p.
2. Why have I been charged outside the vote window?
We state clearly on screen and verbally when the voting period opens and closes and that callers should wait until that time before casting their vote. There is a small chance that if you called outside this time that a network other than BT would charge for this call. If you have been charged, then notify your service provider immediately.
3. I was trying to call for one act and heard a different act’s message?
ITV has implemented a thorough testing schedule before each show to ensure the correct audio is playing on the correct act’s line. Please dial carefully when voting to make sure you are voting for your chosen act.
4. I have been trying to vote, but keep getting the engaged tone?
Because the phone lines can be very active throughout the UK when the vote opens, some callers may experience the engaged tone - especially those in rural/remote areas. We recommend that you call back within a couple of minutes when the traffic through your local exchange would have subsided. Engaged tones are controlled at local telephone exchange and something that ITV cannot control.
5. I called but received a dead tone?
If you hear a dead tone after dialling or trying to dial the premium rate number - then this is likely to mean that you are premium rate barred and you should check with your network operator about lifting the bar if you wish to vote.
6. I tried voting but couldn’t get through, why?
Given the high volume of viewers and callers that some TV voting shows generate, it is possible for a large number of people to pick up the phone simultaneously when the on-screen announcement is made. Sometimes this can cause some callers to get an engaged tone for short periods of time immediately after an on-screen announcement; however, any congestion tends to clear quite quickly.
7. Can one act’s number be constantly engaged and another’s free?
Like all the big shows, we use a voting system where at least the first eight digits of the phone numbers and the first 5 digits of the MSDC are the same for all acts, with only the last two digits of the phone number changing depending on who you want to vote for.
As the telephone network only uses the first eight digits in a telephone number and first 5 digits for the MSDC number to route calls to the voting system, it is impossible for calls for different acts to be treated differently.
Once calls reach the voting system they are answered in turn, on a first-come, first-served basis. Each answering point is instructed to accept votes for all acts; there are no dedicated answering points for individual acts.
8. How much money goes to charity?
15 pence from each phone vote (via the 09 numbers and MSDCs) goes to the Royal Variety Charity - www.royalvarietycharity.org
OTHER
1. Can I vote from the Republic of Ireland?
No, voting is not available from the Republic of Ireland
2. Can I vote via the Britain's Got Talent app?
Unfortunately the Britain's Got Talent app voting is unavailable for the 2024 series.
3. Who can I contact if I need assistance / have further questions about voting?
You can contact ITV Customer Care by email at itvihelp@itv.com.
4. Who can I contact if I have a query that’s not about voting?
You can email ITV Viewer Services at viewerservices@itv.com