Category: Telecoms
Ofcom fines BT £17.5m for 999 call-handling failures
Network disruption affected 14,000 emergency calls in June 2023 and lasted 10.5 hours Law requires networks to take appropriate steps to prepare for potential outages Ofcom finds that BT was not properly prepared to handle the incident Ofcom has today fined BT £17.5 million for being ill-prepared to respond to a catastrophic failure of its emergency…
Ofcom fines BT £2.8m for failing EE and Plusnet customers
EE and Plusnet – owned by BT – failed to implement new rules to help customers shop around At least 1.1 million customers were not given contract information before they signed up BT must refund early exit fees and let existing affected customers walk away penalty-free Ofcom has today fined BT £2.8m after it failed to provide…
BT delays landline switch off until 2027
BT has delayed plans to make customers switch from analogue copper-based landlines to digital-based VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) services following concerns from vulnerable people. The switch was paused at the end of last year after several incidents where telecare devices stopped working. Nearly two million people in the UK use personal alarms which rely on…
Virgin Media and O2 face choice between mid-contract price rises or large exit fees, claims Which?
Virgin Media and O2 customers face being trapped this April as they are presented with a choice between huge mid-contract broadband and mobile price rises or crippling exit fees, according to Which?'s research. Virgin Media and O2 are expected to go ahead with price increases of 8.8% this April – the latest RPI figure of…
Ofcom investigates Virgin Media over migration from analogue to digital landlines
Ofcom has opened an investigation into Virgin Media’s compliance with its rules while migrating customers from analogue to digital landlines. In a statement it said: "We have been clear that during this process telecoms companies must ensure they identify, protect and support vulnerable customers. We are concerned about Virgin Media’s compliance with our rules requiring providers…
Ofcom proposing further action to tackle ‘spoofing’
Ofcom is today proposing to strengthen its guidance on how phone companies should identify and block calls from abroad that falsely use UK numbers, known as spoofing. A common tactic used by criminals to defraud victims is to imitate – or ‘spoof’ – the phone numbers of legitimate organisations, like banks and Government departments. Fraudsters based abroad…
Virgin Media most complained about telco provider, Ofcom reveals
Today Ofcom has published the latest figures for complaints it has received about the UK’s main landline, broadband, mobile and pay-TV providers. The figures cover the period from July to September last year, during which time it saw a slight rise in complaints. Complaints about landline, broadband and pay-TV services all increased, while mobile complaints…
Telcos agree to protect personal alarm users when upgrading to digital
UK phone providers agree new measures to protect vulnerable customers when upgrading phone lines to digital Technology Secretary asks all providers not to force people to switch over until protection in place Vulnerable households will have better access to emergency services during power outages The most vulnerable people across England will be better protected following…
Ofcom says mid-contract price rises need to be clearer
Mobile and broadband customers must be told upfront about any mobile price rises when signing a new contract, under new consumer protection plans set out today by Ofcom. With most major phone, broadband and pay TV companies now including mid-contract price rises linked to uncertain future inflation, Ofcom is concerned that customers’ contracts do not…
Virgin Media O2 launches lager to get people talking about online scams. Er, OK?
After research reveals 1 in 3 Brits find it more embarrassing to talk about fraud than medical problems, Virgin Media O2 has teamed up Ross Kemp to launch ‘Crafty Lager 7726’ and kickstart a national conversation about fraud The limited-edition beer features top tips including an easy reminder of how to report dodgy calls and…
