Ofcom granted new powers to fine telecoms firms

Date: 08/06/2011

Enterprises looking into the purchase of new local phone numbers may be interested in a recent announcement from Ofcom.

The regulatory body has now been granted greater powers to fine telecoms companies that fail to provide adequate information about their networks, it stated.

Under government rules, Ofcom is able to impose payments of up to £2 million, an increase from the previous figure of £50,000.

The changes came into effect on May 26th and any disputes the organisation received after that date will be handled under the new regulations.

Other alterations detailed by the group included how it will deal with the resolution of disputes regarding communications in the future.

At the end of last month, Ofcom found TalkTalk guilty of engaging in dishonest conduct under the Communications Act 2003 and it has until June 20th to resolve the issue.

The company mislead consumers and some were signed up to contracts without their proper consent.