Ofcom telecoms fine 'a clear message to industry'

Date: 19/08/2011

Companies wishing to purchase 0800 numbers may agree with one organisation's comments regarding the recent Ofcom fine issued to TalkTalk and Tiscali UK.

Consumer Focus has welcomed the regulator's decision to penalise the companies after it was discovered they had been billing consumers for services they did not use.

Diane Gaston, head of communications at the watchdog, said the fine sends "a clear message to the industry on how essential it is that firms play fair by their customers".

She claimed TalkTalk and Tiscali UK must ensure there are no outstanding issues that could mean something such as this happens again to their clients.

Ms Gaston also described the matter as a "failure of the most basic customer service" - something enterprises with their own call centres may be very aware of.

Ofcom stated that it had received more than 1,000 consumer complaints regarding the issue and the two telecoms businesses were fined £3 million.