Press & PR

UK telecoms industry regulator Ofcom has announced that it is launching a clampdown on telephone companies that are making it difficult for customers to switch suppliers.

The watchdog has stated that it will be issuing new guidelines for telecoms companies which will set out rules for dispute resolution and complaints handling in a bid to protect consumers from various unscrupulous practices.

Under new rules, all telecoms firms will have to become members of an accredited dispute resolution body, with a levy imposed on those firms that fail to comply within a set time period.

One such body is the Office of the Telecommunications Ombudsman, of which around a third of broadband providers are currently members.

It has also announced that it will extend its investigation into mis-selling among telecoms companies and will provide protection against slamming - where a customer is switched to another provider without their knowledge - and other practices, such as making it difficult for customers to switch phone and broadband suppliers.

Vonage is delivering cost savings with its broadband phone services, allowing customers to make cheap calls over the internet.