Press & PR

Broadband provider Virgin Media is to drop premium rate call charges for broadband customers calling its technical support services, it has been revealed.

The Register reports that in an internal email circulated by the company, the author notes that the call charges - which were introduced last summer to put people off calling the hotline with minor queries - have not been received positively by consumers.

Confirming the reports, a spokesperson told the Register: "We have been working hard to improve customer service and listening to what our customers say, so will now be removing this charge from the outset."

On current pricing tariffs, customers are charged 25 pence per minute to call its broadband technical support service, with a reversion to a local rate number proposed.

Virgin Media's recent fourth quarter profit results for 2007 showed significant growth in its broadband services, with fewer people also reported to have left the service during the period than at any point since it took over Telewest in 2006.

Vonage provides a secure to make cheap calls using broadband phone services, with VoIP packages available from £5.99 per month.