OFCOM Urged to Investigate BT Billing Charges

1.34.57pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 17th Jun 2007

BT has come under fire for its new billing policy which penalises customers who do not pay by direct debit. Those paying by cash and cheque face a £4.50 charge every month - even if they've always paid bills on time!

Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, has written to BT to object to the new billing system, and has also written to industry regulator Ofcom to urge them to investigate the charges.

"The Liberal Democrats have been contacted by many BT customers in Norwich to complain about these charges. There are a number of people, particularly elderly, who do not have a bank account and so cannot even choose to pay by direct debit. One elderly couple cannot now pay their bill at the post office without being charged for it. It is ridiculous."

"Many BT customers have been with the company for many, many years and have loyally paid bills on time. The company is now trying to impose a new way for its customers to pay their bills, and penalising those who either choose not to, or who do not have a bank account for direct debit payments. This seems very unfair."

"I have asked Ofcom to investigate the charges being levied by all telephone operators on non-direct debit customers, as they do appear in some cases to be excessively high."

A BT customer on the BT Together Option 1 who previously paid quarterly was billed £36 line rental, receiving a £3 discount if paying by DD. Now, all customers will be billed £33 for rental, plus a £4.50 charge for non-DD payments.