Enter left, a Trojan horse [22 January 1998]
So far six people have told me that CWC are using 'because OFTEL told us to remove them' as an attempt to justify the removal of unmetered local calls. OFTEL can do no such thing!
Any removal of unmetered local calls would be a change of basis of charge (charging for something that was previously not charged for) and thus a contractual matter outside OFTEL's remit. Quoting from my notes on OFTEL:
OFTEL has no direct control over the prices your cable company sets for its services. Whilst we must ensure that CWC does not breach any of the conditions in its operating licence, there are no conditions controlling prices in the licences issued to any of the cable companies. In fact BT is the only company providing telephony that has a price control imposed by OFTEL and this is because of its former monopoly status and dominant market position.
Price changes made by your cable company are therefore a contractual matter between the company and its customers. If you have any doubts about your particular contract you could consider seeking independent legal advice, or contacting the Office of Fair Trading.
Postscript (30 January): it appears that employees of a company to which CWC has contracted out part of its customer support have been pushing the OFTEL story. That OFTEL took no part in the decision has been confirmed by Graham Wallace.
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