BT launches campaign against fixed line scams

A campaign targeting fixed line phone scams that blight businesses and consumers alike has been launched today by BT.

The scheme, which has the support of Trading Standards Institute (TSI), calls for Ofcom to combat telephone companies, who mis-sell phone lines, by installing a new PIN code system.

Ofcom claims that one in 40 homes fall victim to mis-sellers and 40 million was lost to the scams last year alone.

These include sales techniques where the customer is switched to the company without their knowledge or getting the customer's signature by claiming to be part of BT.

The new PIN system would see customers requesting a code from their current supplier and passing it onto their new choice, ensuring total compliance with the new deal.

It's not just households that are affected by such scams, according to BT who confirmed to IT PRO that small businesses are at risk too.

"It does affect small businesses and the two cases where Ofcom has taken action so far was when they had been targeted," a spokesperson said.

"One company was being charged a fortune to leave their contract and if they didn't pay up it was threatened they would be cut off. A business without a phone line? That cannot be successful."

Ron Gainsford, chief executive of the TSI, added in a statement: "We're very much in favour of the telecoms industry adopting the consumer protection pin code system. We believe that it will stamp out at source the sort of rogue trading practice that has been plaguing telecoms consumers for more than five years."

There was also support from MP and chair of the All-Party Group on Communications, John Robertson, who said in a statement: "I have been concerned about mis-selling and the lack of protection for consumers for some time."

He added: "I welcome this new initiative, which I believe will help to address a serious issue in the communications market."