Telephone

Ofcom considers slamming to be totally unacceptable and tackling this remains an important priority to Ofcom.

In March 2010 Ofcom introduced strengthened regulations (for residential and small business customers) designed to protect consumers from the risks of mis-selling and slamming of fixed-line phone services.

The new rules, called General Condition 24:

• prohibit telecoms providers from engaging in misleading and inappropriate sales and marketing activity and slamming;
• require telecoms companies to keep better records of their sales and marketing activities;
• confirm the type and level of information that needs to be made available to new customers both at the point of sale and after the sale has been concluded (but before the service has actually been transferred). This includes providing important information about the key terms and conditions of the service, including contractual liabilities and cancellation rights;
• introduce new rules to make clear when providers are allowed to cancel orders placed by other providers. Cancelling orders for purposes other than those expressly specified by the regulations will be prohibited.

How you can help us tackle mis-selling

Ofcom actively monitors compliance with these new rules through its enforcement programme which allows us to take action against companies who do not comply with the regulations.

Ofcom also speaks to phone companies regularly. The data we collect from them about mis-selling also helps us decide whether an investigation is required.

Consumers also continue to play a vital role in helping us tackle mis-selling.

Although we can’t investigate individual cases, your complaints can lead to us launching investigations and ultimately to us taking action.

By working with us to tackle slamming, you can help bring about much wider benefits for millions of consumers and ensure that others don’t fall victim to this problem.

I have been mis-sold a service and want to complain to Ofcom