British Telecom (BT)'s headquarters is seen in central London, Britain May 10, 2018. Reuters
British Telecom (BT)'s headquarters is seen in central London, Britain May 10, 2018. Reuters
British Telecom (BT)'s headquarters is seen in central London, Britain May 10, 2018. Reuters
British Telecom (BT)'s headquarters is seen in central London, Britain May 10, 2018. Reuters

BT faces lawsuit and £600m fine on overcharging claims


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

UK telecommunications provider BT Group is facing a lawsuit over claims of overcharging customers, which could cost the company almost £600 million ($815m).

Justin Le Patourel, founder of Collective Action on Land Lines, or Call, said on Sunday that the group had filed a claim with the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

The suit was reported earlier by The Sunday Times.

In 2017, Britain’s telecoms watchdog Ofcom found BT was overcharging landline customers since 2009.

As a result, the company was forced to reduce monthly costs for customers by about £7 each.

But they were not compensated for the previous eight years of overcharging, Mr Le Patourel said.

The affected consumers were more likely to be old, on low incomes and vulnerable, Call said, quoting Ofcom.

“We take our responsibilities to older and more vulnerable customers very seriously and will defend ourselves against any claim that suggests otherwise,” BT said in response to the suit.

The telecoms provider said it offered “discounted landline and broadband packages in what is a competitive market".

Current British laws state it is not possible to make compensation claims for overcharging all the way back to 2009, so Call is seeking damages from 2015.

“This makes the claim worth £589m, comprising £200 to £500 for each of the 2.3 million affected customers,” the group said.

People affected by the claimed overcharging bought a BT landline but did not take broadband from the provider, Call said.

Mr Le Patourel is also seeking compensation for consumers who were excluded from the 2017 price cut, but who he says are still being overcharged.

These clients had subscribed to a broadband service and a landline, but not in a package.

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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

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The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
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How to turn your property into a holiday home
  1. Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
  2. Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
  3. Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
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3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.

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