uSwitch.com comments on today's decision by Ofcom to investigate 'hidden charges'

Chris Frost, Communications Expert at uSwitch.com, responds to today's announcement by Ofcom to review the charges faced by consumers over and above those they already pay for their service:

"We have raised the issue of 'hidden charges' on several occasions and are delighted that Ofcom is to launch an industry-wide review of this matter".

"This is long overdue".

""Consumers have for too long been the victims of sneaky charges such as paying more for receiving a paper bill, paying late, or paying by cheque rather than by direct debit.

Many of these charges are monthly and over the year will add up significantly".

""Moreover it is often the most vulnerable customers that bear the brunt of these charges".

"For example, those customers who pay their bill late are often in financial difficulty".

"The increases we have recently seen by some providers to late payment fees are a hard swipe at these customers in particular".

""Many of the charges Ofcom is reviewing are often hidden in the small print.

Customers often don't realise that they are liable to pay them until they are locked into a long term contract.

It is our hope that, as a result of this review, consumers will be made aware of charges up front.

This will allow them to compare deals like for like with other suppliers".

""We hope that other industry watchdogs will follow Ofcom's example and by launching investigations of their own".

"This issue isn't confined to the telecoms industry." For more information visit www.uswitch.com or call 0800 093 06 07 06 June 2007.

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