Product category:
Glass
News Release from: Glass and Glazing Federation
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 09 February 2006
OFCOM investigates BT 'Privacy at Home'
service
British Telecom's 'Privacy at Home' service was in the spotlight when the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) met with OFCOM.
British Telecom's 'Privacy at Home' service was in the spotlight when the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) met with OFCOM The GGF asked the telecoms regulator to consider if BT's promotion and marketing of the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is a direct attempt to stifle competition in the Telecoms market by limiting opportunities for its competitors to access its own existing customer base yet allowing itself an exemption to market its own services
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 26 Sep 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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British Telecom launched its "Privacy at Home" package in July 2005.
It automatically registers BT customers with TPS, which prohibits unsolicited marketing and sales calls, unless they decline.
The GGF was one of TPS's founding members.
To date, there are over 11 million TPS registered numbers - this number has increased markedly since the launch of the BT campaign in July.
Rival telephone companies, which use Telemarketing as a prime marketing tool to contact consumers, are prevented from contacting BT customers.
BT though has given itself an exemption from TPS - in the form of an implied consent from its customers that they can receive calls from BT.
This allows BT to continue telemarketing to customers, where rivals can not.
This has also prevented charities and political organisations from using telemarketing.
Ian Chisholm, GGF Deputy Chief Executive, said: "We met with OFCOM to voice our concerns over an issue that has troubled us for some time".
"This is a double whammy from BT which is at the very least giving the impression of trying to stifle competition by not only making Tele-canvassing of its customers almost impossible but is also trying to limit door to door sales via no calling zones and a campaign against door step selling".
"BT is exhibiting classic behaviour of a company in a monopoly position trying to retain its monopoly".
OFCOM will now consider the GGF's case and report back within two weeks.
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