The CAI Urge costumers to resist the NTL/UPC Direct Debit Charge

We have met with representatives of what is currently NTL, the company owned by UPC Ireland and a part of Liberty Global.

The decision by NTL/UPC to insist that their customers pay only by Direct Debit or suffer penalty charges serves only to the benefit of the credit control capabilities and profit margins of this business.

• It ignores the customer loyalty that has made the company the profitable one that it is today;

• It ignores the entitlement that consumers should have choice;

• It ignores that consideration of choice even when a consumer is paying their bill on time;

• It now suggests the introduction of a tiered system of consumer eligibility or waiver regardless of payment mode;  

• It makes no consideration of the fact that payment is made in advance of receipt of the service;

• It forces consumers to open a bank account and incur transaction charges;

The fact remains - This is an anti-consumer approach from a dominant provider with an appalling approach to customer service and the charge must be resisted.

CONTACT:

Dermott Jewell : 01 – 497 8600
Consumers’ Association of Ireland
43-44 Chelmsford Road,
Ranelagh
Dublin 6.