A TELECOMS company exposed in the Commons by John Healey MP as “shameful” has been fined £200,000 and told to change its behaviour.
Ofcom’s investigation found Unicom breached industry rules by mis-selling telephone services and giving prospective customers misleading information.
Late last year Mr Healey called a debate on the company in the House of Commons. Stephen Jones, a 70-year-old hairdresser from Swinton, was cold-called by Unicom, mis-sold four telephone and broadband contracts and left with a £3,500 bill.
The MP had been fighting to get the charges dropped, and just hours after the debate the company apologised and did so. The bill had been hanging over Mr Jones for two-and-a-half years.
Mr Healey said: “I hope this punishment will be tough enough to make Unicom change their ways.
“Mr Jones should have never been put through two-and-a-half years of worry, and I don’t want it to happen to anyone else.”
Ofcom announced its decision yesterday (29 July). As well as the fine Ofcom has outlined steps Unicom must take, including:
• Compensating customers who were misled
• Making changes to its policies and sales materials
• Training sales staff and monitoring their conduct
The £200,000 fine is payable to Ofcom then passed on to HM Treasury. Unicom have to pay within 20 working days of the decision.