SLAMMING

[Jayc]

Anyone familiar with the term 'Slamming', unfortunately I discovered it today. Its when another company takes over your business telephone line without you knowing. A rival communications firm KCT took over my BT business line without my permission this July, Bt apparently have little power over such practiises and all they can do is cancell the rival companies order. I was approached by KTC back in May and to be fare their terms sounded great compared to BT, i even gave them my details i was that impressed. However when I went to BT to advise them that i was thinking of taking up with another company they sprung the penalty cluase thing on me, so i went back to KCT and declined their offer. They seemed ok about it and said if they could be of service int the future etc etc. However today 18/8/10  I received an invoice from KCT re July/Aug bill ! I called up KCT and they said they were in control of my business line. I then called BT who said they were also in control of my business line, but they ceased to charge me for calls July/Aug... Why? Because the account had been taken over by KTC. But I had not given any authority for this to happen. This took up most of my morning hence time I should have been working. I have basically been paying 2 companies this July/Aug for my line rental plus VAT!! I would like to hear from any other small business that have experienced the same - slamming......and what course of action did yoy take? So far ive emailed OFCOM and Bt says they will cancell the take over, fab.

[dancook_1]

Hi Jayc,

I also got stung by KCT, however to date after some strongly worded letters and action through the Office of Fair Trading I haven't heard anything since.

When I started my business in Nov, I had signed up to a two year contract with BT and was happy, however after two weeks of trading I received a sales call from KCT. At the time of the call the woman caller stated she was calling from BT Wholesale (No mention of KCT) and said that I had been placed onto the wrong call plan.

To cut a long story short, I was transferred to a sales advisor who confirmed my details and that was the end of it.....UNTIL I received a bill from BT for a termination of contract fee. Ok, to my shock and after some investigating and a few telephone calls to BT I found that KCT had taken over control of my line and had tied me into a 60 month contract with an average spend of £60!!!

I immediately had BT transfer my line back to them after speaking with their specialist slamming team who were aware of KCT and their sneaky tactics, I would also like to add that BT kindly removed the cancellation fee. After that I contact KCT multiple times and found them to be very arrogant and cocky and one person even laughed at me and said "We have a solicitor that listens to our recordings and says yes to all calls that we can legally get away with!". Unbelievable but it's true.

Anyway, I basically contacted anyone and everyone for legal advice and reported them to the OFCOM who are supposed to protect us from these rogue in these situations but unfortunately it's out of their juristiction. I also reported them to the OFT (Office of fair trading) who were VERY helpful. I explained that they said they were form BT Wholesale and therefore under the Misinterpretation act I was entitled to cancel my contract which I did and stood my ground.

After various letters two and fro everything has finally gone quiet and I am hoping this is the last I have heard of these bad people!

[James]

Hi both, thanks for posting about this. I can't go into detail about individual companies on this public Forum but I can tell you I've passed this information to BT's Legal department for their investigations. 

I'm not sure if these will help but the Residential section of BT.com has this article on Misselling. There's also How to avoid being "slammed" on OFCOM's website.

James

[almar13]

I have been harassed by KTC for the last six weeks for an account that was only verbally discussed with no written confirmation of contract or call rates. Not sure how the company got our telephones numbers but they said they were part of BT Business and was offering better rates than the retail business division. I did not agree to any thing. BT was charging me rental and call charges for the last few months until the first invoice from KTC was received. I phoned the company and they said I since I spoken to them and seem interested that formed a contract. After not paying their second invoice KTC told BT to cut our lines. I phoned BT and they said after about half hour of calls (a) they were authorised to(b) they admitted they were invoicing us in error for call  and was going to credit us back together hefty charges for cancellation charges o a contract we have not cancelled(c) BT transferred me to their Acquisitions Dept, who just said that there was little they could do, because of flaws in the regulatory system. I have now written to OFCOM. I have also written to KTC threatening them with court action. Interestingly enough I cannot understand how they got my company bank accounts details and now taking money our of our company accounts.

[tsoic]

We, too have an issue with KCT. Starting with a phone call from them, claiming to be an offshoot of BT, stating fantastic call charges. This was in Dec 09.I was hesitant of giving my details, and also mentioned  to him that I knew BT would charge me for breaking a contract with them. I said i needed to check and on another phone call he told me that the charges would be taken care of their end.The guy assured me no action would be taken until I was happy and that a contract would be sent in the post for me  to sign.  Well, I heard nothing until in Feb 10 I had a letter from BT informing of charges due to stepping away from them. I phoned BT to assure them I wanted to remain with them - this pattern repeated until April 10 - these phone calls taking hours away from 'hands on'. In April received a call from KCT asking if everything was OK with the service - I was shocked and cross and demanded that they hand over my line to BT. Despite repeated requests by BT this company has never complied and was in the process of dipping in to my bank account on a adhoc basis without invoice. Despite letters to them they have failed to comply, although they were not shy in sending break of contract letters billing me for approx£2,500. During all of this I have lodged complaints with Ofcom, and Otelo and KCT have refused to provide the official complaints proceedure. They also demanded money and when I refused to pay blocked my line. I phoned KCT and advised them I had informed Otelo and Ofcom and that they were to hand my line back to BT with immediate effect in compliance with my instructions and they laughed and hung up! BT have worked really hard to take appropriate steps and eventually I am back with them under a new number. However, now KCT have slammed me with court papers demanding nearly £3k. On phoning them again, requesting a breakdown/copy invoices (as I have never disputed call charges but I want to do it by cheque not them dipping back into my account) and requesting the official complaint proceedure to be told 'just write a letter'. I said I have several occasions and you have not responded she said 'oh well" and hung up! This situation is not only stressful but takes so much time away from being proactive with your own business, countless hours. I am at a loss to understand why and how they can get away with these less than transparent practises, which in effect jeopardises small businesses!

[TLT]

Hi Guys

Don't be too complacent about KCT they did exactly to me what they did to you and guess what they now even have a judgement against me which I am trying to get reversed but they have some private investigation company sending me threatening notices about pay up or they will take goods.  Mine all started in December 2009 when they falsely misrepresented that they were contacted by BT to take over landlines - they said like Openreach does work for BT they do too. I normally woudl never just accept what happens over the phone but what with on D-day before garnd opening of a new shop, having done several stints to 3am I just thought lets get this over and done with.  Boy do I regret it!!  They succeeded in getting it once and then I got back to BT but twice they have succeeded in getting debit orders through which only swift action by me got our bank to reverse them.  I have looked on the net and many others have had similar problems with them.  I thought all had gone away when I threatened to lay charges of fraud - which I am now going to do but now they have a judgement.  They cleverly addressed the claim form to me personally and not my business name and I never got the post as my business is the ground floor of several flats and post often gets mixed up.  With me being away for the summer hols I wasn't their to go through post for the flats so it must have gone astray.  Nearly had a heart attack when I got the judgment letter which I am now trying to sort out but they have already appointed these private investigators to play at being private bailiffs even though no warrant has been issued.  This is a nightmare.  So watch your post as you still may get a claim form - I even complained to Ofcom but not much seems to happen!

[TLT]

You scenario sounds just like mine!!  Why aren't Otelo and Ofcom taking action????  Not sure if you can see my other post but I now have a court judgement against me personally AND some private investigation company threatening to take some of my goods.  Stressed does not describe how I am feeling at the moment.  Mine also started in December and went quite a few months ago until last week and now it is all happening with a vengeance!  I am going to lay charges of fraud as they took money out of my bank account without my business bank account without my authority!!  There HAS to be a way to stop this company!!  I feel like taking a double page ad out in the Sunday Times warning people.  I think that I am going to contact BBC Watchdog.

[nicole86]

Hi has anyone got a number for KTC they can give me - I was tricked by them this morning and after reading all the reviews I want to cancel with them. I now know they take longer than the cancellation period to send out your information, and I cannot find a number for them anywhere online. Can anyone help??

[laurafleming]

Hi, 

This sounds very familiar to what happened to me, my partner spoke to KCT at start, when everything kicked off, very much the same as yours, after asking my partner, he remembers talking to them but does not remember giving his bank details to them and giving them permission to start the contract, i have now requested the recording of my first call with them, in which i was supposed to of set up the contract and hand over our bank details, This is only a cost of £10 and everyone by law is entitled to hear this recording... if they dont send it then that says it all really, The employees of KCT are soooo rude and have really stressed me out, they just do not care, i didnt have any letters from KCT saying im in contract with them nor saying that i have been charged for a termination fee, as i am now with another supplier... Only a letter from county court to say i owe them just over £1,500. I was so shock and have spend everyday and every minute trying to get help in this matter. As it stands, because court proceedings have been put in place i cant really do much about it, but i have found out so much about KCT  and they cant get away with this, it is well out of order and is not on.... so let them take me to court because i dont think they understand they are breaking the law under so many regulations.... BRING IT ON KCT. If anyone has been through the court stage please let me know what your outcome was... thanks

[laurafleming]

Hiya,

KCT number 0844 277 7777 good luck, trust me you will need it, i canceled mine but they took no notice, make sure you also send the cancellation in writing, post it recorded, n keep your proof of post, even get proof of sign, also email the cancellation to them... send it any way you can so you have proof, and watch your bank account because we didnt give our bank details to them, but still they manage to take monies from my account.