RE: Telewest

[DRIVERS]

just a thought bought but when you pay a telephone bill with telewest late you are charged £10, is this classed as punitive?

also can they charge you more for not having a DD set up

[Bookworm]

Is it costing them £10 when you pay late? If not, then it's punitive and reclaimable. I don't think it has been tested yet with them, but the principle is the same.

The not-paid-by-d/d thing, yes, bugs me too, especially as I'm paperless, and therefore cost them less than s/one with a paper bill, but don't get a reduction for that. But I suspect that as it is a service they provide, it might not be reclaimable, although it is patently unfair, I agree.

[DRIVERS]

so if i were to contact them and ask for a breakdown of the charge, then possibly a Data Protection Act dependant on what i was told

[scotia]

I had exactly the same problem last month....i phoned Telepest's customer service, and explained that i am refusing to pay £10 late payment charge, as it is a penalty charge, and not a true reflection of their liquidated losses....the guy refunded on the spot without questioning it

Might be worth a phone call first, then if no success, put it in writing the normal way

[cherylc1107]

I have this problem two. what i done was told them to collect the equipment and disconect me, they refuned the £10 charge not once not twice but 3 refunds.

[Bookworm]

Well, since this old thread has resurfaced, I thought I'd better re-qualify my previous answer (well, it was written in May! lol) to say that since then, others have and are challenging the non d/d payment as well.

[Stillborn Crisps]

Martin3030 is testing the £4 DD and £10 Late Payment Fees in this similar thread, here:
TELEWEST £10.00 late payment charge

I just managed to get 3 x late payments refunded from NTL with a couple of phone calls based on the info in the thread.