broadband news

Second person tricked in 'free' broadband con

A Yorkshire seaside town has seen a second resident fall victim to an incorrectly-sold broadband package, after an elderly widow was targeted by a doorstep conman.

It is the second time a resident of Whitby, North Yorkshire has been duped in under a month. In August, reports told how former Whitby Mayor Ada Myers was targeted by a cold caller operating on behalf of broadband company TalkTalk. She signed up to a broadband package, which the salesman told her would include free national and international calls, only to find that her monthly bill would be more than double the amount she was quoted.

Now, the Whitby Gazette reports that Cynthia Jameson, a 69-year-old widow, was persuaded by a doorstep seller to sign up to a phone package, on the basis that there would be 'free' broadband access included in the deal. However, as highlighted by the case of Ms. Myers, there are no free broadband packages available in the Whitby area.

Family friend Mike Sedgewick told the Whitby Gazette: "I've dealt with many similar cases - these doorstep salesmen, who know there's no free broadband in Whitby, tie people in knots over the terms of contracts."

A TalkTalk broadband spokesman told the newspaper that the problem arose because they employ contractors to sell broadband packages on their behalf. The suggestion is that some of these broadband salesman, driven by targets, are resorting to underhand tactics to sell packages. TalkTalk are now investigating the problem in order to track down the firm and the salesman involved.

08/09/2008
Author: CompareBroadbandUK staff writer

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