Telewest Cable Rip-off!
Telewest Broadband's 'Access Package' (consisting of analogue Cable TV and Telephone Rental) is the most popular cable package in the borough, it used to cost £12.99 a month (you get a £1 discount for using direct debit), and you get a separate bill every month, through the post, for the telephone calls made.

In July 2001 they decided to increase the 'Access Package' price by a whopping £5.00 to £16.99 a month, that in itself resulting in a 39% rise. Then to add insult to injury we have just been informed that they are again increasing the this service by a further £2.00 on the 1st April 2002 taken it to £18.99 per month. This results in a whopping 54% increase over 9 months.

To really pour the misery on they also decided to change the billing method and combine both bills into one (Access Package of £18.99 plus telephone calls made) and directly debit it. If like many other people you do not like to have varying amounts debited directly from your bank account and wanted to be billed for the service it will cost you an extra £1 (direct debit discount removed). It is worth mentioning at this point that they are also going to degrade the 'Access Package' by not transmitting the 'Front Row' pay per view movies as from 1st April 2002. If you want to receive them you will have to upgrade to 'Digital' (at a cost of £30).

So to summaries you will be paying 54% more, for less channels than normal and you will have to pay an extra £1 because Telewest changed the billing method. What a Rip-off!

There seems to be a Telewest plan to force there customers to upgrade to 'Digital' by reducing the customers Analogue service and increasing the Analogue bill. How can Telewest justify a 54% rise in just 9 months (inflation I believe is running at 1.5%). If Telewest wish to reduce our service then surely there should reduce the price - not increase it!

Telewest's excuse for this extortionate rise is "all our competitors have already put up their prices"

To complain about this rip-off, use the link on the 'Home Page' to contact the 'BBC Watchdog Team'.