[scrotnig]

It doesn't matter whether the cashflow problem is the customer's fault or not, it STILL isn't the fault of a third party company such as ntl that they owe money to.

A company MAY decide that they will accommodate customers in this position to prevent losing business. But equally, they may decide NOT to, and then it's just tough. End of story.

As to companies having a responsibility to ensure customers can afford the service when they take it out....claptrap! Companies like ntl do not ask details of income, so how would they know? Credit card firms and loan firms need to, yes, but not gas, electric, phones, cable TV, Sky, etc.

Customers of all companies need to start accepting responsibility for their own actions, rather than seeking to blame everyone and anyone when they find they are short of cash. Everyone is always full of their 'rights', but never their 'responsibilities'.

As an afterthought...pop down to Sainsburys, and fill a trolley full of shopping, then at the till tell them you have a 'cashflow problem', and therefore you want to take the goods home, but you'll pay off the debt at £5 a week or something.....tell them you are a valued customer and they have to fit in with your cashflow. See what response you get, and then understand that this is NO DIFFERENT to buying TV or telephone services.