[scrotnig]

Now threads like this do start to annoy me after a while.

I get exactly the same thing at work.

"Why don't ntl put in huge red letters on the bill that the price is going up?"

"Why, when I sign up for ntl, am I not advised of exactly what to do when I want to cancel?"

"Why do ntl not run a late night service for people wanting to cancel?"

"Why do ntl not print the cancellation phone number and opening hours in large letters on the front of the bill?"

"Why did nobody write to me to tell me my minimum 12 month contract had finished, and asking me if I want to cancel?"

"I rang ntl last week with a billing query and nobody mentioned that the cancellations department wasn't open in the evenings"

Ok here's the gen.

NO company spends a fortune advertising to customers how to cancel and use a competitors service.

NO company shouts from the rooftops about price rises.

NO company routinely advises every caller of the cancellation department's number just in case they need it.

NO company spends their marketing budget writing to customers to check if they want to cancel their service.

When I rang British Gas last week, they didn't give me the number to ring if I wanted to use Powergen in future.

Now, we can argue til we're blue in the face about whether ntl should do this sort of thing, however, they are a commercial company out to make a profit, and they simply are not going to. End of story. Neither are BT, Sky, Vodafone, Orange, British Gas, or a whole host of other private companies.

I'm the first to admit ntl is not perfect. However, I do rather tire of seeing the company constantly portrayed as being worse than its rivals, for doing exactly the same thing as those rivals do.

Now, some people really do need to get realistic here. Bill inserts WERE sent out explaining the price changes. If, as many people do, you threw them in the bin without reading them, then that is NOT ntl's fault. No, they didn't print it in huge red letters on the bill. No, they didn't write a dedicated letter to every customer. No, they didn't employ an outbound team to ring every customer and inform them (yes, people do claim ntl cannot increase their package prices unless they are phoned and informed first!).

These are economic facts of life I'm afraid. I personally feel that phone features are now a bit costly, however, these prices are now in line with what BT charge, and THEY didn't print it on the bill in big red letters either.

Rant over. This post is not aimed at anyone in particular. By all means criticise ntl for increasing prices, but don't call the company crap for not serving you a with sworn affidavit explaining the changes!