OK, I'm starting this thread as a result of some comments in the 10 Mbit/sec thread which were leading that one astray...
I think we're all aware of the background, but to clarify NTL require you to take out their telephone service when you order digital TV. The cost of this is £10.50 p/month for line rental, and this is added on separately to the price of the channel packages. For example, the digital TV Base Pack costs £11, but in order to get this, you also need to add on the telephone package, at £10.50, irrespective of whether you need the telephone package.
In fairness to NTL, this restriction is clearly advertised on the digital tv homepage and is not hidden.
This thread, therefore, is to discuss whether NTL are right to impose this restriction on customers who only want a television service and do not require a telephone provided by NTL, for example mobile phone users who don't want a landline, or customers of other telephone companies, such as BT, etc...
OK, that sets the scene.... drivers, start your engines!
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My viewpoint on this is that NTL are wrong to do this. There are no technical reasons as to why the NTL telephone line would be a pre-requisite to being able to receive digital TV from NTL, so this is just NTL abusing their position as a cable television provider.
I made the comment in the 'other' thread that NTL are using restrictive trade practices by forcing this on customers, and pointed out that other industries are prevented from doing this, ie mortgage providers can not force you to take their insurance, printer manufacturers can not invalidate your warranty because you used another vendor's cartridges, etc...
One comment made was that 'As there is no charge if you don't use it and no set up charge it's a transparent cost. You get a box on the wall to use or not at your choice.' I'd disagree with this, because the line rental is not free so you are paying for this service whether you use it or not.
Just for the record, I used to have broadband, phone and tv from NTL. I dropped the phone and tv packages (cause they're tied-in to each other, I couldn't just drop the phone even if I wanted to), but have kept broadband.
Anyone else care to comment. Anyone else think this is fair, after all 'the bundled cost is irrelevant as it can't be unbundled'. Anyone else agree that 'There's nothing [for the Fair Trade Commission] to investiagte. ntl own their network and can do with it as they see fit.'
I'd rather this be a proper discussion than a slanging match (we can do that via PM if necessary
).