Tentel have 'slammed' me to TalkTalk without my permission

If you are a Tentel customer, this needs your urgent attention.

After an awful Identity Fraud scare, I've found out Tentel have gone bust, and all customers are being moved over to TalkTalk.

This is with absolutely no notification from Tentel or permission! This is unlawful and known in the industry as 'Slamming'. See ofcoms site for this (I can't post links yet)

I was greeted with an email from TalkTalk saying 'You're almost registered', and thinking it was a phishing email (as I'd NEVER sign up for an account with the disaster company that is TalkTalk), I did the responsible thing and rang them to report the email, only to find out that an account had indeed been set up in my name! Fraudulently. The dread and panic set in as I'm in the process of housebuying.

Having been the victim of identity fraud a number of years ago via an unlawful mobile phone upgrade, I immediately contacted my banks, re-registered with CIFAS and obtained my credit reports. All of this is now going to hinder my housebuying, possibly losing me the house completely :mad:

It has taken until today to finally establish that Tentel are the ones who have given over all of my details (including bank and direct debit details) to the least secure company out there, TalkTalk, without even an attempt to notify me or gain permission from me. The lady on the phone said that tentel have not sent out any letters, emails to any customer or news on their site or My Account area about the switch, but that I "should have seen it on the news"!

I'm a vigilant person, I imagine many will get that TalkTalk email, just delete it, and go about their daily business, unaware it is actually genuine and they will soon unknowingly become TalkTalk customers.

I am going to report this to Ofcom, the Services Ombudsman, the Information Commissioner's Office and to Trading Standards, all for breach of Data Protection but also specifically for these Ofcom General Conditions which relate specifically to 'Slamming':

GC22.3(d),

Mis-selling Prohibition

22.3 When selling or marketing Communications Services, the Gaining Provider must not:
(a) engage in dishonest, misleading or deceptive conduct;
(b) engage in aggressive conduct;
(c) contact the Customer in an inappropriate manner; or
(d) engage in Slamming.

GC22.8 (they have definitely fell foul of this, I have NEVER given my consent to migrate)

Record of consent

22.8 For each contract entered into with a Customer for the provision of Communications Services within Openreach’s Access Network, the Gaining Provider must create and keep individually retrievable records of the following, for a period of not less than twelve months:
(a) a direct record of consent, as provided by the Customer, to:
i. migrate from the Communications Services supplied by the Losing Provider to the Communications Services supplied by the Gaining Provider; or, as relevant,
ii. begin acquiring Communications Services over the Target Line;
(b) an explanation from the Communications Provider that they are required to create a record of the Customer’s consent;
(c) the name and address of the Customer;
(d) the time, date and means by which the consent in sub-section (a) above was given;
(e) where appropriate, the place where the consent in sub-section (a) above was given and the salesperson(s) involved;
(f) the Target Address; and
(g) where appropriate, the Calling Line Identification of the Target Line.
22.9 The Gaining Provider shall keep the records required in paragraph 22.8 irrespective of whether the contract for the provision of the Communications Services is cancelled or terminated.

22.10

Notification Letters

22.10 When a Customer enters into a contract for the provision of Communications Services, the Gaining Provider must send that Customer a letter. The letter shall set out in clear and intelligible terms:
(a) the date of the letter;
(b) that the Customer is transferring their Communications Service;
(c) all Communications Services that will be transferred;
(d) where relevant, the Calling Line Identification of all Communications Services that will be transferred;
(e) a reasonable estimate of the Migration Date;
(f) the right of the Customer to terminate the contract as set out in Condition 22.5, the means by which the right to terminate can be exercised and the date by which the right to terminate must be exercised; and
(g) relevant contact details.

22.11 Definitely fell foul of this too

22.11 The Losing Provider must, in accordance with the industry agreed process, send the End-User a letter. The letter shall set out in clear, intelligible and neutral terms:
(a) the date of the letter;
(b) that the End-User is transferring their Communications Service;
(c) all Communications Services that will be transferred;
(d) where relevant, the Calling Line Identification of all Communications Services that will be transferred;
(e) all Communications Services or other types of services provided by the Losing Provider that the Losing Provider reasonably expects to be directly or indirectly affected by the transfer;
(f) all Communications Services provided by the Losing Provider that the Losing Provider reasonably expects to remain unaffected by the transfer;
(g) a reasonable estimate of the Migration Date;
(h) relevant contact details.