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KCOM charges

misuel1955
Posts: 37 Forumite

I have been a KCOM customer for at least 30 years, mainly because it is the only provider in the Hull and East Riding Area. I have a Full Fibre package 400mb package paying £59.99 per month which includes a land line I never use. KCOM are now offering new customers only a Full Fibre 500 mbps for £29.99 per month. This is unfair and there's no way I can switch on their website but have to contact them by phone where I am currently in a 40 minute queue. Is what they're doing unfair or illegal like when insurance companies gave preferencial rates to new customers. Any advice would be appreciated
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40 minutes isnt terrible, just put the phone on speaker, crack on with work, and go back to it when they answer and ask them first?0
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You might just have to wait until your contract with KCom ends and can then sign up to a new contract which is likely to be cheaper for a better product.
Unless they allow you to “upgrade” which I suspect they might.0 -
Have you considered alternatives such as 4G/5G if you have coverage?0
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ader42 said:You might just have to wait until your contract with KCom ends and can then sign up to a new contract which is likely to be cheaper for a better product.
Unless they allow you to “upgrade” which I suspect they might.1 -
misuel1955 said:ader42 said:You might just have to wait until your contract with KCom ends and can then sign up to a new contract which is likely to be cheaper for a better product.
Unless they allow you to “upgrade” which I suspect they might.Never under estimate the power of stupid people in large numbers0 -
misuel1955 said:I have been a KCOM customer for at least 30 years, mainly because it is the only provider in the Hull and East Riding Area. I have a Full Fibre package 400mb package paying £59.99 per month which includes a land line I never use. KCOM are now offering new customers only a Full Fibre 500 mbps for £29.99 per month. This is unfair and there's no way I can switch on their website but have to contact them by phone where I am currently in a 40 minute queue. Is what they're doing unfair or illegal like when insurance companies gave preferencial rates to new customers. Any advice would be appreciated
We have what’s classed as Significant Market Power in the Hull and East Yorkshire area which just means we are the largest provider. Like all other telecoms providers we are subject to Ofcom regulations.
Our offers for existing customers are heavily regulated as if we were to be too cheap then this can be classed as trying to reduce competition within the area.
We are always pleased to see more competition locally as it means that we are consistently challenged to provide the best possible services to our local people.
We know how frustrating this is to see and how it can feel like we value new customers more than our long standing customers but we want to assure you this isn’t the case and we hope that you will continue to give us the privilege of providing your services.0 -
Although that’s true , it’s also not the whole truth , it’s true they couldn’t offer a killer deal to retain customers ( and damage competitors that would be the natural recipient of a migration ) but offering the same price as what new customers can get isn’t anti competitive and the regulator has no issue with that…..however , the regulator entire ‘raison d’etre’ is to get customers off the incumbent and onto alternatives , until the incumbent no longer has significant market power….so although the regulator undoubtedly give a leg up to the competitors , it stops short of demanding that renewal prices can’t be the same as the price offered to brand new customers
The same can’t be said for competitors, who are already in a financial black hole , can offer incentives like paying ETC or giving a years ‘free’ broadband when they are already in debt, and the price on offer doesn’t even cover day to day expenses let alone paying down the debt pile….as a consumer though , you may say ‘ I don’t care , if it’s good for me , I don’t care if the don’t have a long term future, they are playing with Monopoly money , I’ll simply move else where if they go bust’, the company with SMP has to prove that their prices are financially sound1 -
I actually contacted my local MP who contacted KCOM. They contacted me to offer a 24 month deal with a £20 per month reduction. Hopefully when the 2 years is up I will go through the same again or other providers become available. They constantly claim that they are willing to share the infrastructure but I don't see this happening as there are some new providers in the area who are having to put up poles0
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