A code of practice giving some customers of phone companies and internet service providers a cooling-off period after signing a contract has come into force, but has been criticised as too narrow in scope.
The cooling-off period applies to people who agree to sign contracts with company staff who knock on their doors. Those who sign up on the street or in response to telephone cold-callers are not covered. Commercial users are not covered either.
The voluntary code, agreed between the telecoms watchdog Ofta and 11 companies with 98 per cent of the telecommunications market, gives all new customers a cooling-off period of seven days unless they accept a promotional gift or allow installation of a company device in their home before the seven days are up.
The code will also require operators to:
- print all terms on contracts in a type size that is clearly readable;
- allow customers to withdraw from free trial services without any surcharge;