WALTHAMSTOW: MP calls for protection for mobile phone users

3:35pm Sunday 25th November 2007

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WALTHAMSTOW MP Neil Gerrard is calling for action from the Government and the regulator, Ofcom, after the collapse of a company offering cash-back deals to mobile phone customers.

"I have been contacted by constituents who have found themselves in financial difficulty after their deals collapsed" said Mr Gerrard.

"People who took out contracts with a company called Mobile Connections which offered attractive sounding cash back deals, have now been told by the mobile phone companies that they are liable for the total cost of the contract.

"In order to cancel the contract they are faced with paying its total costs for many months."

He added: "It seems that Ofcom is unable to offer any protection to people in this situation, and I am asking the Government to intervene by launching an investigation and calling the companies together, with Ofcom, to get agreement that people can get early release from contracts they cannot afford.

"It appears that this is not the first time this has happened.

"I would urge anyone taking out a mobile phone contract which seems to offer attractive cash discounts via a third party company to be cautious. Deals which sound too good to be true often are."

Mr Gerrard is supporting motions in the House of Commons on this issue.