Do Not Use This Company
I am utterly appalled with the service and attitude we have received from Optimum Calls after many years of being their customer. The service we received whilst they provided our lines and calls was fine, no problems at all. However, when we decided to move to another provider their tactics became very threatening and frankly, borderline illegal! I run a small internet business which has 6 telephone lines without which my business can not operate successfully. As per their terms and conditions we knew that we had to pay £390 per line for early cancellation of the contract. So, we went through the process of making the transfer to another supplier and prepared to pay the termination penalty. The transfer of the lines is scheduled for 20 June so they will be providing and charging us for line rental and calls until that date. We received an invoice on 3rd June (dated 30th May) for £780 to cover two of the lines. We contacted them to advise that we have 6 lines and we therefore owe more money than that. We today received a second invoice for £1560 for the other lines. On contacting them we were told that "if they do not receive payment for both invoices by tomorrow they will disconnect our lines". So, they will continue to charge us and are responsible for our lines until 20th June but they will "restrict the service" on the 6th June. I believe there are a few issues with there attitude.
Firstly, expecting anybody to receive and pay an invoice within 24 hours of receipt is not fair or acceptable trading, especially when it is obvious that we are fully prepared to pay the penalties we have incurred. Secondly, to cut off a service, or threaten to cut off a service, whilst still being paid to provide that service must surely be illegal. Thirdly, the advice I got from OFCOM was that according to their "General Conditions 13" they should not charge for a service which they are not supplying. Also they are charging for the termination "out of sequence" as it has not happened yet. However, OFCOM do not have any teeth to enforce any rules and we will need to contact CISAS. On contacting Optimum Calls again and receiving the same charming threats to terminate our lines I was told that the second invoice would not have to be paid tomorrow because they were, quote "being nice and letting you have some extra time" but it would still need to be paid early next week. Our new telephone system records all our phone calls so they are available to CICAS for review and analysis if they do proceed to restrict our service. Optimum Calls operates at the limits of the law and as shown above step over the lines of acceptable behaviour as set out by the communications regulator.
My advice, do not give your money to a company that turn into bullies when you decide to move your business!
5 June 2014
Unprompted review