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TalkTalk troubles
A FORMER Whitby town mayor who was reduced to tears after signing a deal for a broadband service sold to her by a doorstep salesman is warning other phone users in the area to ignore similar cold callers.
Ada Myers, (75) who lives in the town’s Fountains Close has been left distraught after she was sold free broadband she cannot take advantage of as TalkTalk, the phone provider, cannot provide the service in Whitby.
However, thanks to the Whitby Gazette stepping in TalkTalk has now promised Ada a full refund.
The saga goes back to when the pensioner agreed to sign up for the broadband service from the salesman who called at her door telling her it would be 15.40 a month rising after the first three months to 20.99 a month.
For this she would get free national and international calls as well as a free broadband service and equipment from TalkTalk.
But three days after she had signed she got a letter from the firm telling her that as there is no free broadband service available in Whitby it would cost her 35.99 a month and 30 for the equipment.
She said: “I rang immediately to cancel it but had to spend nearly two hours on the phone including being cut off four times before I got through.
“Then a few days later I got a letter telling me to phone them but I spent another six hours on the phone over three days telling them I’d cancelled.
“They told me it was too late for me to cancel and they were installing broadband.
“I told them I hadn’t agreed to it and then I found my main phone had been cut off and I’m now having to use a mobile phone.
“I even sent them a letter by recorded delivery but I’ve had no acknowledgement of it.
“TalkTalk has sent me a bill for 61 but I’m not going to pay it.
“I’ve contacted Oftel and the council’s trading standards department but I also want to warn other people of what’s happening.
“I got so upset about it it’s made me ill and when I get stressed I get vertigo.
“I’m usually very strong but I was reduced to tears when no-one would listen to me when I kept trying to cancel it.
“The young man who came to the door was so persuasive but he must have known there’s no free broadband in Whitby.”
North Yorkshire County Council trading standards department confirmed they are investigating the problem.
A spokesman for TalkTalk said: “We strive to ensure customers receive the best service and we apologise to Mrs Myers for the lack of clarity in this instance.
“We have cleared the outstanding balance from the account.
“TalkTalk is able to offer free broadband to 80% of the country and in the remaining areas it charges very competitive rates.
“TalkTalk is looking at how it might offer free broadband in other parts of the country, including all of Whitby, and will provide regular updates.”
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Weather for Whitby
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
