Tiscali versus BT: It’s War
Dan Drage dan@consumerchoices.co.uk
BT and Tiscali have taken their very public spat to a new level (21-07-08).
Tiscali (www.tiscali.co.uk) are reported to be considering legal action after BT (www.bt.com) targeted its customers with mailshots designed to unsettle them into switching.
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"Tiscali customers will be less concerned by Mario Rosso and more worried by how BT obtained their contact details"
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The mailshots, entitled ‘Tiscali Chief Plots Sell-Off’, urged Tiscali customers to seek an alternative broadband provider due to uncertainty surrounding Tiscali’s future under new Chief Executive Mario Rosso. Tiscali, Pipex (www.pipex.co.uk) and Nildram (www.nildram.net) customers have all reportedly received these letters.
The letters describe explicitly how those interested in switching ISPs can apply for their MAC code from Tiscali.
A BT spokesman had the following to say in justification of its actions:
“We use direct marketing as part of our customer-acquisition activity on an ongoing basis, sourcing customer details from reputable external sources. We often mention competitors in order that comparisons can be made - this direct mail is no different.”
Michael Phillips, Product Director at Broadband Choices, can see a lot of dirty linen being washed in public:
“For two telecoms giants to reduce themselves to what essentially resembles a Friday night street brawl is slightly embarrassing to watch. Tiscali customers will be less concerned by Mario Rosso and more worried by how BT obtained their contact details.”
Tiscali is already embroiled in an ongoing war of words with Moneysupermarket, after the price comparison site highlighted Tiscali’s additional charges to those who live outside of the ISP’s area of coverage.
In response to being singled out as the only ISP who incorporates this practice into its pricing policy, Tiscali had the following to say:
“We would like to point out that the Moneysupermarket information is far from complete and doesn’t feature Sky or Virgin Media; both companies have significant price and product differentials for non-LLU and non-cable customers respectively.”
Related article - Which ISPs Cover Your Area? Check Here
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