I thought Freesat would make life simple...

[simonaf]

I know there are so many stories like this, but here's mine, for what it's worth. Here is the guts of a letter I'm sending registered post to the Wythenshawe address on the back of ntl statements:
"At the end of November last year I rang customer service to cancel my Digital TV account.
As ntl require 30 days notice, I expected to pay December as normal, but was surprised when January's direct debit also went through.
When payment went through in February, I emailed ntl via ntlworld.com website and received an automated acknowledgement, but no reply.
When March payment went through, I sent another email via the website and received an automated acknowledgement, but still no reply.
On Wednesday 23rd March, my telephone stopped working. As customer service was closed, I rang the fault line service next morning (from another line). They said that ntl had disconnected my line in error and that they would reconnect it as soon as possible.
My line was restored on Saturday 2nd April.
Today, 11th April, ntl has again taken the full £19.50 for my digital TV account and telephone line rental.
Please reimburse me for my digital TV account for January, February, March and April and confirm that future direct debits will be for telephone line rental only. I quote from the back of an ntl statement: “ If ntl or your bank or building society make an error, you are guaranteed a full and immediate refund from your branch of the amount paid�.
I shall shortly send copies of this letter to OTELO and to my bank. I shall then stop further direct debit payments until the matter is settled. I receive separate ntl invoices for telephone calls and for broadband and I shall continue to pay them in the usual manner.
Yours faithfully
Simon Fraser"


Living as I do in a signal blackhole in the Chilterns, I was glad to get a decent tv picture when cable came along. That was 6 years ago and it looks like it will be another 6 years before I can throw away the clutter of boxes littering my living room. Roll on digital switchover! Till then, at least Freesat means I don't have to pay a monthly subscription for what most people get for just their licence fee!