O2 fined £150,000 over billing issues

Ofcom has fined telecoms operator, O2, £150,000 for failing to provide complete and accurate information to us during our investigation into the company’s billing issues.

In a statement, Ofcom said “We regularly make statutory requests for information from companies as part of our work to protect consumers. This evidence is vital to our decision-making, and so it is essential that companies respond by the deadline, with accurate and complete information. If companies fail to do this, they face action from Ofcom.”

Earlier this year, Ofcom fined O2 £10.5 million for overcharging thousands of its customers. As part of the investigation, Ofcom requested information from O2, but it provided incorrect and incomplete responses. This contributed to the investigation taking longer to complete than necessary.

Ofcom said “O2 has a history of contraventions in this area, and demonstrated a level of carelessness in responding to our information requests. We take such failings seriously and have decided to fine O2 £150,000 for this breach of its regulatory obligations. The penalty includes a 25% reduction from the penalty we would otherwise have imposed, as a result of O2 accepting liability and entering into a settlement.”

“We have also told O2 to review its processes and systems for responding to our information requests.”