Ofcom rules allow Kingston Communications' £1 bill plan

Plans by Kingston Communications to charge customers in East Yorkshire for receiving telephone bills by post will not breach industry regulations.

Kingston Communications are introducing a £1 charge to customers for each paper bill they receive from January 1, to encourage them to sign up its KCOnline service.

The move has prompted outrage from Kingston's customers and local councillors who believe the charge discriminates unfairly against the elderly and those on low incomes.

It is due to be discussed at a special meeting of Hull City Council on November 4, in which councillors will seek to find ways of appealing to Kingston Communications (KC) to scrap the charge.

Industry regulator Ofcom said it could not comment directly on KC's new charge, but a source close to the organisation confirmed the change would not breach its guidelines.

The body is currently in the process of drawing-up rules used to govern the introduction of non-call charges by telecom companies.

Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said: "Consumers are benefiting from greater competition and lower prices.

"But for consumers to get an all-round fair deal they need to know the full costs of the services they are buying."

The proposed charge has met with fierce opposition across the region by those who believe it is unfair.

Last week, East Riding Council leader Councillor Stephen Parnaby described KC's additional charge as "heavy-handed" and "confrontational".

"A lot of people – myself included – feel uncomfortable about making payments online," said Parnaby.

"We have a growing elderly population and the vast majority won't want to pay online."

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