NTL 'Customer Service'

[CotoChris]

'Thank you for calling NTL...now f*** off'
(Filed: 27/09/2004)

A telephone company has launched an inquiry into how callers ringing its complaints line were greeted with a string of expletives.



NTL, which was this month named as one of Britain's worst firms for customer service, said a recorded message was altered yesterday morning to include the torrent of abuse.

Callers to the line were told to "f*** off" by a man with a thick Geordie accent.

The message, which was added to interactive voice recordings, said: "Hello. You are through to NTL customer services. We don't give a f*** about you. We are never here.

"We will f*** you about , basically, and we are not going to handle any of your complaints. Just f*** off and leave us alone. Get a life."

The rant was put on the message yesterday morning and was active for an hour before staff were alerted by callers.

An NTL spokesman said it is not known if the message was changed by a disgruntled worker or a hacker.

Earlier this month, NTL came second bottom in a report on handling complaints compiled by the Institute of Customer Service.