People who get their internet through Virgin Media have been warned they could face a new £25 fine if they fail to answer the door. The measure sees those who fail to answer their door to an engineer on a home visit hit by the charge.
The so-called 'doorbell tax' is added to the normal monthly broadband charge, which went up in March as the UK continues to feel the cost-of-living crisis. It has angered customers who have criticised the company's "worst customer service". Birmingham Live reported that customers were warned of the new fine — imposed when assistance has been requested by the customer but the engineer cannot gain access to the property — by text message. It read: “A £25 charge will be added to your next bill if you miss this visit.”
Emma Robinson, 42, from Surrey hit out at the announcement as she spoke to The Mirror. She said: “I have two young children and it’s not unusual for me to fail to hear the doorbell ring if I am upstairs giving my baby a bath. Now Virgin want to fine me for not answering my door when they rarely pick up the phone themselves and offer some of the worst customer service on the market. Unbelievable.”
