BT ‘undermining’ Post Office network – MPs
Cornwall’s five MPs have slammed a decision by BT to remove all reference to payment in Post Office branches from the back of their telephone bills.
In a letter to North Cornwall MP Dan Rogerson’s office, the company says we “we did remove the Post Office reference from the back of our bill. This was because it is one of the most expensive methods of payment and, therefore, not one we chose to promote.” They continue to concede “customers can still make payments in The Post Office”.
The team of Liberal Democrat MPs has today (Monday) tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling the move an unnecessary ‘threat to the sustainability of the Post Office Network’ and pointed to BT’s £2.5bn profit in the last financial year.
Last week, the Government announced that 2,500 Post Offices would close in the coming months.
Commenting, North Cornwall’s MP, Dan Rogerson said:
“There was simply no need to remove the reference to the Post Office from the back of bills, and people are bound to think that they can no longer pay there.
“We’ve tabled a Commons motion to make other MPs aware that in addition to Ministers’ constant assault on our Post Office network, now BT is undermining its sustainability too.”
Falmouth and Camborne MP, Julia Goldsworthy added,
“In a week where BT is playing up their deal with the Post Office on a new broadband service, they should take further steps to support the network by re-introducing the reference to Post Offices on telephone bills.”
Note to Editors:
The MPs’ Commons motion reads:
That this House notes with concern BT's decision to remove any reference to payment at the Post Office from the back of its telephone bills, further notes that BT customers can still choose to pay their bills at the Post Office; regrets that BT says this is not a method it chooses to promote; considers bill payments a key part of the Post Office network's business; notes that Post Office branches are vital centres for communities across the country; considers BT's decision a threat to the sustainability of the Post Office network and calls on BT to reintroduce a reference to the Post Office on the back of all its telephone bills.
BT’s profits “before taxation and specific items” were £2,495 million in 2006/07
