Thousands hit by phone 'slam' scam

Rogue salesmen are conning thousands of telephone customers into switching suppliers without their consent.

The phenomenon - known as "phone slamming" - means that against their wishes up to 15,000 people a month are being told their accounts are being taken over.

Companies do not need a signature - just the name, postcode and phone number of the customer.

Salespeople simply call the customer to try and convince them to swap phone suppliers. If they refuse but agree to be sent details, their address is used to register them as a new customer and the existing supplier is sent an order to make the switch.

The procedure makes use of a legal loophole and can only be stopped if the customer calls to cancel the switch within 10 days.

Industry watchdog Ofcom hopes to stop the scam by insisting that by 26 May all suppliers follow a strict, mandatory in-house code of practice.

It can then fine any firm which breaks the rules up to 10 per cent of its turnover.