TalkTalk has announced free upgrades – including additional TV content – for every TalkTalk home in recognition of the ‘unavoidable uncertainty’ caused by the cyber attack last month. However, the company has said it will only allow customers to leave the provider free of charge, if money is stolen from them, meaning that many will not be able to terminate their contracts without paying a fee.
As part of a move to try and placate customers, from 1 December, all TalkTalk contract holders will be able to add a selection of features to their package, including TV content such as movies, kids entertainment and sports; a mobile SIM with a monthly allowance of free texts, data and calls; unlimited UK landline and mobile calls; and a ‘broadband health check’.
The broadband provider has also created a new bundle of online and telephone security features, designed to improve protection from scammers, malware and cold callers. The bundle includes web filter HomeSafe; anti-virus protection powered by F-Secure; and calling features that allow customers to block calls from withheld numbers, block the last number that called you, and to see the number for incoming calls.
The offer will be available to all TalkTalk customers, regardless of whether or not they were affected by the cyber attack.
This offer to customers comes as TalkTalk reports strong growth for the first half of the financial year, driven by take up of its mobile, fibre broadband and TV packages.
Dido Harding, TalkTalk chief executive said: “TalkTalk takes the security of customers’ data extremely seriously and we are taking significant further steps to ensure our systems are protected, as well as writing to all our customers outlining what we are doing to keep their data safe.
“In recognition of the unavoidable uncertainty, and because we know that doing what is right for our customers will ensure the best possible outcome for the company over the longer term, we are today announcing the offer of a choice of free upgraded services to all our customers.
“TalkTalk is well established as the value for money provider in the fast growing quad play market and, notwithstanding the recent attack, remains well positioned to deliver strong and sustainable long term growth.”
