19 April 2007
Victims of the television phone-in competitions scandals are being advised to keep copies of their itemised phone bills from the period to prove that they are owed money, following a barrage of complaints as consumers fail to get compensation from the affected programmes.
The furore over claiming money back was kick-started by Richard Madeley from Channel 4's Richard & Judy show after he solemnly promised viewers that all callers who had been affected would get their money back.
Now Channel 4 could be expected to pay out up to £750,000 in compensation, but consumers who have spent more money calling the television channel operator were left infuriated by what they described to The Mail on Sunday as attempts to "fob them off".
Consumers who want to claim back their money are currently being told to contact a hot line which will provide them with details of how to claim and arrange for a claims form to be sent to the bill-payer.
A printing error has resulted in the sending out of these forms being delayed, but many viewers will discover that they are unable to claim back their costs unless they can provide an itemised bill detailing the calls made.
While some viewers have declared that the claims procedure "isn't worth the bother", one viewer told The Mail on Sunday that she was determined to see it through because it was "the principle of the thing".
"They should not get away with this - and the way they have been dragging it out is disgusting," she added.
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