30 January 2009
People suffering financial hardship are to be given a helping hand from TalkTalk with the introduction of an emergency home phone and broadband plan. The company is to waive its £6.49 monthly charge and levy a line rental fee only for a period of six months, after which customers will move back to the standard myTalkTalk package. They will be provided with 512 kilobit per second broadband with a one gigabyte download limit, as well as a basic phone package with UK weekend calls and anytime calls to other TalkTalk customers. Eligibility for the emergency plan will be assessed on a case by case basis, but it will only be available to those who have been with TalkTalk for six months or more. Chief executive Charles Dunstone said: "If you're anticipating hardship, perhaps as part of a job loss, your home phone and broadband service has never been more important in helping you get back on your feet." The news comes after BT increased its line rental prices by £1 per month.