This will, no doubt, come as a complete surprise to those who don't know me, but Cable and Wireless
Watch is closed as of now [7 December 1998].
There are three reasons:
- Poor health;
- More responsibilities at home and at work;
- The campaign has got as far as it ever will.
The third needs explanation. OFTEL are investigating CWC's billing system - and what a tremendous
effort from a lot of people it took to force OFTEL to do what little they were set up to do - the
Consumer's Association and the OFT have taken action against faulty contract terms (and they've
noted CWC's inaction following their demands) and various journalists are following the issue and
continue to probe CWC. Given the UK's hopelessly inadequate telecommunications regulation and
consumer protection legislation - do a search for 'class action' and find out what we ought to have
- Cable and Wireless Watch has done its job.
CWC haven't 'won'. Campaign or no, there would only ever have been the media and the law preventing
CWC from doing whatever they please; as CWC seemingly try to ignore even the worst publicity
everything comes down to individuals taking legal action against CWC if their own contract terms are
broken. That said, thanks to Cable and Wireless Watch the issue has become widely known, a lot of
people understand that CWC has serious problems and there are now hundreds, if not thousands, of
people who know they have to contact a lawyer if push comes to shove. The issue now becomes a CUT
issue; we are starting to expose the faults of the regulatory and legal systems to people who can do
something about them. I can't emphasise enough that CWC are an expression of these faults.
People have suggested that the Watch is given to someone else as a going concern, but I've said no.