DEAR SIR: Recently, I received a letter from Eir, the telecommunications company. I’ve had a package contract agreement with them for years. This includes house phone and broadband services. The letter informed that they now want to, unilaterally, change my contract and move me to a new one which will cost me €7 per month extra. If I didn’t object, I’d be automatically moved on to the new contract by 25 August.

The service I was getting was barely OK with very slow broadband and needing their technical support many times per year. They promised me some new extras, like access to the sports pack they’ve invested in. These are things I really do not need and I regard their marketing strategy as sharp practice. I refuse to pay extra in order to pay for their recent investment. It reminds me of the total mess and losses that happened when their predecessor, called Telecom Eireann, was floated on the Stock Exchanges way back in 1999.

There was a curious statement near the end of their letter “If you’d like to withdraw from your contract without penalty, simply give us a call within 30 days”. When I rang them up, I was told, more or less, it is take it or leave it. I told them I’ll be looking for a new provider.

They have shown no loyalty or respect for their thousands of customers. The aim is to tie people into a contract where they hold all the aces. The only reason I feel concerned is that that company employs people I know, and so I’m asking Eir to drop this silly extra charge and thereby hold onto its customers.