BT in court to face $1.65 bln customer overcharging claim

LONDON: A 1.3 billion pound ($1.65 billion) case against BT for allegedly overcharging millions of customers for fixed telephone lines kicked off on Monday in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

The claimants allege that the former telecoms monopoly excessively increased prices for the customers, while offering competitive bundles of fixed line and broadband services where it faced fierce competition from other providers.

BT said the lawsuit was “profoundly flawed” and ignored basic economic principles and market practices by arguing the company’s prices were excessive.