<p>Slamming, when a fixed-line telephone service is transferred by a gaining provider without express knowledge and consent is prohibited under General Condition 24 of Ofcom's General Conditions of Entitlement (GCE). GCE is the regulatory framework under which telecommunications network and service providers are required to operate in the UK. Section 45 of the Communications Act 2003 provides Ofcom with the power to set such binding conditions and Section 96 of the Communications Act 2003 provides for Ofcom to issue penalties for breach of General Conditions. Ofcom can, and do, fine companies for slamming and most recently fined Supatel (trading as TimeTalk) £60,000 in June of this year for breach of General Condition 24.</p><p>Ofcom rules explicitly prohibit all telephone companies from engaging in inappropriate sales and marketing activity, and include requirements around obtaining consent and the type of information that needs to be made available to consumers when selling services. Where Ofcom identifies clear breaches of the rules, it can take enforcement action, and has powers to fine companies and require them to remedy the consequences of any breach.</p><p>There are also a number of safeguards built into the switching process which are specifically designed to protect consumers from both slamming and erroneous transfers, including that consumers should receive a letter informing them of the imminent takeover of their service, with a 10-day switchover period during which the order can be stopped.</p><p>Ofcom is also carrying out a review of switching processes to ensure that switching is easy, hassle-free and works well for consumers. Better protection for consumers from the risks of slamming and erroneous transfers is a key focus of the review and Ofcom has put forward proposals for mandating two key requirements on telephone companies which are designed to address erroneous transfers associated with home moves. Ofcom has also committed to look at this issue further in the next phase of its work on switching.</p>