HOT quadruples service exit fine

Cable television provider HOT has declared war on the competing DTT converter, which will give viewers digital-quality access to all the free channels (1, 2, 10, 33 and 99) for no charge. In an apparent effort to prevent a mass exodus of customers, the company recently increased the fine clients will have to pay if they terminate their contract early.

Six weeks ago, new subscribers to HOT's combined television and telephone service were paying NIS 229 per month for a minimum subscription term of 24 months. The price of this package has since risen by NIS 5. But the real change is in the fine for early termination of the TV subscription, which has doubled from NIS 240 to NIS 480.

But brace yourself, because that's not all: The cable provider also slapped on another NIS 45 for every month of service already received. In other words, customers seeking to terminate their 24-month subscription after one year of service will be billed a total of NIS 1,020 - a fine of NIS 480, plus another NIS 540 for the 12 months of service that they received. That's right. A NIS 1,020 charge for termination of a service that used to involve a fine of NIS 240.

On the other hand, users seeking to terminate their telephone contract before it expires used to have to pay a fine of NIS 200,. This has been pared to NIS 129, plus NIS 0.90 for every month of service already received.

But customers who are not bound to a minimum subscription term might find HOT a bit more flexible. As reported previously, the cable TV provider will offer its basic television package for NIS 160 per month, with a minimum subscription of 12 months, to clients seeking to cut off service in favor of a DTT converter. That is a 20% discount off their usual price. However, HOT formally denies the existence of this rate.