HOT raising fine on early exit from triple-play package

Cable television provider Hot is increasing the exit penalty charged for customers seeking to default on its 'triple-play' package contract, which includes television, telephone and internet services. From now on triple-play customers who want to cancel their subscription will be charged NIS 580 plus another NIS 77.80 or NIS 90.80 (depending on the type of triple-play package they have subscribed to) for each month since they contracted with the company.

HOT stiffened the penalty fees for customers who want to break off their Triple contract just last June, about two months before the DDT open channels reform took effect.

Customers seeking to break their contract with HOT were then faced with a NIS 480 penalty, and an additional NIS 64 for every month they had benefited from the special rates offered through the program since their subscription began.

Previously the penalty had been a flat rate of NIS 480, with no extra fee.

HOT is also raising the penalty for disconnecting from internet services acquired through the Triple package. Customers will be still be fined NIS 299 plus, but will now have to pay an extra NIS 16 or NIS 22 (depending on the package acquired) for every month they have benefited from the special rates offered through the triple-play package, instead of NIS 8 as indicated in their contract.

The changes stem, among other things from the cancellation of HOT's 1.5 Mb internet connection speed service announced by the company last week. The firm is now offering only a minimum speed of 2.5 Mb, and has changed its pricing structure accordingly.