Telephone trouble?

NIACT is Northern Ireland's representative of Oftel, and we handle complaints from telecoms consumers here about their telecoms companies. So if your telecoms company has been unable to resolve a complaint for you, NIACT can help. Call us at 0845 714 5000 or email to niact@acts.org.uk.

In addition to our services, we are delighted to be able to announce the existence of the Telecoms Ombudsman. From January 2003, she has the power to investigate complaints against a limited number of companies where there is a deadlock between consumer and company, and make a decision - either the consumer is right, or the company is. Details of this independent Ombudsman service and which companies are involved are available online at www.otelo.org.uk, or by calling 0845 050 1614. So if NIACT is unable to resolve a complaint, there is now somewhere to turn.

NIACT holds an annual conference, and this year we have scheduled the event for 12th March at the ntl studio in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. We will talk about all the current consumer issues, and how the advent of Ofcom will affect Northern Ireland telecoms consumers. This is a chance to hear the latest news and discuss the hot topics in an open and informed forum.

We will also look at the new technologies becoming available, and how these will change the way we work in the future, as well as what government help is available to businesses trying to expand into online trading. We will also look at the pitfalls of online trading, and examine how to protect consumers and businesses from online crime.

This extremely popular and well attended conference is open to anyone - just contact NIACT at 028 9024 2631, write to 22 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7QA or email to niact@acts.org.uk to get further details and register.