Petition · past parliament · Department for Business and Trade

Introduce fines for long phone waiting times & require lines for older people

Closed 513 signatures

What the petition asks

We think the Government should clamp down on phone waiting times for companies providing vital services, and require these companies to set up specific phone lines for older people. We think these businesses need to service their customers in good time.
We think that fines for more than a 10-minute phone wait for gas, electricity, water, phone, public transport and other vital service companies should be introduced. Long waits can affect many people, especially older people who are nervous of new technology. They should be able to speak to a person – and should have a specific line that doesn’t put them through to a computer. In my role as managing director for a small business, I have wasted hours trying to contact the right people to deal with problems and this takes time away from running my company.

Timeline

8 Apr 2024 Petition opened for signatures
29 May 2024 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 513
Status Closed
Department Department for Business and Trade
Opened 8 Apr 2024
Closed 29 May 2024

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.