Ofcom Watch investigates: The Ofcom Pass…

If you’re like me, you’ve been tooling around on the Ofcom website for months now and continually seeing this thing called the ‘Ofcom Pass’. Today I finally clicked on it. Here’s the Ofcom Watch low-down:

* The Ofcom Pass will not work on the Tube, or the 168 to Belsize Park. Instead, it is regulation by disclosure. Ofcom will apparently lend its good name to any entity willing to comply with the Ofcom Pass Code, which apparently fosters competition in the retail telephony industry (for people with no brains) by means of simple price comparisons. Hey, it’s the appearance of progress that counts, folks.

* As of today, it looks like the only entity that has signed-up for this program is uswitch.com. Uswitch.com, among other things, will entice you and your of-age friends to switch telephony carriers with alcoholic beverages.

* Beware of telephony websites that sport bogus Ofcom Passes! These are sprouting-up all over the place.

* Even though we are not accredited by Ofcom, Ofcom Watch will perform the same valuable price comparison services for a small fee. Simply send us a 20-pound note, a copy of your recent telephone bill, and a bottle of wine. We’ll get back to you.

Our verdict: The Ofcom Pass, it’s good for consumers!