Unicom responds to such notification by ringing the customer to check if they really want to switch away from Unicom, and BT claims the smaller provider then takes this further by trying to convince the customers to change their minds. If true, this would constitute a breach of Internet providers' "conditions of entitlement" as "misuse of certain information in the context of Network Access Arrangements".

However, the case closely echoes another complaint brought in July by Carphone Warehouse against BT, and Unicom's chief executive Simon Clarke has suggested that this previous case is the motivation behind BT's new allegations. "Following Carphone Warehouse's complaint, BT wishes to have it out in the open what the industry is doing. We say it is not a genuine complaint — BT never contacted us about it prior to going to Ofcom," he claimed.

A spokesperson for BT told ZDNet UK that investigations by the company had uncovered numerous complaints by Unicom customers who had wished to leave, claiming that their transfer orders had been cancelled by Unicom without their knowledge.