By Adam Clark

U.K. telecommunications regulator Ofcom said Friday it has fined BT Group PLC's (BT.A.LN) EE and Liberty Global PLC's (LBTYA) Virgin Media for overcharging customers who ended contracts early.

Ofcom said it fined EE 6.3 million pounds ($8.1 million) and Virgin Media GBP7.0 million for breaking consumer-protection rules for phone and broadband customers.

The regulator said around 400,000 EE customers who ended contracts early overpaid up to GBP4.3 million, while almost 82,000 Virgin Media customers were overcharged just under GBP2.8 million. Ofcom said both companies failed to make their charges sufficiently clear.

Both companies have agreed to change their terms and reduce exit charges, Ofcom said.

Write to Adam Clark at adam.clark@dowjones.com; @AdamDowJones

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 16, 2018 02:35 ET (07:35 GMT)

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