body: [This article](https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/aug/27/virgin-media-contract-cancel-bills-charge) in The Guardian says:
  
  
  
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  > Virgin Media is one of those companies – Sky is another – that insist customers terminate their contracts verbally, rather than by email or letter. It is very frustrating for some customers, who have claimed it would be easier to leave the mafia than their phone/TV company. Virgin cites data protection reasons, but is likely making you call to cancel so it can try its hardest to keep you as a customer by offering a new deal.
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  Is this legal? Can a company ignore a contract termination letter or email on the grounds that they want to do it over the phone?
  
  
  
title: Can a company insist that contract terminations be done over the phone?