Sentence Correction

Hello Guys,

Can someone please explain me where I am going wrong ?

Q. By offering lower prices and a menu of personal communications options, such as caller identification and voice mail, the new telecommunications company has not only captured customers from other phone companies but also forced them to offer competitive prices.

(A) has not only captured customers from other phone companies but also forced them
(B) has not only captured customers from other phone companies, but it also forced them
(C) has not only captured customers from other phone companies but also forced these companies
(D) not only has captured customers from other phone companies but also these companies have been forced
(E) not only captured customers from other phone companies, but it also has forced them

OA C

So, here's how I approached this question :-

Firstly the common idiom used is not only x but also y... so this leaves me with options A, C or D

Next, the parallelism concept, something is captured...so something should be forced... so this leaves with option A or C.

Now, here's my main question:- the pronoun " them " in the main sentence can't be for the customers because the meaning of sentence will be lost... let's say " forced customers to offer competitive prices " How can customers offer a price ? So, by logic meaning " them " can only refer to companies. So, why are we explicitly mentioning the antecedent of " them " ie these companies?

Thank You