Press releases » 101. Consumer Protection Board: a mobile operator exchange can turn out to be unexpectedly costly

 

The Consumer Protection Board points out as a reminder that although mobile operator exchange or number portability is free for the consumer, it does not exempt one from contractual obligations.

Mobile operators promote many cut-price or even free mobile phones before Christmas. The Consumer Protection Board would like to draw attention to the fact that for such free offers, operators demand that customers select a service package and enter into a fixed-term contract that lasts for eighteen or 24 months before the customer can gain the benefit of the offer. This kind of contract can be terminated before the end of the contract period, but in this case, operators usually demand that the customer pays a contractual penalty or handling fee.

If a customer has already purchased a cut-price phone under similar conditions at an earlier date, it is worthwhile to make sure that the previous contract period has been completed before deciding whether or not to take up an offer by a new operator. If not, then one should examine the contract for any possible fines. The amounts can range from a hundred euros to several hundreds.

The operator’s campaign conditions should contain information on whether a fixed-term contract has to be entered into in order to get a cut-price phone. The cost of any contractual penalties are usually contained in the operator’s price list:

• Elisa: www.elisa.ee/et/Eraklient/tugiinfo/artikkel/43
• EMT: www.emt.ee/hinnad/paketid
• Tele2: www.tele2.ee/klienditeenindus/arveldus.html

Additional information on number portability can be acquired from the Estonian Technical Surveillance Authority web site:

http://www.tja.ee/numbri-liikuvus-laieneb-ka-teenusnumbritele

http://www.tja.ee/numbriliikuvuse-statistika