Epress.am News from Armenia
The State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) in its meeting today reprimanded telecommunications operators K-Telecom (trademark VivaCell MTS), ArmenTel (trademark Beeline), and Orange Armenia, instructing them to eliminate violations.
According to a statement issued by the Commission, based on the complaints and grievances of many citizens it received, it conducted a study into internet services provided by a wireless mobile modem (USB), during which it identified several problems of the activities of the three operators.
"In particular, the aforementioned companies developed certain conditions that allow them to charge subscribers even for a period when they didn't provide internet services to them. The SCPEC observes that the companies in the telecommunications sector are thus breaking the law, according to which when service is cancelled, the subscriber's obligation to make payments is also cancelled. In many cases this provision is not presented to subscribers in due course; in acquiring the modem, they are not informed of these conditions.
"The SCPEC also found that some complications arise also when subscribers asked to cancel their contract. This process is often artificially prolonged by the companies. As a result, they make a profit in that case when they have not provided any services.
"The subscriber must pay only for the service he has actually used, which is a requirement of the law," reads the Commission's statement.
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